15 STEM Internships for High School Students in Alabama

As a high school student, taking part in an internship can help you strengthen your academic profile, build a compelling resume, and gain early exposure to professional work environments. Internships give you the chance to apply classroom learning to tasks, develop communication skills, and explore potential career paths before committing to a college major. If you’re interested in STEM, internships can be especially valuable, as they offer practical experience while helping you understand how these fields operate outside the classroom.

Why should you participate in a STEM internship in Alabama?

Alabama offers a growing number of STEM internship opportunities for high school students, ranging from university-led research programs to industry and technology-focused experiences. These internships allow you to work with experienced mentors, engage in meaningful projects, and gain insight into STEM careers while staying close to home. You’ll also get the chance to start growing your network as you’ll connect with field experts and peers who share your interests. 

To help you with your search, we’ve narrowed down 15 STEM internships for high school students in Alabama that focus on skill-building, mentorship, and practical learning.

15 STEM Internships for High School Students in Alabama

1. AgriTREK/SciTREK Summer Institute & AgDiscovery Summer Program

Location: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
Cost/Stipend: Free; Up to $200 travel stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – 28
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Current high school students (15+) 

The AgriTREK/SciTREK Summer Institute and AgDiscovery Summer Program provide high school students with a two-week residential experience focused on STEM and agriculture. As a participant, you will engage in hands-on research, leadership development, and personal enrichment activities while exploring careers in agriculture and related fields. Mentorship from Tuskegee University faculty and staff, as well as sponsors including the USDA and NSF, allows you to gain insight into practical applications of scientific concepts. The program emphasizes both personal growth and academic exploration. You’ll collaborate with peers, participate in laboratory and field activities, and develop skills relevant to STEAM careers. 

2. Ladder Internships

Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Program Dates: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort 
Eligibility: High school students 

During the Ladder Internships program, you will be matched with a remote role at an early-stage or fast-growing start-up, where you’ll work closely with a company manager throughout the program. Internship opportunities span areas such as technology, AI and machine learning, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. You’ll take on real responsibilities by contributing to active projects, helping you build practical and job-ready skills through hands-on experience. Since many partner start-ups operate in dynamic, high-growth environments, you’ll gain a clear understanding of how start-up teams function daily. Over the course of the internship, you’ll collaborate with industry professionals, strengthen essential workplace skills, and conclude the program with a final presentation highlighting your work and key takeaways.

3. Alabama Colon & Gastro, PC: Summer Internship Program

Location: Alabama Colon & Gastro, PC, Huntsville, AL
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: May – August
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (17+) residing in Alabama 

Through this internship, you will gain valuable insight into medical careers through exposure to a gastroenterology office environment. You’ll spend time observing daily clinical operations while developing an understanding of how a medical practice functions. The program includes shadowing opportunities with healthcare providers, allowing you to learn about patient care and clinical decision-making in gastroenterology. You’ll also build professional skills by working alongside medical staff and engaging with real-world healthcare environments. Throughout the internship, mentorship is a central focus, helping you explore pathways in medicine and related fields. 

4. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

Location: Available across the U.S., including in Alabama
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer; Flexible schedule
Application Deadline: November 21 – January 25
Eligibility: High school current juniors and seniors (16+)

The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a paid, eight-week internship designed to give you practical exposure to aquatic research and conservation. You’ll work with fisheries scientists and mentors, taking part in field activities such as fish sampling, habitat evaluations, and water quality monitoring. With guidance from experienced professionals, you’ll learn the full research process, from data collection to analysis, while exploring career paths in fisheries biology and environmental science. The program focuses on applied, experiential learning and highlights how field-based research supports effective environmental management and conservation efforts.

5. ITEST-Alabama: Summer Academy

Location: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
Stipend: Up to a $1,500 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 1 – 25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders attending a school in Alabama’s Black Belt region

During the ITEST-Alabama Summer Academy, you’ll explore computer science through a project-based learning experience designed to build both technical and career-ready skills. You’ll learn foundational concepts such as software engineering, network security, computer hardware, and database security, along with an introduction to cloud computing. A key component of the program involves using MIT App Inventor, where you’ll design, prototype, and develop a mobile app from scratch. You’ll work in groups to identify a real community need and apply computing skills to create an app-based solution, strengthening your collaboration and problem-solving abilities. Throughout the program, you will receive mentorship and academic guidance from faculty and teachers, along with exposure to Black professionals working in computing and education. 

6. Lockheed Martin Space: High School Internship Program

Location: Lockheed Martin Space, Huntsville, AL
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 9+ weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: November 3 – December 19
Eligibility: High school students (16+) able to demonstrate interest and aptitude in STEM; Must live within commuting distance of a participating Lockheed Martin Space facility (graduating high school seniors are not eligible)

As a high school intern with Lockheed Martin Space, you’ll spend over nine weeks working alongside aerospace scientists and engineers on projects related to space systems and defense technology. Your work may involve technical problem-solving, research support, or project-based assignments that reflect how STEM skills are applied in professional environments. You’ll receive on-the-job training and mentorship, including opportunities to shadow leaders and learn about different STEM career paths. The program also includes professional development workshops, networking events, and community service activities that help you understand workplace collaboration and responsibility. You may tour facilities and learn how large-scale aerospace projects are developed and managed. 

7. QuantHub Alabama Data Scholars

Location: Various placements within Alabama; Many roles are hybrid or remote
Stipend: Paid (stipend amount not specified)
Cohort Size: 50 students (tentatively)
Dates: June 3 – July 26 (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Alabama high school juniors and seniors (16+)

The QuantHub Alabama Data Scholars Internship Program is a paid summer opportunity that places you with Alabama-based employers that use data, AI, and analytics in their work. Over the course of the program, you’ll build foundational and applied data literacy skills through hands-on projects supported by QuantHub’s skills training platform. As an intern, you’ll work on tasks such as analyzing datasets, supporting reporting and decision-making, and understanding how data drives business and innovation across different industries. Alongside technical learning, the program emphasizes professional development, helping you strengthen workplace communication and career readiness. You’ll also gain exposure to data science career paths by collaborating with professionals and mentors in Alabama’s growing tech ecosystem. 

8. AAMU Research Experience for Secondary School Students in Nanoscience & Ceramics

Location: Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL
Stipend: $1,000 per month
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 4 students
Dates: June 2 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students from Huntsville, Madison, and surrounding areas; Applicants under 19 require parental approval for medical and liability forms 

Through AAMU’s Research Experience for Secondary School Students in Nanoscience & Ceramics, you will gain research experience in nanoscience and ceramics. You will get to engage in an extended research experience where you’ll work closely with a faculty mentor in a university lab. This gives you the chance to gain exposure to real scientific research and laboratory practices. As a participant, you can expect to gain experience in a professional academic environment while building foundational research and technical skills. 

9. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP)

Location: Virtual (in-person options in the Greater Seattle area)
Stipend: Some projects may offer a stipend
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive, ~5%
Dates: 8-12 weeks in the summer, varies depending on the project
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: High school students 

The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program connects you with mentors from diverse industries, academia, and community leadership. As a participant, you will be matched with a mentor based on your interests and career goals through a rigorous application and evaluation process. Throughout the program, you will work closely with your mentor on in-depth learning experiences that may include research, software development, or exploratory projects in a professional setting. You can expect to gain exposure to real-world problem-solving, receive personalized guidance, and develop essential academic and professional skills. The program emphasizes long-term mentorship, with many students continuing their projects beyond the summer. 

10. STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer Intern Program

Location: Virtual (on-site component in Texas available)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June – July 21
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Motivated high school students

In the SEES Summer Intern Program, you’ll spend most of the summer working remotely on mission-based STEM research guided by mentors from NASA, universities, and industry. Before project work begins, you will complete structured distance-learning modules in Earth and space science, and, for some projects, Python programming. From June through early July, you will collaborate online with your project team, analyzing real mission data related to areas such as Earth systems, natural hazards, remote sensing, or space science. Regular virtual meetings, mentor check-ins, and a speaker series will help you understand how large research teams operate and how national science missions are planned and executed. You’ll also get to develop skills in data analysis, systems thinking, teamwork, and scientific communication. The program concludes with you presenting your work at a virtual science symposium, giving you experience sharing research in a professional academic setting.

11. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship

Location: Virtual
Cost: $45 application fee + $2,400 program fee; Financial aid available
Cohort Size: 50 students
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26; Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 20
Eligibility: High school students (14+); Strong preference given to those with experience in math, coding, or healthcare projects

The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program that explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, engineering, and medicine. You’ll participate in expert-led lectures on AI applications in healthcare, collaborate on team-based research projects, and receive mentorship from Stanford faculty and student researchers. The program also includes career-focused sessions with professionals from academia, industry, and government, offering insight into real-world AI and medical pathways. Through hands-on technical activities, you’ll apply coding and data analysis skills to address focused research challenges. Students who complete the program earn a certificate.

12. EDIT AI High School Summer Internship Program

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 13 – August 31
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students with a background in computer science and prior exposure to machine learning or deep learning pipelines; Familiarity with Python or R is expected

If you’re interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and cancer research, the EDIT AI program offers a remote research internship focused on real-world clinical applications. You will participate in cancer-focused research projects that validate emerging diagnostic technologies while learning how computational tools align with clinical needs. Through a Virtual Student Laboratory, preparatory workshops, and tiered mentorship, you will build skills in biomedical research, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration. You’ll work closely with clinicians, researchers, and peers from institutions such as Dartmouth Health and Cedars Sinai Medical Center, mirroring how modern biomedical research teams operate. 

13. Stanford University: Clinical Summer Internship (Virtual)

Location: Virtual
Cost: $95 application fee + $4,580
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 27 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors (16+)

In this internship, you’ll participate in a two-week interactive medical training program conducted via Zoom. You’ll attend daily sessions led by Stanford faculty and medical leaders, where you’ll learn clinical concepts through real-time instruction rather than pre-recorded lectures. From home, you will complete hands-on activities such as organ dissections, suturing, practicing injections, and taking vital signs using a guided supply kit shipped to you. You’ll collaborate closely with peers in live discussions, case-based learning, and skill-building exercises while receiving mentorship from Stanford School of Medicine students. This virtual format is designed to deliver a rigorous, immersive experience that mirrors in-person clinical learning while remaining accessible from anywhere.

14. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location: Virtual
Cost: $25 application fee + $1,299; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students (15+) for the remote internships  

Through the virtual component of ASSIP, you’ll take part in a summer research experience with a George Mason University faculty mentor or a collaborating researcher. As a participant, you’ll contribute to an original research project in fields such as computer science, data science, machine learning, cybersecurity, environmental science, or other STEM areas that can be conducted online. You’ll develop skills in research methods, scientific writing, data analysis, and professional communication through regular virtual meetings and guided project work. The program emphasizes close mentorship, allowing you to receive direct feedback and guidance as you progress through your research. You’ll also engage in virtual forums and discussions that expose you to STEM careers and role models across disciplines. 

15. Alabama Power Internship Program

Location: Edmundite Missions Center for Workforce Development, Selma, AL
Stipend: $12/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: One semester
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school seniors at Selma High School; Must submit a transcript and a letter of recommendation

The Alabama Power Internship Program provides a structured learning experience for high school seniors, combining paid employment with academic support and workforce training. As an intern, you’ll work across the operations of the Edmundite Missions Center, gaining hands-on experience in leadership, communication, decision-making, time management, and conflict resolution. You’ll develop both hard and soft skills while learning basic business and marketing techniques applicable to micro-enterprises. The program emphasizes mentorship, skill-building, and professional development through real workplace exposure and guidance from experienced staff. You’ll also have opportunities to engage with community initiatives, enhancing your understanding of local economic development and service. 

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