Top 15 Biology Summer Internships for High School Students in 2025
If you’re a biology student looking to be productive and learn something new during the summer, consider taking up an internship. Biology internships for high school students can help you gain field-specific knowledge, hands-on experience, and meaningful connections with scientists and professionals.
Most biology internships for high school students also contain a research component, which allows you to learn about how research is conducted and what working in a lab or in the field will look like. Many programs also offer a stipend for your work and may occur virtually or in person.
Here are 15 biology internships for high school students you can check out this summer!
1. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various locations across the country
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: November 22 – January 19
Program Dates: June – late July/August
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program offers biology internships for high school students that zero in on fisheries and aquatic science. Over eight weeks, you will work with a local mentor in various locations, even outdoors and on overnight field trips. Although the kinds of tasks you will carry out vary, they typically include taking fish population surveys, establishing aquatic vegetation and fish habitat, electrofishing, snorkeling, examining specimens under a microscope, water quality testing, data processing, and assisting with children’s educational programs. The working hours and program duration will be decided by you and your mentor. You will also get to attend the Scholars’ Summit towards the end of the program.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 onwards; Need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis
Program Dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students
Veritas AI was founded and run by Harvard graduate students and offers programs designed for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. If you want to get started with AI, ML, and data science, the AI Scholars program will introduce you to the fundamentals through a 10-session bootcamp and provide a chance to work on real-world projects.
More advanced students can opt for the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you will benefit from 1-on-1 mentorship as you work on a unique, individual project. As an additional perk, you will have access to the in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school research journals.
3. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Baltimore, MD, or virtual
Stipend: In-person interns are paid an hourly wage of $15
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Program Dates: 8 weeks (in-person); 5 weeks (virtual)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors
JHIBS is a summer research program that allows you to explore the field of neurological sciences. In order to promote accessibility, the program offers both virtual and in-person experiences. In the in-person component, you will conduct original research under the guidance of faculty, staff, and student mentors and participate in clinical rotations with Johns Hopkins neurologists.
You’ll also attend scientific seminars to learn about contemporary developments in the subject, as well as educational and professional development workshops. The program concludes with an oral or poster presentation where you will discuss the findings of your research.
Location: Remote
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program Dates: Multiple 8 – 12-week cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10 – 20 hours per week
Ladder Internships is a selective program where high school students work with a real-world startup in a field they are interested in. These are high-growth startups that operate in a diverse range of industries, namely, tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. During the internship, you will work closely with the startup’s managers and a Ladder Coach on impactful projects. You will present your work to the company at the end of the program.
5. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program
Location: Monell Center, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: 18 – 24
Application Deadline: January 15 (tentative)
Program Dates: June 23 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students who are eligible to work in the U.S. and come from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ
If you’re interested in biomedical science or medicine, this apprenticeship program may fit your needs. During this program, you will complete a structured research project with a Monell scientist, testing hypotheses and noting the methods used and results achieved. You’ll also attend activities and workshops on oral and written communication in science, research ethics, and more to enhance your skills in research and communication.
The program also offers a lecture series that discusses careers in various scientific fields. The program ends with a public conference, called the Capstone Symposium, where you present your findings to an audience of scientific staff, family members, and friends.
6. Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Location: The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, CT
Stipend: $6,500
Cohort Size: 40
Application Deadline: January 27
Program Dates: May 31 – August 8
Eligibility: High school seniors (only for the Bar Harbor, Maine campus) who are at least 18 years old, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Student Program emphasizes genetics and genomics research. During the program, you will participate in an ongoing research program at the lab and be mentored by an experienced scientist to facilitate your learning. You will be expected to develop an independent project, gather and analyze data, and report the results, which you will eventually present at the end of the program. You will also meet and network with other students in the program to form a community of aspiring researchers.
7. UC Santa Cruz’s Science Internship Program (SIP)
Location: UC Santa Cruz
Cost: $4,750 + $60 application fee; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: February 1 – 28
Program Dates:
Online Research Week: June 16 – 20
Active Research Weeks: June 23 – August 9
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 – 17 years old by the start of the program; Bay Area applicants preferred; More details here
UC Santa Cruz’s Science Internship Program (SIP) offers biology internships for high school students interested in open-ended research. Some biology-related research topics available for 2025 are biomolecular engineering and molecular, cell, and developmental biology.
After one week of online programming, you will spend seven weeks conducting research in person. During this time, you will develop the skills needed to effectively read professional journal articles or other primary sources, write code for scientific computing, and present academic concepts orally and in writing. The program concludes with a final Presentation Day.
8. Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship Program at U-M
Location: U-M's Ann Arbor campus
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: 5 – 10
Application Deadline: February (tentative)
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Eligibility: Current juniors attending a high school in Michigan who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
As one of the top biology internships for high school students, the Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship Program at U-M offers a hands-on science laboratory research experience. Over six weeks, you will intern with a team of researchers in the life sciences, including Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Genetics, and conduct original research. You’ll also participate in professional and educational development activities, including individualized meetings with mentors, preparation for standardized tests, college advising, networking opportunities with scientists, as well as cultural and social activities.
9. Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutch Training Labs, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 23 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students entering senior year; 16+ by the start of the program
The Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship Program is an eight-week program that’s divided into two components. The first component, lasting two weeks, provides hands-on training on laboratory safety techniques and skills. For the remaining six weeks, you will be placed in a research group and mentored by a scientist.
Your research tasks vary according to the project but usually include data entry, attending regular laboratory meetings, making solutions or dilutions, creating culture plates, and so on. In addition, you can participate in research seminars, attend professional development workshops focused on college and careers, and engage in social activities. You will present your research findings and future aspirations at the end of the internship.
10. Scripps’ Student Research Internship Program
Location: The Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI)
Stipend: To be determined
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8 OR June 16 – August 22
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 by program start
The Scripps Student Research Internship Program equips high school students with skills and knowledge in health sciences, statistics, and computational/computer science. You will learn about translational research, including genomic/genetic association studies and mHealth trials.
As part of the program, you will be assigned a primary mentor who will guide you on your research and provide insights on potential career paths. Opportunities are available in dry as well as wet lab settings. Apart from attending weekly seminars, you will present the results of the independent research project at a Translational Institute Research Meeting and share the outcomes at the concluding intern poster symposium.
11. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; Unpaid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: February 2
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8
Eligibility: At least 15 years old (online or in-person/hybrid computer labs) or 16 years old (in-person/hybrid "wet-lab") by the start of the program
ASSIP provides high school students the opportunity to work 1-on-1 with scientist mentors on a research project. Some of the available projects are in bioengineering, forensic science, biochemistry, systems biology, equine medicine, molecular medicine, and more. As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience working with research technology and equipment and develop skills in science communication, whether oral or written. Discussions and meetings will facilitate your exploration of careers in science. The program concludes with a final poster presentation.
12. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program
Location: RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory, The Rockefeller University
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipends may be provided to applicants experiencing financial hardship
Cohort Size: 32
Application Deadline: October 14 – January 3
Program Dates: June 23 – August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; 16+ by the start of the program
Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program offers high school students a unique research experience. As a participant, you will be placed in teams and assigned to labs to complete a research project in the summer. As a team, you will familiarize yourself with research techniques and laboratory norms and conduct relevant research under the guidance of 1-3 team leads.
The topics you will be researching will be based on the expertise and scientific interests of your team leads. Alongside carrying out research, you will attend relevant elective courses, guest lectures, workshops, networking opportunities, and social events. Each week of the program is designed to complete specific research components, ending with a symposium where you present research findings in a poster.
13. Stanford STaRS Internship Program
Location: Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; Unpaid
Cohort Size: 20
Application Deadline: January 27
Program Dates: June 23 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The STaRS program was founded on the fundamental importance of education to improving human health. Over seven weeks, you will be introduced to careers in healthcare and biomedical research. During the program, you will work with experienced clinicians, scientists, mentors, and peers. You will also undergo laboratory and safety measures training before starting your ab-based research.
14. SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Internships
Location: SUNY Oneonta, NY
Stipend: $3,000
Cohort Size: 1-3
Application Deadline: March 26
Program Dates: 9 weeks from late-May to August
Eligibility: New York State residents; 16+ as of June 20
SUNY Oneonta’s biology internships for high school students typically last nine weeks. Each day during the internship may look different, but you will work on an individual project and assist with other research. This internship includes field work, laboratory analyses (e.g., water chemistry, zooplankton ID, fish dissection), data analysis, writing, and more. Weekly seminars discuss various topics related to the ecology of Otsego Lake and the hydrology of its watershed. As part of the program, you will prepare a technical report and present your research findings as a poster.
15. Broad Summer Scholars Program
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $3,600
Cohort Size: 17 (tentative, based on the previous year)
Application Deadline: November 13 – January 22
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who attend a high school in MA within commuting distance to the Broad, have earned a B or better in science and math classes, and are a US citizen, permanent resident, or non-US citizen with employment authorization
The Broad Summer Scholars Program gives high school students the chance to spend 6 weeks completing original research. As a participant, you will be paired with scientists and your research will investigate a topic of your interest, such as cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, or infectious disease.
You will also receive training in computational as well as experimental techniques that will aid your research. Other program activities include scientific talks, college fairs, and social events. At the end of the program, you will present your research findings to the Broad community in a scientific poster session.