15 Prestigious Engineering Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student who likes to build, experiment, and solve problems, an engineering internship can be a great way to explore your curiosity. Engineering internships let you work in labs, design studios, and research teams. You’ll learn to test ideas, collaborate with mentors, and find creative solutions that connect classroom theory with innovation.
Engineering internships come in all forms, including mechanical, civil, electrical, aerospace, computer engineering, and more. You might find yourself designing a robot, prototyping a solar-powered device, or analyzing data with mentorship from faculty or industry experts. Along the way, you’ll build technical expertise, teamwork skills, and a clearer sense of which STEM field interests you most. A prestigious engineering internship can significantly boost your chances of getting into a top college by showing initiative and relevant skills.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 prestigious engineering internships for high school students, each offering a chance to learn, create, and pursue your interest in the field.
1. City of Hope Cancer Center’s Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, California
Cost/Stipend: $4,500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 2–August 8
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Students 16+ with chemistry and biology coursework
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope gives high school students an opportunity to engage in full-time biomedical research over ten weeks. During the program, you will be paired with leading scientists and research teams to select your own project topic in areas such as molecular biology, immunology, genetics, or neurobiology. The program requires a full-time commitment – you’ll live, work in-lab, read research literature, design experiments, and deliver a final research paper or poster that showcases your findings. By the end of the summer, you’ll gain not only hands-on experience in biomedical science but also a deeper understanding of what it’s like to conduct real research.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a competitive program that connects motivated high school students with fast-growing startups across diverse industries, including tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. These startups, many of which have raised over a million dollars, offer students the chance to work on meaningful, real-world projects that contribute directly to the company’s goals. During your internship, you will collaborate closely with your startup managers and receive mentorship from a dedicated Ladder Coach, who helps you navigate challenges and refine your professional skills. The experience concludes with a final presentation where you’ll showcase your work and the skills you’ve developed. Here is the application form.
3. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University
Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students selected each summer
Dates: June 21–August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; must be at least 17 years old by the start date
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a prestigious engineering internship for high school students at Texas Tech University that selects just twelve highly motivated high school juniors and seniors each year. During this seven-week program, you will work with a faculty mentor to design and carry out your own independent research project in engineering, computer science, humanities, or the arts. Beyond your research, the program includes weekly seminars, field trips, and community-building activities that help you expand your perspectives and sharpen your critical thinking and independent inquiry skills. By the end of the summer, you’ll not only have conducted original research but also gained valuable experience in college-level scholarship.
4. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Applicants must be in their junior year (11th grade) at the time of application, and at least 16 years old by program start
The Simons Summer Research Program is a prestigious engineering internship for high school students at Stony Brook University to experience real scientific research. You will be paired with faculty or graduate-student mentors and join a lab or research groups in fields across science, mathematics, engineering, and computational disciplines. During the program, you will take part in lab work, attend weekly seminars, and join workshops on research skills and scientific communication. The experience ends in a poster session or symposium where you will present your findings alongside peers and faculty, gaining confidence and a strong foundation in the research process.
5. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $3,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 29–August 7
Application Deadline: Typically in late January
Eligibility: Rising senior in high school, within commuting distance to the Broad Institute
The Broad Summer Scholars Program brings a select group of high school students to the Broad Institute for six weeks of biomedical research. You will be paired with Broad scientists and engage in projects across fields such as cancer biology, computational biology, infectious disease, and chemical biology. In addition to lab work, you’ll attend seminars and discussions led by Broad scientists, receive tutoring in scientific concepts, and create a scientific poster to present your findings. The program also includes career-development sessions and social activities, giving you a chance to connect with other students who share your passion for science.
6. Johns Hopkins Institute in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) Summer Internship
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Interns receive an hourly wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: In-person: 8 weeks in summer between June and August
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in STEM
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS) gives high school students a unique opportunity to dive into neuroscience and brain sciences at one of the world’s leading medical research institutions. In the in-person track, you will spend eight weeks working in labs at Johns Hopkins, pairing with faculty and graduate mentors, engaging in research tasks, and participating in clinical or lab-based rotations in neurology and neurosurgery. The virtual track provides equally rich experience, featuring mentorship, lab-technique instruction, professional development seminars, and a guided research practice or project that you will complete remotely. Across both tracks, you’ll build research skills, attend lectures from leading neuroscientists, collaborate with peers, and conclude the program with a final presentation or poster showcasing your work.
7. Monell Chemical Senses Center Apprenticeship
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 23–August 15
Application Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school students and undergraduates interested in biomedical science
The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program gives selected high school (and undergraduate) students an opportunity to engage in full-time research in the biomedical sciences, particularly in the domain of chemical senses (taste and smell) and their role in human health. Over the course of 7-8 weeks, you will work alongside Monell scientists, contributing to laboratory projects and gaining research experience. In addition to lab work, you’ll participate in weekly seminars on scientific methods, ethics, communication, and STEM career pathways, helping you develop both technical and professional skills. The program culminates in a public symposium where students share their work with peers, mentors, and the broader scientific community through a research poster or paper.
8. SPARK Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Greater Seattle area, WA
Cost/Stipend: Some internships offer a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Generally between June and August
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by year and project
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 40 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program gives high school students a chance to work directly with experienced mentors in STEM, AI/ML, data engineering, and other tech-driven fields. As an intern, you’ll choose from several project tracks and gain experience under the guidance of university researchers, industry engineers, and nonprofit technologists. Over the course of the summer, you’ll apply real-world tools and methods, and contribute to meaningful project deliverables, such as coding modules, data models, and research reports. You’ll leave the program with mentorship experience, technical and problem-solving skills, and a strong foundation for future STEM pursuits.
9. Biorocket Research Internship Program at Genspace
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, New York
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: February 25 - May 21 (spring session), July 6 - August 14 (summer session)
Application Deadline: Applications open November 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older by orientation; must live in or attend a public/charter high school in NYC within ~45 minutes of Genspace
The BioRocket Research Internship at Genspace offers NYC high school students an in-depth experience in biotechnology and genetic engineering. The six-month program begins with after-school science sessions during the spring, where you’ll build foundational lab and research skills. You’ll then transition into a full-time summer lab experience at a community biotech facility in Brooklyn, applying what you’ve learned to real-world biotechnology projects. As a BioRocket intern, you will work alongside scientists and mentors on projects involving molecular biology, genetic modification, bioinformatics, and science communication. By the end of the program, you’ll design and execute your own independent research project, developing not only technical expertise but also confidence as a young researcher.
10. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Location: Various NASA centers across the U.S., virtual opportunities available
Cost/Stipend: Most interns receive a stipend based on session length and grade level
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Several sessions per year; Fall: 16 weeks (late August - mid-December), Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January - early May), Summer: 10 weeks (late May - August)
Application Deadline: May 16 (Fall), September 12 (Spring), February 27 (Summer)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students at least 16 years old at the time of application; minimum 3.0 GPA
The NASA OSTEM internships provide high school and college students the chance to contribute to NASA’s mission in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration. As an intern, you will work with NASA research scientists, engineers, and professionals, either onsite at a NASA facility or remotely, on projects that push the boundaries of scientific discovery. Depending on your placement, you might take part in data analysis, engineering design, mission operations, or STEM outreach work, gaining firsthand experience in how NASA teams collaborate to solve complex challenges. Throughout the internship, you’ll strengthen your technical expertise, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, while getting an inside look at the professional work environment of a major space agency.
11. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 22–August 2
Application Deadline: December 10
Eligibility: Applicants must be in the middle of their junior year (11th grade) at the time of application and about to enter their senior year
MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI) is a prestigious engineering internship for high school students that brings together students from around the world to conduct original scientific investigation. In the first week, you will participate in lectures and seminars on advanced STEM topics led by MIT scientists and professors. Over the following weeks, each student is paired with an expert mentor and works on a research project in a lab or academic setting, formulating questions, conducting experiments or analyses, and producing an independent research paper. The program culminates in an institute-wide symposium, where you’ll present your findings to peers and academic staff.
12. Princeton Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 5-6 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or residents who are at least 16 years old and in a U.S. high school
The Laboratory Learning Program at Princeton University offers motivated high school students a real-world research experience in natural sciences or engineering. Over a full-time summer period, you will join an active Princeton research lab and work under the guidance of faculty, post-docs, and graduate students. Throughout the program, you’ll pursue a focused research question, conduct experiments or data analysis, and attend lab meetings and departmental seminars. At the end of the program, you’ll prepare a research summary highlighting your findings and insights.
13. STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES)
Location: Hybrid (on-site experience at the University of Austin, Texas campus)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Online modules begin around July | On-site internship: July 6–July 19
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 10 or 11 who are 16 years or older
The SEES (STEM Enhancement in Earth Science) Internship offers high school students a NASA-partnered research experience at the UT Austin Center for Space Research. You will begin with online learning modules focused on Earth systems, satellite remote sensing, and Python programming, then move into project-specific research work. You’ll collaborate with NASA and university scientists to analyze satellite data, model climate phenomena, design remote sensing instruments, or investigate geophysical processes. On-site participants live in campus housing for two weeks, take part in research, field investigations, and evening discussions with experts. The internship culminates in a virtual science symposium where teams present their research results.
14. NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: NIST Campuses in Boulder, CO, and Gaithersburg, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Typically between June and August
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are high school juniors or seniors at the time of application; minimum GPA of 3.0
The NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) gives high school students the chance to work alongside research scientists and engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO. Over eight weeks, you will undertake research tasks in physics, electronics, and materials science under the mentorship of NIST staff. While the program is unpaid, it offers something far more valuable – direct access to cutting-edge labs, mentorship from leading scientists, and an insider’s view of STEM careers in a federal research setting. By the end of the program, you’ll have gained practical lab experience, professional connections, and a standout credential that demonstrates your initiative and scientific curiosity.
15. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 9–July 31
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) offers high school students an opportunity to spend eight weeks conducting cutting-edge biomedical research at the Stanford University School of Medicine. You will be placed in a research lab working alongside faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students in fields such as immunology, cancer biology, neuroscience, stem cells, cardiovascular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, and bioengineering. During the program, you engage in full-time research, attend seminars and workshops on scientific methods and career pathways, and gain insights into the life of a biomedical researcher. The program concludes with a poster session, where you’ll present your findings to the Stanford community.
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