15 STEM Summer Internships for High School Students
If you're in high school and considering a STEM major, then a summer internship can be a good idea to help you get hands-on experience in the specific field you want to pursue. You will not only have the opportunity to work alongside professionals but you'll also gain an insight into the latest trends in your chosen industry.
Broadening your horizons and learning new skills can help you to enhance your profile and boost your competitiveness on college applications. A lot of institutions are actively seeking high school talent to help them with research and project development initiatives. Many of these are even paid opportunities which means that a summer internship can be the first step towards your career.
In this blog, we have compiled a list of 15 incredible summer internships that incorporate diverse STEM areas such as medicine, sustainability, life sciences, and engineering. Take a look to find the STEM internship that is right for you!
Subject areas: Multidisciplinary
Location: Virtual! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students!
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year:
- Spring cohort: February 18, 2024
- Summer cohort: February 18, 2024 (Early Admission)
- Summer cohort: April 14, 2024 (Regular Admission)
Program Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer.
Cost: Starting at $1,990. Financial assistance is available.
Ladder Internships offers a selective program providing students with virtual internship experiences at global startups and nonprofits. The program offers various intern positions in a wide range of industries, including some strong STEM options. Students can choose the field they wish to work in.
Interns usually require 5-10 hours a week to work on assigned tasks and to meet company management.
During the internship, students will work on meaningful projects that align with the startup's needs, and present their work at the end of the program. This internship program includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, among other skills, and group training sessions with fellow interns.
The internship opportunities in this program span the globe, with a concentration in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and the UK. Fields include technology, machine learning, AI, finance, environmental science, sustainability, business, marketing, healthcare, medicine, media, journalism, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
2. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of Navy (DoN)
Subject areas: Physics, chemistry, biology, robotics, engineering, behavioral sciences, computer science, mathematics and more.
Location: There are several lab locations to choose from across the country.
Duration: The internship lasts eight weeks (with the possibility of extending up to two additional weeks).
Eligibility: Applicants must be:
- High school students who have completed at least Grade 9 (See exceptions below)
- Currently enrolled in high school (but maybe taking college-level classes for college credit)
- Graduating seniors are eligible to apply
- Must be 16 years of age or older by the internship start date to participate
- Solely U.S. Citizens
Students are recommended to check whether their preferred lab choice has any other particular requirements or exceptions.
Application Deadline: Summer internship applications open on August 1st and close on November 1st every year.
Stipend: New participant: $4,000 | Returning participant: $4,500
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories where they take part in real Naval research for eight weeks during the summer. This apprenticeship is a solid, research-focused opportunity.
SEAP is competitive, with around 300 placements in more than 38 laboratories around the country and because of its association with the US government, it’s regarded as highly prestigious too. Interns will be selected based on academic achievement, personal statements, recommendations, and career and research interests. Your lab choice is based on your subject of interest.
SEAP allows academically talented sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in STEM to learn about Naval research and technology while receiving first-class mentoring by top scientists and engineers and working on actual naval research. If you’ve been thinking about pursuing science and engineering, you should consider this program.
3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Subject Areas: Immunology, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioinformatics and Genetics and Genomics
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be juniors or seniors at the time of application (as of the spring of 2024). Students must be in the graduating class of 2024 or 2025.
- Be 16 years old or older by the start of the program.
- Be living in and attending school in the U.S. and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a green card to apply.
Program Dates: June 10 - August 1, 2024 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 24th, 2024
Stipend: Students earn a stipend of $500 - $2,500. Housing and transportation are not provided.
Please note: There is a $40 application fee, which can be waived. Stipends of $2500 and above are given on a needs-based system from special grants.
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an eight-week program in which high school students with a broad range of experiences, interests, and backgrounds are invited to perform basic research with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, and researchers on a medically-oriented project. The goals of the program include increasing interest in biological sciences and medicine in high school students and helping students understand how scientific research is performed.
Students will have to select one of eight study fields – Immunology, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioinformatics, and Genetics and Genomics. Once selected, you will be assigned a particular field of study (branch) based on your preference, and spend two months as a mentee. You will be mentored by eminent scholars, researchers, and PhD fellows in the field of medicine. This is a fairly competitive program with a cohort size of about 50 students – at an acceptance rate of less than 3% (approximately).
4. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI) Science and Engineering Program
Subject Areas: Mathematics, Biology, Physics, and Robotics
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Eligibility:
- Those who are entering their final year of high school are allowed to apply. This typically describes high school juniors or those in the third year or grade 11. High school seniors are not allowed to apply.
- It is recommended that PSAT Math Scores be at least 740 or higher and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Scores be 700 or higher. ACT math scores should be at least 33 and verbal scores at least 34. Those with lower scores must show strong indicators of potential in other areas of STEM and academics, such as in recommendations, high school grades, and science activities.
- Program Dates: June 23 to August 3, 2024
- Application Deadline: Applications typically close in December/January
- Cost/Stipend: Fully funded, stipend provided (exact amount is undisclosed)
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is an internship program that invites 100 high school students to participate in scientific research at MIT’s main campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The program is hosted by its large parent organization, the Center for Excellence in Education, which focuses on STEM careers.
Under the guidance of MIT’s brilliant professors and scientists, students will present oral and written reports on research that they’ll conduct on campus. The goal of the RSI is to allow students to experience an entire research cycle before entering college. To meet this goal, students will participate in an intensive seven-week program.
The first week at the RSI is preparatory. The program highlights the importance of being strong communicators and well-rounded learners, so you’ll take a few humanities courses within this time.
After this, the internship focuses on guided research for six weeks, honing the students and their passions. You’ll be paired up with an MIT mentor while taking biology, chemistry, engineering, and math courses. You’ll then apply what you learn to your research project. After, the final research presentation wraps up the internship.
5. California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Subject areas: Science, mathematics, engineering, research and communication
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Eligibility: To be eligible for the program, applicants must:
- Be currently enrolled full-time as a 9th or 10th-grade student in an SFUSD school (check if your school qualifies here)
- Maintain a GPA of 2.5 and a grade of C or higher in science and math
- Be able to obtain a valid work permit (US citizens and others authorized to work in the US)
- Commit to all attendance requirements for 2 or 3 years, through high school graduation
- Be able to commute to the Academy and nearby locations after school on Saturdays during the school year, and on weekdays in the summer (some remote work may be required)
Application Deadline: April 1, 2024 (Selected applicants will be required to attend an in-person group interview on April 27, 2024.)
Program Dates: After school and on weekends, year-round participation for 2-3 years till graduation.
Stipend: Careers in Science interns get paid above minimum wage.
Careers in Science is a multi-year, year-round, paid internship and youth development program for San Francisco high school students who come from communities underrepresented in STEM, including girls and students of color. On Saturdays during the school year and weekdays in the summer, interns will get a chance to conduct fieldwork outdoors and facilitate learning experiences for Academy visitors on the public floor.
If you’re keen on exploring a career in the sciences, browse through the details of this immersive internship program. During the program, you will attend interactive training sessions to learn about careers from practicing STEM professionals and receive guidance on your college application process. In addition to this, you will go on college tours and get opportunities to present at STEM conferences and festivals. As an intern, you will also get to work on a science research or environmental action project led by an Academy researcher or partner. Interns will also serve on the CiS Leadership Council and are eligible for individualized mentorships with Academy experts.
6. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internship Programs
Subject areas: Multidisciplinary (including space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, space microbiology, ecology, outreach, communications, and more)
Location: These internships are offered across NASA facilities. Depending on the project, interns will work either remotely or on-site at any of NASA’s 10 field centers across the country.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
- Be a full-time student (high school through graduate level) or a part-time college-level student enrolled in a minimum of 6 semester hours.
- Be a minimum of 16 years of age at the time of application (no exceptions).
Application Deadline: January (Fall session) | August (Spring session) | October (Summer session)
Program Dates: These internships are offered in 3 sessions – Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December) | Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May) | Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to August).
Stipend: Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session duration.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships to high school and college-level students based in its various sites across the country. NASA’s internship programs provide training, mentoring, and career development opportunities while working with the top science, engineering, financial, information technology, and business minds in the world.
The internships are offered in a range of subjects and disciplines, including space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, space microbiology, ecology, and even outreach and communications.
If you envision a future in engineering or astrophysics, an internship with NASA is one of the most prestigious experiences you can have on your college application. During a NASA STEM internship, you could participate in designing experiments, analyzing data from space missions, or developing new technologies along with engaging in real-world experiences, gaining valuable experience and empirical insight into NASA's work. You can explore different internship opportunities here by using the ‘Filter’ option to view the options open to high school students.
7. University of Maryland Geosciences Bridge Program
Subject areas: Ocean sciences, atmospheric sciences, and geographic information systems (GIS)
Location: University of Maryland, Princess Anne, Maryland
Eligibility: The Geosciences Program is for graduating high school seniors who:
- Are either a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Have a minimum 2.7 GPA.
- Have been accepted into an accredited US college/university. Preference will be given to students entering the institutions listed on the Application Information page.
- Plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a geoscience discipline.
Application Deadline: You can expect the deadline for the 2024 cohort to be around April-end.
Program Dates: June - August (tentatively, based on previous years’ data)
Stipend: $500 per week, along with reimbursements for travel. The program includes all lectures, field trips, college courses, housing, and meals at no cost.
The Geosciences Bridge Program offers a 6-week paid internship for students planning to pursue careers in geosciences. The internship is meant to serve as a bridge program between high school and university and sees hundreds of applicants from across the country. This program is quite competitive, with a 2-3% acceptance rate. Only 7-8 students are selected every year.
As a GeoSciences intern, you will be expected to engage and learn about ocean sciences, atmospheric sciences, and geographic information systems (GIS)/Remote Sensing techniques. Before starting your undergraduate degree, you will also be required to take two college-level courses to help prepare you for college academics.
8. Stanford University Summer Internships for High Schoolers and Community College Students (SHTEM)
Subject areas: Multidisciplinary (science, humanities, technology, engineering, mathematics)
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be currently a high school junior or senior in the 2023-2024 school year (i.e. 11th or 12th grade at the time of application) OR a full-time CC student (within first three years of CC)
- Be at least 14 by June 17 (if you are a high school junior or senior).
- Be within the ages of 17-21 (inclusive) by June 17 (if you are a full-time CC student).
Application Deadline: February 23rd, 2024
Program Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Cost/Stipend: None
This program is aimed at providing high school and community college students early exposure to cutting-edge research in an academic environment as well as introducing students to the diversity of research topics pursued in engineering. Conducted by a highly esteemed institution, this internship offers a unique chance for students to explore diverse subjects remotely. You will spend most of the time conducting research from where you are located (if you are working on hardware projects, materials will be sent to you) while maintaining regular communication with your mentors and group members. You can anticipate a commitment of 30-40 hours per week, guided by Stanford's renowned faculty and industry experts who provide valuable insights into the evolving tech landscape.
Themes cover the science of information and communication, engineering, the arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design, among other areas. This program will help you develop technical skills and will foster a success-oriented mindset.
Subject areas: Physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering
Location: Fermilab site, Illinois.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be enrolled in an Illinois high school
- Be sophomores or juniors at the time of application
- Have a 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
- Be eligible to work in the U.S.
Application Deadline: February 5, 2024
Program Dates: June 17, 2024 – July 26, 2024
Stipend: $17.20 per hour
The TARGET Program is a highly competitive six-week summer internship opportunity for Illinois high school sophomores and juniors who have an aptitude for physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. The program’s design combines both work and experiential learning.
TARGET encourages high school students to undertake college studies and pursue careers in STEM disciplines. Each intern is provided the opportunity to work with scientists and engineers to conduct research and create content on Fermilab research. Fermilab (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory) operates under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science and is one of America’s top labs for STEM research.
Annually, the TARGET Program cohort is approximately 15-25 interns.
10. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Subject Areas: Plasma physics, fusion energy, and related fields.
Note: It is strongly recommended that applicants have a background in physics, chemistry, advanced math, engineering, computer languages, and coding.
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, PA
(Remote projects may be available)
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be students who are at least 16 years old, and are graduating seniors in high school when the internship begins
- Arrange their transportation to and from the Laboratory. Housing is not provided. (This is a commuter program.)
- Be US citizens or have permanent resident status.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks in the summer (Monday-Friday) after graduation. The exact dates of the internship depend on the intern’s school schedule. Some internship options that run during school semesters are also offered.
Stipend: Some stipend is offered. Information on the exact amount is not provided.
As an intern in this program, you will get to work on a project with a member of the laboratory’s research or engineering staff, at one of the most prestigious and renowned institutions in the country. You will take part in several activities, from experimental work to computational simulations, gaining practical skills and insights into scientific research. This program offers a chance for you to delve into various aspects of plasma physics, fusion energy, and related fields, broadening your understanding of these complex subjects. The summer internship schedule is Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, 40 hours per week.
11. ASPIRE Internship at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Subject Areas: Biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering (All), information technology & cybersecurity, mathematics & data analysis, physics, planetary science
Location: In-person (90% or more at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory campus, Laurel, Maryland) | Virtual (100% remote)
Application Deadline: February 15, 2024
Eligibility: Applicant must:
- Be a high school junior or senior during program participation (Applicants can be rising juniors or seniors)
- Be at least 15 years of age by June 1
- Have a U.S. citizenship (green card holders are not eligible)
- Have a minimum 2.8 GPA
- Have reliable transportation to APL throughout the program (APL is not accessible by public transit)
- Have no criminal record
- Have permanent residency in the Washington-Baltimore Metro area
Program dates: September - May (Academic Year session) | June - August (Summer session)
Stipend: None
The ASPIRE program is an unpaid, holistic learning experience. The program offers two options – the intensive summer session and the longer academic year session.
During the program, ASPIRE interns will be paired with APL staff mentors to work on and complete projects, solve problems, and learn and apply crucial technical and interpersonal skills in a hands-on, professional environment. Interns will be asked to choose their area of interest while applying, but are not allowed to select their mentor or the project they want to work on. This program is designed to offer students a chance to dive into a subject in depth before choosing an area of study in college.
12. NIH High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Subject Areas: Science, technology, engineering, math, medicine, and research.
Note: Part of the HS-SIP are two programs, the High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP) and HiSTEP 2.0
Location: Students can choose from NIH campuses across the country. The NIH campus and labs are located in Bethesda, Baltimore and Frederick, MD; Research Triangle Park, NC; Hamilton, MT; Framingham, MA; and Phoenix, AZ.
Eligibility: To apply for the NIH HS-SIP and HS-SIP cohort programs, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. In addition, you must:
- Be 17 years of age or older on June 15, 2024.
- Be enrolled in high school as a junior or senior when you submit your application. U.S. citizens may apply if they are enrolled at least half-time in high school. U.S. permanent residents must be enrolled in a high school in the U.S. to be eligible.
- Be under 18 years old by June 15, and live within 40 miles of the NIH campus on which you will intern when you submit your application.
Application Deadline: February 16, 2024
Program Dates: Minimum 8 weeks in summer, information on exact dates is not available.
Stipend: $2,300-2,530 (for students currently in high school) | $2,570-2,840 (for students who have graduated high school)
HS-SIP is a unique opportunity for students to engage in hands-on biomedical research alongside leading scientists and mentors. In it, you will work on ongoing research projects, analyze data, and acquire essential laboratory skills.
NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) sponsors two HS-SIP cohort experiences:
- HiSTEP is for current high school juniors who will be rising 12th graders in the summer; this is a part-time program and interns do not work in NIH research groups.
- HiSTEP 2.0 for current high school seniors; this is a full-time program and interns are placed in an NIH research group.
HiSTEP is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and promoting diversity in STEM. The program partners with renowned research institutions to help you dive into cutting-edge scientific investigations across diverse disciplines. HiSTEP is not a hands-on, full-time research program. It will combine an introduction to scientific, professional, and personal skills with leadership training, wellness programming, and an exploration of STEM-M (science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine-related) careers. In addition, it will help prepare you for future scholarships and internships.
HiSTEP 2.0, an advanced continuation program, offers an in-depth exploration of scientific research. It is tailored for students who have completed HiSTEP or similar research experiences and allows you to design and conduct independent research projects under the guidance of mentor scientists in the field of biomedicine. You will also participate in weekly workshops and seminars aimed at developing your scientific, professional, and personal skills.
13. Laboratory Learning Program at Princeton
Subject Areas: Engineering and natural sciences research
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be sixteen years old or more by June 15, 2024.
- Be enrolled in high school. Graduates who have not yet turned 18 by June 15, 2024 may apply.
- Be US citizens, legal permanent residents, or international students currently in the United States attending a US high school.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
Program Dates: 5-6 weeks in the summer, depending on the research project and the schedule of the researchers. Each research project has its schedule. Interns work full-time, Monday to Friday, with no weekend activities.
Cost/Stipend: None
The Laboratory Learning Program is a highly selective, competitive, prestigious summer internship for high school students. This program offers the chance to work alongside faculty and researchers in Princeton laboratories and assist them with ongoing research, usually in engineering and the natural sciences. Around 25 Princeton laboratories accept 40 interns annually.
Princeton faculty lead research teams, which include postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students, and other staff researchers. At the end of the program, as an intern, you will be expected to present a two-page research summary report. Research opportunities vary year on year, depending on the laboratories and researchers’ focus areas. You can see the entire list of 2023 research opportunities here.
14. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Subject Areas: Nutritional Sciences, Biology/Cellular & Microbiology, Computer Science, Neurobiology, Mechanical Engineering, History, Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Location: Honors College, Lubbock, TX
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be at least 17 years of age by the program start date, and should graduate in 2024 or 2025. (This means they will participate the summer before senior year or the summer after senior graduation from high school.)
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Application Deadline: February 15, 2024
Program Dates: June 16 - August 1, 2024
Stipend: Upon completion of a successful research project report, the interns will receive a $750 stipend.
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program is an intensive seven-week summer research program for twelve highly qualified high school juniors and seniors. The program allows students the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with outstanding faculty on the general academic campus and the Health Science Center in a research-intensive setting.
The program also includes weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips. The students are afforded an atmosphere designed to develop their critical thinking abilities and career interests with faculty and other students like themselves. Students are selected based on their academic accomplishments, teacher recommendations, and career objectives. You can find a detailed list of research areas here.
15. Project SEED by American Chemical Society
Subject Areas: Chemistry
Location: Varies based on lab choice. Check here.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (and recent graduates)
- Have completed one course in high school chemistry
Preference is given to students whose maximum family income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.
Note: Project SEED has multiple methods of documenting eligibility that you can access here!
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August
Stipend: $4000
Project SEED In-Person Research is a paid, summer fellowship program for high school students. Once accepted, students commute daily to a research lab (typically about 8 hours per weekday, Monday through Friday) for anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks. This program offers an opportunity for students keen on working in laboratories and conducting work in the field of chemistry. Students will get to work in real laboratories at universities and other sites, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture lab. In particular, Project SEED focuses on supporting over 350 students from underrepresented communities, providing both internships and summer camps to help students with university applications. As an intern, you will work on an independent project at a research lab located in the nearest Project SEED location. You get to choose the type of project you’re interested in – from a wide range of choices. Depending on your project site, you might have the chance to go on field trips and campus tours, attend career panels, and more!
A bonus is that your coordinator can choose to register you for the American Chemical Society National Meeting – where you can present your work.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, with a large number of them in tech. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.