15 Science Internships for High School Students in Florida

Are you a high school student based out of Florida interested in making a career in science? Science internships for high school students in Florida offer a valuable opportunity to explore real-world research, lab work, and field studies beyond the classroom. 

Whether it’s biology, environmental science, medicine, or engineering, science internships for high school students in Florida help you apply scientific concepts in hands-on settings while learning from professionals in the field. Many top universities, research centers, and science institutions in Florida, such as the University of Florida and the Florida Institute of Technology, host internship opportunities that help reduce transport and housing costs for local students.

To support your journey, we’ve curated a list of 15 competitive science internships for high school students in Florida. These programs provide mentorship, hands-on learning, and the opportunity to work on meaningful scientific projects. The list also includes a few virtual science internships that allow students in Florida to apply.

1. Young Scholars Program – Florida State University

Location: FSU campus, Tallahassee
Cost/Stipend: None | Supplemental stipend available for students with significant financial need
Cohort Size: Around 40 students
Dates: June 8 – July 19
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Completed the 11th grade in a Florida public or private high school | Minimum GPA of 3.0 (unweighted) | Scored in the 90th percentile or better in math on a nationally standardized test (SAT, PSAT, ACT, or PLAN) before the application deadline | Have completed or currently enrolled in pre-calculus

The Young Scholars Program (YSP) is a six-week summer residential program for Florida high school students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It will immerse you in three college-level math and science classes in game theory, linear algebra, molecular biology, neuroscience, quantum computing, IDEA lab, and R and Python programming. Admissions are extremely competitive, as students admitted to the program are typically offered room, board, and tuition free of charge. You will attend expert-led lectures and complete rigorous coursework. The program promotes higher-level thinking through labs, problem-solving, and team projects.

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location:  Remote; you can work from anywhere in the world!
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available | None
Cohort Size:  70-100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort; upcoming Fall cohort deadline is August 24 
Eligibility: high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students. In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up for an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars with founders from top accelerators like YCombinator and companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. In the program, you will work closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. You can apply here.

3. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs

Location: Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida
Cost/Stipend: None | Provided, depends on grade level and session duration
Cohort Size: >2,000 students; 5 Florida students annually Florida Space Grant Consortium
Dates: May – August (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. citizens | Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) | Full-time high school student | At least 16 years old at the time of application | Residing within 50 miles of a NASA center

NASA offers a variety of paid summer, spring, and fall semester internships for high school students to contribute to real aerospace and engineering projects at NASA facilities across the country, including the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. You’ll work alongside NASA scientists and engineers on real-world problems in fields such as aerospace engineering, data science, planetary science, and systems design. You will be part of active research projects and have access to cutting-edge NASA labs and technology and gain professional insights and technical skills working alongside NASA engineers and scientists. This internship is a pathway toward future STEM careers and employment at NASA.

4. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) – Florida

Location: University of Florida, Gainesville
Cost/Stipend: $250 | The first through third place Research Speaker Winners will receive tuition-based scholarship in the amount of $2000, $1500, $1000 respectively
Cohort Size: Speaker Competition: Up to 24 students | Poster Competition: Up to 20 students
Dates: February 2—4
Application Deadline: December 20
Eligibility: Florida high school students (grades 9-12) | U.S. citizens or permanent residents

The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) – Florida event focuses exclusively on STEM topics, including areas like biomedical sciences, engineering, environmental science, computer science, and physical sciences. You can participate in several key activities: presenting original STEM research in the Speaker or Poster Competition, exploring cutting-edge research during lab visits, engaging with university faculty and students through workshops, and attending career panels with STEM professionals. Unique features include the opportunity to compete for scholarships and national-level honors, year-round access to virtual faculty mentors, and feedback from experts at a university-level venue. JSHS boosts vital skills such as scientific research, verbal and written communication, critical thinking, and networking.

5. Everglades EcoExplorers Internship

Location: Miami / Everglades area
Cost/Stipend: None | Paid, amount unspecified
Cohort Size: 15 students
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: August 29
Eligibility: Florida high school students entering grades 10–12 | Must attend an eligible Broward County public high school during the 2025-2026 school year | Eligible to work in the United States

EcoExplorers combines environmental education with immersive fieldwork in the Everglades ecosystems. You will explore topics such as environmental sustainability, climate resilience, wetland ecology, and conservation through hands-on science. You will conduct field research in the Everglades, serve as museum educators at the Museum of Discovery and Science, participate in community science projects, and collaborate with environmental professionals on real-world problem-solving. Unique features of the program include its combination of summer training, academic-year workforce development, and access to both museum resources and South Florida’s natural habitats. You will develop a broad range of skills such as scientific inquiry, public speaking, leadership, teamwork, and environmental advocacy, abilities highly valued by colleges.

6. Integrated Mathematical Oncology (HIP IMO) – Moffitt Cancer Center

Location: University of South Florida campus, Tampa, FL
Cost/Stipend: None | $1,000 scholarship
Cohort Size: 10–15 students
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school students aged 16+

This program is a selective summer internship that introduces high school students to the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and cancer biology. You will explore topics like mathematical modeling of cancer, computational simulations, tumor biology, and data analysis related to cancer growth and treatment. You will work on mentored individual or team-based research projects, attend seminars and workshops led by scientists, present their research outcomes, and engage in collaborative problem-solving exercises using real cancer data. You will receive mentorship from faculty experts, interdisciplinary teamwork with peers from diverse backgrounds, and exposure to real-world research techniques. Ultimately, you will gain oral presentation skills by delivering a 15-minute presentation to department members and guests at the HIP IMO research day.

7. Frost Science Teen Internship Program

Location: Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Miami
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Cohort Size: Limited capacity
Dates: Fall, spring, and summer cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: At least 16 years olds

Frost Science offers teen internships for high school students in citizen science, environment, and museum education. You will explore a range of STEM topics, including marine biology, astronomy, environmental science, and science education. As an intern, you will assist with educational camps, engage in coastal restoration, design educational projects or games, and volunteer for programs and educational events. You will receive mentorship from museum professionals, gain exposure to behind-the-scenes scientific work, and have opportunities for community science through activities like MUVE (Museum Volunteers for the Environment). Participation in this program demonstrates initiative and a passion for science, which can significantly enhance college applications by showcasing real-world experience.

8. FIU Summer Research Internship 

Location: Florida International University, Miami
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Cohort Size: 28 students (most recent)
Dates: June 13 –  August 8
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: South Florida high school juniors, committed FIU-bound graduated seniors or accepted FIU transfer students | At least 16 years old by the program start date | Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0

The FIU Summer Research internship includes curriculum sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, featuring case studies, journal clubs, and workshops, as well as at least 15 flexible research hours each week scheduled with your faculty mentor. You’ll be matched with a mentor, attend weekly academic and professional workshops, intern meetings, and work in interdisciplinary labs for cardiovascular studies. At the end, you'll submit a research abstract and give a PowerPoint presentation. The top three presenters receive awards and an invitation to present at the MARC U*STAR symposium in December. You'll gain hands-on research experience while developing skills in analysis, writing, and presentation.

9. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience – High School Internship

Location: MPFI, Jupiter, FL
Cost/Stipend: None | $13/hour
Cohort Size: 7–10 students
Dates: 6 weeks in summer; typically June—July
Application Deadline: Typically March
Eligibility: Palm Beach or Martin County high school students entering their junior or senior year during the coming school year | Reside in Palm Beach or Martin Counties | At least 16 years of age by the internship start date

This six-week internship offers an immersive, hands-on experience in neuroscience research at MPFI. Under the mentorship of researchers, you'll delve into diverse areas, including brain structure, function, development, and advanced neuroscience imaging. You'll gain practical skills in techniques such as genetic engineering, histological staining, microbiology preparations, and advanced microscopy. These techniques will allow you to explore the intricate workings of neural circuits. The culmination of your experience will be the development of a scientific abstract and a presentation of your findings to MPFI researchers and the wider community. Beyond the research itself, you'll gain valuable insight into the daily life of a neuroscience lab.

10. UF Student Science Training Program (UF SSTP)

Location: University of Florida, Gainesville
Cost/Stipend: $5,500 + $50 application fee; financial aid available | None
Cohort Size: Up to 90 students
Dates: June 8–July 26
Application Deadline: Out of state/ international high school students: April 1 | Florida high school students: April 15; applications will continue to be reviewed until the program is filled
Eligibility: High school students entering grade 12 | At least 16 years old by the program start date

Technically not an internship, the UF Student Science Training Program (SSTP) is a rigorous seven-week residential research experience for incoming high school seniors interested in science, medicine, math, computer science, or engineering. You will join a UF faculty member’s lab and assist in active projects for 30 hours per week. You will engage in a daily science lecture series on cutting-edge research, a UF Honors Program seminar course, and regular assignments such as research papers, poster presentations, and oral reports. The program also includes small seminar classes led by post-doctoral students or PhD candidates, diverse field trips, and leadership and communication workshops.

11. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships

Location: Various sites along with Florida
Cost/Stipend: None | Provided, amount unspecified
Cohort Size: Varies as per labs
Dates: 6–10 weeks in summer; typically late May–early August
Application Deadline: Typically March
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents, currently enrolled in high school

In this program, you’ll assist with federally funded research in the U.S. Army labs or partner universities by working in engineering areas like electronics, biomechanics, or quantum systems. You’ll receive mentorship from STEM professionals and near-peer guides and apply lab protocols, use high-tech instrumentation, and contribute to experimental design. Programs emphasize technical rigor, lab immersion, and professional skill-building. Some placements involve DoD-relevant innovations in applied science. You will gain exposure to innovation and research in the context of national defense. Through this program, you will also have the opportunity to contribute to the U.S. Army, which makes your college applications stand out.

12. Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program

Location: Jacksonville, FL
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Cohort Size: 20–30 students
Dates: June 3–December 2
Application Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in Duval or St. Johns counties in Florida | Minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA

The SPARK Research Mentorship Program provides high school students with one-of-a-kind mentored research experience in world-class laboratories at the Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, Florida. As an intern, you will spend 25+ hours/week working in Mayo Clinic labs on projects spanning oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. You will participate in research ethics and methodology sessions and produce highly competitive projects that you enter in science fairs, where many have won regional and state awards for their research in the past. This immersive lab experience builds critical research skills and is designed to give you a realistic view of scientific research and its applications in neuroscience.

13. UCF PREM High School Summer Internship

Location: University of Central Florida Main Campus & UCF Medical Campus, Orlando, FL
Cost/Stipend: None | $1,000
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – July18
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors interested in physics, chemistry, biology, or engineering

In this internship, you will intern in one of ten UCF PREM research labs, exploring topics like quantum materials at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Activities include conducting hands-on laboratory experiments, working with single-atom-thin materials, attending seminars from faculty and researchers, and collaborating on research projects with mentors and peers. The program allows you to work alongside college researchers and provides real-world exposure to emerging material science solutions that address global challenges. You will gain valuable skills such as laboratory techniques, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and scientific communication. This experience makes their college applications stand out by demonstrating initiative, research proficiency, and a passion for STEM.

14. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine

Location: Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free | Approximately $15 per hour
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 –  August 8 (Tentative)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors from Miami and Broward-area schools who are academically performing well | Legally authorized to work in the U.S. More details about eligibility and the program here.

The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship is an 8-week research program held at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (HIHG) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. As an intern, you’ll work with real-world research tools, improve your research and presentation skills, and explore topics related to human genetics. You’ll be matched with a mentor, either a faculty member, staff researcher, or postdoc, and get hands-on lab experience. The HIHG focuses on understanding the genes behind human diseases and finding ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent them. The program culminates in you giving a short presentation about your summer research.

15. Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship

Location: First week: Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; next eight weeks: The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute in Jupiter, Florida
Cost/Stipend: None | $4,480 
Cohort Size: Around 15 students
Dates: June 2 –  August 1
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from Palm Beach or Martin County, FL | At least 16 years old | Minimum 3.0 GPA | U.S. citizens or permanent residents

The Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship is an intensive, nine-week STEM program that places you in research labs at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, where you'll explore real-world biomedical and biotechnological challenges. The internship begins with a one-week boot camp in biotechnology, covering lab safety and fundamental research techniques, before students move on to spend eight weeks working full-time in state-of-the-art laboratories at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute. You will engage in hands-on bench experiments, weekly seminars, data analysis, and collaborative research culminating in presenting a scientific abstract, oral presentation, and poster at a concluding symposium. The internship is apt for those considering a future in biomedical research and engineering, or drug discovery.

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