If you’re a high schooler looking to do research but can’t commit to a summer program, consider one in the fall! These programs are designed to help you sharpen technical and analytical skills while working directly with subject-specific methodologies, tools, and frameworks. From data analysis in computer science to laboratory techniques in biology, internships enable you to focus on the applied aspects of your academic interests.
Unlike summer programs, fall research programs and research internships run alongside the school year, giving you the chance to build long-term projects without putting academics on hold. Some include remote or hybrid formats, making them more accessible while still providing research depth. Skills like coding, statistical modeling, and scientific writing are emphasized, and you will often conclude with research papers, poster presentations, or technical reports.
We’ve narrowed down a list of 15 fall research internships for high school students that focus on rigorous skill-building, exposure to research methods, and the chance to work with academic or professional mentors.
1. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
2. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Cost/Stipend: None | Paid
Program Dates: Fall session – late August/early September to mid-December
Application Deadline: January for the Fall session
Location: Across NASA facilities nationwide
Eligibility: Full-time high school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
NASA’s OSTEM internships immerse students in applied research and technical projects at NASA centers. Fall interns work under NASA mentors on projects spanning aeronautics, engineering, space microbiology, ecology, or IT. Typical work includes analyzing mission data, designing experiments, or developing prototypes. As an intern, you will gain exposure to scientific software, data pipelines, and lab or engineering tools used in active NASA research. This program is highly competitive and provides both mentorship and hands-on training in a professional federal research setting.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
4. City Limits CLARIFY Internship
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $500
Program Dates: October 15 – December
Application Deadline: September 9
Location: Virtual with in-person field trips in New York City
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors enrolled in a NYC school and living in one of the five boroughs
CLARIFY is a journalism internship emphasizing public service reporting and local civic issues. Interns practice skills in interviewing, sourcing, fact-checking, and story structure, while also learning photojournalism and media ethics. You will work directly with reporters to produce articles published by City Limits and a student newsletter. With a selective cohort of 12–15 students, the program stresses mentorship, editorial collaboration, and accountability reporting in a professional newsroom environment.
5. Los Alamos National Laboratory High School Internship
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Paid
Program Dates: Fall session – part-time
Application Deadline: September 30 for Fall session
Location: Los Alamos, NM (in-person)
Eligibility: High school seniors attending a NM high school; minimum 2.75 GPA; age 16+; must pass employment drug test
LANL offers research-driven internships where high school seniors assist scientists, engineers, and staff on active projects. Fall interns work part-time during the school year (10–20 hours/week) in disciplines spanning STEM, business, and technical support. You may contribute to data collection, computational modeling, lab maintenance, or applied research, depending on placement. Core skills emphasized include technical writing, team-based problem solving, and lab safety protocols. As an intern, you are paired with mentors and gain direct exposure to research practices in a national laboratory setting.
6. Project TRUE – Wildlife Conservation Society & Fordham University
Cost/Stipend: No cost | ~$350 for fall session
Program Dates: September – December
Application Deadline: Early March
Location: Bronx, NY
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors living in the Bronx; must be in good academic standing and comfortable in indoor/outdoor field settings
Project TRUE engages students in urban ecology research, with interns conducting studies on mammal distribution, bird diversity, water quality, and invasive species management. As a fall intern, you will collaborate with Fordham University and Wildlife Conservation Society scientists to design an independent research project, applying field sampling methods, statistical analysis, and ecological monitoring tools. Training emphasizes scientific communication, culminating in presentations at a Bronx-wide research symposium. The program also provides mentoring on college readiness and environmental careers.
7. Textron Aviation High School Internships
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Paid
Program Dates: Fall session – September to December
Application Deadline: April for Fall session
Location: Wichita, KS
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+; must be able to balance school with internship hours
Textron Aviation offers paid internships that provide high school students with exposure to aviation and related industries. As a fall interns may be placed in fields such as aviation maintenance, engineering, business management, IT, or interior design. You will contribute to projects alongside professionals, building technical and workplace skills. The program emphasizes industry-specific training while requiring you to manage schedules effectively between school and work. This is a structured way to explore aviation-related career pathways while earning income.
8. Mayor’s Office Internship Program
Cost/Stipend: None | Paid; $16.50/hour for high school students
Program Dates: October 20 – April 10 (Fall/Spring term)
Application Deadline: August 31
Location: New York City, NY (in-person)
Eligibility: High school students, NYC residents aged 16+ with working papers
The Mayor’s Office Internship Program places students in New York City government departments to work on applied projects in research, communications, data analysis, and outreach. As an intern, you will collaborate with staff on real assignments while also attending a bi-weekly speaker series with city leaders and participating in a group service project. Skills developed include policy analysis, briefing preparation, and project management, with additional exposure to urban governance structures and systems. This program provides direct insight into municipal operations while paying students for their contributions.
9. DiverseWorks Internships (Fall)
Cost/Stipend: None | Modest stipend
Program Dates: September – December
Application Deadline: August 18
Location: Houston, TX (in-person)
Eligibility: Primarily for current college students and recent graduates; small cohorts (1–3 interns/semester). High school students should confirm eligibility with DiverseWorks before applying.
Contemporary-arts internship spanning production, curatorial research, marketing, visitor services, and nonprofit operations. Expect hands-on tasks like installation support, basic condition reporting, checklist/catalog updates, artist and venue research, audience tracking in spreadsheets/CRMs, and content drafting for web/newsletters. You will also join a staff reading group to build shared vocabulary around exhibition-making and institutional practices. Skills emphasized: project scheduling, documentation standards, copyediting, and cross-team coordination, useful for curatorial or arts-administration pathways.
10. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition required | None
Program Dates: Fall session – September to December
Application Deadline: Late summer for the Fall cohort
Location: Fremont, CA (in-person, with options for remote participants)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
ASDRP is a nonprofit research institute that mentors high school students in fields ranging from biology and chemistry to computer science, psychology, and engineering. In the fall program, you will join ongoing research groups led by experienced faculty and industry researchers. You will utilize tools such as laboratory instrumentation, statistical modeling platforms, or coding frameworks, depending on the project area. Work often culminates in presentations or publications, giving you early exposure to professional research practices.
11. Dolphin Research Center Internship
Cost/Stipend: No cost | None
Program Dates: Fall session – September to December
Application Deadline: June 1 (extended to June 15) for Fall session
Location: Grassy Key, FL
Eligibility: Open to high school students; must be physically fit and comfortable working outdoors
The Dolphin Research Center offers intensive fall internships where students train in marine mammal care, education, research, IT, or communications. Interns rotate through core assignments while also contributing to cross-department operations. You will pursue an independent study project, applying research or technical skills to practical problems at the center. Tasks range from animal care assistance to data management, giving you exposure to marine biology, behavioral science, and operational support in a real-world research environment.
12. Alley Pond Environmental Center Field Biology Internship (FBI)
Cost/Stipend: $150 after acceptance; need-based aid available | None
Program Dates: Saturdays, September 27 – November 1
Application Deadline: August 1 (Fall)
Location: Queens, NY
Eligibility: High school students age 14+, able to participate in outdoor activities; interview required; must provide own transportation and complete a final presentation
Field-centric internship focused on urban ecology methods: biodiversity surveys, bird observations, soil and water quality sampling, macroinvertebrate ID, and coastal seining. You will practice core research skills, hypothesis framing, field note–keeping, sampling protocols, and basic data management, then synthesize results in a short final presentation. Sessions include exposure to local environmental professionals and native plant restoration, giving you practical experience relevant to environmental science, sustainability, and biology.
13. On the Money (OTM) Fall Internship
Cost/Stipend: No cost | None
Program Dates: September – December
Application Deadline: September 16
Location: Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school students who are City of Chicago residents; resume and writing sample encouraged
By-teens-for-teens financial journalism internship focused on reporting, article development, and editorial workflows. You will research personal finance and entrepreneurship topics, conduct interviews, draft copy, and revise with editors to publication in On the Money Magazine. Skill stack includes source vetting, note-taking, outline-to-draft pipelines, headline/deck writing, and public speaking for pitch/read sessions. Training also covers financial literacy, resume building, and interview technique, with weekly hybrid meetings that mirror a small newsroom’s cadence.
14. Northwestern Medicine GCM Grosvenor Discovery Program
Cost/Stipend: No cost | None
Program Dates: November 15 – April
Application Deadline: September 29
Location: Multiple Northwestern Medicine hospitals, called chapters in the Chicago area
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors (seniors accepted at some sites); minimum 3.0 GPA (students below may explain circumstances); must be at least 15 years old
The Discovery Program introduces high school students to healthcare careers through monthly workshops, hospital tours, and guest speakers. Each fall cohort participates in structured sessions on medical pathways, professional skills, and leadership development. You will engage in group discussions, career panels, and community partner projects, building both technical knowledge and civic responsibility. Central Chapter students can continue into a second year, while other chapters complete a one-year cycle. The program emphasizes exposure to healthcare environments and professional networking rather than lab-based research.
15. Headquarters Student Internship Program – U.S. Department of the Treasury
Cost/Stipend: No cost | None
Program Dates: Fall session – September to December
Application Deadline: June for Fall session
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in high school, undergraduate, or graduate programs
Treasury internships provide students with exposure to federal careers in economics, policy, law, and STEM. As a fall intern, you will be assigned to one of many offices, including Domestic Finance, Economic Policy, International Affairs, or Public Affairs. Tasks include collecting and analyzing policy data, drafting briefing materials, attending congressional hearings, and supporting budget or IT initiatives. You will gain experience with federal workflows, policy analysis, and professional communication inside a cabinet-level agency.
Image source – Northwestern Medicine