Forensic science is a multidisciplinary field that applies principles from chemistry, biology, psychology, law, and even computer science to analyze evidence and support criminal investigations. If you are interested in learning how forensic experts investigate crimes, you should consider applying for a forensic science summer program or internship hosted for high school students.
These programs introduce you to the basics of forensic investigation, law enforcement, and the justice system. They generally include hands-on activities like analyzing DNA, lifting fingerprints, identifying malicious code in a software, or taking part in a mock trial. Through these activities, you will not only gain practical lab skills but also enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
While there are plenty of forensic science summer programs for high school students available, paid opportunities in this field are limited. However, there are paid programs in adjacent fields like criminal law, psychology, or digital forensics. The following list includes a combination of such paid programs, as well as forensic science programs that are entirely free of cost.
Here are paid summer programs for high school students interested in forensic science:
1. Legal Outreach’s Summer Law Institute
Location: You will be assigned to one of the following locations: Brooklyn Law School, Cardozo School of Law, Columbia Law School, CUNY School of Law, Fordham School of Law, NYU School of Law, or St. John’s School of Law.
Stipend: A stipend is available on completion of the program, but the amount has not been specified
Program dates: The program runs from the first week of July to the first week of August
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising 9th-grade students who reside in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island
Organized by an education center named Legal Outreach, the Summer Law Institute is a 5-week law program for high school students focusing on criminal justice. During the program, you will learn from law students, interact with professional lawyers, visit legal institutions, and learn the basic skills required by attorneys. You will learn about criminal law and the trial process, exploring topics like stop and frisk, search and seizure, evidence, arraignment, and bail.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to participate in a mock trial with an actual judge. The program can also enhance other soft skills like critical thinking, public speaking, and persuasion. Up to 30 students get into each of the available schools and applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so you should apply early to this one.
2. Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program
Location: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, New York, NY
Stipend: Minimum wage
Program dates: June 30 – August 1
Application deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, and seniors who reside in Manhattan
This high school internship offers high school students the opportunity to work in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and get an inside look at the criminal justice system. As a participant, you will attend workshops and discussions to learn about criminal justice, police brutality, civic engagement, and leadership. The program includes a mock trial where you will have the chance to apply what you have learnt. Additionally, you will attend presentations to understand the responsibilities of a prosecutor and assist with administrative tasks related to casework. You will also develop professional skills like communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
3. University of Chicago’s DSI Summer Lab
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $4,800
Program dates: June 16 – August 8
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: All high school students in the Chicago area. Familiarity with at least one programming language is preferred.
The University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute Summer Lab is an 8-week paid research opportunity for high school students. As a participant, you will be paired with a data science mentor from fields like psychology, computer science, and biomedical research. You will then work as a research assistant on a specific project, which will culminate in a research poster. Although the program focuses on data science research, its applications extend to forensic science.
You can explore the application of data science in areas like criminal psychology or digital forensics. A few examples include studying public data for crime trend analysis, conducting sentiment analysis of police reports and witness statements, or studying ransomware attacks to identify a pattern. However, your mentor and project assignments will be based on your application, so you should use your written statement to convey an interest in forensic science.
4. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (A virtual option is available as well)
Stipend: Students receive $15/hr and transportation funds
Program dates: 8 weeks between June and August
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences is an 8-week research program for high school students in the neurological sciences. The program offers the opportunity to work in a laboratory or clinical setting on a hypothesis-driven research project under the guidance of mentors. You will also participate in clinical rotations with Johns Hopkins neurologists. The program also includes scientific seminars, professional development sessions, and networking activities.
Your project will culminate in a final oral or poster presentation of your research findings. The program focuses on fields like psychology, psychiatry, neurology, and neurosurgery, making it a suitable option for students interested in the psychological aspects of forensic science. You can use this opportunity to conduct research on topics like neuroimaging in lie detection, memory and eyewitness testimony, or psychopathy and brain structure. You can go through the program’s past projects here.
5. Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Internship Program
Location: Springfield, VA
Stipend: This internship offers a stipend, but the amount has not been specified
Program dates: It runs from June to August, but specific dates have not been provided
Application deadline: February 15. However, the window will close early once 150 applications have been received
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have a minimum GPA of 2.0
Homeland Security offers a cybersecurity internship for high school students interested in digital forensics, including investigating digital crimes and analyzing digital evidence. This opportunity allows you to learn from and work alongside cybersecurity and information technology experts. You will learn the concepts and tools of cybersecurity and engage in activities like the identification and analysis of malicious code, forensics analysis, incident handling, intrusion detection and prevention, software assurance, and more.
6. The DNA Learning Center’s Urban Barcode Research Program
Location in NYC: DNALC NYC, Brooklyn
Stipend: $500
Program dates: Training session from August 25-29, followed by 55 hours of research in the academic year, culminating in a symposium on May 29 of the following year
Application deadline: May 27
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 13 years old and reside in as well as attend a public or private school in New York City
Forensic science involves significant work with DNA, including activities like extracting DNA, matching familial DNA, and identifying genetic markers. The Urban Barcode Research Program is a research mentorship program that allows high school students to learn about DNA and get hands-on experience with DNA technology. As a participant, you will develop a DNA barcoding project in the field of biodiversity and conservation.
You can expect plenty of field work, sample collection, and hands-on activities like DNA isolation, amplification of DNA barcoding regions, and analysis of DNA sequences. At the end of the program, you will present your findings at a symposium. Aside from learning how to work with DNA, you will also learn basic research techniques and gain foundational lab skills. You can go through the program’s past projects here. While this is not a summer program, it offers a valuable learning opportunity, which is why we have kept it on the list.
The entries above were all paid programs for high school students in fields adjacent to forensic science. The following are programs that directly focus on forensic science. These do not offer a wage or stipend, but they are completely free of cost and worth considering:
7. FBI Teen Academy
Location: FBI field office, Portland, OR (iterations of this program are available in some of the other FBI field offices as well)
Cost: Free
Program dates: This is generally a single-day event (dates have not been specified)
Application deadline: April 11
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
As part of its community outreach program, the FBI offers a Teen Academy to teach high school students about law enforcement, leadership, and community service. You will learn how the FBI functions through discussions and interactive sessions with its special agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff. The program will touch upon terrorism, cybercrime, polygraph exams, evidence response, SWAT, as well as forensic science. You will also get hands-on experience with FBI gear and equipment.
8. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (this is a hybrid internship)
Cost: None. There is a $25 application fee, but waivers are available for those who need them.
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are at least 15 years old (16 for students who want to sign up for wet-lab internships
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program is an 8-week research program that offers high school students the opportunity to work on a research project under the guidance of one-on-one mentorship. In the process, you will get hands-on experience in using lab equipment and research techniques. There are a number of research areas to choose from and as a forensic science intern, you will work with 3D modelling, drones, and mapping of crime scenes.
The 2019 iteration of the program included a forensic science project on the detection of clandestine graves using thermal images taken by drones. Here are some more details about the forensic science mentor. Along with conducting in-depth research in the field, the program can also improve your scientific writing skills and allow you to explore STEM career pathways through forums and meetings.
9. CFSRE’s Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute
Location: Horsham, PA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 23 – August 9
Application deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (although preference is given to seniors) who are at least 16 years of age and have passing grades in algebra, biology, and chemistry
The Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute is a seven-week program for high school students during which they will learn about forensic science by investigating and solving a simulated crime. In the process, you will use real forensic techniques, instruments, and concepts. The focus is on three sub-fields — forensic biology (involving identification of body fluids), forensic chemistry (identification of controlled substances), and forensic toxicology (study of drugs and chemicals on the human body). At the end of the program, you will present your findings in the role of an expert witness in a trial setting. The program also includes tours of real forensic labs and college preparatory support.
10. Purdue University Northwest’s Forensic Science Summer Camp
Location: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 17 – 21
Application deadline: Applications generally close in May
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Purdue University Northwest’s Forensic Science Summer Camp gives high school students the opportunity to step into the shoes of a forensic scientist and solve a crime, although this one is much shorter than the CFSRE program. In this case, you have a week to process the mock crime scene, collect evidence, analyze it in the lab, and solve the case. Previous participants have engaged in activities like fingerprint collection and virtual reality training sessions. This camp will help in developing basic laboratory skills in a short period of time.
Here are two bonus forensic science summer programs for high school students!
11. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5950. However, financial aid is available
Program Dates:
- Summer seminar: June 24 – September 2
- Fall seminar: October 23 – February 19
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Application Date: February 16 for the spring cohort
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
The Horizon Academic Research Program is a trimester-long research program for high school students who want to develop an independent project. As a participant, you will be matched with a mentor who will offer 1-on-1 guidance as you conduct research. This program offers the opportunity to learn about a specialized field in great depth, and you can choose the cybersecurity or psychology tracks to pursue research in forensic science. You will end the program with a 20-page, university-level research paper. You can find the application form here!
12. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid is available
Program dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, and the Spring from March to June
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Spring Cohort application deadline is February 9, 2024
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: Students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive research program that allows high school students to work on an independent research project. You will engage in advanced research in a field of your choice under 1-on-1 guidance from a PhD mentor. You will leave the program with a university-level research project in your chosen field. There are a number of research areas to choose from, and you can pick a topic in the field of forensic science. You can find more details about the application here.
Image source: Purdue University
