12 Paid Medical Internships for High School Students in California
If you’re a high school student in California looking to gain hands-on experience in healthcare or the medical field, consider participating in medical internships designed for high school students. They’re a great way to explore the medical field while still in high school and develop practical skills that will contribute to your future; some even offer a stipend! They’re also a great addition to your resume and can help your profile stand out during the college application process.
Medical internships for high school students give you the opportunity to shadow physicians, assist with research, and learn how hospitals and laboratories operate. Whether you’re interested in cutting-edge lab work, clinical research, or exploring the latest in biomedical AI, there’s something here to match your goals. Many medical internships for high school students offer mentorship and access to real research projects.
Here are 12 paid medical internships for high school students that you can check out!
1. The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Stipend: $500+ (up to $1,500+ for underrepresented groups)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Acceptance rate <3%; 50 students selected annually
Program Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; 16+ by program start; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) offers 8-week medical internships for high school students where you'll work one-on-one with a mentor in a Stanford lab, conducting research in one of eight fields. These include Cancer Biology, Immunology, Neurobiology, Bioengineering, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioinformatics, or Genetics & Genomics. Days include safety training, lectures, and lab work, culminating in a final poster session. An alternative track, the Bioengineering Bootcamp, focuses on hands-on workshops and lectures instead of lab research. You'll explore topics like protein engineering and brain-machine interfaces, learn the Biodesign process, and develop skills in technical communication, scientific research, and patent review. Both tracks offer networking, social events, and exposure to Stanford resources.
2. Scripps Research Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: $4,830
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Program Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school students from one of the following REACH partner schools: Barrio Logan College Institute, Crawford HS, Hilltop HS, Hoover HS, Lincoln HS, or Morse HS (all in San Diego County)
Scripps Research’s High School Student Research Education Program offers 7-week medical internships for high school students interested in research in biomedical science. Before starting lab work, you’ll attend a 3-day pre-internship “boot camp” to build foundational research skills. Once placed in a lab through an interview process with faculty, you’ll spend your summer conducting hands-on research alongside a graduate student mentor. In addition to lab work, mentorship covers the college application process, personal essay guidance, and career exploration in the life sciences. This program is run in collaboration with the REACH program and is only open to students from specific schools. Selected participants will work full-time in a Scripps Research lab, gaining exposure to real-world biomedical research and the culture of a top-tier research institute.
3. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Multiple Navy medical research labs in California
Stipend: $4,000 stipend for first-time interns, $4,500 for returning interns
Cohort Size: Approximately 300 placements across all SEAP labs nationally
Program Dates: 8 weeks during summer, with a possible 2-week extension
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with strong academic records; U.S. citizens (some labs may consider permanent residents or dual citizens)
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) offers a competitive opportunity for high school students to gain real-world research experience in the Department of the Navy (DoN) medical and biomedical research laboratories located in California. You’ll contribute to ongoing research alongside Navy scientists and engineers working on health-related innovations and technologies. Whether you’re exploring interests in medicine, biomedical engineering, or life sciences, this program provides direct mentorship from top-tier professionals, access to cutting-edge lab equipment, and insight into careers in military and public health research. Many SEAP participants have continued to long-term careers within the Department of the Navy or related scientific fields.
4. UCSF Summer Student Research Program
Location: UCSF Mission Bay, UCSF Parnassus Heights, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital of Oakland, MLK Research Building in Oakland, or UC Berkeley, CA
Stipend: $3,000 – $4,300
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Program Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (must be 16+ by June 1) with at least one completed year in math and biology; Must meet criteria for underrepresentation in the sciences
The UCSF Summer Student Research Program is a 9-week internship placing high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds into clinical and lab-based biomedical research settings. You’ll be paired with a mentor to work on an independent research project, attend weekly seminars with UCSF professionals, join journal clubs, and participate in skill-building workshops and social activities. It ends with a formal research symposium where you'll present your findings to the scientific community. This program aims to increase diversity in the sciences by supporting students through one-on-one mentorship, hands-on experience, and structured exposure to STEM careers.
5. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Stipend: $3,000 (Available on a needs-based system)
Cohort Size: 40 students
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds; Must be able to commute to the Stanford campus daily
For high school students from underrepresented or diverse backgrounds, Stanford's Pediatric Internship Program (PIPS) provides a 6-week summer medical internship opportunity. It’s designed for students with little to no prior research experience. As a participant, you’ll spend most of your time conducting a mentored research project in a Stanford lab focused on maternal and child health, culminating in a scientific poster and presentation at the end-of-program symposium. Beyond lab work, you’ll attend interactive workshops on research skills, college prep, and leadership development. You’ll also be matched with a team of Stanford "Near Peer Mentors"—current undergrads, med students, and residents—who provide weekly one-on-one support and career guidance.
6. The Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; Scholarships available for low-income students
Acceptance Rate: ~7-8%
Program Dates: June 16 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students (16+ by June 16) with ≥3.0 unweighted GPA; Reside in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Santa Cruz County; Prior coursework or experience in biology, chemistry, or programming required
GRIPS offers summer internships at Stanford, where you can learn about genomics, biomedical research, and computer science. You’ll spend your mornings in a Stanford lab, working on a research project under the mentorship of a lab scientist. Alongside your lab experience, you’ll join panels and seminars that explore career paths in biomedical science, and receive regular guidance from Stanford researchers. The program is designed for students with some background in biology, chemistry, or programming, and aims to deepen both technical skills and career awareness.
7. City Of Hope: Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Stipend: $4,500
Cohort Size: 60 students selected annually
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+ by program start); Completed high school courses in chemistry and biology
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope is a full-time research internship for high school and undergraduate students with interests in cancer biology, molecular genetics, and translational medicine. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor to design and conduct an independent research project using techniques such as PCR, Western blotting, cell culture, and genetic analysis. The program emphasizes both lab work and scientific communication; you’ll present your findings through a poster, oral presentation, and research paper. Weekly seminars, career talks, and field trips round out the experience.
8. Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (iCLEM)
Location: Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors (16+ by June 16); Reside in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco County; Meet HUD-defined low-income criteria based on household size and location
iCLEM (Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology) offers paid summer medical internships for high school students from low-income, often underrepresented backgrounds. Hosted at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) in Emeryville, CA, the program offers hands-on research experience in microbiology labs managed by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. You'll be connected with high school teachers, UC science undergraduates, and JBEI research advisors while exploring microbiology through lab work, mentorship, and exposure to industry practices. The program also includes industry field trips and career exploration workshops to support college readiness.
9. CURE Research Internship Program at UCSF
Location: UCSF, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid (amount unspecified)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Current high school juniors; At least 16 years old by program start; Minimum 2.5 GPA
An internship at the UCSF CURE Program (Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences) is a paid, full-time summer research opportunity for high school juniors and community college students from underserved backgrounds. Over the course of two months, you’ll work in a UCSF lab or research setting, exploring fields like basic science, clinical research, behavioral health, and population science. Under the guidance of UCSF faculty, graduate students, and postdocs, you'll contribute to an ongoing research project and present your findings at a campus-wide Research Symposium. The program also includes college and career advising, academic development workshops, and preparation for applying to college and pursuing a biomedical research career.
10. Samuels Family LA-HIP High School Internship Program
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors attending a public high school in Los Angeles County; Eligible to work in California; Strong academic record and interest in science required
During the LA-HIP program, you will get to work in the laboratory on pediatric diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurological issues. For seven weeks, you’ll work full-time in a lab at The Saban Research Institute, gaining early exposure to experimental techniques typically reserved for college or graduate-level study. You’ll keep a lab notebook, present your work at meetings, and share your research at a final Science Symposium. Beyond research, LA-HIP includes a robust college prep component. You’ll take part in SAT prep, college application workshops, and personalized counseling from Mosaic College Counseling and The Princeton Review. Visits to local colleges and skill-building sessions—on time management, goal setting, and self-advocacy—round out the experience, all to help you become a strong and informed college applicant.
11. Bridge Undergraduate Science Jr. Program (BUGS Jr.)
Location: University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: $800
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: June 17 – August 2
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school students interested in biomedical and interdisciplinary science research
If you're a high school student curious about what it’s like to work in a real biomedical lab, the BUGS Jr. Program at USC offers a rare chance to do just that. Over seven weeks, you’ll be paired with a USC faculty mentor and integrated into an active research team—often including graduate students and postdocs—where you’ll contribute to hands-on experiments and investigations in fields ranging from molecular biology to biomedical engineering. In addition to daily lab work, you’ll join journal clubs, campus tours, career panels, and research seminars designed to expose you to the full spectrum of scientific disciplines and professional pathways. The program wraps up with a summer symposium, where you’ll present your work in a formal poster session to your mentors, peers, and the broader USC research community.
12. Cedars-Sinai Research Internship Program
Location: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: 25 research interns
Program Dates: 6-10 weeks, starting from June 30
Application Deadline: February 1 – 8
Eligibility: Current high school students residing in Los Angeles or the surrounding areas; 16+ before the program starts, and eligible to work in the U.S.
The Cedars-Sinai Research Internship Program (or INSPIRE) aims to introduce high school students to healthcare via hands-on training and virtual workshops. During the program, you will spend six to ten weeks working on basic, translational, or clinical research projects. You will learn more about the research process, safety regulations in the lab, how to collect and analyze data, and more. You’ll also get to improve your research study process, learn how to develop a hypothesis, and understand how to write an abstract. You’ll participate in journal clubs and lab meetings, where you will discuss your research and work on your presentation skills. Aside from this, you’ll attend workshops that emphasise networking and career exploration.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
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Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!