30 Research Internships for High School Students in 2023
High school students interested in exploring their passion for research can gain invaluable experience and skills through internships. The exposure to real-world research practices can help students identify their academic interests and position them well for the careers of the future.
In this blog post, we have compiled a list of 30 research internships for high school students in 2023 that provide opportunities to work alongside renowned scientists, professors, and research teams. These internships are available across various fields and disciplines, allowing students to select an area that aligns with their interests and aspirations.
Why research internships for high school students are important
High school students have the opportunity to explore their interests and discover new passions. One of the best ways to explore your interests is to engage in research opportunities for high school students.
Participating in research as a high school student offers a multitude of benefits. First, research internships allow high school students to deepen their understanding of a particular subject by actively engaging with it. Additionally, research can teach valuable skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and data analysis. High school students who partake in research can also work closely with mentors and professionals in their field of interest, leading to valuable networking connections and future career opportunities.
Ultimately, involvement in research internships during high school can be a fulfilling experience that fosters personal and professional growth.
30 Research Internships for High School Students in 2023
Research Science Institute (RSI)
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is an annual program that brings together 100 of the world's most outstanding high school students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). RSI sets itself apart as the first cost-free summer program that offers a blend of on-campus scientific theory coursework and off-campus exploration of science and technology research opportunities to its students. Students engage in cutting-edge research in various fields such as biology, physics, and engineering.
Simons Summer Research Program
The Simons Summer Research Program is an avenue for highly skilled and motivated high school students to experience hands-on research in the fields of science, math, or engineering at Stony Brook University. As Simons Fellows, students will work alongside renowned faculty mentors, acquire knowledge of laboratory tools and techniques, collaborate with research teams, and immerse themselves in the research university's lifestyle.
Research Mentorship Program at UCSB
The Research Mentorship Program at UC Santa Barbara provides a highly selective summer experience for exceptional high school students worldwide. The program offers hands-on, interdisciplinary research at a university level. Each student is paired with a mentor, selected from graduate students, postdocs, or faculty, and given the opportunity to select a research project from a wide range of disciplines available each year.
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is a highly competitive summer research program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in medicine and biomedical research. The program is based at the Stanford University School of Medicine, one of the top medical schools in the United States. Over the course of the program, students will work on research projects in areas such as cancer biology, neuroscience, and bioengineering, under the guidance of experienced faculty members and researchers. Students will also attend seminars, workshops, and professional development sessions to learn about different research areas, career paths, and graduate school opportunities.
Research in Science and Engineering (RISE) at Boston University
RISE is a six-week summer program for high school students that focuses on scientific research in the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics. Students work with faculty mentors to design and conduct experiments and present their findings at the end of the program. Under the guidance of a faculty member, postdoctoral fellow, or graduate student mentor, rising seniors will engage in research for 40 hours each week.
Stonybrook Garcia Center Research Experience for High School Students
The Garcia Center offers a rigorous seven-week program aimed at talented high school students. The program entails a blend of formal instruction and independent research, where students can create unique research projects with guidance from the faculty, students, and staff of the Center. For those interested, the Mentor Program provides a chance to continue research throughout the academic year with the support of a faculty mentor. To enable students from diverse areas to join the program, pre-arranged transportation and class schedules are coordinated with local school boards.
SPARK Summer Internship Program (SIP)
The mission of the SPARK Summer Internship Program (SIP) is to provide opportunities for motivated high school students in the greater Seattle area by connecting them with industry experts in engineering, science, and business. Previous internship projects have included microfluidic technology for disease detection, DNA sequence classification based on electronic signatures, and extreme weather event modeling.
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Online Programs
CTY Online Programs offer a variety of courses and programs for high school students interested in STEM, humanities, and social sciences. The programs, hosted by Johns Hopkins, provide rigorous coursework, mentorship, and access to academic resources.
Inspirit AI Scholars
Inspirit AI offers online research programs that expose high school students to fundamental AI programming concepts and guide them to build an AI project. Taught by alumni and graduate students from Stanford and MIT, the AI Scholars program gives students a personalized learning experience in cohort sizes with a student:teacher ratio of 5:1. Students learn about the AI research and industry work of the instructors in domains such as healthcare, transportation, and specialized chat applications. They also receive guidance on pursuing a career in AI moving forward!
Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP)
The Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP) is a summer research internship program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical research. The program is based at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, one of the world's leading biomedical research institutions. Over the course of the program, students will work on cutting-edge research projects in areas such as cancer biology, genomics, and computational biology, under the guidance of experienced scientists and researchers. Students will also participate in seminars, workshops, and social events to learn about different research areas, career paths, and professional development opportunities. The program is designed to provide students with hands-on research experience and prepare them for careers in biomedical research.
UC San Diego Academic Connections Research Scholars
The Research Scholars program at UC San Diego provides high school students with online research opportunities at the internationally ranked research university. This program helps students gain research skills that will help them stand out in college admissions and even future internship opportunities. During the program, students assume the role of a researcher, immersing themselves in real-world data and projects in the following areas: Bioengineering, Design Lab, Life Sciences, Marine Science, School of Medicine, Business Research.
Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) at NYU
ARISE is a program designed to provide opportunities for students interested in STEM fields to obtain rigorous laboratory experience while working alongside some of NYU's most innovative research faculty. The program runs for seven weeks during the summer, and is full-day and on-site at the Tandon and Washington Square campuses. The program is open to New York City residents who possess a strong interest in pursuing careers in STEM.
University of Illinois High School STEM Research Programs (IDEA)
The Grainger College of Engineering at University of Illinois offers online research opportunities for high school students interested in STEM research. During the program, high school students will participate in cutting-edge research across disciplines like engineering, computer science, and medicine. Students will also learn skills they can showcase on their college applications, such as preparing a research poster for a symposium.
Syracuse University Accelerated Semester Online
Syracuse University offers accelerated online courses and research opportunities for high school students to gain college-level skills and content knowledge. In the Summer College - Research Immersion Program, high school students work closely with Syracuse faculty on faculty-led research projects both in-person and online.
Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program is a summer research internship program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical research. The program is based at the Jackson Laboratory, a leading research institution that focuses on genetics, genomics, and precision medicine. Students will work on research projects in areas such as cancer biology, neuroscience, and developmental biology, under the guidance of experienced scientists and researchers. Students will also participate in seminars, workshops, and social events to learn about different research areas, career paths, and professional development opportunities.
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Training Program for High School Students
Seattle Children’s Hospital offers a research training program for high school students to learn about biomedical research. These research training programs are led by PhD-level scientists and educators at Seattle Children’s. This summer research program is best suited for high school students interested in laboratory research and has both in-person and online offerings available.
University of Iowa Secondary Student Training Program
The University of Iowa offers a Secondary Student Training Program to high school students in grades 10-11. This summer research program allows students to conduct research under the mentorship of University of Iowa faculty. Faculty mentors are trained to help students achieve their academic and professional goals.
Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program
The Mayo Clinic High School Research Scholars Program is a summer research internship program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical research. The program is based at the Mayo Clinic, one of the world's leading medical institutions, and provides students with the opportunity to work alongside leading researchers in fields such as oncology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular medicine. Over the course of the program, students will participate in research projects, attend seminars and workshops, and engage in professional development activities.
Perimeter Institute International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)
Perimeter Institute offers an International Summer School for Young Physicists Program (ISSYP) for Canadian and international high school students. The focus of the program is on theoretical physics and is intended for students who plan to study physics at the university level. The program combines mini-courses and research-oriented lectures with mentorship sessions and career insights.
University of Iowa Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
The University of Iowa Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) is a summer research program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical research, engineering, and related fields. The program is based at the University of Iowa, a leading research institution that focuses on areas such as cancer biology, neuroscience, and genetics. Over the course of the 5-week program, students will work on research projects under the guidance of experienced researchers and faculty members.
University of Pennsylvania Biomedical Research Academy
The Biomedical Research Academy offers students an introduction to the experimental foundations of cellular, molecular, and genetic biology, with a focus on their relevance to diseases. Through a combination of daily lectures, faculty research talks, laboratory experiments, and small group investigations into current research topics, students gain valuable insights into the core of biomedical research.
Microsoft Discovery Program
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a summer internship that offers high school students the opportunity to work on real-world projects at Microsoft, gain valuable business skills, and receive mentorship from Microsoft employees. Students in the Discovery Program (called “Discoverers”) will learn programming fundamentals and develop career readiness skills. This program is intended for graduating high school seniors.
UC Davis Young Scholars Program
The UC Davis Young Scholars Program is a summer research program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Over the course of the program, students will work on research projects in areas such as biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science, under the guidance of experienced faculty members and researchers. Students will also attend seminars, workshops, and professional development sessions to learn about different research areas, career paths, and graduate school opportunities.
Meta Summer Academy
Participants of the Meta Summer Academy (formerly known as Facebook Summer Academy) will have a unique opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the inner workings of one of the world's top social media networks. As “externs,” high school students will join a dynamic workforce and work closely with experienced Meta Summer Academy Mentors to acquire practical work experience and valuable on-the-job skills that will set them on a path towards successful careers. The program's goal is to inspire and motivate young individuals to achieve economic success, stability, and mobility by providing them with skills development opportunities and early exposure to the tech industry for career exploration.
Emory University Summer Science Academy
The Summer Science Academy Day Program is a thrilling and interactive hands-on opportunity that is ideal for incoming 9th and 10th grade students who are enthusiastic about sciences, including biology, healthcare, medicine, or related STEM fields. The program will be held in-person in 2023, providing participants with the chance to learn alongside their peers in a collaborative environment. During the program, students will explore a range of topics, including natural science, biotechnology, engineering, math, medical and science research, and health and science careers.
Oregon Health & Science University - Ted R. Lilley CURE Program
The Ted R. Lilley Continuing Umbrella of Research Education (CURE) Program is a research internship initiative that is supported by the Knight Cancer Institute and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. The program provides valuable, hands-on research experiences to high school students from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate exceptional academic performance. The primary objective of the program is to tackle the issue of health equity by promoting the involvement of underrepresented and underserved minorities in biomedical research and other health-related fields.
National Institute of Health (NIH) Summer Internship Program (SIP)
The National Institute of Health (NIH) Summer Internship Program (SIP) is a prestigious research internship for high school students who are interested in pursuing careers in biomedical research. The program provides a unique opportunity for students to work on cutting-edge research projects in a range of fields, including genetics, neuroscience, epidemiology, and public health. Students will work alongside leading researchers and scientists at NIH, the world's largest biomedical research agency. In addition to their research projects, students will participate in seminars, workshops, and other educational activities designed to enhance their understanding of the scientific research process.
UPenn Experimental Physics Research Academy
The Experimental Physics Research Academy is for students interested in physics and astronomy. Students work on research projects, learn about advanced topics in physics, and attend lectures by UPenn faculty. Specifically, students will focus on mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum dynamics, and astrophysics. This program is fully residential, with no commuter or online programs available.
Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program
Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program is designed for high school students interested in creating and executing their own research project. Each research track comes with a team of scientist mentors from the Rockefeller community to provide guidance and support to student scholars.
KPMG Future Leaders Program
The KPMG Future Leaders Program focuses on developing future generations of female leaders. The goal of the program is to help support female high school students pursue careers in STEM and business. Eligible applicants include female high school seniors who plan to enroll in a 4 year college. This mentorship program also offers recipients a scholarship to all four years of college.
Research Internships for High School Students
In this blog post, we shared 30 research internships for high school students in 2023. As you consider which research internship you would like to pursue, consider checking out this recent blog post on how high school students can benefit from research opportunities.
You can also learn more about research internships for high school students by learning more about Inspirit AI!
Inspirit AI offers a project-based research program in artificial intelligence for high schoolers. In our 10-session, live online program, high school students will develop their own AI-enabled projects to tackle important social issues. Students will emerge from the program with a completed AI project as well as a certificate to mark their achievement in computer science.
We even offer a 1:1 mentorship program for returning students who are interested in preparing a research paper for submission to a science competition or research journal.
