15 STEM Internships for High School Students in Boston

TL;DR

This list covers 15 STEM internships for high school students in Boston offered by universities, hospitals, and biotech and tech companies, spanning fields like neurology, cancer research, marine science, and computer science. Most run full-time over the summer for 6 to 11 weeks, though a few stretch across multiple years. Pay varies widely, with many options being free and offering stipends ranging from roughly $15/hour to $4,000+ for the summer; a couple charge an application fee instead. One program is fully remote, and another runs as a short virtual experience, but most require you to be based in Massachusetts or able to commute into the Boston area.

If you're interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, an internship is one of the most accessible ways to see what these fields look like beyond a textbook. In class, problems usually come with a set method and a clear answer. In an internship, you're more likely to be handed a question that doesn't have a clear answer, such as why an experiment gave unexpected results, how to make a design hold up under stress, or what a dataset is really telling you. Depending on the internship, you may spend your time running lab experiments, collecting and analyzing data, writing code, building and testing prototypes, or assisting with a research project under a mentor's guidance. You will also practice recording your work carefully, asking good questions, and explaining your findings to people outside your team.

Why should you do a STEM internship in Boston?

Boston has one of the densest concentrations of research institutions in the country, with universities, teaching hospitals, biotech companies, and tech firms all within a small area. That means you can explore very different corners of STEM, from biology and medicine to robotics, environmental science, and computer science in the city. An internship here can put you in close proximity to working scientists and engineers, helping you understand what a research or industry career actually looks like. You may also meet other students who share your interests, and those connections can lead to future opportunities such as summer programs, lab volunteering, or mentorship. If you're still deciding between fields, an internship in the city can give you a practical way to test one before you commit to a college major. You can check out our guide to setting goals for your first internship to explore how to get the most out of your experience.

How do you apply for a STEM internship in Boston?

Start by reading each program's requirements, since eligibility often depends on your age, grade level, and background. Note the deadlines, costs, time commitment, and whether the program is in person, hybrid, or online. Most applications include a short form, your transcript, and a few written responses about why you're interested. Some also ask for a teacher recommendation, so give your recommenders plenty of notice. If you don't have lab or industry experience yet, you can highlight relevant classes, science fair projects, robotics or coding clubs, or anything you've explored on your own. Apply early, since spots can fill quickly. To get step-by-step support, check out our guide to applying for an internship! 

To help you explore available options, we have put together a list of 15 STEM internships for high school students in Boston. Our selection focuses on options with credible host organizations or institutions that let you engage in real work and build an early professional network.

Also check out our selection of STEM summer internships and STEM camps if you are looking for opportunities beyond Boston.

Compare your options

Program type	Top programs	Cost/Stipend	Best for
University-based research programs	Northeastern YSP, RSI @ MIT, Harvard Medical School's Project Success	Cost: Free to $75 application fee; some options come with stipends	Students who want mentored research on a university campus; eligibility is often tied to being a Massachusetts resident or local student
Hospital and medical research internships	Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center CURE, MGH Youth Neurology Program, Mass General Brigham Youth Program, ADA Forsyth Student Scholars	Free; paid stipends	Students interested in medicine, neurology, or oral health research who want hands-on lab experience alongside clinicians or scientists
Biotech and life sciences internships	Mass. Life Sciences Center High School Apprenticeship Challenge, Broad Summer Scholars Program, Camp Zon	Free; stipends range from $3,600 – $4,080	Students who want paid exposure to genomics, biotechnology, or lab-based biology research, including one fully virtual option
Museum and public-facing STEM internships	New England Aquarium Summer Teen Internship, Museum of Science Youth Internships	Free; stipends available	Students who want to combine science communication and public speaking with STEM learning in a museum or aquarium setting
Tech and multi-industry internships	Ladder Internships, Boston PIC Tech Apprentice, AEOP Internships and Fellowships	Cost varies with financial aid available; some options come with a stipend	Students who want exposure to tech-specific tracks or research placements, whether fully remote or in person at a host organization

1. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program (YSP)

Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application deadline: March 1; application opens on December 14.
Eligibility: Students entering grade 12 in the fall who are permanent Massachusetts residents living in the state year-round and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents

YSP is a summer research program for Massachusetts students who have just completed their junior year of high school. You will join a research lab in one of Northeastern's Colleges of Engineering, Science, or Health Sciences and work on a STEM project with faculty mentors. You will also attend an Introduction to Engineering seminar series led by engineering professors and graduate students, and participate in field trips to corporate and government sites. The schedule will include sessions on engineering education and careers, as well as college and career counseling led by program coordinators and mentors. 

Who it's best for: Massachusetts students interested in engineering or science research who can attend a full-time, in-person program on Northeastern's campus.

2. Ladder Internships

Location: Remote! You can participate from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts every year, including Fall, Summer, Spring, and Winter
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; Fall (September), Spring (January), Summer (May), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work 10 – 20 hours/week for 8 – 12 weeks; open to high school, undergraduate, and gap year students!

Ladder Internships is a selective startup internship program for ambitious high school students! Through the program, you will work with a high-growth startup on an internship. Startups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from AI/ML and tech/deep tech to journalism, health tech, marketing, consulting, and more. Ladder’s startups are high-growth companies that, on average, raise more than $1 million. You will work closely with a manager on real-world projects and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually eight weeks long. Apply now!

Who it’s best for: Students looking for opportunities to work with startups on real STEM projects in a fully remote format.

3. Harvard Cancer Consortium CURE Summer Only Program

Location: Various sites in Boston, MA (Longwood Medical Area)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; weekly stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohort
Dates: 7 – 11 weeks in the summer (exact dates TBA)
Application deadline: TBA in fall; typically, February
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors, and first-year college students, sophomores, or juniors who are at least 16 and living in or attending school in Massachusetts

The Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Summer Only program is a full-time, paid research internship run by the Harvard Cancer Consortium for students interested in careers in scientific research. You will work closely with a research mentor on a hands-on cancer research project in biology, chemistry, epidemiology, health disparities, bioinformatics, computational biology, coding, or math. Alongside your project, you will take part in scientific skills training, research seminars, responsible conduct of research training, and a journal club for reading scientific literature. Over the course of 7 to 11 weeks, you will attend an orientation, career networking roundtables, informational interviews, and social events, and gain access to the program’s alumni network. At the end of the summer, you will write an abstract for your project and present it at a final presentation event.

Who it’s best for: Massachusetts students who are interested in cancer research and can commit to full-time, in-person work.

4. Research Science Institute (RSI) @ MIT and Stanford

Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (15 minutes away from Boston), MA; positions also available at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $75 non-refundable application fee (waivers available); no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~2.5% acceptance rate; ~100 students at MIT
Dates: June 20 – July 31
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors from around the world; RSI recommends applicants meet a few academic requirements.

RSI is a summer program that lets high schoolers explore and engage in STEM research over six weeks at the MIT or Stanford University campus. You will begin with one week of seminars exploring a range of topics in STEM and the humanities. Over the next five weeks, you will work on a research project alongside a mentor and spend most of your time in university labs. In the final week, you will complete and deliver oral and written presentations to share your research findings with peers and professionals. The schedule will include opportunities to connect with scientists and go on field trips to science and tech facilities.

Who it’s best for: Students who want to spend the summer conducting rigorous STEM research on a university campus.

5. Massachusetts General Hospital Youth Neurology Education and Research Program

Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; ~100 interns since the program began.
Dates: TBA for next cycle; typically, June – August
Application deadline: TBA; typically, January
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school and undergraduate students; the program focuses on female, Black, Latinx, American Indian, and first-generation students. 

This paid summer internship lets you engage in neurology research at Massachusetts General Hospital. You will be paired with a neurology mentor and work 40 hours a week collecting, analyzing, and interpreting scientific data in an MGH lab. Research areas typically cover the full range of neurology subspecialties. You will also take part in the INSPIRE Speaker Series led by leading neurology experts, career development forums, innovation sessions, and leadership skills workshops. The program will end with research presentations, letting you practice science communication. 

Who it's best for: Massachusetts students who want a full-time, paid, mentored neurology research experience.

6. Harvard Medical School’s Project Success 

Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, or affiliated research labs
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: TBA for next cycle; typically, June 29 – August 14
Application deadline: TBA for next cycle; typically February 4
Eligibility: Boston and Cambridge high school juniors or seniors who will be over 16 when the program begins, have a GPA of 2.7 or higher, are from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, and have completed courses in chemistry, biology, and algebra when the program starts

Project Success is a paid summer internship program that will place you at Harvard Medical School or affiliated science labs in Boston to conduct research under the mentorship of science professionals for seven weeks. You will engage in research in biomedical science, contributing to ongoing projects and learning lab techniques in the process. You will also engage in STEM group learning experiences, including seminars led by researchers and physicians to broaden your understanding of research. Site visits to hospitals and biotechnology organizations will offer exposure to real-world applications of research. You may also get to build writing and speaking skills and attend educational and career guidance sessions. 

Who it’s best for: Boston/Cambridge students looking for hands-on research experience and mentorship in local labs.

7. AEOP (Army Educational Outreach Program) Internships and Fellowships 

Location: University labs and U.S. Army research laboratories and centers across the U.S., including Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; educational stipends available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not officially disclosed; typically selective
Dates: June – August; dates can vary by opportunity.
Application deadline: Varies by lab position
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; specific roles may have additional criteria.

AEOP Internships are paid research opportunities sponsored by the U.S. Army at university labs and Army research laboratories and centers around the country. You will work under the mentorship of a professional scientist or engineer and learn how a working research lab operates. Placements span a range of disciplines across science, math, tech, and engineering. You will also get access to the AEOP Learning Hub, which offers resources like master classes, workshops, and webinars focused on STEM careers and research areas. During the program, outreach specialists will offer one-on-one support to help you build college readiness, professional skills, and college or job applications. 

Who it’s best for: Students who want a paid, in-person STEM research opportunity within a laboratory.

8. Massachusetts Life Sciences Center High School Apprenticeship Challenge

Location: Host organizations across Massachusetts, including in Boston
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4,080/intern (based on $17/hour for six weeks of full-time work)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 150 internships/year
Dates: May 1 – April 30; various part-time and full-time internships within this window (exact dates can vary by role)
Application deadline: Rolling till full
Eligibility: Students, ages 16 and up, who are enrolled in, or have recently graduated from vocational technical high schools (or comprehensive public high schools with life sciences Chapter 74 programs), public/charter high schools in listed Gateway Cities, public/charter high schools where at least 25% of students are classified as low income, or tuition-free private schools that primarily serve low-income or underrepresented students; students in the METCO Program and recently graduated students (within the last two years) not enrolled in college can also apply. 

This program connects high schoolers to paid internships at Massachusetts research institutions and small life sciences companies. You will join a part-time or full-time role at a local lab or organization, engaging in research or other scientific work. The exact tasks vary by placement. You can also enroll in a pre-internship training program to build biotechnology and biomedical skills along with professional workplace skills. The experience can prepare you for future academics and career opportunities in STEM and help you build an early professional network.

Who it's best for: Massachusetts students who want a paid introduction to life sciences careers.

9. Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) Tech Apprentice

Location: Host organizations in Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend of minimum $15/hour available (a total of $3,000 – $3,500 for the summer)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; the program has placed 1,700+ students over 18 years
Dates: Six to seven weeks over the summer
Application deadline: TBA for next cycle
Eligibility: Boston Public Schools (BPS) high school students who are at least 16 

Tech Apprentice, a part of the Mayor's Summer Jobs Program, places high school students at host companies across Boston to work on real technology projects tied to that employer's needs and students’ skills and interests. You will join one of five tech tracks: Web Development, Software (programming, coding, and QA), Digital and Social Media, Help Desk/IT Support, or Database and Data Analysis, and engage in track-specific responsibilities, from building websites to social media content creation. The experience can help you become familiar with workplace expectations and figure out next steps if you are considering a path in computer science or tech. Beyond the placement-specific work itself, some employer partners may offer additional career exploration opportunities, like workshops, guest speaker sessions, company tours, and job shadowing.

Who it's best for: BPS students who want paid, hands-on experience at a real tech organization before college.

10. New England Aquarium Summer Teen Internship Program

Location: New England Aquarium, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not officially disclosed
Dates: One week of training followed by six weeks of work (exact dates not specified)
Application deadline: TBA for next cycle; applications will open in March
Eligibility: Students, ages 14 and up, who are residents of Boston or Cambridge

This is a paid summer internship at the New England Aquarium for teens that lets you choose from two roles: Visitor Services Assistant and Interpretation and Engagement Aquarium Guide. As a Visitor Services Assistant, you will greet visitors, help with customer service, and share educational information at exhibits. As an Aquarium Guide, you will help interpret exhibits by sharing insights about animals and ocean conservation, lead activities throughout the building, and communicate with large numbers of visitors. For either of the roles, you will complete one week of training and six weeks of work. You will receive training in marine science, climate science, public speaking, and customer service. You will also take a required weekly professional development course and an ocean advocacy course, and you can join optional behind-the-scenes workshops and weekly social meetings.

Who it's best for: Boston and Cambridge teens who want a paid job and want to build public speaking skills while learning about marine and climate science.

11. Museum of Science Youth Internships

Location: Museum of Science, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost and stipend; access to museum events and resources provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer and academic-year opportunities available; dates vary for each opportunity
Application deadline: Varies by position and is posted in each internship posting; summer applications are typically available in February or March, fall positions in June or July, and spring positions in October or November.
Eligibility: Students, ages 14 – 19, who are actively enrolled in high schools or in equivalent programs

As an intern at the Museum of Science in Boston, you will gain real work experience in a museum setting. You will practice communicating topics in science and discuss the museum’s collections clearly with supervisors, colleagues, and museum visitors while working with a team and learning to manage your time. You will also learn to accept feedback and use it to improve your work, and explore how your tasks connect to the museum's mission. Over the course of the internship, you will build social and vocational skills and learn what professionalism and performance look like in a complex workplace.

Who it's best for: Students who want an entry-level work experience within a science museum.

12. Mass General Brigham Youth Program

Location: Multiple sites in Boston, MA: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Mass Eye and Ear
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 75 students/year
Dates: Academic year and summer programming (specific dates not specified)
Application deadline: Spring; exact date TBA for next cycle
Eligibility: Current 10th graders enrolled at Revere High School, Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, Chelsea High School, or any Boston public school with a minimum 3.0 GPA

The Mass General Brigham Youth Program is a multi-year program that offers support to students from 10th grade through college as they explore careers in research, healthcare, and science. When you join the program in 10th grade, you will focus on career exploration and community-building; in grades 11 and 12, you will take on paid internships and receive college and career advising. Summer job placements are typically available across departments such as psychiatry, emergency medicine, neurology, radiology, and lab research, where you will work alongside mentors and attend weekly professional development workshops. After high school graduation, you will gain access to one-on-one advising, workshops, and scholarships as you navigate college. 

Who it’s best for: Students looking for long-term career and college support and paid exposure to science, research, and healthcare.

13. ADA Forsyth Student Scholars Summer Program

Location: ADA Forsyth Institute, Somerville, MA (close to Boston; ~15 minutes away)
Cost/Stipend: Free; minimum wage + transportation pass available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students enrolled in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade at the time of application who live in the Eastern Massachusetts/Boston area; applicants must have a demonstrated interest in a STEM or oral health career

This paid summer internship lets  Massachusetts high school students explore the inner workings of the ADA Forsyth Institute, a research organization focused on oral health. You will work in the lab alongside ADA Forsyth scientists, who will serve as your mentors, and you will learn basic laboratory techniques while taking part in their research projects. You will also carry out your own hands-on research project. Additionally, you will attend weekly student presentations and college-level lectures by Forsyth scientists on topics such as oral health research, immunology, and microbiology. At the end of the program, you will present your findings as a scientific poster to the Boston-area scientific community. 

Who it's best for: Boston-area students who are interested in biomedical or oral health research and want a paid, in-person lab experience alongside scientist mentors.

14. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)

Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge (Greater Boston Area), MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $3,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – August 13
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Rising seniors who attend high schools in Massachusetts and have a B grade or better in math and science; applicants must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents/non-US citizens with employment authorization

BSSP is a six-week program that lets high school students conduct research at the Broad Institute and complete an original project. You will work closely with a scientist mentor who will guide you as you engage in computational or experimental research in areas like chemical biology, computational biology, cancer biology, infectious disease, and psychiatric research. Outside of the lab, you will participate in scientific talks, engage in career exploration, and attend a college fair. The program will wrap up with a poster session where you will present your findings to peers and the Broad Institute community.

Who it’s best for: Massachusetts students looking for a paid opportunity to engage in research alongside a mentor.

15. Camp Zon (Zon Lab)

Location: Virtual (run by the Zon Lab, with labs at Harvard in Cambridge, MA and Boston Children's Hospital in Boston, MA)
Cost/Stipend: No fee; stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: TBA for next cycle; typically, July 6 – 17
Application deadline: TBA for next cycle
Eligibility: High school students or rising college freshmen who are at least 16 years old and live in Massachusetts

Camp Zon is a paid, part-time virtual research program in which you will work as a scientist in the Zon Lab using zebrafish as a model organism. You will join a team to engage in work focused on designing a research project on anemia, learning how to generate a hypothesis, design experiments, and analyze data over two weeks. The lab will run the zebrafish experiments that you design. Your team will present the results to the lab at the end of the two weeks. You will also attend lectures from scientists on topics ranging from basic biology to the clinical translation of research. You will additionally learn how to read scientific literature critically and receive an introduction to coding for graphing data. Dr. Len Zon and lab scientists will lead a mentoring session and a career panel Q&A as well.

Who it's best for: Massachusetts students who want a short, virtual introduction to biology research and lab-based careers.

What skills can you pick up in STEM internships?

As an intern, you may learn lab techniques, basic programming in Python or R, data analysis in Excel or statistical software, or how to use design and modeling tools. You will also get some exposure to the scientific process itself, including forming a hypothesis, designing a test, documenting your methods, and figuring out what to do when your results don't match what you expected. Reading and understanding research papers is another skill you may develop, which is central to working in any STEM field. Beyond the technical abilities, you will build habits that carry over anywhere: working in a team, managing a long project over several weeks, and presenting your work clearly, often through a poster, short talk, or written summary.

Can a STEM internship help with your college applications?

The experience can help while applying to college. Admissions teams like to see that you've pursued your interests outside the classroom, and a relevant internship is a clear example of that. The strength of your application depends less on the name of the program and more on what you did and learned. A research poster, a coding project, or a specific problem you worked through gives you something concrete to discuss in your application. It can also make for a thoughtful essay or interview topic, especially if you can describe a setback and how you handled it. If a mentor gets to know your work well, they may be able to write you a detailed recommendation letter too.

What students often wonder about these STEM internships

1. Do I need prior coding, lab, or research experience to apply?

Most of these internships are built for students without professional-level experience and will teach you relevant lab techniques, programming basics, or data analysis skills as part of the program. That said, a few do look for some prior coursework in subjects like biology, chemistry, or math, so it's worth checking each program's specific academic requirements before applying.

2. Will I be designing my own research project, or mostly supporting experiments someone else is already running?

This depends on the internship. Some place you on an existing research team where you contribute to a project a mentor has already designed, while others expect you to develop your own research question, hypothesis, or project under expert guidance.

3. How selective are these internships, and is there a cost to apply?

Selectivity ranges from programs with acceptance rates in the low single digits to others that don't publish specific numbers but describe themselves as selective or competitive. Cost also varies: many are free to apply to and pay a stipend between roughly $15/hour and $4,000+ for the summer, while a couple charge a fee and don't offer a stipend at all.

4. What's the typical length and time commitment for these internships?

Durations here range from a two-week experience to a multi-year commitment spanning your sophomore year through college, though most fall somewhere in between at six to eleven weeks over the summer. Several also expect a full-time, 35- to 40-hour weekly commitment, so you'll want to check the expected hours before applying. If you are looking for an option that requires 10 – 20 hours of commitment each week, Ladder Internships connects you with a startup for a fully remote experience.