13 Technology Internships for High School Students in North Carolina
Technology internships give high school students a chance to work on projects, build technical skills, and connect with professionals who can offer career guidance. You'll develop competencies in areas like coding, data analysis, or engineering alongside transferable skills like communication and teamwork. A technology internship helps you explore different career paths before committing to a college major and strengthens your college applications with concrete skills.
What technology internships are available for high school students in North Carolina?
North Carolina is a strong place to find these opportunities. Research Triangle Park, top universities like Duke and UNC Charlotte, and companies like Red Hat offer tech internships covering areas like AI, cybersecurity, biomedical engineering, and open-source software. Roles range from paid positions at global companies to faculty research projects funded by the Department of Defense. Some programs are on-site with daily mentorship and lab access, while others are virtual with flexible schedules.
We put together a list of 13 technology internships for high school students in North Carolina to help you find the right fit.
1. DukeREP Engineering Research Program
Location: Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, Durham, NC
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 - July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: North Carolina rising high school juniors and seniors, aged 16 years or above
DukeREP places high school students in an active engineering laboratory where they work full-time alongside university faculty and graduate researchers. Depending on the assigned lab, you may work on projects in robotics, renewable energy, biomedical devices, or computational modeling. Under the mentorship, you will learn to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and solve engineering problems as part of a team. You'll go through the entire research process, from project planning and testing to understanding the results. Weekly seminars provide professional skills and lab safety to help you gain the most from this experience. This program is well-suited if you want sustained exposure to university-level engineering research with consistent faculty guidance.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program, financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10%–20% acceptance rate
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round (spring, summer, fall, winter)
Application deadlines: Spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 8–12 weeks at 10–20 hours per week
Ladder Internships is a selective internship program for ambitious high school students where they work with a high-growth start-up that ranges across a variety of industries, including tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies raising over a million dollars on average. In this program, interns work closely with their managers and a ladder coach on real-world projects and conclude the program by presenting their work to the company. The internship is typically 8 weeks long and conducted virtually. Apply now!
3. NCDIT Future Technologist Internship
Location: Raleigh, NC (hybrid/onsite options available)
Cost/Stipend: $20/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 15 - 20 interns annually
Dates: Summer (June - August)
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school students or residents with limited IT experience
The North Carolina Department of Information Technology runs the Future Technologist Track for high school students who want to start their careers in technology. You'll gain hands-on experience with cybersecurity, data analytics, and infrastructure management while supporting digital services across the state. This program shows you how technology drives public services and helps citizens across the state. You'll work 20 - 40 hours per week under the mentorship of experienced IT professionals who provide technical training. The program focuses on North Carolina residents and offers real office experience. You'll gain basic technical skills, understand government technology work, and get clarity about IT careers. This is a suitable option if you're curious about how technology supports public infrastructure.
4. Red Hat High School Internship
Location: Red Hat headquarters, Cary, NC
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 7 - 18 or July 21 - August 1
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors who are 16 years of age or above, with a minimum GPA of 2.0
Red Hat's two-week high school internship offers focused exposure to open-source software within a professional environment. You'll join teams working in areas such as software engineering, IT systems, or technical documentation, depending on the company's needs and your background. The program includes project-based work, meetings with your mentor, and exposure to cross-functional teams. You'll see how technical teams work together on large software projects using open-source principles. You'll also explore different career paths and develop workplace skills. This internship focuses on technical understanding, professional communication, and becoming prepared for technology jobs. You'll learn how enterprise software companies operate and what collaborative development looks like in the real-world.
5. AEOP High School Internship STEM Research Program
Location: Charlotte, NC (UNC Charlotte Labs)
Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: Summer (8 - 10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: High school students (U.S. citizens only)
The Army Educational Outreach Program connects high school students with university researchers working on Department of Defense-funded technology projects. At UNC Charlotte, you'll join laboratories focused on computer science, cybersecurity, and electrical engineering for defense applications. This research apprenticeship teaches you how to use professional lab equipment and specialized software while contributing to scientific research. The work is challenging and prepares you for competitive engineering programs at top universities. You'll work closely with faculty who guide you through experiments, data interpretation, and research documentation. This program is well-suited for highly motivated students who are comfortable with technical complexity and interested in defense-related technology research.
6. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: NIH campuses nationwide, including Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC
Stipend:$2,530 monthly stipend for high school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June - August
Application Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: High school seniors who are 18 years old and enrolled in an accredited institution
The NIH Summer Internship Program places you in biomedical research environments where you work alongside NIH investigators. Projects cover biology, chemistry, psychology, computer science, and related fields. You'll spend most of your time in laboratories or research environments. Your mentors will assign clear responsibilities that help you develop research skills through guided practice. Training workshops cover scientific methods, laboratory techniques, and career paths in biomedical fields. Many students conclude the program by presenting their work through posters or presentations. You'll get structured exposure to federally funded research and professional science. If you're interested in health sciences, computational biology, or translational research, you'll benefit from NIH resources and expertise. The competitive stipend reduces financial barriers and recognizes the real contributions you'll make to ongoing research.
7. City of Durham YouthWorks Summer Internship
Location: Durham, NC
Stipend: Up to about $880 for completing program components
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Low selectivity
Dates: 6 - 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Durham City or County residents aged 14 - 24 years
YouthWorks places you with a local business or nonprofit where you handle tasks matching the needs of your assigned site. Roles vary widely and may involve office work, creative projects, IT support, or community-focused tasks. You also complete online learning modules that introduce workplace expectations and professional communication. You receive regular check-ins that help to structure your experience as you balance between training and on-site work. Supervisors guide you through tasks while encouraging you to build independence. The program focuses on introductory workplace experience and community-based job placements.
8. Duke’s STAR Program
Location: Durham, NC (Duke Clinical Research Institute)
Stipend: $4,000 as stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 - 25 students
Dates: June 22 - July 24
Application Deadline: January 2 (annual)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
The STAR Program is a five-week intensive that combines medical research with advanced data analytics. You'll work in teams with the guidance of Duke faculty mentors to develop and conduct hypothesis-driven research projects. The curriculum covers research methods, scientific writing, and using data analysis tools to address clinical questions. You'll finish with a complete research paper, which is a strong addition to your college applications. This program is well-suited for students interested in the intersection of technology and healthcare. You'll learn to frame research questions, study design, analyze results with statistical software, and communicate findings through scientific writing. The structured mentorship and team format create a supportive environment for tackling complex projects. You'll gain research credentials and clarity about exploring careers in academic medicine.
9. RTI International Internship Program
Location: Research Triangle Park, NC (virtual/onsite options)
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies depending on the department
Dates: Flexible (summer and year-round opportunities)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Minimum 16 years of age
RTI International is an independent nonprofit research organization that offers internships in high-impact technology areas such as data science and information technology. You'll contribute to projects that apply science and technology to address global challenges in health, environmental sustainability, and social policy. The learning model focuses on applying academic knowledge within professional research environments. Each internship aligns with specific project needs, so you'll develop relevant skills matching your work profile. You'll collaborate with teams from different disciplines and see how research translates into policy recommendations and practical solutions. The flexible structure supports both summer-intensive and school-year participation. Rolling applications make it accessible for students with different schedules. This program is well-suited if you're interested in research that connects technology with social impact, particularly in public health or environmental areas.
10. Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) SREP
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 - July 17
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: NC high school students (aged 16 - 18 years)
Wake Forest's Summer Research Exposure Program introduces you to regenerative medicine technologies through multidisciplinary scientific training. You'll spend four weeks working directly with faculty on advanced projects such as 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering. The program begins with comprehensive laboratory orientation and safety training, followed by hands-on research that takes 20 - 30 hours per week. This is a unique opportunity if you're curious to know how engineering principles apply to growing biological tissues and organs for medical use. The experience concludes with formal research presentations where you share your findings with peers and faculty.
11. NIEHS Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Research Triangle Park, NC
Stipend: $2,530 plus monthly stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 - 35 students
Dates: Minimum 8 weeks (May - September)
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: High school seniors (18+ years by June 1)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is a prestigious federal internship for students interested in biomedical technology applications. You'll work in a laboratory or office environment using advanced molecular and analytical methods to study how the environment affects human health. As part of the broader NIH Summer Internship Program, NIEHS offers some of the highest stipends to high school participants. Projects use sophisticated research methods including genomics, computational modeling, and toxicology studies. A required poster session in late July allows you to present technical findings to the scientific community, similar to professional conferences. This opportunity is well - suited for seniors planning research-intensive college majors who seek substantial research credentials before entering university. The long duration and competitive stipend reflect the program's investment in developing future biomedical scientists.
12. NASA SEES High School Internship
Location: Virtual and on-site (Austin, TX)
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded for scholarship recipients | Housing, meals, and local transportation provided | Limited travel scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: June - July; on-site portion is from July 5 - 18
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students with STEM interests
This nationally competitive program, hosted by UT Austin's Center for Space Research, places high school students on research teams where they’ll work with NASA, academic, and industry mentors. You'll begin with online earth science modules and, for some tracks, Python programming instruction, followed by remote project work with your assigned mentor. Projects connect to NASA missions and address topics such as aerospace systems, planetary science, remote sensing, and Earth data analysis challenges. A key feature of this program is working with authentic mission data rather than simplified instructional datasets. Selected students attend a two-week on-site session at UT Austin in July for in-person team collaboration, while some projects remain fully virtual. All participants present their research at the SEES Virtual Science Symposium. The experience feels more like real research collaboration than traditional summer instruction, giving you meaningful exposure to space science and data analysis work.
13. Stanford Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 plus $40 application fee (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Two weeks in June
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Students at least 14 years old by program start, with prior math/computer programming skills or healthcare project experience | U.S. citizens or permanent residents only
Stanford's Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a two-week virtual internship for high school students interested in healthcare applications of AI. You'll explore how artificial intelligence improves medical diagnostics, treatment planning, and health equity through a combination of lectures, collaborative work, and independent research. The project-based learning model operates with limited direct supervision, so you'll need to take initiative and independently solve technical challenges. Virtual presentations from Stanford researchers and industry professionals support hands-on project work. Mentorship from university researchers and students supports your skill development throughout the program.
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