15 Internships at AI Research Labs for High School Students
An internship at an AI research lab can strengthen your college applications while giving you firsthand exposure to technologies transforming fields such as healthcare, robotics, cybersecurity, climate science, and autonomous systems. These programs allow high school students to participate in research projects under the guidance of faculty members, research scientists, and AI engineers, while gaining experience with tools and programming languages used in academic and industry research. Working in an AI research environment can help you build computational, analytical, and scientific communication skills while exploring potential careers in artificial intelligence and computer science.
If you’re looking for virtual AI internships, check out our blog here. For those interested in summer-specific programs, check out the list here.
Why should I do an internship at an AI research lab?
An AI research lab internship provides hands-on experience working on real-world artificial intelligence projects. You can learn how technologies such as machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing are developed and applied. You will work with researchers, scientists, and engineers who can provide guidance and mentorship. AI internships at research labs also let you explore applications in areas such as healthcare, robotics, cybersecurity, and space technology.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled 15 internships at AI research labs for high school students, helping you discover opportunities in machine learning, computer vision, robotics, natural language processing, computational biology, and other emerging areas of artificial intelligence research.
Key takeaways
This list gathers 15 internships at AI research labs for high school students spanning federal defense labs, university research centers, and hospital-affiliated biomedical AI programs, with standout hosts including Stanford, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and NASA.
Cost varies widely, with several fully funded or free programs and strong stipends like $4,000 to $4,500 through a Navy research apprenticeship, while a few university-run programs charge a participation fee, with financial aid generally available.
Several of these are broader STEM or engineering research programs where AI is one of several possible project areas depending on your lab placement, so it's worth confirming the specific research focus with each program if guaranteed AI work is your main goal.
Most of these require being on-site at a specific university or lab, with several requiring residency in a particular metro area or state, while Ladder and a couple of virtual programs are open regardless of location.
A few of the earliest deadlines fall in November and December for two of the most competitive federal research programs, so it's worth starting applications well before winter break wraps up.
1. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual (Stanford University)
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee | $850 participation fee | Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 25 students
Dates: June 16 - 27 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. PT (online)
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9th - 12th | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or valid visa holders
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual research program focused on applying artificial intelligence to medicine and medical imaging. You will attend technical lectures on machine learning, medical imaging, clinical datasets, model evaluation, and responsible AI before applying these concepts to a team-based health AI research project. Small-group mentorship sessions will help you formulate research questions, analyze healthcare data, interpret findings, and communicate your research results. The program also features talks from clinicians, researchers, and industry experts on emerging developments in AI-driven healthcare.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type | Financial aid is available | No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 25% | Around 100 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort – spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 to 12 weeks, devoting 10 to 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships pairs high school students with a startup or nonprofit organization working in areas such as health technology, biotechnology, digital health, medical research, or patient care innovation. Over 8 to 12 weeks, you will contribute to an organization’s ongoing projects, which may involve market research, scientific literature reviews, data analysis, product development, user research, or content creation. Alongside your internship project, you will also participate in weekly one-on-one coaching sessions and professional development workshops focused on communication, project management, and workplace skills. The program concludes with a final presentation where you showcase your work and explain its impact on the host organization.
3. High School Internship Program in the U.S. National Science Foundation AI Research Institute for Advances in Optimization
Location: AI4OPT – CODA Building, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Not publicly disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Typically mid-July - August (tentative)
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10th - 12th
The AI4OPT High School Internship Program places you on an artificial intelligence research project under the guidance of researchers, data scientists, and engineers at the U.S. National Science Foundation AI Research Institute for Advances in Optimization. You will develop programming skills in Python while applying machine learning, data analysis, and optimization techniques to computational research problems. The internship includes regular mentor meetings, research discussions, and technical workshops that support your project work. At the end of the program, you can present your research findings to faculty, mentors, and fellow participants.
4. Princeton University’s AI4ALL
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid | Housing, meals, and the trip to Washington, D.C and travel to and from Princeton are covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 9 - July 30 (tentative)
Application Deadline: April 9 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising 11th-grade students (current 10th graders) who live in the United States and Puerto Rico and who qualify as low-income | To qualify as low-income, your household income must not exceed $60,000, and/or your circumstances must qualify you for free or reduced-price lunch and/or an SAT/ACT fee waiver
The Princeton AI4ALL program introduces you to the foundations of artificial intelligence through lectures, coding exercises, and small-group research projects led by Princeton faculty, graduate students, and researchers. As a participant, you will explore topics such as machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and the societal impacts of AI while developing the programming skills needed for your project. Research teams examine how AI can address challenges in fields such as medicine, public health, genetics, and medical imaging, concluding in a group presentation of their findings. The program also includes mentoring sessions, career development workshops, and discussions on the ethical development and deployment of artificial intelligence.
5. Computer Science and Informatics Research Experience (CSIRE)
Location: In-person at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY or virtual
Cost/Stipend: Fee of $3,300 | Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 29 - August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students currently studying or residing in the U.S who are at least 14 years old
The Computer Science and Informatics Research Experience (CSIRE) at Stony Brook University is a summer research internship in biomedical informatics that matches high school students with faculty-led research projects. Responsibilities include developing and testing code, designing computational experiments, analyzing datasets, and interpreting research findings under the guidance of faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD mentors. You may focus on medical imaging, machine learning, natural language processing, biomedical informatics, or data science as you contribute to an original computational research project. Throughout the internship, you will attend research seminars, career talks, and laboratory visits.
6. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA, and virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free for students whose family income is less than or equal to $200,000 (other students must pay $2,400) | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 6 - August 2
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: 9th - 11th graders attending high school in the U.S. (accepted students typically maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher)
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) offers high school students the opportunity to develop skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other advanced technologies. Through courses in AI and machine learning, students can learn Python, explore natural language processing, and build projects involving cognitive assistants and autonomous systems. The institute also offers courses in autonomous vehicles, robotics, cybersecurity, and data science, allowing you to explore different areas of computing and engineering. Some BWSI courses are designed for students with little or no prior programming experience, while others require more advanced technical skills.
7. Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College AI Scholars Program
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 20 - July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and between grades 11th and 12th during the summer
The Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars Program is a fully funded residential program where you will study the foundations of artificial intelligence through college-level coursework, research projects, and faculty-led instruction. As part of the program, you will complete a virtual Python course before the program begins, and then apply concepts from machine learning and computing to collaborative research projects and technical assignments on campus. The curriculum includes lectures by Carnegie Mellon faculty, research exposure, and a capstone project that concludes in a final symposium presentation. In addition to the technical coursework, you will participate in writing workshops, college preparation seminars, and discussions about academic and career pathways in artificial intelligence.
8. SEAP (Naval Research Internship)
Location: Several locations across the United States
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $4,000 for new participants | $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9 and will be at least 16 years old when the internship begins
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a summer research program that places high school students in Department of Navy laboratories. You can work with researchers on projects involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, autonomous systems, and other areas of computer science and engineering. Your project will depend on the laboratory and research group you join, with some projects focusing on developing or applying AI and machine learning methods to technical problems. The program allows you to indicate up to three laboratories that interest you when applying.
9. ASPIRE Internship at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Location: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory campus, Laurel, MD (hybrid and virtual options available)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: October to May (academic year internship) | July to August (Summer)
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens and will be at least 15 years old when the program begins, have a minimum GPA of 2.8, and have permanent residency in the Washington-Baltimore Metro area
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) ASPIRE Program places you on a mentor-led research or engineering project at one of the nation's leading research laboratories. In the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning track, you may evaluate machine learning models, investigate generative AI and deepfake detection, analyze large datasets, or contribute to computational research projects using programming languages such as Python or C++. Throughout the internship, you will meet regularly with your mentor, participate in technical discussions, and contribute to an ongoing research project alongside APL staff. The experience concludes with the ASPIRE Student Showcase, where you can present your project and research outcomes to mentors and fellow participants.
10. ARISE - Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipend offered upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 1 - August 14
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools
NYU Tandon’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) is a summer research program where high school students work with faculty and researchers in NYU laboratories. You will begin with training in research methods, safety, college writing, and other skills before spending six weeks contributing to research projects in an NYU laboratory. Research areas include artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, biotechnology, environmental engineering, robotics, data science, and more. You can gain approximately 150 hours of laboratory experience while working alongside researchers and developing your research and communication skills. The program also gives you opportunities to present your findings through a research colloquium and poster symposium.
11. EDIT AI Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Begins on 15th June
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Open to U.S high school students
The EDIT AI High School Summer Internship Program places you on a biomedical artificial intelligence research project supported by Dartmouth Health, the Dartmouth Cancer Center, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. You will develop computational methods to analyze pathology images, electronic health records, pathology reports, metagenomic sequences, and multi-omics datasets using Python, R, machine learning, and other AI tools. Preparatory workshops, regular mentor meetings, technical seminars, and access to a high-performance computing environment support your research throughout the internship. You will also develop algorithms for applications such as cancer detection, biomedical image analysis, text prediction, and digital pathology before presenting your findings to clinicians and biomedical researchers at the end of the program.
12. Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee | $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | 12 students/year
Dates: June 21 - August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and graduating seniors, aged 17 years and above, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week residential research internship where you can work one-on-one with a Texas Tech University faculty mentor on an original research project. If you choose a computer science or electrical and computer engineering project, you may investigate topics such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, high-performance computing, or AI-enabled engineering systems, depending on the research lab. You will review scientific literature, develop research methods, analyze experimental results, and contribute to an ongoing faculty-led research project throughout the program. Weekly seminars and research discussions complement your laboratory work while exposing you to current developments across STEM disciplines.
13. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, NJ (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 5 - 6 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: February 15 - March 15
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a local NJ high school who are aged 16+ years by June 15 | Must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) matches you with a Princeton faculty member or research scientist to contribute to an active research project in science or engineering. AI-related opportunities vary each year and may include machine learning, computer vision, robotics, natural language processing, data science, or computational modeling, depending on the participating research labs. You can contribute to ongoing research by reviewing scientific literature, analyzing datasets, writing code, developing computational models, or validating experimental results based on your project. Safety training, regular mentor meetings, and participation in laboratory discussions are integrated into the internship. You will complete a two-page research summary describing your work at the end of the program.
14. AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Various locations across the United States
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipend between $501.60/week and $805.60/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive | Around 60 interns
Dates: Fall: 16 weeks (late August or early September - mid-December) | Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January - early May) | Summer: 10 weeks (late May or early June - August)
Application Deadline: Varies based on the AFRL sites and/or projects to which you are applying | Summer deadline is January 9
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program is a paid summer research internship hosted at Air Force Research Laboratory sites across the United States. You can contribute to ongoing research under the guidance of AFRL scientists and engineers, with projects spanning machine learning, deep reinforcement learning, computer vision, autonomous systems, AI-enabled spacecraft control, and data analysis, depending on the research group. Project work may involve developing and evaluating algorithms, writing code, analyzing experimental data, and testing computational models using industry-standard software and programming tools. The internship concludes with a technical report, poster, or research presentation summarizing your project's methods and findings.
15. NASA OSTEM High School Internships
Location: Remote or in-person at NASA centers across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Varies based on project
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Spring or Fall: 16 weeks | Summer: 10 weeks (May - August)
Application Deadline: Spring: September 12 | Summer: February 27 | Fall: May 16
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 16+ years with a GPA of 3.0+ who are full-time students
The NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internship program allows students to contribute to research and technology projects alongside NASA mentors. Projects in artificial intelligence can involve areas such as machine learning, data analysis, robotics, computer science, and computational research. You can work with NASA researchers on projects connected to space exploration, Earth science, aeronautics, or other areas of NASA’s mission. The specific projects and research areas vary by internship session and NASA center.
Questions students often ask about these internships
1. Do I need prior coding or AI experience to apply to these internships?
Not usually. Several of these are designed to introduce programming and machine learning concepts from scratch, so no background is expected going in. A few of the most competitive university programs do favor students with some coding experience, so check eligibility closely.
2. A few of these programs describe AI work as just one possible research area. How do I know if I'll actually work on AI projects?
Reach out directly to the program coordinator to ask about typical lab placements and whether AI-focused projects are common, since a few of these use fairly hedged language about it. Prioritize the programs explicitly built around AI, like the biomedical AI-focused options, if guaranteed AI work matters most to you.
3. Are any of these internships open to students outside a specific state or region?
Yes, a handful, including Ladder and a couple of the federal research programs with multiple site options, are open more broadly regardless of where you live. Several others do require residency in a specific state or metro area, so check the location field closely.