16 Summer Science Internships for High School Students
If you’re in high school and curious about science or are considering a science major, a summer internship can be a great place to start. With an internship, you’ll get the chance to plan, test, and analyze ideas in real labs or research centers, work alongside professionals, and pick up skills that will help you in college and beyond.
Internships, which offer practical and relevant experience, are not only valuable additions to your resume but can also give your college applications a significant boost! College admissions officers often seek students who demonstrate the motivation to pursue their field of interest outside the classroom.
Many top universities and leading research institutes offer internships that allow high school students to contribute to their ongoing work in science. These programs give you the opportunity to receive mentorship from industry experts, faculty, and graduate students, while you learn to work with professional tools and explore subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and more. You might learn how to design an experiment or write a research paper, independently or as part of a team, helping you develop practical skills such as networking, critical thinking, data analysis, scientific writing, and teamwork.
To help you get started, we’ve curated this list of the top 16 summer science internships for high school students that you can consider! Let’s take a look.
1. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of Navy (DoN)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 300 placements across ~38 labs every year
Location: There are several lab locations across the country
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend - $4,000 (new participant) | $4,500 (returning participant)
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer, exact dates vary with the lab
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9, are at least 16 years old by the program start date, and are U.S. citizens. Students are recommended to check whether their preferred lab choice has any other particular requirements or exceptions.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an eight-week paid summer program where you can work on actual Naval research in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories across the country. With only about 300 placements in 38 labs, SEAP is highly competitive. As an apprentice, you can apply to a lab based on your interests, whether that’s aeronautics, computer science, physics, engineering, or another science field. You’ll work with Navy scientists and engineers, use Naval technology, gain practical experience with real research projects, and receive mentorship from leading experts in their fields.
2. Ladder Internships
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective; ~15%
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies with the program type
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary with the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder Internships is a selective program that connects ambitious high school students with high-growth startups for virtual internships. Ladder’s startups span a wide range of industries, including technology, AI/ML, health tech, engineering, sustainability, marketing, journalism, and more. You can choose to intern in a field you’re interested in! Based on your interests, you’ll be paired with a company and will collaborate on their ongoing projects under the guidance of both a startup mentor and a dedicated Ladder Coach. At the end of the program, you will present your work to your host company. This internship program also includes professional skills and group training sessions.
3. Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; ~5%
Location:
- Most internship placements are in the Greater Seattle Area, Washington
- Some may be at labs and research institutions in different locations across the country
- Some virtual options are also offered
Cost/Stipend: No cost; some internship placements are unpaid, some offer a stipend
Dates: 6-8 weeks, June–August,
Application Deadline: Early May
Eligibility: High school students (specific projects may have additional eligibility criteria)
With this internship, you will get to explore subjects like engineering, computer science, biotechnology, and data science through relevant projects and expert mentorship. You can choose from a wide range of tracks based on your interests, whether that’s software development, biomedical engineering, climate science, semiconductors, or even global internships. Specialized tracks also cover fields like AI workflows, low-temperature electronics, or accessibility in engineering education. After your orientation, you’ll dive into team-based projects that tackle current challenges. You’ll attend workshops to learn tools such as Python, data analysis, and prototyping—this may vary with the project you’re placed in. You will receive guidance from industry professionals and researchers, and will also present your work to your peers and mentors at the end of the program.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. While this isn’t a traditional internship, it follows the work-learn structure of one quite closely!
5. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive (~3%), 50–60 students
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Cost/Stipend: No cost; all interns receive a stipend of at least $500. Stipends of $1,500 and above are given on a needs-based system from special grants
Dates: June 9 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an eight-week opportunity for high school students to explore biomedical research at Stanford. If accepted, you’ll spend the summer working in a lab under the guidance of Stanford faculty, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows. With an acceptance rate of less than 3% and only about 50 spots available, SIMR is one of the most competitive programs in the country. You can choose from eight research fields, including Immunology, Cancer Biology, Neurobiology, Bioengineering, Genetics, Cardiovascular Biology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, and Bioinformatics. For the first 2 weeks, you’ll attend lectures and get familiar with your field. Most of your time will be spent doing full-time lab work, and you’ll wrap up with a research poster presentation to the Stanford community. SIMR gives you a rigorous, in-depth experience in medicine and science.
6. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Location: Multiple locations in the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend (the amount varies with location)
Dates: May - August (6-10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents (check your project/location for additional eligibility requirements)
The AEOP High School Internship gives you the chance to work alongside university researchers and U.S. Army scientists on current science and engineering projects. You’ll be paired one-on-one with a professional mentor, gaining practical experience in advanced labs and access to cutting-edge technology. Based on your placement, you could explore fields like neuroscience, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, machine learning, or chemical defense. During the program, you’ll conduct research, use state-of-the-art equipment, and develop professional skills that prepare you for college and your career. At the end of your internship, you’ll also submit a research abstract for publication, giving you insight into the scientific process.
7. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; 8-10%
Location: Several locations across the United States. Find one that works for you!
Cost/Stipend: No cost; high school students receive a competitive stipend (~$492.40 per week)
Dates: May - August (8-12 weeks)
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens
The AFRL Scholars Program lets you work alongside Air Force scientists and engineers on current aerospace and defense research. As a scholar, you’ll explore advanced fields like aerospace systems, materials science, quantum technologies, AI, and satellite navigation. You’ll get practical lab experience, technical training, and mentorship from professionals, while also joining lab tours, networking events, and group projects. You can apply to research opportunities at AFRL sites across the country, with projects ranging from experimental aircraft design and clean-up of PFAS contamination to satellite signal testing and advanced robotics. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work through a technical report or talk, helping you build skills and connections.
8. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Varies; most internship placements are competitive
Location: Multiple NASA facilities across the country
Cost/Stipend: No cost; interns will receive a stipend based on academic level and session length
Dates: 10-week program, from late May or early June to August. Fall and Spring sessions are also offered
Application Deadline: October
Eligibility: Full-time high school students who are U.S. citizens with a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and are at least 16 years old
This program offers paid internships to high school students that give them the chance to work on real projects at NASA centers across the country. You’ll get to collaborate with NASA scientists, engineers, and researchers while receiving mentorship, training, and career development support. Depending on your interests, you could work in space science, aeronautics, technology, ecology, microbiology, or even outreach and communications. As an intern, you might design experiments, analyze data from space missions, or contribute to developing new technologies. You’ll gain relevant experience and solid insight into how NASA tackles challenges in science and engineering.
You can explore different internship opportunities here by using the ‘Filter’ option to view the options open to high school students.
9. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 100 students annually
Location: MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 23 - August 3
Application Deadline: December
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors. Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students. High standardized test scores are recommended, including a PSAT math score of 740+ or ACT math score of 33+
With Research Science Institute (RSI), hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), you’ll spend the first week taking advanced STEM classes in subjects like biology, engineering, or computer science while building skills in communication and critical thinking. For the next five weeks, you’ll conduct your own research under the guidance of a mentor, usually a professor or PhD researcher at MIT or a nearby lab. You’ll gain insight into the process of scientific research, from reading scientific literature, designing and running experiments, analyzing results, to writing a formal research paper. At the end, you’ll present your findings in a symposium-style setting, just like professional scientists do.
10. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; very few internship positions offered
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey. Some remote options may be offered
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will receive a stipend
Dates: 8-10 weeks in the summer (Monday-Friday) after graduation; some school semester-long internships are also offered
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old, are graduating seniors when the
internship begins, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Note: It is strongly recommended that applicants have a background in physics, chemistry, advanced math, engineering, computer languages, and coding.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) offers a small number of internships for high school students that allow them to explore science research before college. As an intern, you’ll work directly with a researcher or engineer on projects that focus on plasma physics, fusion energy, and related fields. Your work may involve practical experiments, coding and simulations, or using design tools like SolidWorks and AutoCAD. This internship runs Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, where you’ll spend about 40 hours each week immersed in actual research. You’ll build skills in problem-solving, data analysis, and scientific thinking while also seeing how professional labs operate.
11. ASPIRE Internship at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; 15-20%
Location: In-person (Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory campus, Laurel, Maryland) | Virtual options
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: September - May (Academic Year session) | June - August (Summer session)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who will be at least 15 years old when the program begins, have a minimum GPA of 2.8, are US citizens, and have permanent residency in the Washington-Baltimore Metro area
The ASPIRE program gives high school students the opportunity to conduct in-depth research in science subjects. As an intern, you will work alongside APL researchers and engineers on current projects. You’ll be paired with a mentor, contribute to research work, and develop both technical and professional skills. When applying, you can choose the field you’re interested in, from choices such as physics, engineering, computer science, or cybersecurity. You can’t select a specific project or mentor. You’ll be matched to a placement that fits your interests and the lab’s needs. Over the course of the internship, you’ll learn to analyze data, run simulations, solve problems, and communicate your findings effectively. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a digital poster showcasing your work.
12. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: <3%, around 12 students selected every year
Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, Texas
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $750 + housing is provided
Dates: June - August (7 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who will be at least 17 years old by the program start date, will graduate this year or the next, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This is a highly competitive seven-week summer research experience for high school juniors and seniors. If accepted, you’ll join a group of only 12 scholars selected from across the country, and work one-on-one with a faculty mentor on an independent research project. Your project could be in fields ranging from chemistry, biology, and computer science to mechanical engineering, medicine, and the humanities. Alongside your research, you’ll attend weekly seminars, join field trips, and take part in discussions designed to sharpen your critical thinking and broaden your academic perspective. You’ll also connect with peers who share your interests, giving you both mentorship and community.
You can find a detailed list of research areas here.
13. Project SEED by American Chemical Society
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Location: Multiple locations across several states
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $4000
Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors (and recent graduates) who 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. Project SEED has multiple methods of documenting eligibility that you can access here!
Project SEED is a paid summer research program that gives you the chance to work in real chemistry labs for 8-10 weeks. You’ll spend about 8 hours a day at a university, research institute, or even a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab, working on an independent project that matches your interests. In addition to your lab work, you may get to attend career panels, campus tours, and field trips that expose you to potential STEM careers and college majors. Throughout the program, you’ll build technical skills, gain confidence in a professional lab setting, and learn what it’s like to work as a chemist. As a bonus, you may also be able to present your research at the American Chemical Society National Meeting.
14. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Location: Various locations across the U.S. (students are placed within a 45-minute commute of where they live)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $3,000 + an all-expenses-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer with flexible dates
Application Deadline: Late January or early February
Eligibility: All current high school students who live and have residency in the United States, Mexico, and Canada
This program introduces high school students to the field of fisheries and aquatic science. Sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, the program pairs you with a local fisheries professional who serves as your mentor. Together, you’ll spend the summer working on projects in freshwater or marine environments. Your work may include electrofishing, tagging fish, conducting surveys, restoring habitats, testing water quality, examining specimens under a microscope, or processing data. You’ll gain experience in both lab and field research, while also learning about conservation and resource management. Every project is hands-on, so you’ll learn how fisheries science connects to the health of local ecosystems. The program also includes professional development opportunities, exposure to careers in aquatic science, and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit.
15. Student Research Internship Program at the Scripps Translational Science Institute (SRTI)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Location: Scripps Translational Science Institute (SRTI), La Jolla, California
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students may receive a stipend based on the program’s funding
Dates: 8 weeks, June - August
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Highly motivated students in high school who will be at least 16 years old before the internship begins
This is a competitive 10-week program in biomedical and translational science. Each summer, about 40 interns from across the country are selected from an applicant pool of high school, undergraduate, graduate students and professionals. Based on your interests, you’ll be paired with a mentor who will guide you through your project. You’ll work on research in areas like genomics, precision medicine, digital health, or community engagement. You’ll learn how clinical trials are proposed, designed, and analyzed, while also studying methods such as genomic association studies. You’ll also attend weekly seminars led by scientists and healthcare professionals, giving you insight into fields ranging from bioinformatics to public health. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work at a poster symposium and research meeting.
16. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~10%
Location: In-person (George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia) | Hybrid | Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June-end to mid-August
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: For the remote internships and in-person/hybrid computer lab internships students must be 15 years or older by June-end. For the ‘Wet-lab’ in-person or hybrid internships students must be 16 or older by June-end.
Note: While the program accepts international applications, specific research labs may be unavailable for non-US citizens.
ASSIP is an intensive 8-week research experience where you’ll get the chance to work one-on-one with a mentor on original projects in science fields. Based on your interests, you could explore areas like molecular medicine, neuroscience, bioengineering, computer science, robotics, astronomy, environmental science, and more. During the program, you’ll spend time in labs, learning how to use advanced technology and equipment while building skills in data analysis, research writing, and scientific communication. You’ll also take part in seminars, discussion forums, and workshops that introduce you to different career paths in science and help you strengthen your presentation skills. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at the ASSIP Research Symposium.
Take a look at past interns’ research projects here.
Bonus! Here are a few more science internships you can consider:
City Of Hope Cancer Center Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS): Project Pipeline Baltimore
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers
California Academy of Sciences Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Image Source - Stanford Institutes of Medicine Logo