Updated October 2026
TL;DR
STEM opportunities for high school students in San Diego span biomedical research, engineering, startup projects, and marine science outreach. Depending on the placement, students may conduct experiments, contribute to technical research, observe clinicians, or explain marine habitats to visitors. The settings range from research institutions to startups and an aquarium. Ladder Internships offers remote startup internships where high school students work on real projects with a company manager and Ladder Coach.
How can a laboratory discovery become a treatment that helps people? STEM connects scientific questions with practical solutions in health, technology, and the environment. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences describes translation as turning observations from laboratories, clinics, and communities into interventions that improve health. Practical experience helps students explore how scientific ideas become useful applications.
The selections reflect high school eligibility, STEM subject focus, and opportunities in San Diego or through remote participation.
For more ways to explore local science, check out these science internships for high school students in San Diego. If you’d like to widen your search, this guide to science internships for high school students in California covers opportunities across the state.
Why should you do a STEM internship?
A STEM internship can help you connect classroom concepts with scientific and technical work while exploring what interests you. Working through a practical problem can reveal how researchers test ideas, respond to uncertainty, and collaborate across disciplines. Explore startup projects with a manager and structured coaching through Ladder Internships.
What skills can you pick up in STEM internships?
STEM internships can build your ability to ask testable questions, interpret evidence, and explain technical ideas clearly. Depending on the field, relevant skills include experimental design, laboratory methods, coding, or quantitative analysis. These skills help you assess whether a result supports a claim and communicate your reasoning to others.
How do you choose the right option?
Consider several factors before applying, including your grade level, location, academic background, schedule, and budget. 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 |
Fee-based (financial aid available) |
Students interested in remote startup work involving software, AI, health technology, or environmental questions |
|
|
Biomedical Laboratory Research |
Scripps REACH, Salk Heithoff-Brody Scholars, Sanford Burnham Prebys Preuss Internship, Scintillon SURE |
Free – $2,500 program fee; stipend $5,040 |
Students interested in biomedical experiments, cancer biology, drug discovery, or research-institute environments |
|
Regenerative Medicine and Cardiovascular Research |
Free; stipend $2,500 |
Students drawn to stem cells, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular science, or the connection between research and patient care |
|
|
Engineering and Computational Research |
NIWC Pacific SEAP, Scripps Translational Research Internship, UCSD IEM OPALS |
Free – $3,000 program fee, plus $65 application fee; stipends $4,000 - $4,500 |
Students interested in naval technology, computational health research, or engineering applications in medicine |
|
Marine Science Outreach |
Free; no stipend |
Students who enjoy marine conservation and want sustained experience explaining science to visitors |
1. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific – Science and Engineer Apprentice Program (SEAP)
Location: San Diego, California
Stipend: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; NIWC Pacific cohort size unverified
Dates: Summer; eight weeks; exact dates vary by laboratory
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school; Grade 9 completed by application; graduating seniors eligible; age 16+ by internship start; solely U.S. citizens; ability to obtain security clearance
You work with a mentor and project team on naval research involving communications, computing, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, space, or cybersecurity. Depending on your placement, you may attend technical talks, workshops, and project showcases. These activities can help you develop research, teamwork, and scientific communication skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want to apply science and engineering to naval communications, computing, cybersecurity, or space systems.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; full need-based aid available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10% acceptance; 70 places
Dates: Eight weeks; winter cohort starts December 7; spring, summer, and fall cohorts also available
Application Deadline: Winter: November 15; separate deadlines for other cohorts
Eligibility: High school students
You work remotely with a startup or nonprofit on a project in an area such as artificial intelligence, software engineering, health technology, or environmental science. Your company manager and Ladder Coach guide you as you develop practical deliverables, which may include machine learning models, software prototypes, or research analyses, depending on your placement. You present your completed project to the company, building technical problem-solving, professional communication, and project management skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want to apply STEM interests to startup projects while receiving structured mentorship in a remote setting.
3. Scripps Research – REACH (REsearch Awareness for Community High schools) Summer Internship Program
Location: La Jolla, California
Stipend: $5,040; pre-internship bootcamp unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <5%; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Bootcamp June 16 – June 18; internship June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 22
Eligibility: San Diego County residents; most recent high school semester at a designated REACH partner school/program; age 16+ by June 16; one year each of chemistry and biology; GPA 3.0+; U.S. work eligibility and school work permit if under 18; no previous REACH internship
You conduct seven weeks of biomedical laboratory research with a graduate student mentor after a mandatory three-day training bootcamp. You learn experimental design, laboratory techniques, and data interpretation, attend scientific seminars and professional development workshops, and present your research at the Summer Intern Symposium. This experience can help you develop practical research and scientific communication skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want sustained biomedical laboratory experience and practice designing experiments, interpreting data, and presenting findings.
4. Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program at the Salk Institute
Location: La Jolla, California
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed; public-transit assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2.16% estimated acceptance; 9 students
Dates: June 14 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Age 16+ by June 14; San Diego County resident; most recent semester at a San Diego County high school; GPA 2.75+; at least one high school biology class completed; school work permit obtainable if under 18
You work one-on-one with a Salk scientist on a research project during an eight-week paid internship. You also attend seminars, workshops, and biotech visits, with training involving laboratory techniques, bioinformatics, data analysis, and science communication. Presenting a scientific talk or poster at the Summer Scholars Research Symposium can help you practice explaining research findings.
Who is it best for: Students who want mentored laboratory research, exposure to biotechnology careers, and practice analyzing and presenting scientific findings.
5. Sanford Burnham Prebys – Preuss Internship Program
Location: La Jolla, California
Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 5 students
Dates: Three weeks in summer; capstone July 24
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at The Preuss School, UC San Diego
You conduct biomedical experiments with scientific mentors and present your findings at a capstone event. Recent projects included fruit-fly cancer experiments and testing three drugs targeting STK4, a protein linked to leukemia-cell survival. These activities can help you explore experimental research and drug discovery.
Who is it best for: Students who want a short introduction to biomedical laboratory research, cancer biology, and drug discovery.
6. CIRM – SPARK Program
Location: Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla, San Diego, CA
Stipend: Paid; amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 11 students
Dates: Six-week summer internship; campus poster session July 30; statewide conference July 31 – August 1
Application Deadline: Varies by host
Eligibility: California high school students, with preference for residents of San Diego or Imperial County; age 16 or older by the internship’s start
You explore stem cell biology and regenerative medicine through a faculty-supervised biomedical research project at Sanford Burnham Prebys. You present your research at a campus poster session and CIRM’s statewide SPARK conference, where you meet interns from other participating institutions. Conducting experiments and discussing your findings with researchers can help you build laboratory skills, strengthen scientific communication, and better understand biomedical research careers.
Who is it best for: Students who want hands-on laboratory experience exploring stem cells, regenerative medicine, and biomedical research.
7. Student Research Internship Program at Scripps Research Translational Institute
Location: La Jolla, California
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 2–3% acceptance; approximately 40 students
Dates: June 1 – August 7 or June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Highly motivated high school students; age 16+ before internship start; strong interest in genomics or mHealth translational research; clinical placements for interns aged 18+ require background checks and drug screening
You develop an independent translational research project with a mentor, exploring genomics, mobile health technologies, study design, and data analysis. You usually work in a dry laboratory setting, with only limited wet laboratory positions available. Seminars, research meetings, and a concluding poster symposium can help you interpret biomedical evidence and communicate scientific results.
Who is it best for: Students who want to connect biology, statistics, and health technology through mentored research.
8. UC San Diego – SPARK (Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge)
Location: San Diego, California
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 10 interns annually
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: California high school students, particularly students from low-income or socioeconomically disadvantaged communities
You combine eight weeks of work in regenerative medicine research laboratories with doctor shadowing in clinics. You learn about related medical fields with UC San Diego medical and undergraduate students, which can help you connect laboratory research with patient care.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore stem cell research and regenerative medicine through laboratory experience and clinical observation.
9. UC San Diego Institute of Engineering and Medicine – UCSD IEM OPALS High School Internship Program
Location: San Diego, California
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 plus $65 application fee; need-based scholarships available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 90–125 students across cohorts
Dates: Spring January 24 – June 27; summer July 5–30
Application Deadline: Spring: November 30; Summer: April 18
Eligibility: Current high school or community college students; age 14+ by January 24 for spring or July 5 for summer; priority for ages 16+
You contribute to interdisciplinary STEM research connecting engineering, medicine, and artificial intelligence while learning to evaluate real scientific data. You conclude the internship by presenting your research in a talk or poster session. Literature review, experimental work, and data analysis can help you develop scientific reasoning and research communication skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore the intersection of engineering, medicine, and artificial intelligence through research and data analysis.
10. Scintillon Institute –SURE Summer Research Internship Program
Location: San Diego, California
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 by May 1 or $2,500 for late applications if places remain; financial aid available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 12 students
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: May 1; later summer consideration subject to availability
Eligibility: High school students from San Diego County school districts; in-person participation
You combine morning discussions led by research faculty with afternoon experiments in your mentor’s laboratory. You also explore how scientific evidence influences society and present what you learned at the end of the four-week program. Working on biomedical research can help you develop experimental precision, problem-solving, and scientific communication skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want biomedical laboratory experience, faculty mentorship, and discussion of science’s role in society.
11. UC San Diego Cardiovascular Institute – CVI Summer Research Program
Location: La Jolla, California
Stipend: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Eight weeks in summer; core lectures June 15 – July 15; exact internship dates unconfirmed
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; age 16+; strong interest in learning clinical research fundamentals
You work with clinician-scientist mentors on cardiovascular research and attend a core lecture series. You also have opportunities to shadow clinicians, connecting cardiovascular science with patient care. This combination can help you understand clinical research and explore careers that unite medicine and scientific investigation.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore cardiovascular science, clinical research, and patient care through mentored research and clinical observation.
12. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego – Volunteer Program
Location: La Jolla, California
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Year-round; minimum six-month commitment of one four-hour shift per week; quarterly onboarding
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Age 16+; mandatory virtual information session; background check at 18+; applicable misconduct disclosure for applicants over 18; parent/guardian information for minors; School Programs Assistant role requires Live Scan clearance
You explain marine habitats and conservation to aquarium visitors through an ongoing volunteer role. You begin as a Tide Pool Interpreter and/or Greeter, with advanced animal-care and classroom roles conditional on service, training, availability, and capacity. This experience can help you develop science communication skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want sustained marine science outreach and visitor education experience.
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 college applications. You might discuss a research question, a technical challenge, or how encountering uncertain results changed your thinking. Explaining your responsibilities and what you learned can make that reflection specific and grounded in applied learning.
How do you apply for a STEM internship?
Start with the official application instructions to confirm eligibility, deadlines, and required materials. Prepare relevant examples from science classes, coding projects, experiments, or other experiences that show your interests. Allow time to gather any requested documents and complete each step, since requirements vary between programs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can biomedical work involve data analysis rather than bench experiments?
Yes, the list includes both experimental laboratory placements and a translational research option where most interns work in a dry laboratory setting. The latter connects genomics and mobile health with research design and data analysis, while wet-laboratory positions are more limited.
2. What science coursework do laboratory placements expect?
Academic preparation varies by laboratory placement. One requires a year each of biology and chemistry, while another requires biology and treats chemistry as preferred preparation; both also specify minimum GPAs.
3. What form do final research presentations take?
Several research entries end with a symposium, scientific talk, poster session, or research presentation. Some also include an earlier proposal or research meeting, so sharing work can be part of the research process as well as its conclusion.
4. Are paid placements available alongside programs that charge fees?
Yes, the entries include research stipends, unpaid experiences, and programs with participation or application fees. Financial assistance is listed for some fee-based options, with terms varying by program. For the remote startup option, Ladder Internships offers need-based financial aid.