15 STEM Internships for Undergraduates in Colorado
STEM internships allow you to apply what you’ve learned in class, strengthen your resume, and gain a clearer picture of your long-term career goals. You will have the opportunity to work with mentors, contribute to ongoing projects, and present your findings in a professional setting, experiences that strengthen both job and graduate school applications.
Why should I do a STEM internship in college?
A STEM internship allows you to gain practical experience in your chosen field while learning how research, technology, and applied science function. Whether you are interested in engineering, biomedical research, computer science, environmental science, healthcare, or space physics, an internship can help you build technical skills that employers and graduate programs look for. Many STEM internships for undergraduates involve working alongside scientists, engineers, clinicians, or industry professionals on structured projects with measurable outcomes. These experiences can help you develop competencies in laboratory research, data analysis, fieldwork, software development, clinical documentation, or technical documentation.
If you are an undergraduate student interested in STEM internships and based in Colorado, we have listed 15 internships below to help you get started. Many of them include mentorship from faculty researchers, clinicians, engineers, or industry professionals, as well as opportunities to present your work in a formal research or professional setting.
1. Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship Program at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR)
Location: NLR main campus in Golden, CO, or the Flatirons Campus near Boulder, CO
Stipend: $22.50/hour + up to $500 for travel
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by lab
Dates: Year-round; Fall: 16 weeks starting from the 3rd Monday in August; Spring: 16 weeks starting from the 3rd Monday in January; Summer: 10 weeks starting from the 1st Monday in June
Application Deadline: Fall: May 20; Spring: October 1; Summer: January 7
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students who have completed at least one semester of study at an accredited community college, two-year college, or four-year institution | Must have completed at least 6 credit hours in STEM fields and a minimum of 12 total undergraduate credit hours | Required minimum cumulative GPA is 3.0/4.0 | Must be at least 18 years old | Must be U.S citizens or lawful permanent residents
In this internship, you will work on a defined research project under the guidance of a laboratory scientist or engineer, contributing to ongoing Department of Energy-supported initiatives. In addition to laboratory research, you will participate in professional development workshops focused on technical writing, poster design, and oral presentations, helping you communicate your findings to both technical and general audiences. The internship also includes laboratory tours, lectures from researchers and laboratory leadership, and opportunities to engage with other interns across research areas. By the end of the internship, you will produce a research deliverable such as a poster presentation, abstract, or technical paper.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 10%; 70–100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Undergraduates and gap year students who can work for 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, fully remote eight-week opportunity that directly pairs you with founders of high-growth startups. You can choose to work across diverse fields, specifically finance, non-profit, software engineering, consulting, health tech, mental health, deep tech, media, and journalism. During your internship, you will actively contribute to your host company by conducting market research, performing data analysis, drafting documentation, and presenting project deliverables. A unique feature of this program is its dual-support system, where you receive regular feedback from a dedicated Ladder Coach while collaborating with startup leaders from top-tier backgrounds like Harvard and Y Combinator. By the end of your placement, you will have developed skills in independent problem-solving, business analysis, and professional communication. Apply now!
3. Children’s Hospital Colorado – Summer Child Health Research Internship
Location: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $4,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 50 students
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students over the age of 18
In this internship, you will work in a pediatric research laboratory or clinical research team, contributing to ongoing studies in areas such as celiac disease, genetics and metabolism, pulmonary hypertension, and other child health topics. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, you will gain hands-on experience with laboratory techniques, data analysis, and clinical research methods while participating in required weekly research seminars. The internship concludes with a written summary and an oral or poster presentation of your work, and selected projects may lead to abstract submissions and conference presentations at local, regional, and national scientific meetings.
4. Gates Summer Internship Program (GSIP)
Location: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $7,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; around 20 students
Dates: May 26 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students enrolled in a science-related major
In this program, you will work full-time in a Gates Institute member’s laboratory, contributing to ongoing biomedical research in areas such as immunology, genetics, bioengineering, oncology, and stem cell science over 11 weeks. You will receive direct mentorship from faculty researchers while gaining hands-on experience with laboratory techniques, experimental design, and data interpretation in a professional research setting. The internship also includes weekly seminars focused on scientific topics and professional development, along with opportunities for community engagement and social activities. The internship concludes with a formal poster presentation at a research symposium, where you present your summer projects to faculty and peers.
5. Musculoskeletal Research Center Summer Internship at Children's Hospital Colorado
Location: Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
Stipend: Paid, exact amount is not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, around 8 participants
Dates: 10 weeks in June – August
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students as well as recent college graduates
In this program, you will be assigned to an active orthopedic research protocol and work 40 hours per week alongside clinicians, engineers, statisticians, and researchers. Clinical research interns participate in activities such as literature reviews, chart reviews, data collection, and manuscript preparation, while engineering interns focus on applying and optimizing technologies such as motion capture systems for clinical decision-making and rehabilitation. The internship includes a weekly lecture series on research design, biostatistics, and advances in orthopedic research, as well as a journal club and opportunities to shadow clinical professionals. The internship concludes with a formal presentation of your research findings at a symposium.
6. Boulder Solar Alliance REU Program
Location: University of Colorado Boulder
Stipend: ~$700/week + a fixed travel stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 16–25 students
Dates: 10 weeks from late May to early August
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: U.S. undergraduate students
During this 10-week paid summer program, you will work alongside professional scientists and engineers on research projects related to the Sun, the Sun-Earth system, the near-Earth environment, or the heliosphere. Research areas may include instrument hardware development, satellite data analysis, computational modeling, and space weather forecasting. The program begins with a week-long summer school in heliophysics before transitioning into full-time mentored research at one of Boulder’s network of space science institutes. You will collaborate with researchers from organizations such as the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics and other federal and nonprofit research centers, and you will present your findings at the end of the summer in a formal research session.
7. Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Internships
Location: Various sites across Colorado, such as Alamosa, Denver, Durango, Fort Collins, Golden, Grand Junction, Gunnison, La Veta, Montrose, Salida, State Forest/Gould, Woodland Park
Stipend: Paid hourly + housing stipends and small professional development stipends
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 15–25 interns annually
Dates: Mid-May through mid-August
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Colorado undergraduate students (some internships are only open to Warner College of Natural Resources students at CSU); minimum 2.0 GPA
The CSFS Internship program is designed for undergraduates seeking hands-on experience in forestry, natural resource management, and wildfire mitigation. Most internships run 12 weeks and take place in field offices across Colorado, where you will work on projects such as forest management planning, timber cruising, geospatial analysis, wildfire risk reduction, environmental education, and communications and outreach. You will gain practical field skills by collecting and analyzing data, supporting land management operations, and collaborating with CSFS employees. The internship offers paid positions, along with housing and professional development stipends.
8. eXtraOrdinarY Kids Research Internship Program
Location: Internships are available across hospitals in the U.S., including the Children's Hospital Colorado / University of Colorado
Stipend: $3,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
In this internship, you will work alongside an aneuploidies, contributing to ongoing projects through data collection, analysis, and literature review. You will complete a mentored scholarly project tailored to your background and career goals, with guidance from an interdisciplinary team of pediatricians, endocrinologists, neuropsychologists, genetic counselors, and therapists. The program also provides hands-on exposure to clinical research operations, including opportunities to assist with patient visits and observational studies focused on developmental and cardiometabolic outcomes in infants and toddlers with sex chromosome aneuploidies. The internship also includes educational seminars and concludes with an opportunity to present your work in a professional research setting.
9. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs, CO
Stipend: Paid; amount varies by academic level, location, and appointment type; check here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~25–40 Scholars
Dates: Internships are available throughout the year, including summer, fall, and spring cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies based on the cohort
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with good academic standing; must be U.S. citizens; must be at least 16 years old; check here for more information
In this internship, you will work on research topics related to aerospace systems, information technologies, and defense-focused innovation, contributing to ongoing laboratory initiatives. At the Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs, you will operate in a professional research environment that connects federal researchers with industry partners, startups, and small businesses. Under the guidance of an assigned mentor, you will gain experience in technical problem-solving, systems development, and research methods relevant to national defense applications. The internship also provides exposure to a broader innovation ecosystem and may conclude with project briefings or presentations summarizing your research contributions.
10. NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Location: NIST labs in Boulder, CO
Stipend: $7,810 + potentially $4,500 for housing and up to $500 for travel expenses
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 11% – 46%; the exact number of participants varies by lab
Dates: Main 11-week program: May 27 – August 7; 9-week program: June 8 – August 7; Offset 11-week program: June 8 – August 21
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students who are at least 18 years old and enrolled in an accredited two-year or four-year college in the U.S
During this 11-week program, you will collaborate with NIST scientists and engineers to contribute to research projects in areas such as materials science, cybersecurity, quantum information science, advanced manufacturing, chemistry, physics, and computational modeling. Depending on your placement, you may conduct laboratory experiments, analyze datasets, develop simulations, or work with specialized scientific instrumentation. Each research group offers a distinct focus, allowing you to explore topics ranging from nanoscale materials characterization to wireless communication and neutron research. Throughout the program, you will gain experience working in a federal research environment and present your findings at the conclusion of the fellowship.
11. University of Colorado Boulder’s Summer Multicultural Access to Research Training (SMART) Program
Location: University of Colorado Boulder
Stipend: $7,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, around 12 students
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomore to senior undergraduate students who have completed at least two semesters and have at least one semester remaining of their undergraduate education by the start of the summer program; minimum 3.0 GPA; at least 18 years old; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
In this program, you will work under the mentorship of a CU Boulder faculty mentor to develop and carry out an independent research project in fields such as aerospace engineering, chemistry, physics, ecology, computer science, neuroscience, materials science, and applied mathematics. The internship begins with drafting a research proposal in the first week and concludes with formal oral and poster presentations at the SMART Research Symposium. In addition to research, you will participate in workshops on technical writing, oral communication, and the graduate school application process to help you prepare for advanced study. The internship offers structured community-building and cultural activities throughout the summer.
12. Instructional ABA Consultants Internships
Location: Multiple locations, including Castle Rock, CO
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; no fixed cohorts annually
Dates: Year-round (Minimum 6-month commitment)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program (Psychology, Education, or Health Sciences, or related fields preferred)
In this internship, you will get to work in clinic or in-home settings, supporting children with autism under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). The internship combines structured training sessions, shadowing opportunities, and ongoing mentorship to help you understand how ABA therapy works in practice. Your responsibilities may include delivering ABA instruction in various settings, collecting and submitting session data, and maintaining ethical standards and HIPAA compliance. Throughout the internship, you will collaborate with a clinical team and gain exposure to professional skills such as clinical documentation, client progress tracking, and interdisciplinary communication practices common in behavioral health settings.
13. The PEAK Center at Craig Hospital Internship Program
Location: Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; small cohort sizes
Dates: Year-round, including Spring, Summer, and Fall
Application Deadline: Spring: October 15; Summer: March 31; Fall: June 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in exercise science, health and wellness promotion, or related fields
In this internship, you will complete 400–600 hours in a clinical wellness setting, working directly with individuals with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and other neurological disabilities. As an exercise specialist/pre-physical therapy intern, you will gain experience in activity-based personal training, locomotor training, Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bikes, and aquatic therapy. The internship emphasizes practical skill development in adaptive exercise programming, client education, and safe training techniques. Through daily interaction with clients and collaboration with clinical staff, you will build experience relevant to careers in physical therapy, rehabilitation sciences, or adaptive health and wellness.
14. Trimble Internships
Location: Trimble locations across the U.S., including Colorado
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; hundreds of interns annually
Dates: May – September
Application Deadline: December
Eligibility: Undergraduates currently pursuing a degree in a relevant field (CS, Engineering, Marketing, Business, etc.). Must have unrestricted US work authorization
Trimble offers internship opportunities for undergraduates seeking experience in technology-driven industries such as construction, geospatial systems, and transportation. Over the course of the internship, you will work on team-based projects in areas such as software engineering, hardware testing, product management, UX/UI design, or marketing communications. Based on the internship, you may even get to contribute to active projects that support real-world applications in positioning, mapping, data analytics, or connectivity. Throughout the internship, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams, gain exposure to industry tools and workflows, and build both technical and professional skills.
15. Human Performance Clinical Research Lab Internship
Location: Human Performance Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohort sizes
Dates: Year-round, including Spring, Fall, and Summer
Application Deadline: Spring: October 1; Summer: February 15; Fall: June 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with current CPR certification
In this internship, you will commit to a minimum of 10 weeks at 40 hours per week, working in a clinical research setting focused on exercise science and health promotion. As an intern, you will assist with exercise testing, body composition analysis, pulmonary function testing, and electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation, while helping implement physical activity interventions for participants. The internship emphasizes applied skill development in conducting physiological assessments and interpreting clinical data relevant to cardiovascular and metabolic health. You will be required to maintain professional standards throughout the internship, including up-to-date CPR certification and good professional communication skills.
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