15 Lab Internships across STEM, Biomedical & Engineering for High School Students

Getting an internship in high school can change how you think about academics and future careers. Instead of only learning concepts in class, you can actually apply them in real research environments, labs, and professional settings. A good internship can help you build technical skills, strengthen your resume, and make your college applications more competitive without always requiring huge financial investments. Many universities, national labs, and research organizations now offer structured opportunities specifically for high school students, especially in STEM fields. If you’ve been wondering how to get a lab internship in high school, one of the best things you can do is start early and look for programs that align with your interests instead of applying randomly.

Check out a list of other summer-specific lab internships for high-schoolers here!

Which programs should I look at?

This list is designed to help you narrow down strong options across biology, neuroscience, engineering, quantum science, and biomedical research. We focused on internships that provide direct mentorship, practical lab exposure, research presentations, or technical training rather than generic shadowing experiences. Some of these programs are highly selective, while others are more accessible if you’re curious and have made solid academic preparation. If you are trying to figure out how to get a lab internship in high school, understanding what each program actually teaches you is just as important as prestige.

Across this list of 15 lab internships, you’ll notice opportunities to work with software tools, experimental methods, scientific communication, and data analysis workflows that are used in real research environments.

1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; participants receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors aged 16+ by the start of the program; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents

SIMR is a strong biomedical lab internship available to high school students because you’ll work directly inside active Stanford research labs. You will be assigned to a research area such as cancer biology, bioinformatics, neurobiology, or stem cell science and will learn laboratory workflows and research methods. Depending on your placement, you may work with microscopy imaging, cell cultures, computational datasets, or molecular biology techniques. The program also introduces you to scientific literature review, lab meetings, and poster presentation structures that are common in university research settings. Outside the lab, you’ll attend seminars and discussions with Stanford researchers, which helps you understand how academic research teams operate.

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks

Ladder is different from traditional lab internships because it places you into startup environments, working on applied projects across technology and research-focused industries. Depending on the company you are matched with, you might contribute to AI research, healthcare analytics, market research, engineering projects, or data-focused workflows. Many internships involve collaborative tools, presentation development, research synthesis, or software platforms commonly used in startup environments. Throughout the internship, you work with both a company mentor and a Ladder Coach, which gives you structured feedback and project guidance. The internship ends with a presentation to the startup team summarizing your work and findings. If you are exploring how to get a lab internship in high school but also want industry exposure, Ladder offers a more applied and interdisciplinary alternative.

3. The Rockefeller University – Summer Science Research Program

Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Stipends may be awarded to students experiencing financial hardship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, 32 students
Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application Deadline: January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors around the world who are at least 16 years old

This internship is heavily focused on experimental biomedical research and scientific collaboration. You’ll join a small research team and work with scientists from Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Weill Cornell. During the program, you will learn how to design experiments, collect and organize data, and interpret research findings in a structured way. Depending on your project, you may use laboratory methods related to molecular biology, imaging, or genetics while also learning how to maintain proper research documentation. The program also includes workshops, lectures, and electives that introduce you to broader areas of biomedical science. If you are researching how to get a lab internship in high school, programs like SSRP show why strong essays and demonstrated scientific curiosity matter a lot.

4. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

Location: Participating Department of the Navy laboratories across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 stipend for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 300 internship slots available each year
Dates: 8 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Typically around November 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school students who have completed grade 9, aged 16+ by internship start

SEAP gives you direct access to Department of the Navy research labs, where you’ll work with scientists and engineers on technical research projects. The research areas can vary widely, including materials science, robotics, cybersecurity, engineering systems, or environmental science. You will learn how professional labs organize experiments, analyze technical problems, and document findings for larger research teams. Depending on your placement, you might work with simulation software, engineering prototypes, coding systems, or laboratory instrumentation. One useful part of SEAP is that it exposes you to government-funded research environments that most high school students never see. For students wondering how to get a lab internship in high school, programs like SEAP are worth considering because they value both STEM preparation and demonstrated interest in applied science.

5. Stanford STaRS Internship Program

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 20 people each summer
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: U.S. high school students aged 16+

The STaRS Internship introduces you to biomedical and reconstructive science research through hands-on lab training. During the internship, you’ll work on scientific projects while learning laboratory techniques such as histology, imaging, and genotyping. You will also participate in workshops and research discussions that explain how biomedical discoveries move from labs into healthcare settings. Much of the experience revolves around understanding how experiments are structured and how scientific data is interpreted. By the end of the program, you’ll present your findings through a formal presentation, which helps you practice scientific communication. The small cohort size also means you will interact closely with mentors and researchers throughout the summer.

6. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program

Location: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) research sites across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive and selective
Dates: Varies from project to project
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from the U.S.

This internship places you in Air Force research environments where science, engineering, and defense technologies overlap. You may contribute to projects involving aerospace systems, electronics, data analytics, or materials science, depending on your assigned lab. Throughout the internship, you’ll work directly with scientists and engineers while learning how large-scale technical research projects are managed. Some students gain exposure to programming tools, simulation systems, or data visualization methods used in research environments. The internship also includes seminars and networking opportunities that introduce you to different STEM career pathways. If you are figuring out how to get a lab internship in high school, AFRL is a good example of how national research labs create opportunities for motivated students.

7. Berkeley Lab, QCaMP

Location: Bay Area, CA, and Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM
Cost/Stipend: Stipends provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 29 – July 24
Application Deadline: April 3
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ and must live somewhat near Berkeley, CA, or Albuquerque, NM

QCaMP focuses on quantum computing and introduces you to concepts that are usually not taught in standard high school courses. During the four-week program, you’ll explore quantum mechanics topics such as entanglement, superposition, and quantum circuits through guided workshops and collaborative activities. You may also work with quantum simulation platforms and beginner-level coding exercises connected to quantum information science. Researchers and engineers from national labs help explain how quantum systems are studied and applied in computing research. The technical focus of the program makes it especially useful if you enjoy mathematics, physics, or computational science. For students interested in how to get a lab internship in high school within advanced physics fields, QCaMP is one of the more specialized opportunities available.

8. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Summer Program

Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: $7,200 stipend for the full 10-week program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive, with only up to 6 students selected
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: High school senior in Texas, aged 18+ by program start

This program places you inside one of the leading cancer research centers in the country, where you contribute to active biomedical research projects. Over ten weeks, you’ll spend most of your time working in research labs alongside MD Anderson faculty and research staff. Depending on the project, you may gain exposure to cancer biology workflows, laboratory instrumentation, microscopy systems, or biological data analysis. The internship also helps you understand how large medical research teams organize studies and communicate findings. At the end of the summer, you will present your work formally, which helps build technical communication skills. As only a few students are selected each cycle, the mentorship experience tends to be highly individualized.

9. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)

Location: On-site and off-site work schedule
Cost/Stipend: $500 weekly
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school seniors or recent graduates; must be a U.S. citizen; have proof of medical insurance; and have an Illinois high school enrollment

PRISM combines physics, artificial intelligence, and engineering through structured mentorship and technical exploration. During the internship, you’ll participate in lectures, workshops, and research activities related to particle physics and quantum science. You will also interact with Fermilab researchers while learning how physics experiments generate and interpret large datasets. Some students gain exposure to coding workflows and computational methods used in scientific research environments. The internship concludes with a research abstract and poster presentation that summarizes your work. Programs like PRISM are useful examples when learning how to get a lab internship in high school because they emphasize both technical curiosity and communication skills.

10. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship

Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, FL
Cost/Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old, live in Palm Beach or Martin County, and have U.S. work authorization

MPFI is one of the more lab-intensive neuroscience internships available to high school students. You will work directly with researchers in neuroscience, scientific programming, or mechanical engineering, depending on your assigned track. During the internship, you’ll move through multiple lab environments and observe how neuroscientists study neural systems using imaging and experimental tools. Students in programming-focused tracks may also gain exposure to computational analysis and scientific coding workflows. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research findings publicly, which helps reinforce scientific communication skills. The combination of technical lab work and interdisciplinary mentorship makes the internship especially useful for students interested in biomedical engineering or neuroscience research.

11. Stony Brook University – Simons Summer Research Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Estimated residential cost: $2,450/Stipend award received at completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school students in grade 11 at the time of applying; must be US citizens and/or permanent residents; and must be at least 16 years of age by the start of the program

The Simons Summer Research Program is structured around full-time faculty-guided research projects. Before arriving on campus, you will communicate with your mentor and prepare through assigned readings connected to your project area. Once the internship starts, you’ll complete lab safety training and begin working in your assigned research environment for several hours each day. Depending on the lab, you may learn wet-lab procedures, data analysis workflows, or computational research methods. The program concludes with a formal abstract and poster presentation, which mirrors how undergraduate and graduate research is often presented academically. If you want to understand how to get a lab internship in high school, programs like Simons highlight the importance of preparation and subject-specific interest.

12. Johns Hopkins University: ASPIRE High School Internship Program

Location: Virtual options available + mandatory in-person onboarding at APL, Laurel, MD
Cost/Stipend: No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors; at least 15 years of age by June 1; U.S. citizenship required

ASPIRE allows you to contribute to STEM-focused projects connected to cybersecurity, aerospace engineering, AI, and environmental science. You are paired with an APL mentor and complete around 190 hours of project-based work during the internship. Depending on your placement, you may spend time coding, analyzing technical systems, or designing engineering-focused experiments. The internship also introduces you to collaborative workflows commonly used in large research and engineering organizations. At the end of the experience, you’ll create a digital poster that explains your methods, findings, and project outcomes. The combination of virtual flexibility and research exposure makes ASPIRE different from more traditional wet-lab internships.

13. University of Georgia’s Young Scholars Internship Program (YSP)

Location: University of Georgia campuses in Athens, Tifton, and Griffin, GA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – July 7; July 8 – July 10 Research Conference
Application Deadline: January 23 (Tentative)
Eligibility: Students must have completed their sophomore year of high school, be at least 16 years old by the program start date, and have completed one high school science course and one semester of algebra

YSP focuses heavily on agricultural, food, and environmental sciences through mentor-guided research projects. You will spend around 30 hours per week working with a faculty mentor while learning how applied scientific research connects to agriculture and sustainability. Depending on your project, you may analyze environmental samples, study food systems, or examine agricultural technologies. There will be site visits and career exploration sessions that help you understand how research is used outside university labs. Toward the end of the internship, you’ll present your findings at the Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference. For students interested in how to get a lab internship in high school within environmental or agricultural sciences, YSP is one of the more structured options.

14. Biorocket Research Internship Program at Genspace

Location: Genspace community biology lab in Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 stipend for completing the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Duration of 6 months
Application Deadline: Applications open from November 1; typically end around January
Eligibility: Aged 16+; live in NYC or attend a NYC Public or Charter School within 45 mins of Genspace

BioRocket introduces you to biotechnology research in a community lab environment over a much longer timeline than most summer internships. Across six months, you’ll work on projects involving DNA analysis, genetic engineering, and modern molecular biology techniques while learning directly from mentors. The internship also includes outreach activities, presentations, and visits to biotech organizations, which help you understand how research connects to industry and public science communication. You’ll spend time developing laboratory habits such as maintaining protocols, documenting results, and understanding experimental controls. Because the program runs over multiple sessions, you get more time to build technical familiarity with research workflows. Students interested in biotech and synthetic biology often find the extended duration useful for skill development.

15. NIH High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)

Location: Various NIH campuses
Cost/Stipend: Stipends are adjusted annually
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: May 11 – August 31
Application Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident; enrolled at least half-time as a senior in high school; 18+ years

The NIH HS-SIP places you inside one of the largest biomedical research systems in the world, where you’ll work alongside NIH scientists on ongoing research projects. Depending on your assigned lab, you may gain exposure to neuroscience, immunology, chemistry, genetics, or computational biology research. Your daily work can involve analyzing datasets, maintaining lab records, reviewing scientific papers, or learning techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, or microscopy. The internship also includes professional development programming, which means you learn how scientists communicate findings and collaborate across teams. By the end of the internship, you will typically present your work to mentors and peers. For students trying to understand how to get a lab internship in high school, NIH demonstrates how important persistence, academic readiness, and targeted applications can be.

Key Takeaways

This list covers 15 lab internships for high school students spanning biomedical research, neuroscience, quantum computing, cancer biology, agricultural science, and biotechnology, hosted at institutions including Stanford, the NIH, MD Anderson, Fermilab, and Johns Hopkins APL. The most generously stipended programs are MD Anderson ($7,200 over 10 weeks), SEAP ($4,000 to $4,500), and Biorocket at Genspace ($2,000 over six months), while the most academically demanding and selective placements are the Rockefeller SSRP (32 students from a global applicant pool) and NIH HS-SIP, both of which require strong transcripts and early applications between December and February. For students who want a research-style experience without the wet-lab setting or rigid eligibility criteria, the Ladder Internship Program is the only fully remote option on this list, placing students inside startups to work on applied technical and research-adjacent projects instead of a university or government lab.

Questions Students Often Ask About These Internships

1. Do I need advanced lab experience before applying to these internships?

No, most programs are built to teach lab skills rather than assume them. SIMR, STaRS, Simons at Stony Brook, and NIH HS-SIP all introduce techniques like microscopy, genotyping, and PCR from the ground up, with the expectation that students learn through mentorship rather than arrive already trained. The main prerequisite across most programs is a strong academic record in science and math rather than direct lab exposure. Programs like QCaMP and PRISM are intentionally designed to introduce entirely new subject areas, such as quantum computing or particle physics, that most students have not encountered in a standard curriculum.

2. Which of these internships are remote or do not require relocating for the summer?

The Ladder Internship Program is the only fully remote option on this list, allowing you to work with a startup from anywhere. Johns Hopkins ASPIRE offers a hybrid structure with virtual project work and a single mandatory in-person onboarding session in Maryland. All other internships on this list require in-person attendance at a specific lab, university, or research site, and several, including MPFI, Fermilab PRISM, and Biorocket, have strict local residency requirements tied to their funding or facility access.

3. How should I decide between a long-format program like Biorocket and a shorter summer internship?

It depends on the kind of depth you are looking for. Biorocket's six-month structure allows for slower skill-building and more time to understand a research workflow end to end, which suits students who want to go deep into a single technical area like genetic engineering. Shorter, intensive programs like SIMR, STaRS, or MD Anderson compress a similar experience into 8 to 10 weeks, which works well if you want a concentrated research credential without a long-term weekly commitment. If you are unsure, a shorter summer placement is generally easier to combine with other activities during the school year, while a longer program like Biorocket may be better suited to a single year of focused depth.