Updated October 2026
TL;DR
STEM internships for high school students in Illinois span laboratory research, healthcare, data science, engineering, museum science, and startup work. Across these opportunities, students may conduct research, analyze data, support technical teams, build digital projects, attend workshops, and present findings. Many are paid, while eligibility can depend on grade, age, residency, school, or program prerequisites. Ladder Internships offers remote eight-week startup internships with STEM-related tracks including machine learning, software engineering, health tech, environmental science, and deep tech. (Ladder) 14 STEM Internships fo…
STEM brings together scientific inquiry, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve problems across fields ranging from healthcare to data science. For high school students, practical STEM experience can turn classroom concepts into a clearer understanding of how scientific and technical work happens.
We selected these options for their relevance to high school students in Illinois and their mix of research, workplace, technical, and career-exploration experiences.
If you’d like to widen your search beyond Illinois, take a look at Ladder’s guides to STEM internships for high school students, engineering internships for high school students, and summer science internships for high school students. They’re useful for comparing broader options across research, engineering, and multidisciplinary STEM experiences.
Why should you do a STEM internship?
A STEM internship can help you see how scientific, technical, and quantitative ideas are used outside the classroom. Depending on the role, you may gain experience with research, data, laboratory work, engineering problem-solving, or technical communication while learning how professionals approach real projects. Ladder Internships also offers remote startup projects for high school students across several STEM-related fields.
What skills can you pick up in STEM internships?
STEM internships can build both technical and transferable skills through practical work. Depending on the placement, you might practice research methods, laboratory techniques, data analysis, coding, scientific communication, teamwork, or structured problem-solving. These skills matter because STEM work often requires you to test ideas carefully, interpret evidence, explain results, and collaborate across disciplines.
How do you choose the right option?
Consider several factors before applying, including your grade level, location, academic background, schedule, and budget. You should also check requirements related to citizenship, residency, coursework, or GPA, as these can vary significantly!
|
Program type |
Top programs |
Cost / Stipend |
Best For |
|
Virtual Programs |
Cost |
Students who want remote startup experience and flexibility to explore STEM-related industries |
|
|
National Laboratory Programs |
Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM), Argonne National Laboratory – Bridge into Internships, VALOR JROTC Fermilab |
Cost |
Students interested in national laboratory research, technical teams, engineering, and scientific workplace experience |
|
Biomedical & Healthcare Programs |
ResearcHStart by UChicago Medicine, MedSTEM Explorer Program, Summer Science Program in Biomedical Sciences by the University of Illinois, REACH at Rush University Medical Center – MedSTEM Pathways |
Cost |
Students drawn to biomedical research, healthcare, clinical environments, and hospital-based STEM pathways |
|
University Research & Data Programs |
Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs, After School Matters STEM Lab Internship, Northwestern University Center for Synthetic Biology – AEOP High School & Undergraduate Internships in Synthetic Biology, Data Science Institute Summer Lab Program |
Cost |
Students who want mentored university research in laboratory, computational, engineering, or interdisciplinary settings |
|
Applied STEM & Career Exploration |
UChicago Youth Internship Program, Field Museum – High School Science and Digital Learning Internship |
Cost |
Students interested in combining STEM exploration with workplace exposure, project experience, or science communication |
1. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Batavia, Illinois
Stipend: $500 weekly
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: July 12 – August 6
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school senior or recent graduate; Illinois high school enrollment; U.S. citizenship; medical insurance
You explore particle physics, quantum science, engineering design, and artificial intelligence through hands-on activities, expert-led lectures, facility tours, and mentorship from Fermilab STEM professionals. You also produce a research abstract and poster and deliver a final presentation, giving you practice communicating scientific work.
Who is it best for: Students who want broad exposure to advanced STEM research and scientific communication inside a national laboratory.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote (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: ~10%; ~70 students
Dates: Various cohorts, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Varies based on the program cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 5–10 hours per week for 8 weeks
In Ladder Internships, you will spend eight weeks working remotely with a start-up or nonprofit organization on projects that support the organization's goals. You will contribute to projects in fields such as AI, marketing, finance, health tech, or software, applying what you learn to solve real business challenges. You will work closely with a company manager and receive guidance from a ladder coach to build skills in communication, teamwork, and project delivery. You will present your work at the end of the internship, giving you experience working in professional environments. Apply now!
Who is it best for: Students who want a flexible, remote internship where they can work on a real startup project related to STEM or another field of interest with structured mentorship.
3. Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs
Location: Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
Stipend: Monetary award provided; amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 30 lab spots historically
Dates: June 17 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 31 priority deadline; later applications reviewed until spots fill
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders residing in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, or Wisconsin
You spend roughly 30–35 hours weekly contributing to faculty-led STEMM research in areas that can include engineering, computer science, medicine, neuroscience, AI, physics, and bioengineering. Weekly professional-development sessions cover scientific communication and research-poster preparation, and you present your work at a final symposium.
Who is it best for: Students who want an intensive university research experience with laboratory mentorship and a final scientific poster presentation.
4. ResearcHStart by UChicago Medicine
Location: Chicago and Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; up to 30 students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: High school junior or senior at application; Illinois or Lake County, Indiana resident; age 16+ at program start
You work full-time in an established cancer-research laboratory on areas such as cancer immunology, bioengineering, experimental therapeutics, and cancer disparities. Research training is paired with faculty lectures, career and skill-building workshops, mentoring, and a concluding research symposium.
Who is it best for: Students who want an intensive introduction to cancer and biomedical research through full-time laboratory work and scientific mentorship.
5. MedSTEM Explorer Program
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; around 30 students
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Current freshman or sophomore at application; rising sophomore or junior; 2.5 weighted GPA; 80% attendance; Chicago or specified Oak Park/River Forest ZIP code resident
You explore STEM and healthcare careers through research on community health issues, workshops, academic enrichment, workplace training, professional discussions, and career panels. The program also offers opportunities to earn credentials such as first aid/CPR, and successful participants may later be considered for MedSTEM Pathways.
Who is it best for: Students who want early exposure to healthcare careers while building research, workplace, and college-readiness skills.
6. UChicago Youth Internship Program
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Stipend: Chicago minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 100 planned places
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application Deadline: Year 1: April 23; Year 2: February 20
Eligibility: Age 16+ by program start; Chicago resident; Chicago public or charter school student; U.S. work authorization; Year 1 eligible graduating classes; Year 2 requires prior Year 1 completion
You begin with an earn-and-learn summer of STEM career exploration, workshops, workplace and college tours, leadership development, and postsecondary planning. After completing Year 1, you can reapply for a second-summer internship in health sciences, computer science, or IT, with assignments that may include research summaries, job shadowing, meetings, and project support.
Who is it best for: Students who want a multi-summer pathway combining STEM career exploration with the chance to progress into a university work placement.
7. Argonne National Laboratory – Bridge into Internships
Location: Lemont, Illinois
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20 students
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: Age 18+ at program start; graduating Chicagoland high school senior; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; invitation after Institutional Partnerships interview
You collaborate with an Argonne scientist on a predetermined research project while completing technical and professional-development workshops designed to prepare you for future STEM internships. The experience also includes enrichment activities and tours that introduce you to national-laboratory research and career pathways.
Who is it best for: Students who want mentored national-laboratory research experience while preparing for future college-level STEM internships.
8. After School Matters STEM Lab Internship
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 10 students
Dates: Six-week summer program
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Attend a Chicago high school; age 16+ by first program day
You begin with a one-week research bootcamp and then spend the remainder of the six-week program working in University of Chicago research laboratories on authentic projects. A mentoring team of PME researchers and education staff supports your laboratory work, science communication, presentations, and college preparation.
Who is it best for: Students who want hands-on university laboratory research with close researcher mentorship and science-communication training.
If you live outside Chicago or don’t want to commute every day, consider Ladder Internships that pair you with startups to work on real projects in a fully virtual format.
9. VALOR JROTC Fermilab
Location: Batavia, Illinois
Stipend: $18 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not stated
Dates: June 28 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Illinois high school JROTC enrollee; junior, senior, or recent graduate at application; eligible to work in the United States
You provide technical support to a Fermilab experiment or support group while working under an employee and alongside scientists, engineers, project teams, and support personnel. You gain experience in a national-laboratory workplace and finish the internship with an oral presentation.
Who is it best for: Students who want practical STEM work experience within a national laboratory and enjoy contributing to technical teams.
10. Northwestern University Center for Synthetic Biology – AEOP High School & Undergraduate Internships in Synthetic Biology
Location: Evanston, Illinois
Stipend: Up to $4,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 2 high school interns
Dates: June 15 – August 21
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents; Chicagoland residents; current high school students or qualifying recent graduates not yet in college
You conduct mentored, research-intensive synthetic biology work connected to Northwestern's PreMaDe research while learning laboratory techniques used in the field. You also take part in workshops on communication, design, ethics, teamwork, and entrepreneurship, faculty sessions, company field trips, and a concluding research symposium.
Who is it best for: Students who want intensive laboratory research in synthetic biology combined with exposure to scientific communication, ethics, and biotechnology careers.
11. Data Science Institute Summer Lab Program
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Stipend: $5,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 22 participants
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors; year-round Chicago-area residents
You are paired with a data science mentor and contribute to applied interdisciplinary research in areas such as computer science, public policy, climate and energy, materials science, or biomedical research. You develop research-methodology and teamwork skills, practice communicating your findings, and create a final research video presented during an end-of-summer symposium modeled on a professional conference.
Who is it best for: Students who want to apply computational and data-science methods to interdisciplinary university research with close mentorship.
12. Summer Science Program in Biomedical Sciences by the University of Illinois
Location: Rockford, Illinois
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 15.6% estimated acceptance; 7 positions
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: Age 16+ by May 1; attends an eligible Rockford-area high school or qualifying local school; Chicago-suburb schools excluded
You work side by side with university scientists on biomedical research in laboratories studying areas such as cancer, vaccines, and drug development. You learn laboratory and teamwork skills while receiving mentoring and career-development training in résumé preparation, interviewing, leadership, and scientific presentation, culminating in oral and poster presentations at the Summer Science Forum.
Who is it best for: Students who want sustained hands-on biomedical laboratory research and close mentoring from university scientists.
13. REACH at Rush University Medical Center – MedSTEM Pathways
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 75 summer; 15–20 fall/spring interns
Dates: Spring: January – March; Summer: June 15 – July 31; Fall: September – November
Application Deadline: Summer: February 27; fall/spring: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors; 2.5 weighted GPA; 80% attendance; Chicago or specified Oak Park/River Forest ZIP codes; fall/spring require prior MedSTEM participation
You intern in a Rush University Medical Center department or partner organization aligned with your interests, with placements spanning healthcare, research, clinical engineering, IT, finance, and other fields. The summer combines work-based learning with college, career, life, and workplace-skills classes and opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials; fall and spring provide additional internship experience for previous participants.
Who is it best for: Students who want sustained workplace experience while exploring healthcare, research, technology, or other hospital-based career pathways.
14. Field Museum – High School Science and Digital Learning Internship
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Stipend: $17.25 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 15 students
Dates: Mid-June through late July; five-week research project
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Chicagoland high school students
You select a Field Museum scientist or expert and work with them on a five-week research project while developing technology and digital-media skills that support your research. You also receive professional development and collaborate with other science-focused teens as you develop an interactive project.
Who is it best for: Students who want to combine museum-based scientific research with technology, digital media, and science communication.
Can a STEM internship help with your college applications?
A STEM internship can give you concrete experiences to reflect on when explaining your academic interests in a college application. Research, data analysis, laboratory work, technical teamwork, or presentations can show how you explored a subject beyond coursework. The strongest material is usually what you learned, contributed, questioned, or discovered rather than the program name itself.
How do you apply for a STEM internship?
Start by reading the official application instructions closely for eligibility, deadlines, and any required materials. Prepare examples that show your interest in STEM, such as relevant coursework, projects, research, coding, lab work, or other experiences, but only include what the application requests. Give yourself enough time to complete each step because requirements and timelines vary by program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will I actually do research, or are these mainly observational programs?
Many of the listed opportunities involve hands-on work rather than observation alone, including laboratory research, data analysis, technical support, digital projects, and startup work. Others combine practical assignments with workshops, tours, career panels, or professional development, so the balance of project work and exploration varies.
2. Do any of these STEM internships end with a presentation or research output?
Yes. Several research-focused options culminate in posters, abstracts, symposium presentations, oral presentations, research videos, or interactive projects, while the remote startup option includes a final presentation.
3. What grade or age do I need to be to participate?
Eligibility spans multiple high school levels, but it varies by opportunity. Some opportunities accept freshmen or sophomores, while others focus on rising juniors, seniors, recent graduates, students age 16+, or graduating seniors who are 18 by the program start.
4. Are any of these STEM internships available remotely?
Most of the listed opportunities are based in Illinois, especially Chicago and nearby research institutions, but the list also includes a fully remote option. If location flexibility matters, Ladder Internships offers remote startup internships for high school students working on real projects with a company manager.