Top 12 Medical Research Internships for High School Students
Internships are a great way for high school students to gain hands-on experience, develop practical skills, and build valuable industry connections. Many prestigious organizations now offer virtual internships, making it easier than ever for you to explore different fields from the comfort of your home.
Suppose you’re interested in pursuing a career in medicine or medical research. In that case, medical research internships for high school students are a great way to dive deeper into the field, discover career paths, and enhance college applications. These programs provide insight into lab work, clinical settings, and the broader healthcare industry, whether in-person or virtual.
With so many medical research internships for high school students available, it’s important to choose options that align with your academic and professional interests. To help narrow down your choices, we’ve compiled a list of the top 12 medical research internships for high school students.
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR) Program
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Stipend: Minimum stipend of $500 for all selected students
Cohort Size: 50
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 22
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors in the Fall of 2024 (graduating class of 2025 or 2026), ages 16 and above by the program start date
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an eight-week medical research internship for high school students that gives you the opportunity to engage in medically-oriented research alongside Stanford faculty, postdocs, and students. SIMR involves full-time lab work, morning lectures, and hands-on experience in scientific research. The program also includes special joint lectures and a workshop on creating research posters, helping you develop essential skills for scientific communication. SIMR is one of those medical research internships for high school students that conclude with a poster session where you will present your findings to the Stanford community.
Location: Remote
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Cohort Size: 70 spots (tentative)
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. February 9 for the spring cohort.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter. The spring cohort begins on March 3
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks.
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In this program, you will work with a high-growth start-up on an internship across a variety of industries, from Medicine to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. As a participant, you will work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Here is the application form.
3. Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington
Stipend: This is a paid internship
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 31
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11 and 12
The Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) is an eight-week, full-time paid internship for rising 11th and 12th graders from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical science. During the first two weeks of this medical research internship for high school students, you will receive hands-on training in lab safety and fundamental techniques such as PCR, DNA isolation, and sterile tissue culture in Fred Hutch’s Training Labs. For the remaining six weeks, you will work in pairs under the guidance of a mentor in a Fred Hutch research group.
Weekly activities include ethics discussions, "meet the scientist" sessions, and workshops on biostatistics and college essay writing. The program ends with a presentation to the Fred Hutch community, showcasing your work and reflecting on your experience.
4. University of Chicago Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: $14,490
Application Deadline: March 5
Dates: June 14 – July 12
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 – 11; must have completed a year of advanced biology
The Research in Biological Sciences (RIBS) program is an intensive training course that introduces high school students to molecular, microbiological, and cell biological techniques used in research laboratories. As a participant, you’ll start with two weeks of foundational training in lab methods before progressing to an independent research project in areas like cell biology, genetics, or cancer biology.
Most of your time will be spent in the lab, complemented by lectures for experimental context, weekly writing assignments, and group presentations. You’ll also maintain a detailed lab notebook, analyze original research articles, and attend weekly faculty seminars, which provide additional exposure to research careers. The program culminates in a research forum where you’ll present your project findings.
5. The Wistar Institute High School Program in Biomedical Research
Location: Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stipend: $1,000
Cohort Size: 15
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: July 7 – July 31
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years of age and have completed at least one high school science course. Priority is given to students enrolled in the School District of Philadelphia.
The Wistar High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research is a four-week summer medical research internship for high school students where you’ll gain hands-on experience in biomedical research. You’ll train in laboratory techniques, participate in ongoing projects, and learn to interpret scientific literature in Wistar’s state-of-the-art Training Lab.
Alongside your research work, the program introduces you to diverse career opportunities in biomedical science and culminates in a presentation of your findings. This fellowship supports 15 high school students, prioritizing those from underrepresented or underserved communities. No prior research experience is required, making it an accessible opportunity to develop skills and gain insight into the field of biomedical research.
6. Medical College of Wisconsin Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM)
Location: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Late October – March 1
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Eligibility: Milwaukee rising juniors, seniors, or June graduates; students aged 16 and above; a minimum science and math GPA of 3.0
The Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM) program at MCW-Milwaukee is a medical research internship for high school students from Milwaukee who are part of historically underrepresented groups in health sciences. During the 6-week program, you’ll engage in clinical shadowing, hands-on simulations, and group activities designed to deepen your understanding of health science careers.
You’ll explore medical and allied health professions, gain knowledge about medical issues affecting your community, and work on an abstract and oral presentation about a chosen disease or condition. It’s one of those medical research internships for high school students that also includes mentoring by medical students, a field trip, and a certificate of completion.
7. Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 31
Dates: Mid June – Mid August (8 weeks)
Eligibility: Students who are 16 years of age by June 24 of the year of application; AP science is recommended
The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center's Summer Research Volunteer Program offers an 8-week full-time opportunity for high school students interested in biomedical sciences and cancer research. As a participant, you will work on independent research projects under the mentorship of research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge laboratories.
The program includes weekly seminars on cancer biology, work-in-progress sessions to present findings, and opportunities to network with peers and faculty. Research areas include cancer genetics, tumor immunology, drug development, and clinical therapeutics. You’ll also attend interactive presentations and discussions to deepen your understanding of cancer biology and treatment approaches.
8. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Summer Program
Location: University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Stipend: $6,800 for the 10-week program; $6,120 for nine weeks
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 15
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors age 18+ by program start; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or work-eligible visa holders; see more info here.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s 10-week summer program introduces Texas high school students to biomedical research and Allied Health careers. You’ll work in a research lab full-time, guided by MD Anderson faculty, to gain practical experience and an understanding of the scientific process.
The program features seminars on diverse research topics and opportunities to participate in competitions like poster presentations. By the end of the 10 weeks, you’ll have a clearer perspective on career paths in Allied Health. The program culminates with a formal presentation of your research.
9. Summer Child Health Research Internship
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
Stipend: $4,400
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Eligibility: High school seniors over the age of 18 who are Colorado residents
The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine offers a summer research program for high school seniors over 18. During the program, you will work in labs with the Pediatrics faculty at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Anschutz Medical Campus, exploring research opportunities related to child health.
The program includes a weekly lecture series and culminates with you presenting your research through written summaries and oral or poster presentations. Exceptional work may be submitted to scientific conferences, with funding provided for travel and registration. As one of the top medical research internships for high school students, this program provides valuable hands-on experience and insight into child health research and related career paths.
10. Medicine Institute: Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Cost: $3,400
Application Deadline: Rolling basis starting in November
Dates: July 6 – 11 or July 20 – 25
Eligibility: Current 9th – 12th grade students
The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute offers high school students an opportunity to explore healthcare through hands-on experience and medical research. During this medical research internship for high school students, you’ll engage in research-oriented activities, including working in simulation labs and participating in clinical research projects related to internal medicine, cardiology, and surgery.
You’ll learn fundamental skills like taking blood pressure, suturing, and conducting ultrasounds, while also exploring the latest advancements in medical technology. The program also provides access to the Wake Forest School of Medicine, where you can interact with medical students and gain insights into ongoing research and clinical trials in real-world settings.
11. Arthritis Foundation Summer Science Internship (rheumatology USA)
Location: University of California, San Francisco, California
Stipend: $2,500
Application Deadline: March 10
Dates: June 2 – August 29
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 17 years of age by June 2
The Arthritis Foundation’s 2025 Summer Science Internship gives high school students the chance to work in leading research and clinical laboratories at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). For over 8 weeks, you’ll gain hands-on experience in basic laboratory research, clinical epidemiology, or bioinformatics. This opportunity allows you to contribute to cutting-edge research aimed at improving treatments for arthritis and other diseases. By participating in this medical research internship for high school students, you’ll gain valuable insights into both lab-based and patient-oriented research.
12. Pathways Research Explorers Program
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington
Stipend: $500
Cohort Size: 16 per session
Application Deadline: March 14
Dates: Session 1: July 28 – August 8 | Session 2: August 11 – 22
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th grade students
The Pathways Research Explorers Program at Fred Hutch introduces rising 10th and 11th-grade students to the world of biomedical research over two weeks. As a participant, you will gain practical lab experience, tour Fred Hutch’s research labs, and engage with scientists at different stages of their careers.
This program is focused on cancer research, public health, and epidemiology, providing you with exposure to cutting-edge research techniques. It aims to inspire the next generation of biomedical researchers. Applicants must have completed a high school biology course to participate in the program.