14 STEM Internships for High School Students in Texas
Doing a STEM internship in high school gives you a chance to work on research, coding projects, lab experiments, or engineering challenges. You'll develop technical skills and get a clearer sense of which area of STEM interests you most. This kind of experience also strengthens your college applications by showing admissions officers that you've gone beyond standard coursework.
What STEM internships are available for high school students in Texas?
Texas is a good place to find STEM internships for high schoolers. The state has a broad industrial base spanning energy, aerospace, biomedical engineering, and technology, with major research institutions and a high concentration of Fortune 500 companies. Areas like Austin's Silicon Hills and Houston's Space City give you access to work alongside industry leaders in fields ranging from advanced manufacturing to software development.
We put together a list of 14 of the best STEM internships for high school students in Texas.
1. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $7,200 for the 10-week program and $6,480 for 9 weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, only 6 students are selected for the 10-week program
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Texas-resident high school seniors, 18+ at the start, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents or work-eligible visa holders
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program, offered by the University of Texas in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center, provides a 10-week research experience for students interested in biomedical sciences. During the program, you will work on a research project in areas such as cancer biology or genetics, collaborating with faculty from MD Anderson. You gain hands-on laboratory experience, learning techniques for data collection, analysis, and experimentation. The program also includes seminars that provide context on the research process and the broader field of biomedical science. The program is highly competitive and offers an intensive introduction to scientific research at a professional level.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
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, eight-week-long startup internship program for ambitious high school students, where you work with a high-growth startup. Startups 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 startups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars, backed by Y Combinator, and have founders who have worked for the likes of Microsoft, Google, McKinsey, etc. You work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Apply now!
3. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center DACCPM Summer Research Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $3,600 (pre-tax)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 35–50 students per cohort
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: High school students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, at least 18 years old by the program start
This 10-week internship introduces high school students to medical research in clinical and laboratory settings. During the program, you will be assigned a research project and work with faculty and research staff in areas such as anesthesiology, perioperative medicine, and critical care. You gain experience in reviewing scientific literature, collecting and managing data, and contributing to ongoing research studies. The program also includes a Cancer Biology boot camp, where you explore topics such as chemotherapy-induced pain and immune system function. In addition, you participate in seminars focused on medical careers and preparation for graduate school, providing both practical research skills and guidance for future academic paths.
4. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University
Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost except for the $25 application fee / $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <3%; 12 students are selected each year
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years old when the program starts, who are graduating in the application year or the next, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University provides high school juniors and seniors with the opportunity to participate in hands-on research across STEM and humanities disciplines. During the program, you will work with university faculty on a research project, attend seminars and discussions, and take part in field trips to gain insight into college life. You develop skills in areas such as data analysis, research methods, problem-solving, and academic writing. The program also helps you improve your communication abilities through presentations of your research and the preparation of a formal research paper. Admission is competitive based on academic performance, teacher recommendations, and career interests.
5. UTHealth Houston - Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship
Location: University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston School of Public Health, Brownsville, TX; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s (UTRGV) Brownsville and Edinburg campuses
Stipend: $750 upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 10–12 students each year
Dates: June 12 – July 25
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors attending schools in the Rio Grande Valley districts
The UTHealth Houston Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship is a six-week program for high school students interested in science and public health. During the internship, you will be paired with a university mentor and assigned a research project aligned with your interests. Throughout the program, you explore the connections between scientific research and community health, participate in group meetings and seminars, and develop skills in data collection, analysis, and presenting findings. The internship concludes with an in-person symposium where you share your research outcomes.
6. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Several locations across the United States. Students in Texas can choose the AFWERX site in Texas
Stipend: Rest of the United States: $501.60; Edwards AFR: $805.60
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 60 students
Dates: Fall session is 16 weeks between late August/early September and mid-December; Spring session is 16 weeks between mid-January and early May; Summer session is 10 weeks between late May/early June and August
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort and sites (Summer: January 10)
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens and enrolled or accepted to an educational institution, and are at least 16 years old by the application deadline; check the detailed eligibility criteria here
The AFRL Scholars Program offers high school students a paid summer internship to explore aerospace engineering and STEM research. During the program, you will work on projects in areas such as satellite navigation, machine learning, atomic physics, or rocket propulsion. You can apply to up to three projects that align with your interests, and throughout the internship, you receive guidance from AFRL scientists and engineers. You also have the chance to tour advanced laboratories and gain experience in research methods, data analysis, and technical communication. Past interns have worked on projects including launch vehicle design and engine simulation.
7. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) Internships
Location: Various sites across the U.S., including in and around Houston, TX
Stipend: Paid, varies from location to location
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; more than 300 interns across locations
Dates: 5 – 10 weeks; typically June–August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents
AEOP summer internships allow high school students to work in the U.S. Army research labs or university labs, contributing to projects that address national challenges. During the program, you will participate in Army-sponsored STEM research and join a community of peers through virtual office hours, webinars, and workshops. You have access to guidance from experts in the Department of Defense, academia, and industry, which allows you to learn about DoD STEM research and potential career paths. Depending on the site you select, your work may involve areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, energy and power, cybersecurity, biology, or materials science.
8. Texas Medical Center (TMC) Summer Research Internship Program
Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically 10–15 students per summer
Dates: 10 weeks between early June and late July/early August
Application Deadline: Typically, late January
Eligibility: High school students completing their junior year at Augustana
The Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship is a 10-week program that allows high school students to work on a research project at one of TMC’s institutions, including UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, or Baylor College of Medicine. It pairs you with a faculty mentor to explore areas such as biology, chemistry, psychology, neuroscience, healthcare economics, medical illustration, or healthcare policy. In addition to conducting research, you receive individualized mentoring and participate in seminars covering clinical medicine, research methods, and career development. The program provides hands-on experience in a professional research environment while helping you develop skills relevant to future studies and careers in science and healthcare.
9. 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
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10%; typically 15–25 students every year
Dates: Distance learning and remote projects: May – July | On-site internship: July 5 – 18 | Symposium: July 20 – 21
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors in the US who are at least 16 years old and first-time SEES participants
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) program, offered by the University of Texas at Austin in partnership with NASA, provides high school students with an opportunity to engage in Earth and space science research while learning to work with NASA satellite data. The program begins with virtual modules that cover key Earth science concepts and introduce basic Python programming skills. In July, you will participate in research at UT Austin, collaborating with NASA experts to analyze satellite data. Your work may include visualizing remote sensing data, exploring mission design, and studying features such as ice sheets and Earth’s gravity field. By the end of the program, you will receive a certificate from NASA.
10. University of Houston Mohan Lab Summer Internship
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 15–20 students each year
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (who have completed 11th grade of high school)
The University of Houston Mohan Lab Summer Internship provides rising high school seniors with hands-on research experience in biomedical science, bioengineering, or related health fields. The program begins with one to two weeks of training in fundamental laboratory techniques, followed by eight weeks of independent bench research under the guidance of a scientist or graduate student mentor. During the internship, you may be involved in collecting and analyzing data and could contribute to a research manuscript. At the conclusion of the program, you present your findings at a joint lab meeting, gaining experience in both research and scientific communication.
11. Texas High School Aerospace Scholars
Location: In-person at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, and virtual.
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; Phase 1: 800-1000 students; Phase 2: roughly 500 students; Phase 3: 50–55 students
Dates: October – March
Application Deadline: September 27
Eligibility: High school juniors residing in Texas who are U.S. citizens
This program begins with a five-month online course during the school year, where you complete lessons in Earth science, robotics, aeronautics, and space systems. You also tackle design challenges and receive feedback from NASA scientists and engineers throughout the course. Students who complete the online portion may be selected for Moonshot, a virtual summer experience. During this one-week program, you join a team to work on engineering simulations and mission-planning exercises modeled on actual NASA projects. The experience allows you to apply science and math concepts, develop problem-solving and research skills, and explore the planning of a Moon or Mars mission.
12. The Health Museum: DeBakey Cell Lab Internship
Location: The Health Museum, Houston, Texas
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; around 10–15 students
Dates: 6 weeks between mid-June and late July
Application Deadline: Typically, late April
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 and older with a minimum 2.5 GPA
As a DeBakey Cell Lab intern, you explore diverse topics like DNA extraction, hematology, and microbiology while gaining a behind-the-scenes look at a major science museum. You will test antimicrobial agents, conduct simulated blood typing, and identify microbes under professional microscopes. The program focuses on science communication; you aren't just working in a vacuum but are actively teaching these complex experiments to museum visitors. This experience sharpens your technical bench skills alongside soft skills like public speaking, mentorship, and adaptability.
13. High School Emerging Researcher Experience at Houston Methodist Hospital
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid internship for high school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically 10–15 students per summer
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 16 or older by the program’s start and have a minimum 3.5 GPA
The Houston Methodist Summer High School Research Internship gives you hands-on experience in medical research and healthcare. During the program, you work alongside undergraduate students on independent research projects and receive mentorship in translational research techniques. The internship includes laboratory work, training in scientific writing, and sessions on career and professional development. You also attend seminars and lectures to deepen your understanding of medical research. The program concludes with a research symposium, where you present your findings to scientists, peers, and staff.
14. Baylor College of Medicine’s Saturday Morning Science (SMS) Summer Research Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 60 students per cohort
Dates: June 11 – August 4
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school students who are 18 years or older by June 1, have a U.S. Social Security card or a U.S. Permanent Resident card, and have previously participated in Saturday Morning Science or have an affiliation with certain undergraduate affiliate programs
The Baylor College of Medicine’s Saturday Morning Science (SMS) Summer Research Program covers a broad spectrum of medical sciences, including genetics, neuroscience, and microbiology, depending on your assigned lab's specific focus. You will spend your summer performing micropipetting, analyzing cellular data, and mastering professional lab equipment alongside experienced faculty and doctoral students. What sets this program apart is its requirement for prior participation in the weekend SMS sessions, ensuring you already have a foundational understanding of the Texas Medical Center's research ecosystem. By the end of the term, you will have built a network of medical experts and developed the discipline needed to pursue a future career in medicine or research.