14 Prestigious STEM Internships for High School Students
Doing a STEM internship in high school is one of the smartest ways to explore your interests beyond the classroom. Unlike short-term camps or online courses, internships let you work with professionals, contribute to research or engineering projects, and develop skills that stand out on college and scholarship applications. Many of the most prestigious STEM internships for high school students are hosted by universities and research institutes such as MIT, Stanford, and NASA, giving you access to state-of-the-art labs, expert mentors, and research. Some even offer stipends.
For students interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, these opportunities offer an early look at fields such as biomedical research, computer science, robotics, and data analysis. You might conduct experiments in a university lab, code alongside tech professionals, or analyze data for projects. A prestigious STEM internship can boost your chances of getting into college, which is especially important if you’re targeting top universities.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve pulled together 14 of the most prestigious STEM internships for high school students that stand out for their selectivity, learning, and experience.
1. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 12 students/year
Dates: June 22 – August 7 (tentative)
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is one of the most prestigious summer research experiences for high school juniors and seniors. This seven-week residential internship pairs selected students with faculty mentors across a wide range of disciplines–from computer science and engineering to biology and even the humanities. As a Clark Scholar, you’ll spend the summer conducting independent research, attending seminars and discussions, and presenting your findings in a formal research report. The program is highly selective, admitting only 12 students annually based on academic excellence, recommendations, and career goals.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program (100% financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week
Ladder Internships connect high school students with startups and nonprofits around the world for virtual, project-based internships lasting about eight weeks. The program stands out for its selective admission process and its focus on pairing students with organizations working in fast-evolving fields such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, fintech, and healthtech. As an intern, you’ll work under the supervision of a company manager and a dedicated Ladder coach, taking on real-world projects, ranging from data analytics and marketing strategy to coding and research support. By the end of the program, you’ll present your work to company leaders, gaining insight into entrepreneurship, innovation, and modern workplace collaboration. Apply now!
3. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5%
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Students in their junior year of high school (11th grade) who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Simons Summer Research Program is a prestigious STEM internship for high school students to take part in real scientific research across fields such as science, math, and engineering. Over seven weeks, you’ll join a university lab, working alongside faculty mentors and graduate researchers on ongoing projects. The program integrates technical lab experience with academic enrichment through weekly seminars, workshops, and research talks. You’ll conclude the summer by submitting an abstract and presenting a research poster at a closing symposium–just like professional scientists do.
4. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
Location: NIH Campus, Bethesda, Maryland
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, with an acceptance rate of around 5%
Dates: 8-12 weeks starting June (flexible dates)
Application deadline: November 18 – February 19
Eligibility: Enrolled in high school at least half-time as a senior or be accepted into an accredited program for the upcoming fall; Must be at least 18 years old by June 1; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; Have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale; Have completed coursework in computer science, data science, informatics, mathematics, or related fields
The National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) Data Science and Informatics Scholars Program is an 8- to 12-week paid internship designed for students interested in exploring the intersection of computational biology, biomedical informatics, and data science. As a full-time intern, you’ll work alongside NLM researchers on projects that integrate coding, data management, and analytics to solve problems in health and life sciences. Interns also attend professional development workshops and seminars on scientific communication. The program culminates in presentations at both NLM and National Institutes of Health (NIH)-wide poster sessions. This program is centered around the growing role of computation in biological research, offering high school students an opportunity to gain experience in this groundbreaking field at an early age.
5. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual or in-person at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, East Baltimore Campus, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Free; in-person interns are paid an hourly stipend, and virtual interns are provided a stipend of $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, only 8 students are accepted
Dates: 5 weeks (June - August)
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors located in the U.S.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is one of the most prestigious neuroscience research internships for high school students, providing a close look at how scientists study the brain and nervous system. The program features two tracks—a competitive 8-week in-person internship for Baltimore City students and a 5-week virtual internship open to students across the country. In both versions, you’ll collaborate with researchers and clinicians on neuroscience projects, gaining experience in data collection, lab techniques, and research communication. Interns also take part in professional development workshops, mentorship sessions, college prep courses, and seminars on neurological science. The in-person participants can also take part in clinical rotations, attend weekly lectures, and present their research in a final symposium.
6. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: NIST laboratory at Gaithersburg, Maryland, or Boulder, Colorado
Cost/Stipend: None | Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: 8 weeks starting the second or third week of June
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who are U.S. citizens
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) is a competitive eight-week research internship that gives high school students the chance to work in one of the nation’s top federal science laboratories. As an intern, you’ll work alongside NIST scientists and engineers in areas such as computer science, artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics, and materials research. Your day-to-day activities may involve programming, experimental testing, or helping refine measurement systems used in national standards. Beyond lab work, the program includes seminars and professional training designed to build your scientific and technical expertise. SHIP concludes with a poster presentation where participants share their research outcomes with NIST staff and fellow interns.
7. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee, which can be waived under certain criteria/Minimum of $500, up to $2,500 and above are given on a needs-based system from special grants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 3%; 50 students
Dates: June 8 – July 30 (tentative)
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors as of the fall, graduating in this or next year | At least 16 years old by June 8 | Reside in and attend high school in the U.S. and be U.S. citizens/permanent residents with a green card
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) provides high school juniors and seniors an eight-week introduction to biomedical research at one of the world’s leading universities. As an intern, you’ll be paired with a Stanford faculty mentor and placed in one of several specialized Stanford research institutes, focusing on fields such as stem cell biology, neurobiology, cancer research, or bioengineering. Under expert supervision, you’ll design experiments, analyze results, and learn how medical research contributes to solving real-world health problems. SIMR also offers a Bioengineering Bootcamp option for students interested in technology and engineering rather than traditional lab work.
8. CURE Research Internship Program
Location: University of California, San Francisco
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 10 – 11 students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Current 11th graders | Must have completed biology or chemistry with a grade B or better | Must be at least 16 years old at the start of the program | Minimum GPA of 2.5
The CURE Research Internship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is an eight-week paid summer program that gives high school students from the Bay Area a chance to explore careers in health and biomedical sciences. You will be paired with mentors, including UCSF faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, and participate in research across basic, clinical, behavioral, and population sciences. You’ll conduct hands-on research, analyze data, and present your findings at the program’s research symposium. In addition to research, you’ll attend workshops on college readiness, academic writing, and professional development – helping you prepare for future success.
9. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at the City Of Hope Cancer Center
Location: City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA
Cost/Stipend: None | $4,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 4%; 82 students accepted out of 2,100 applicants
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Open to high school students at least 16 years old by the internship start date, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope provides a ten-week, full-time biomedical research internship that gives motivated high school and undergraduate students a chance to experience real scientific discovery. Working alongside leading scientists and clinicians, you’ll conduct independent research in areas such as cancer, genetics, and molecular biology, contributing to projects that advance medical knowledge. The program includes seminars, workshops, and mentoring sessions that cover topics such as scientific ethics, poster design, and effective data presentation. Interns present their findings to peers and faculty at the end of the program. Many interns also see their research contribute to published studies in scientific papers or ongoing medical projects.
10. Amazon Future Engineer
Location: Most internships are conducted in Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Scholarship of up to $40,000 ($10,000 per year)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; about 6%-7%
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: December (tentative)
Eligibility: High school seniors who plan to major in computer science or related fields; should have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale; should be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or authorized to work in the U.S., and demonstrate financial need
The Amazon Future Engineer Program combines scholarship funding with real-world tech experience that helps students pursue careers in computer science or engineering. You can earn up to $40,000 in college scholarship funds over four years and receive a guaranteed paid summer internship at Amazon after your first year of college. During the summer internship, you’ll work on projects involving artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and large-scale software systems, contributing to technologies that power Alexa, AWS, or Amazon’s retail platforms. You’ll also be paired with experienced Amazon engineers who will mentor you in technical problem-solving, teamwork, and real-world product development.
11. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None | Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, 1-2%
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application deadline: February–March (tentative)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors living in or near Atlanta | Must attend schools within the Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, and Gwyneth County School Districts | Completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week paid summer internship that gives high school students a firsthand look at what it's like to work in technology, design, and computer science. You’ll work in small teams to design and prototype creative solutions for Microsoft product challenges, focusing on user experience, functionality, and software design. You’ll also learn programming fundamentals and explore different tech roles such as software engineering and product management. Microsoft professionals will guide you with feedback and insights on turning ideas into products. Daily workshops and group sessions help you strengthen your technical, communication, and workplace skills.
12. MIT’s Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 100 students every year
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors
Hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Research Science Institute (RSI) is among the most prestigious STEM internships for high school students in the world. Each summer, around 100 exceptional high school students participate in this six-week program that combines academic learning with hands-on research. During the first week, you’ll attend advanced lectures from MIT faculty in subjects such as physics, computer science, and mathematics. The following five weeks are spent conducting your own mentored research, where you’ll analyze data, design experiments, and craft both written and oral presentations of your results. RSI’s structure mirrors the professional research process and culminates in a conference-style symposium, allowing participants to showcase their work to peers and experts.
13. Discovery Partners Institute - Digital Scholars Program
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 5%
Dates: June 23 - August 1
Application deadline: February 28 - May 2
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-graders are eligible to apply
The Digital Scholars Program is a competitive summer opportunity that helps high school and early college students strengthen their computing and data science skills, while connecting with real-world tech innovation. You’ll choose from specialized tracks such as Data Science Discovery, iOS App Design, or Electrical and Computer Engineering, working on projects using tools such as Python, Swift, or Xcode. The program goes beyond technical coursework by including workshops on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and entrepreneurship – bridging the gap between academic learning and industry innovation. Throughout the summer, students engage directly with Chicago’s growing tech community through networking events and talks by local entrepreneurs and technologists. Along the way, you’ll build essential college and career readiness skills such as communication, teamwork, and professional branding.
14. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Location: Hybrid. The on-site portion of the internship is conducted at the University of Texas at Austin, TX (virtual internships may also be available)
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive, 4-5%
Dates: The program runs from May to August; The on-site experience typically starts in July
Application deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors) at least 16 years old who are US citizens (applicants who have previously participated in an on-site SEES internship are ineligible to apply)
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science Internship is a highly selective national program for high school students passionate about space and Earth science. As an intern, you’ll begin with virtual coursework that introduces you to topics such as Earth systems, climate science, and data analysis. Next, you’ll head to the University of Texas at Austin for an on-site research experience. You’ll work under NASA scientists and engineers, interpreting satellite data and using tools like Python to analyze and visualize findings in areas such as astronomy, remote sensing, and planetary science. Each intern collaborates on a group research project and presents results at the Virtual SEES Science Symposium, gaining experience in both technical research and professional communication.
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