Fall STEM internships give high school students the chance to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in real-world settings. Unlike summer programs, fall opportunities often feature smaller cohorts and more personalized mentorship, allowing you to dive deeper into projects and develop advanced technical skills. Through hands-on research, coding, data analysis, or engineering tasks, you’ll gain practical experience that extends beyond classroom learning.
These internships also strengthen problem-solving, collaboration, and communication abilities, helping you prepare for college-level STEM coursework and future career pathways. By participating in a fall placement, you can build a strong foundation, explore specialized fields, and showcase initiative to colleges and prospective mentors.
Here is a list of 11 fall STEM internships for high school students.
1. Textron Aviation – Fall High School Internship
Stipend: Paid
Location: On-site at Textron Aviation facilities
Program Dates: Fall program runs during the school year, with schedules allowing work between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Cost: Free
Deadline: Applications for the Fall program open in April (rolling selection afterward)
Eligibility: Minimum age 16, must be enrolled in high school with a schedule that accommodates weekday work hours
Textron Aviation offers high school students a chance to gain direct exposure to the aviation industry through its Fall Internship Program. As a participant, you’ll work part-time in areas such as aviation maintenance, engineering, manufacturing, IT, or business functions, depending on your interests and strengths. This paid fall internship offers high school students a structured schedule and professional mentorship, providing experience with industry tools and real workplace expectations for valuable career preparation.
2. Dolphin Research Center – Fall Internship Program
Stipend: Unpaid
Location: Grassy Key, FL
Program Dates: Fall term runs September through December (16–18 weeks)
Cost: Free (students must cover housing, food, and transportation)
Deadline: June 1 (extended to June 15)
Eligibility: Minimum age 18, fluent in English, physically fit to lift 50 lbs, and able to work outdoors in Florida’s climate. Applicants do not need to be enrolled in college.
The Dolphin Research Center’s Fall Internship Program gives you practical experience working with marine mammals and learning how a marine facility operates. Interns commit to 40 hours per week, typically spending four days in a designated department such as animal care and training, medical, research, IT, education, or communications, and one day assisting across operations. Beyond daily responsibilities, you’ll take on independent study projects that match your skills and interests, making it a highly customizable learning opportunity. While the internship is unpaid, it offers access to real-world marine research and care practices.
3. NASA OSTEM Internships
Stipend: Paid
Location: Virtual or in-person at NASA facilities across the country
Program Dates: Fall: 15 weeks, from Late August/Early September – Mid-December
Cost: Free
Deadline: Fall: May 22
Eligibility: U.S citizens, with a GPA of 3.0; high school through graduate level students, at least 16 years old
NASA OSTEM internships give you structured, hands-on experience in STEM fields under the guidance of professional mentors. Engineering interns may work on aerospace, robotics, computing, cybersecurity, or systems engineering projects, while non-engineering interns contribute to areas such as IT, finance, procurement, and program management. You’ll strengthen technical skills like coding, data analysis, system evaluation, and documentation, while also learning to apply professional practices in research and engineering. Alongside technical growth, the program emphasizes collaboration, project execution, and interdisciplinary teamwork, preparing you for both academic and career pathways in STEM.
4. Los Alamos National Laboratory Internship
Stipend: Paid internships with a technical hourly rate of $16.50.
Location: Los Alamos, NM
Program Dates: Varies depending on opportunity; typically for 10-20 hours a week
Cost: Free
Deadline: September 30
Eligibility: High school juniors (summer before senior year) or seniors; must be 16+, attend a NM high school, have ≥2.75 GPA, and pass an employment drug test
At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), interns engage in STEM-focused research and technical projects, gaining practical experience in scientific endeavors. Depending on placement, you may work with computing tools, laboratory instrumentation, or data analysis software while also contributing to project documentation. The program emphasizes structured research methodology, experimental design, and field or lab-based investigations. You will gain problem-solving skills and learn effective collaboration within laboratory and engineering teams, in addition to developing technical abilities.
5. Alley Pond’s Field Biology Internships
Stipend: None Location: Alley Pond Park, Queens, NY
Program Dates: September 27 – November 1
Cost: $150 (financial aid available)
Deadline: September 1
Eligibility: High school students, 14+, able to participate in outdoor sessions and commit to 5 out of 6 classes
This internship offers hands-on experience in urban ecosystem research through activities such as biodiversity surveys, bird observation, soil and water quality sampling, macroinvertebrate identification, coastal seining, and planting native flora. In the program, you’ll work on ecological data collection and analysis, field experiment design, scientific record keeping, and research presentation. Participants will also engage with environmental professionals, gaining valuable insights into ecological monitoring and applied biology.
6. BioBus Junior Scientist Internship
Stipend: $1,600+
Location: Harlem and Lower East Side, NYC Program Dates: October 1 – June 15 (weekly)
Cost: Free
Deadline: March 24
Eligibility: High school students in NYC; must be able to attend weekly sessions and participate in lab/research activities
BioBus internships offer high school students the opportunity to cultivate laboratory and research skills through direct mentorship from professional scientists. Interns will develop expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and science communication. Additionally, they will co-teach BioBus outreach programs, gaining valuable experience in science education and curriculum adaptation. On the technical side, you’ll practice pipetting, microscopy, data visualization, and keeping accurate laboratory notebooks. Summer interns conduct independent research projects, while school-year interns participate in weekly sessions that emphasize experimental design, scientific methods, and communicating results to a wider audience.
7. Bronx Zoo Project True Internship
Stipend: $350
Location: Bronx, New York (Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo)
Program Dates: September – December
Cost: None
Deadline: Typically early March
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are Bronx residents; must be in good standing and comfortable in indoor/outdoor settings
Project TRUE is an urban ecology research and youth development program based in New York City. You’ll conduct hands-on fieldwork on topics such as mammal species, bird communities, water quality, and invasive species management. Each intern is paired with an undergraduate mentor from Fordham University and supported by staff from the Wildlife Conservation Society. The program emphasizes learning through direct experience, building community, and developing leadership skills. Alumni often stay connected through the WCS Youth Network and the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium as Pinkerton Fellows.
8. California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Stipend: Paid (above minimum wage)
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Program Dates: Multi-year, year-round; starts in June for rising sophomores or juniors, continues through high school graduation
Cost: Free
Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: 9th–10th grade students in SFUSD schools; GPA ≥ 2.5; C or higher in science and math; able to obtain a work permit; commitment to attendance for 2–3 years; ability to commute to Academy and nearby sites
Careers in Science (CiS) is a multi-year, year-round paid internship program designed for underrepresented students in STEM. As an intern, you’ll participate in comprehensive science learning, research, and fieldwork with mentors in disciplines such as botany, anthropology, and environmental action. You’ll also lead learning activities for Academy visitors, contribute to exhibit design, and create educational materials, while attending trainings, college tours, and STEM conferences. Advanced interns have the opportunity to join research project groups, serve on the CiS Leadership Council, and receive personalized mentorship.
9. Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)
Stipend: None
Location: Houston, TX (virtual + residential at NASA Johnson Space Center)
Program Dates: Starts in fall with online coursework, then continues in the summer; top teams invited to residential session
Cost: Free
Deadline: September 24
Who is Eligible: U.S. citizens; Texas high school juniors
Texas High School Aerospace Scholars is a year-long STEM experience that begins in the fall with an online curriculum covering space exploration, Earth science, technology, and aeronautics. High-achieving students advance to a five-day virtual summer session, Moonshot, where you collaborate with NASA mentors and peers to design an Artemis-themed mission to the Moon and Mars. The top-performing teams are invited to a residential experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for aerospace projects and mentorship from NASA professionals. The program emphasizes technical problem-solving, teamwork, and scientific communication, while also building leadership and research skills in preparation for future STEM studies.
10. Cislune Remote Fall Internship (Los Angeles / Delaware Space Grant)
Stipend: $3,000 (~$15/hour)
Location: Remote (Delaware Space Grant–eligible students)
Program Dates: November – January (~10 weeks, ~20 hours/week)
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: October 31
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled at Delaware Space Grant institutions (University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Wilmington University, Delaware Technical Community College, Villanova University, or Swarthmore College)
This remote fall internship gives you the chance to work on cutting-edge lunar exploration technologies. You’ll choose one focused project, such as lunar soil simulations, resource sorting models, VR prototyping, or telemetry analysis, and complete weekly milestones with guidance from Cislune engineers. The internship emphasizes technical skills like Python, Unity, ROS 2, and CAD, alongside professional experience in research, communication, and project management. At the end, you’ll present your work at the annual Research Symposium.
11. Sandia National Laboratories Internship Program
Stipend: Paid internships with competitive hourly rates based on education level and classification
Location: On-site at Sandia sites (some remote options available for eligible students)
Program Dates: Year-round internships and co-op terms (3–8 months); available during the fall
Cost: Free
Deadline: Rolling basis (varies by position)
Eligibility: Minimum age 16, enrolled full-time in high school or higher education, GPA 3.0+ (2.5+ for clerical/laborer roles), U.S. citizenship required for positions needing security clearance
At Sandia, you’ll step into a real-world research environment where interns contribute to projects in cybersecurity, engineering design, software development, and national security. High school interns can work part-time during the academic year and full-time during breaks, gaining exposure to state-of-the-art labs and mentorship from leading scientists and engineers. The program also includes professional development opportunities through Sandia’s Intern Institute, which supplements technical training with career workshops and networking activities. With competitive pay and hands-on research opportunities, this internship can set a strong foundation for a future STEM pathway.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Sandia National Laboratories