30 STEM Internships for High School Students in 2023
STEM internships are an excellent way for high school students to gain hands-on experience in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. As an intern, high school students have the opportunity to work alongside science and STEM professionals, learn new skills, and gain insights into the latest trends in the industry.
STEM internships can also help high school students build their resumes and stand out on their college applications. Because of this, pursuing a STEM internship as a high school student can be a great way to kickstart your career before heading to college!
In this blog post, we have compiled a list of 30 STEM internships for high school students. Whether you're interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, there is a STEM internship or program for high school students on this list that's right for you!
30 STEM Internships for High School Students
Research Science Institute
Each year, the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) organizes the Research Science Institute (RSI), which gathers 80 of the most outstanding high school students worldwide for a summer program that blends on-campus scientific theory coursework with off-campus science and technology coursework. The program provides participants with hands-on experience in the complete research process, including the delivery of written and oral reports on their findings. At the core of RSI is a five-week research internship, where students work on individual research projects with the guidance of faculty and staff mentors.
NASA Internships and Fellowships
The Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) at NASA provides paid science internships to high school and college students, inviting them to "discover their place in space!" Through summer internships and fellowships, high school students can engage in agency projects, led by a NASA mentor, and explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (iCLEM)
iCLEM is a paid summer science intensive for economically disadvantaged high school sophomores and juniors in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties, hosted by the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) of the U.S. Department of Energy. The program aims to expand students' knowledge of biotechnology, microbiology, and biofuels while encouraging them to complete a research project. Furthermore, the program offers students an opportunity to explore careers and prepares them for the college application process.
https://www.jbei.org/education/research-experiences/iclem-program/
Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program
At the Mayo Clinic, one of the world's leading medical institutions, high school students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical research can participate in the Mayo Clinic High School Research Scholars Program, a summer research internship program. The program offers students the chance to collaborate with renowned researchers in fields such as oncology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular medicine. During the program, students engage in research projects, attend seminars and workshops, and participate in professional development activities.
https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/spark-research-mentorship-program/overview
SPARK Summer Internship Program (SIP)
The SPARK Summer Internship Program (SIP) aims to connect driven high school students in the greater Seattle area with industry experts in engineering, science, and business. By doing so, the program offers opportunities for students to explore their interests. Previous internship projects have encompassed areas such as microfluidic technology for disease detection, DNA sequence classification based on electronic signatures, and modeling of extreme weather events.
Microsoft Discovery Program
The Microsoft High School Internship 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.
https://careers.microsoft.com/students/us/en/ushighschoolprogram
UC Davis Young Scholars Program
The summer program at UC Davis is a residential research program designed to expose approximately 40 high-achieving high school students to the world of original research within the fields of the biological, agricultural, environmental, and natural sciences. Participants work one-on-one with research faculty in state of the art laboratories for six weeks. Each student will work on an individual project and prepare a journal quality paper and symposium presentation about their work. Participating high school students will also receive five units of university group study credit.
AI Scholars
For students who are seeking a fulfilling summer experience taught by graduate students and alumni from top universities, consider Inspirit AI, a live online AI-project building class in which students will learn about the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and its ever-growing applications. The program’s instructors are alumni from Stanford, MIT, and other top universities who are happy to share guidance about their collegiate experience and about college AI programs. Read more about the AI Scholars program for talented high school students here and check out some of the projects completed by our alumni!
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.
https://www.broadinstitute.org/bsrp/broad-summer-research-program-bsrp
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) offers a highly selective summer research opportunity for high school students interested in pursuing careers in medicine and biomedical research. Based at the Stanford University School of Medicine, which is among the top medical schools in the United States, SIMR offers students the chance to conduct research projects in fields such as cancer biology, neuroscience, and bioengineering, under the supervision of seasoned faculty members and researchers. Along with research, students participate in seminars, workshops, and professional development sessions, providing exposure to various research areas, career paths, and graduate school prospects.
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.
https://med.emory.edu/education/multicultural-med-student-affairs/summer-camps/index.html
Goddard Space Flight Center High School Internship Program
Located near Washington DC, the Goddard Space Flight Center is the operational base for Hubble and the proving ground for the newly launched James Webb Space Telescope. NASA internships at Goddard use the site's distinctive missions and programs to offer high school students a chance to engage in engineering research and experiential learning, mentored by a NASA professional.
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/education/internships.html
Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program
Princeton University's Laboratory Learning Program presents high school students with a full-time, free research experience in science or engineering. Students work alongside Princeton faculty and research staff on ongoing research projects with close supervision. The program's participation dates are tailored to the availability of research personnel and the specifics of the student's selected project.
https://research.princeton.edu/about-us/internships/laboratory-learning-program
Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook
Upon nomination by their high schools, rising high school seniors are invited to apply to the selective Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University. Within the program, academically talented, motivated high schoolers engage in hands-on research in science, math, and engineering. Simons Fellows work with distinguished faculty, learn laboratory techniques and tools, and experience life at a research university.
Engineering Summer Academy at University of Pennsylvania (ESAP)
Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, the Engineering Summer Academy allows highly motivated and talented high school students to explore college-level engineering. ESAP’s intensive, three-week program combines sophisticated theory with hands-on practical experience, while allowing high schoolers to interact with leading faculty, earn college credit, and experience campus life with like-minded peers.
National Human Genome Research Institute Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research
This program immerses students in an environment devoted to better understanding the underlying causes of human genetic disease. High school students in the program attend the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Seminar Series, intended to increase the breadth of a student’s experience. At the end of the summer, students present at the annual NIH Summer Research Program Poster Day. Students earn a monthly stipend, depending on their education level.
https://www.genome.gov/careers-training/research-training/Summer-Internship-in-Biomedical-Research
Google Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)
Google Computer Science Summer Institute is a four-week online introduction to computer science for recent high school graduates interested in exploring programming career opportunities. The institute focuses on groups that have historically been underrepresented in the field. The curriculum prioritizes computer science fundamentals and includes workshops designed to promote self-care, identity, career development, and community building with peers and industry professionals.
https://buildyourfuture.withgoogle.com/programs/computer-science-summer-institute
Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Internship
Hosted at Boston University, RISE is a six-week program for rising high school seniors who will work under the guidance of university faculty to engage in hands-on research in a field of their choosing. Research areas vary as widely as public health and astronomy to computer science and neurobiology. During the internship, students will tackle a research project that culminates in a closing poster symposium, where interns will present their completed research. Throughout this process, students will receive mentorship at weekly workshops on conducting literature reviews, constructing posters, and networking in the STEM community.
https://www.bu.edu/summer/high-school-programs/rise-internship-practicum/internship-track/
Meyerhoff Scholars Program
Meyerhoff Scholars are selected by nomination for high school students wishing to pursue a Ph.D. or combined M.D./Ph.D. in the sciences or engineering. Sponsored by UMBC, Meyerhoff Scholars participate in research, conferences, paid internships and study-abroad experiences. All incoming Meyerhoff Scholars attend an accelerated six-week residential program to prepare them for the program.
Summer@Brown
Brown University offers several summer courses for high school students including titles such as “Ancient DNA: Uncovering the Secrets of Our Species,” “Coding to Read and Control the Brain,” “Artificial Intelligence: A Computational Account of Intelligence,” and “Ethical Questions of the Information Age.” Courses vary between online and in-person teaching. Check the linked website to find out more information about specific classes.
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) offers a range of summer programs for gifted and talented students, including residential programs, online courses, and day programs. CTY's programs are designed to challenge and inspire students, and provide a supportive community of peers and mentors. These programs are available to students in grades 2-12.
UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
Students in the Research Mentorship Program are paired up with a graduate student, postdoc, or faculty and choose a research project from a large list of disciplines including biology, engineering, and astrophysics. In addition to forging a deep relationship with their mentor, high schoolers will spend the seven-week program learning research techniques, gaining insight into professional research-based opportunities, and maturing their academic goals.
https://summer.ucsb.edu/programs/research-mentorship-program/overview
Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)
Recently renamed and revamped, MITES Summer immerses high school students from across the country in life at MIT. Enrolled high schoolers will take five rigorous math, science, and humanities courses in addition to participating in lab tours, social events, and college admissions counseling. The program gives students first-hand insight into the value of a STEM degree and prepares them for careers in STEM.
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.
Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Internships
The MATE Center is a national partnership of organizations working to improve marine technical education and to prepare high school students for ocean occupations. Internships vary from locations such as Santa Catalina Island, CA and Wallops Island, VA to Key West, FL and South Bimini, Bahamas.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Citizen Science Projects
SERC seeks to actively involve citizen scientists in such projects as the Chesapeake Bay Otter Alliance, Chesapeake Bay Parasite Project, and Salt Marsh Census. Other seasonal projects include Bluebird Monitoring, Project Owlnet, and River Herring Conservation. Check out other past and current projects at the website linked above.
Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
SSRP is a mentored biomedical research program for current high school juniors and seniors to design and conduct their own research project as part of a themed research track. Research tracks include topics such as RNA Virus Discovery and Bioinformatics, Coronavirus Immune Response, and Ant Social Biology. As SSRP scholars, high schoolers should expect to spend up to 35 hours per week (M-F) for seven weeks engaging in the scientific process.
Sandia National Laboratories Pre-College Internship Program
Internships at Sandia come in three different varieties: summer internships, year-round internships, and co-op internships. All internships provide high school students with opportunities to work on challenging projects at competitive pay, research mentoring from top scientists and engineers, and practical work experience using state-of-the-art equipment. Some co-op internships additionally offer academic credit.
https://www.sandia.gov/careers/career-possibilities/students-and-postdocs/internships-co-ops/
National Science Foundations (NSF) Pathways Program
The internship program at the NSF is for current high school students to explore paid opportunities in federal careers while completing their education. Interns may work either part or full-time. Interns on indefinite appointments may be converted to a permanent position within 120 days of successful completion of the program, though conversion is not guaranteed.
https://beta.nsf.gov/careers/job-types/students-and-recent-grads
University of Texas Welch Summer Scholar Program
To date, the WSSP has provided nearly 2,000 Texas high school students with unique opportunities to participate in hands-on, college-level projects using state-of-the-art equipment and modern technology typically absent from high school classrooms. Participating institutions include The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Houston, and Texas Tech University.
