15 Internships for Undergraduates in Princeton, New Jersey
If you are an undergraduate student, an internship can be a worthwhile way to explore a field that interests you. Internships allow you to apply what you have learned in class, explore career interests, and build relationships with professionals, which may shape your future career. Internships also strengthen your resume, especially if you plan to apply for competitive graduate programs or full-time roles.
Why should I do an internship in college?
An internship provides practical experience that employers and graduate schools value more than coursework alone. During an internship, you develop skills such as data analysis, communication, teamwork, research methods, policy evaluation, or engineering problem-solving, depending on your field. You also learn professional habits such as meeting deadlines, writing reports, presenting findings, and working within organizational processes. In some cases, internships lead to return offers or long-term research collaborations.
If you are considering internships for undergraduates in Princeton, you will be entering an environment connected to public policy, national laboratories, climate research, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and the arts. To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 internships for undergraduates in Princeton, New Jersey, by focusing on selectivity, funding, mentorship, and professional exposure.
1. SINSI Internship Program (Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative)
Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Funding for living and reasonable travel expenses
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6 - 10 internships per year
Dates: Spring/Summer (8 - 10 weeks)
Application Deadline: October 22
Eligibility: U.S. citizen sophomores or juniors at Princeton in good academic standing, with leadership experience, faculty recommendation, and ability to complete federal security clearance requirements
This is one of the most selective internships in Princeton for undergraduates interested in federal policy and public service. Through SINSI, you work directly inside U.S. federal government agencies such as the Departments of State, Education, Treasury, Justice, or USAID. Rather than shadowing professionals, you contribute to active policy initiatives and administrative projects that support national decision-making. The program provides funding for living and travel expenses, which allows you to focus on your work without any financial burden. You also receive structured mentorship from SINSI leadership, helping you connect daily responsibilities with long-term civil service goals.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (spring, summer, fall, winter)
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 - 12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships is a structured remote program connecting students with startups and early-stage companies. You work on real-world projects in industries such as tech, AI/ML, health tech, consulting, and marketing. Interns collaborate with startup managers and receive guidance from a ladder coach. The program typically runs for about 8 weeks and requires a weekly commitment of 10 - 20 hours. Because the internship is remote, you can participate regardless of your location. This makes it a flexible alternative for students who cannot pursue in-person internships. Apply now!
3. Princeton Neuroscience Institute Summer Internship Program
Location: Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $6,300 as a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10 interns are typically selected
Dates: About 9 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Sophomores and junior undergraduates
With only about 10 interns selected, this neuroscience research internship offers a highly focused experience for undergraduates at Princeton. You work alongside faculty, graduate students, and research teams investigating brain function at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels. Your role involves active participation in experiments, lab meetings, and research discussions rather than administrative tasks. The program also includes lectures, journal clubs, and career panels to expand your academic exposure. Through consistent faculty interaction, you develop technical laboratory skills and scientific reasoning abilities. This experience is particularly valuable if you are considering graduate study or a research-intensive career in neuroscience.
4. Cooperative Institute for Modeling the Earth System (CIMES) Internship
Location: GFDL, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $5,600 - $6,300 stipend plus housing and travel reimbursements
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive (limited cohort)
Dates: Summer (flexible 8 - 9 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Undergraduates with US work authorization
CIMES offers a research-driven experience focused on climate science and earth system modeling. During the 8 - 9 week program, you work on real atmospheric, oceanic, or climate datasets that contribute to environmental forecasting and risk analysis. The collaboration with NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory exposes you to interdisciplinary teams and high-performance computing systems. Financial support includes a stipend, housing assistance, and travel reimbursement, reducing logistical barriers. You build coding, modeling, and analytical skills that are directly applicable to climate science careers. By the end of the summer, you will have tangible research contributions that can strengthen applications for graduate programs or environmental policy roles.
5. Andlinger Center Undergraduate Summer Internship Opportunities
Location: Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: About 8 - 10 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Princeton undergraduates (first-years, sophomores, juniors)
This internship focuses on research in energy systems and environmental innovation. Under faculty supervision, you work on projects addressing sustainability challenges, renewable technologies, or environmental systems analysis. A stipend supports your time commitment, while additional funding for research expenses enables deeper project development. You learn how to frame research questions, collect and analyze data, and communicate findings effectively. Some projects may involve collaboration with nonprofit or external partners, providing a broader exposure beyond laboratory work. The experience helps you understand how scientific inquiry translates into real-world environmental solutions.
6. Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS)
Location: Princeton & nonprofit partners across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: $600 - $700/week as a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 200 participants in the previous year
Dates: Summer (8 - 10 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 13
Eligibility: First-years, sophomores, and juniors enrolled in the spring before and fall after the internship, in good academic standing | international students are eligible for most placements (citizenship may be required for some federal roles), and students on leave are not eligible
PICS connects participants with nonprofit organizations addressing issues such as education, health, environment, and public policy. You engage in hands-on work that may include research, community outreach, data analysis, or program coordination. The weekly stipend allows you to focus on the internship rather than external employment. Alumni mentors provide professional guidance and perspective throughout the experience. By working directly with mission-driven organizations, you develop your communication and leadership skills. Many students use this experience to clarify long-term career interests in public impact fields.
7. Aspiring Scholars and Professionals (ASAP) Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Students receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer (about 8 weeks) with optional fall continuation
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Undergraduates at New Jersey colleges/universities (non-Princeton)
ASAP blends a structured internship with targeted career skills development. You work in fields such as humanities, social sciences, communications, or education while participating in workshops that strengthen research and communication skills. The stipend and housing support remove financial stress, and the $1,000 fund can be used for academic or professional resources. Networking is a major component, with access to Princeton faculty and mentors. The optional fall continuation allows you to extend your learning beyond the summer. This structure provides both hands-on experience and long-term skill-building.
8. Princeton School of Public and International Affairs Undergraduate Program
Location: Princeton, NJ (funding administered through SPIA; internships may be local or national)
Cost/Stipend: $3,900 - $8,000 grants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 students in the previous year
Dates: Summer internships (typically 6 - 10 weeks)
Application Deadline: March - May
Eligibility: Undergraduates pursuing public policy or related fields
SPIA funding supports policy-focused internships that may otherwise be unpaid or underpaid. You can pursue placements in government, nonprofit, or international affairs aligned with public policy. The funding allows you to choose opportunities based on learning outcomes rather than compensation. Many placements involve policy research, program evaluation, or governance-related projects. Reflection requirements help you articulate the impact of your work. This approach ensures that your internship connects academic theory with real-world policy practice.
9. PPPL Undergraduate Internship Program
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Depends on available openings
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the posting
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are U.S citizens
These internships emphasize applied engineering and operational support within a major research laboratory. You may assist with mechanical systems, electrical infrastructure, computing tools, or safety processes. The work provides practical exposure to the daily operations of complex research facilities. Paid positions reinforce accountability and professional expectations. You collaborate with engineers and technical staff rather than purely academic researchers. This makes the program especially suitable for those who are considering industry-focused engineering roles.
10. Center for Health and Wellbeing – Internships in Global Health
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (with partner organizations)
Cost/Stipend: Funding varies depending on the placement
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 participants in the previous year
Dates: 8 - 12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: December
Eligibility: Undergraduates interested in public or global health
These internships connect you with public and global health initiatives through research and community engagement. You may analyze health policy data, evaluate interventions, or support field-based health programs. Funding varies by placement and helps offset costs. Faculty or organizational mentors provide guidance and feedback. The experience strengthens research, policy analysis, and communication skills. This experience is particularly useful if you are considering graduate study in public health or health policy.
11. Princeton RISE (Recognizing Inequities and Standing for Equality)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $4,800 grant
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 35 - 40 participants (previous year)
Dates: Summer (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Princeton undergraduates (first-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors)
Princeton RISE is a funded summer internship program focused on addressing inequality and advancing civic engagement. You commit 40 hours per week, including 35 hours working with partner organizations and 5 hours participating in structured programming such as training, guided reflection, and peer discussions. Projects span the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and applied research fields, and may involve data analysis, design, fieldwork, or creative scholarship. Fellows receive a $4,800 grant along with mentorship, materials, and structured support throughout the summer. The program also requires participation in an orientation, mid-program and final surveys, and an online symposium where you present your project and reflections.
12. Derian Summer Internship in Community-Engaged Scholarship (CES)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $750/week living stipend | additional project funding available upon application
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive, small cohort
Dates: Summer (start and end dates vary depending on the placement; about 35 hours/week)
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Princeton freshmen, sophomores, and juniors enrolled in the spring prior to and fall following the internship | must be in good academic standing | students on leave are not eligible
The Derian Summer Internship places you in faculty-mentored, community-engaged scholarship projects that combine academic research with industry collaboration. You work approximately 35 hours per week supporting faculty-led research, teaching initiatives, or program development in collaboration with community organizations. In addition to project work, you participate in ProCES programming that includes workshops on community-engaged methodologies and structured reflection sessions. Throughout the internship, you build an electronic portfolio documenting your learning, skills development, and professional growth. The $750 weekly stipend is intended to cover housing and living expenses, with additional project funding may be available.
13. eLab Summer Accelerator Program
Location: 34 Chambers St, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free | research budget offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: About 10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Mid-December
Eligibility: Undergraduate founders or startup teams
The eLab Summer Accelerator is designed for undergraduate founders building early-stage startups. Over 10 weeks, you participate in structured workshops, mentorship sessions, and venture-building activities. You refine your business model, product development strategy, and go-to-market approach. Access to workspace and a cohort of peer founders promotes collaborative momentum. By the end of the program, many teams develop functional prototypes or investor-ready pitches. This experience is best suited if you are serious about pursuing entrepreneurship rather than traditional employment.
14. eLab Summer Associate Internship
Location: Princeton Entrepreneurial Hub, 34 Chambers St, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 as a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 9 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Typically mid-December
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in startups, technology, or venture building
As a Summer Associate, you will work within a startup participating in the accelerator. You may handle responsibilities such as customer research, product testing, data analysis, or operational planning tasks. As startup teams are small, your contributions often have an immediate impact. You gain exposure to how founders make decisions in uncertain and fast-moving environments. This experience strengthens adaptability and communication skills and provides a practical way to validate your interest in startup ecosystems.
15. Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $650 per week as a stipend | housing allowance may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 - August 7
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students (or recent graduates within two years) with a minimum GPA of 3.0, at least one completed term, and required STEM credits | age 18+ years | U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and able to provide proof of academic standing and legal status
SULI places you inside a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory, making it one of the more competitive research internships for undergraduates in Princeton. You join active research teams working on plasma physics, fusion energy, computational science, and related engineering areas. Rather than observing experiments, you contribute to simulations, data analysis, and experimental processes under the guidance of professional scientists. Weekly seminars and professional development sessions complement your lab work and deepen your understanding of energy research careers. The stipend and potential housing support make the program financially accessible. By the end of the internship, you not only develop technical skills but also understand how large-scale scientific collaborations operate.
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