15 Neurobiology Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in neuroscience, medicine, or biological research, a neurobiology internship can be an excellent way to explore the field while gaining hands-on experience early on. These internships help strengthen your academic profile, build your resume, and develop practical skills that can support future college applications and career goals. However, with so many STEM internships available, identifying programs that genuinely align with neurobiology and related research areas can take time.
If you want to check out more STEM-related internships, check out here! Or if you’re more interested in seeing what sort of research opportunities are available to high schoolers, check out a list here!
Why should you participate in a Neurobiology Internship?
Many neurobiology internships introduce you to laboratory techniques and scientific problem-solving, helping you better understand how real-world biomedical research is conducted. They also offer you the opportunity to connect with researchers, professors, and peers who share similar interests, allowing you to build meaningful academic and professional networks. Whether it’s through research projects, lab work, mentorship, or exposure to scientific environments, you’ll learn valuable concepts related to neurobiology and connected disciplines, such as molecular biology, bioinformatics, data analysis, and research methodology.
To help simplify your search, we’ve narrowed down 15 neurobiology internships for high school students.
Key takeaways
This list gathers 15 neurobiology and neuroscience-focused research internships for high schoolers, spanning university labs, hospital-based programs, and federal research institutes, with standout hosts including Duke, Stanford, the NIH, and the Broad Institute.
Many of these are free and several offer real stipends up to $3,600, while a couple of the most academically intensive university programs carry steep price tags, with one running over $15,000 and another over $10,000 before any aid.
Several programs here are tied to a specific city, county, or state rather than open nationally, so it's worth checking eligibility carefully, and one program is nomination-only through your school rather than a general open-call application.
Most of these require being on-site at a specific university or lab, sometimes within a tight local radius, while Ladder is the only fully virtual, location-independent option on this list.
The earliest deadlines fall in late November and December for a couple of the Massachusetts and NIH-affiliated programs, with several more clustering into January and February, so it's worth starting applications well before winter break wraps up.
1. Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program
Cohort size: Limited positions available
Location: Ohio State University – Department of Neuroscience, Columbus, OH
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid
Dates: 8-week summer internship
Application Deadline: Applications open in January
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors interested in biomedical research
Through the Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program, you’ll work directly in active neuroscience laboratories alongside faculty mentors, graduate students, and research technicians. The internship focuses on areas such as neuroscience, neurodegeneration, and neurological injury, giving you exposure to biomedical research methods and laboratory workflows. You can expect to gain hands-on experience with research practices, scientific literature analysis, and data interpretation while participating in journal clubs and collaborative lab meetings. The program also includes formal guidance on reading and presenting primary research papers, helping you build scientific communication and analytical skills. Throughout the internship, you’ll receive mentorship from researchers working in the field and prepare a final presentation of your research findings at the end of the program.
2. Ladder Internships
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies (financial aid available); Unpaid
Dates: Multiple cohorts are offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can commit 10-20 hours per week for 8-12 weeks
In this remote internship program, you’ll work with a start-up company on projects connected to fields such as AI/ML, health tech, consulting, journalism, marketing, and software development. You collaborate with company managers and receive mentorship from a Ladder Coach while completing real-world assignments and team projects. The internship helps you develop professional skills such as communication, research, project management, and problem-solving in a start-up environment. You’ll also present your work to the company at the end of the program. The experience is designed to provide exposure to the workflow and expectations of early-stage companies through a fully virtual format.
3. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience: High School Internship
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free; $14/hour
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: Typically, early February
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors (16+) in Palm Beach or Martin County
In this internship, you’ll work alongside researchers at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience on laboratory projects related to brain structure, neural circuits, and neuroscience imaging techniques. The program provides hands-on experience with wet lab methods such as genetic engineering, microbiology preparation, histological staining, and microscopy. Depending on your interests, you may also explore interdisciplinary areas connected to computer programming, machine learning, mechanical engineering, or application development within neuroscience research settings. Throughout the internship, you’ll collaborate with scientists in active research labs while learning how experimental neuroscience projects are designed and conducted. You’ll also prepare a written scientific abstract and deliver a final presentation summarizing your research experience and findings.
4. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 8
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors attending eligible public or charter schools in Durham, NC; More info here
Through the Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE), you will be matched with a neuroscience laboratory at Duke University based on your interests and participate in full-time summer research projects. You’ll gain hands-on experience working in active research environments while receiving individualized mentorship from scientists and researchers. In addition to laboratory work, the program includes workshops focused on neuroscience topics, scientific communication, presentation skills, and career exploration across medicine, academia, and industry. You’ll also learn how to present research findings and participate in a final presentation alongside other student researchers.
5. Neurology High School Scholars Program
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 stipend
Dates: 5-week summer internship
Application Deadline: July
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (16+)
In this internship, you’ll work closely with neurologists or neuroscientists on either clinical or basic science research projects related to neurology and neuroscience. The program provides exposure to research workflows, physician shadowing, and weekly educational sessions focused on neurological science and healthcare. You’ll gain experience with scientific inquiry, data interpretation, and research communication while learning how neuroscience research is conducted in a hospital setting. Throughout the internship, you’ll also interact with clinicians and researchers, allowing you to observe both laboratory and clinical aspects of neurological care and research. At the end of the program, you’ll prepare and present a research poster summarizing your project findings during a concluding conference session.
6. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee (can be waived); Limited need-based stipends offered
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Through the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR), you’ll work on medically oriented research projects alongside Stanford faculty, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and students. The program provides exposure to biological sciences and biomedical research through hands-on laboratory experience and mentorship in active research environments. Depending on your assigned project, you may develop skills related to experimental design, laboratory procedures, scientific analysis, and research methodology within medicine and neuroscience-related fields. You’ll also gain insight into how scientific research teams operate and how medical research is translated into real-world applications. Throughout the internship, you’ll collaborate with researchers and peers while building foundational experience in academic research settings.
7. NIH High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Location: National Institutes of Health and other NIH campuses across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipends are provided and vary based on educational level
Dates: May 11 – August 31
Application Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: High school seniors (ages 17-18); U.S. citizens and permanent residents
In the NIH High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP), you’ll join an NIH research team and work under the guidance of a Principal Investigator on projects related to biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or public health research. The internship gives you exposure to professional research environments across fields such as biology, engineering, epidemiology, psychology, chemistry, and computer science. Depending on the research group you are placed in, you may assist with laboratory procedures, data collection, scientific analysis, and other components of ongoing studies. The program also offers professional development opportunities through workshops, networking events, wellness sessions, and career-focused programming connected to science and healthcare fields. Throughout the summer, you will engage with researchers from different NIH institutes and attend events such as the NIH Summer Poster Day and the Graduate and Professional School Fair.
8. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,600 stipend
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: November 24 – January 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending a Massachusetts high school within commuting distance to the Broad Institute; Should have earned a B or better in science and math classes
In the Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP), you will be paired with Broad Institute scientists to work on original research projects in areas such as cancer biology, computational biology, infectious disease, psychiatric disease, and chemical biology. The program provides hands-on exposure to both experimental and computational research techniques while introducing you to the workflow of large-scale scientific research environments. You’ll also attend scientific talks, explore STEM career pathways, and participate in workshops focused on scientific posters and research presentation skills. Throughout the internship, you collaborate with researchers and fellow students while preparing a poster presentation to share your findings with the Broad community at the end of the program. Additional academic support is available through access to an on-staff tutor who helps reinforce scientific concepts connected to student projects.
9. Barrow Neurological Institute: Summer High School Internship Program
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Cost/Stipend: None publicly specified
Dates: June 8 – July 9
Application Deadline: January 4 – February 12
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
In this internship, you’ll work within the Department of Translational Neuroscience at Barrow Neurological Institute and gain exposure to scientific research in a professional laboratory setting. The program provides opportunities for hands-on lab work using advanced research technologies while helping you develop an understanding of neurological disease research and experimental methods. You may also explore research support roles in areas such as marketing, neuroscience publications, and foundation operations, depending on your interests. Throughout the internship, you’ll learn how to evaluate scientific literature, communicate research findings, and apply laboratory techniques to scientific questions and projects. You’ll also receive mentorship from researchers and staff while preparing work that may be presented at scientific competitions, symposiums, or other academic settings.
10. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Virtual sessions: $1,725; In-person sessions: $3,325 (scholarships available for eligible students); Unpaid
Dates: Virtual Session 1: June 8 – 19; Virtual Session 2: June 22 – July 3; In-person Session 1: July 6 – 17; In-person Session 2: July 20 – 31
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by session
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors and graduating seniors; Students from across the U.S. and internationally may apply
In the Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X), you’ll participate in an intensive two-week program focused on neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and behavioral sciences through interactive seminars led by Stanford faculty and researchers. The program introduces you to topics such as neuroimaging, behavioral neuroscience, genetics, psychiatric epidemiology, brain stimulation, and mental health research while exploring how neuroscience connects to clinical and social issues. You’ll also work in small collaborative teams to develop solutions to challenges related to psychiatry, psychology, or neuroscience as part of a capstone project presented at the end of the session. Throughout the program, you’ll gain exposure to scientific communication, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and research concepts while interacting with students from diverse academic backgrounds. Additional sessions cover areas such as wellness, career exploration in medicine and science, and the transition to adulthood.
11. Simons Summer Research Program
Acceptance rate: <5%
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free (residential fees may apply); Stipend provided
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (16+)
In the Simons Summer Research Program, you’ll be paired with a faculty mentor at Stony Brook University and join a research group working on an active scientific project. The program allows you to participate in hands-on research while developing skills related to laboratory work, scientific methodology, and independent problem-solving. Throughout the summer, you’ll also attend faculty research talks, workshops, tours, and academic events that provide broader exposure to university research environments. As part of the internship, you’ll prepare a written research abstract and create a research poster summarizing your project findings. You’ll collaborate with researchers and peers while learning how scientific teams conduct and communicate research.
12. Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) program
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $15,200 (need-based financial aid available); Unpaid
Dates: June 15 – July 10
Application Deadline: February 11 (Priority); March 12 (Regular)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
In the Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) program, you’ll participate in an intensive laboratory-based course focused on molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, genetics, developmental biology, and cancer biology. The program introduces you to research techniques commonly used in scientific laboratories through hands-on experiments and project-based learning. After an initial training period focused on foundational laboratory skills, you’ll spend the remainder of the course working on an independent research project. You’ll also develop scientific communication skills through lab notebooks, writing assignments, group presentations, and discussions of primary research articles. Weekly seminars led by research faculty provide additional exposure to current scientific research and laboratory careers.
13. The Rockefeller University: Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Rockefeller University, Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: August 10 – 21
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students (16+) enrolled in New York City public high schools
In the Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP), you’ll participate in interactive neuroscience lectures and hands-on activities designed to introduce modern neuroscience concepts and research methods. The program includes experiences such as reading and presenting scientific articles, designing an original neuroscience experiment, dissecting a sheep brain and cow eye, and visiting active research facilities at Rockefeller University. You’ll also work in small groups with graduate student mentors to analyze research papers and discuss scientific ideas in collaborative settings. Throughout the program, you’ll interact with Rockefeller scientists and gain exposure to ongoing neuroscience research and laboratory environments. Students present their experimental ideas and findings in informal presentations at the end of each week.
14. University of Pennsylvania: Penn Summer Neuroscience Program
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: $10,050 (scholarships available for select Philadelphia public and charter school students); Unpaid
Dates: July 11 – August 1
Application Deadline: The program typically closes applications once capacity is reached.
Eligibility: Current 9th-11th grade students
In the Neuroscience Research Academy, you’ll study the biological foundations of the brain, beginning with neurons and sensory systems before progressing to topics such as memory, emotion, morality, and neurological disorders. The program combines lectures, journal clubs, neuroethics discussions, and laboratory activities to introduce both neuroscience research and medical applications of the field. You’ll participate in hands-on lab sessions focused on experimental techniques while also reading and presenting peer-reviewed neuroscience literature. Beyond the classroom, the program includes educational activities, discussions, films, and museum visits connected to neuroscience and brain science. Throughout the course, you’ll interact with Penn neuroscience faculty and instructors while developing scientific communication and analytical skills in a residential academic environment.
15. Partners for the Future (PFF) program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; Up to 2 nominees per school
Location: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Cost/Stipend: None publicly specified
Dates: September – March during senior year; Minimum of 10 hours per week
Application Deadline: Applications are nomination-based; Deadlines vary annually by school and program cycle
Eligibility: Long Island high school students entering their senior year who are nominated by their school science chairperson during junior year
In the Partners for the Future (PFF) program, you’ll conduct original biomedical research under the mentorship of scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. The program provides long-term exposure to molecular biology research and laboratory environments while allowing you to participate in ongoing scientific projects over the course of several months. You’ll gain experience with laboratory techniques, scientific problem-solving, and research communication while working closely with professional researchers and support staff. Throughout the program, you’ll also develop a clearer understanding of day-to-day research workflows and collaborative scientific environments. At the conclusion of the internship, you’ll present your research findings through an oral presentation delivered to mentors, faculty, teachers, and family members.
Questions students ask about these internships
1. Do I need lab experience already to apply to these neurobiology internships?
Not usually. Most of these programs are designed to build research skills from scratch, so prior lab exposure isn't expected. A few of the more advanced or highly selective programs do favor students with some science coursework, so it's worth checking eligibility closely.
2. A couple of these programs cost over $10,000 to attend. Are they worth that investment?
It depends on your goals and budget. These programs tend to offer intensive, residential, university-level instruction that's hard to replicate elsewhere, but there are plenty of free or low-cost options on this list that offer strong research exposure too. Weigh the cost against what you're hoping to get out of the experience.
3. Several of these programs are limited to students in specific cities or states. How do I know if I'm eligible?
Check the eligibility and location fields closely, since a number of these are tied to a particular region or a set commuting distance from a specific lab. The programs that don't list a residency requirement are generally open more broadly.