If you’re a high school student in San Jose, you’re in one of the best places to start building real-world experience early. With Silicon Valley right in your backyard, you’re surrounded by tech companies, research labs, universities, and startups that offer hands-on internships for students just like you.
Instead of just learning from textbooks, these internships let you work on real projects—whether that’s helping with research, writing code, supporting community initiatives, or assisting teams behind the scenes. You get a real feel for how workplaces function, how teams collaborate, and what different careers actually look like day to day.
Why choose a local internship in San Jose?
Choosing a local internship makes the whole experience much easier and more practical. You can avoid expensive travel or housing costs and still gain a high-quality experience close to home. Plus, working with well-known companies and institutions in San Jose can make your college and job applications stand out later on.
If you’re also exploring opportunities online, you can check out our blog on online internships for high school students to discover even more options.
13 Internships in San Jose for High School Students
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA (25 minutes from San Jose)
Cost: Free; $500–$2,500 stipend available (need-based)
Program Dates: June 8–July 30 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school juniors or seniors; 16 or older by June 8; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; living and attending school in the U.S.
SIMR is for students who want to dive deep into medical and biomedical research. You’ll work one-on-one with a Stanford mentor for the full eight weeks, choosing from eight research areas including cancer biology, neuroscience, genetics, and immunology. The program structure gives you hands-on lab work plus professional development workshops. By the end, you present your research findings. Students who do this program often find that it shapes their entire college and career direction.
2. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford University (PIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford (San Francisco Bay Area, near San Jose), CA
Cost: Free, except for a non-refundable $50 application fee | Students with financial need may receive a $3,000 stipend
Cohort Size: Around 40 students
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are 16 or older by the program’s start, have a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA, and live and attend school in San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Santa Cruz counties
If you’re passionate about medicine, biology, or child health, Stanford’s Pediatrics Internship Program (PIPS) offers a chance to experience medical research up close. Over six weeks, you’ll work about 30 hours a week alongside a faculty mentor and their research team, contributing to real projects in maternal and child health. You’ll gain hands-on experience in research methods, data collection, and analysis while learning how scientific studies shape better healthcare outcomes. The program also includes workshops and mentorship sessions that help you strengthen your communication and presentation skills. You’ll finish the summer by presenting your findings at a final symposium, a rewarding conclusion to your first step into the world of pediatric research.
3. Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford (San Francisco Bay Area), CA
Cost: Free; need-based scholarships are available | Unpaid
Cohort Size: Fewer than 20 students selected from over 400 applicants each year
Dates: June 16 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students residing in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Santa Clara, or San Mateo counties; must be 16 or older, hold at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA, and have prior exposure to programming, biology, or chemistry
Stanford’s Genomics Research Internship Program (GRIPS) gives you the chance to explore how data and biology connect. Over eight weeks, you work about 20 hours a week in a Stanford lab, contributing to real genomics research with guidance from scientists and graduate mentors. You use coding languages such as Python, R, or Java to analyze biological data and identify genomic patterns. Alongside your lab work, you take part in seminars, discussions, and career panels that introduce you to current developments in biomedical research.
4. Kaiser Permanente KP Launch Internship
Location: Various Kaiser Permanente facilities across the Bay Area (including San Jose, Santa Clara, and Oakland)
Cost: Free; Pays a stipend
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from underserved communities
The Kaiser Permanente KP Launch Internship introduces you to careers in healthcare and shows you how hospitals work. Over the summer, you are placed at a Kaiser Permanente facility where you shadow physicians, nurses, and healthcare administrators to observe patient care and daily operations. You also attend workshops on health regulations, equity, and professional communication. The program ends with a capstone project where you identify a public health issue and present possible solutions based on your learning. By the end of the internship, you will have gained a clear understanding of how healthcare teams operate and where your interests might align within the field.
5. Stanford STaRS Internship Program (Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA (25 minutes from San Jose)
Cost: Free; Students may receive need-based stipends
Program Dates: June 15–August 7 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school juniors or seniors; 16 or older by June 15; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
If you want to do real biomedical research without needing lab experience first, STaRS is worth checking out. Over eight weeks, you’ll work in a Stanford lab learning hands-on techniques like histology, imaging, and genotyping. The program starts with an intensive training week where you learn core lab skills. After that, you pick two techniques to focus on and work with mentors on actual research projects. You’ll also go to workshops, give a final presentation, and meet other students who are serious about science. Most students come away with clarity on whether medical or research careers actually interest them.
6. NASA and UT Austin’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer Intern Program
Location: In-person or virtual options available
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Online learning from May 19–July 1; on-site project work from July 6–19; Virtual SEES Science Symposium from July 21–22
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (16+); U.S. citizens only
If you’re curious about how satellite data helps us understand the Earth, the SEES Summer Intern Program gives you a front-row seat to real NASA research. You’ll start with online coursework in Earth and space sciences, diving deep into topics like climate analysis, planetary mapping, or remote sensing. Then, you’ll collaborate virtually with mentors to build your project portfolio before heading to the University of Texas Center for Space Research for two weeks of hands-on work. The experience wraps up with the SEES Virtual Science Symposium, where you’ll present your research findings to NASA scientists and peers.
7. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple nonprofits across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties (San Jose area)
Cost: Free; Paid internship at $15–$20/hour (all expenses paid for Washington, D.C. trip)
Program Dates: June–July (8 weeks, includes week-long trip to Washington, D.C., July 21–26)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; U.S. citizens or work-authorized; must be able to work 35 hours per week; must attend the Washington, D.C. summit; must be in good standing at their school; must permanently reside in Santa Clara or San Mateo counties
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program gives you hands-on experience working with nonprofits in your community on issues like homelessness, education, and social impact. You work 35 hours a week alongside nonprofit staff, learning how organizations operate and contribute to meaningful change. As part of the program, you also spend a fully funded week in Washington, D.C., where you meet other student leaders, take part in leadership workshops, and learn about government and civic engagement. The D.C. trip is included in your eight-week paid internship, and all expenses are covered by Bank of America.
8. County of Santa Clara Paid Internships
Location: Various Santa Clara County departments (San Jose and surrounding areas)
Cost: Free; Paid, exact hourly rate varies by department
Program Dates: Varies by department; year-round postings
Application Deadline: Open year-round
Eligibility: High school students; minimum 2.5 GPA; enrolled in or recently graduated from an accredited school
Santa Clara County offers internships in departments like the District Attorney’s Office, Public Health, and Parks. Your work depends on your placement, but you’ll take part in real government projects and see how public offices function day to day. Applications stay open year-round, so you can apply whenever a position appears. If there aren’t any openings, some departments keep resumes on file and contact students when new roles come up.
9. OPENSV Summer Internship
Location: Plug and Play, Sunnyvale, CA (hybrid—virtual + in-person meetings)
Cost: Free; Paid internship
Program Dates: June 9–July 18 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students; 15 years or older
This is a hybrid program where you’re working on real nonprofit projects while building leadership skills. You’ll do work in analytics, website management, event planning, and nonprofit operations. You meet in person at Plug and Play (Sunnyvale) once a week on Mondays, but most of your work happens over daily Zoom calls. You get mentorship from Silicon Valley professionals, a certificate when you finish, and access to their alumni network. It’s smaller (10 interns per cohort), which means real mentorship, not just showing up and filing papers.
10. Silicon Valley STEM Internship Program
Location: Multiple partner organizations across Silicon Valley (Milpitas, San Jose area)
Cost: Free; Paid internship (stipend provided)
Program Dates: 6 weeks, typically June-July
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students interested in STEM, healthcare, or biomedical fields; Bay Area residents preferred
This program runs through Santa Clara University with partners like LifeScan and other medical device companies. You spend six weeks in a real company doing projects that connect classroom learning to actual work. The program includes company tours, mentorship, and a final poster presentation. Students typically work on projects in healthcare, medical devices, or STEM fields. It’s smaller than some of the university programs, which means you get more one-on-one time with your mentors.
11. CURE (Community, Urban, Research, and Education) Internship Program at UCSF
Location: University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco Bay Area, near San Jose), CA
Cost: Free; Students earn a stipend
Cohort Size: 10–15 students
Dates: June 15 – August 7; Orientation on June 11
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Current high school juniors with at least a 2.5 GPA who have earned a B or better in Biology or Chemistry and will be 16 or older by the start of the program
UCSF’s CURE Internship Program introduces you to biomedical research and healthcare careers. Over eight weeks, you work full-time with UCSF faculty, postdocs, or graduate mentors on projects in behavioral science, clinical research, or population health. You design and complete your own research project and present your findings at a final symposium, learning how to approach problems and communicate like a scientist. Alongside your lab work, you explore college majors, meet professionals in the field, and receive guidance to plan your future in the biomedical sciences.
12. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 program fee + $40 application fee (need-based financial aid available)
Program Dates: June 16–27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+ who are U.S. residents with strong math/computer programming skills and/or healthcare project experience
If you’ve ever wondered how artificial intelligence can diagnose diseases or assist doctors, the AIMI Summer Research Internship at Stanford lets you explore that intersection firsthand. Over two weeks, you’ll learn core concepts of AI and its medical applications through interactive lectures, coding sessions, and mentorship from Stanford researchers. Past participants have built machine learning models to detect medical equipment in X-rays, a real-world challenge faced by radiologists. By the end, you’ll earn a Certificate of Completion and may be invited to continue with an advanced research project focusing on AI-driven healthcare innovation.
13. UCSF SEP’s High School Intern Program (HIP)
Location: University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco Bay Area, near San Jose), CA
Cost: Free; Students earn a stipend
Cohort Size: Around 20–25 students each year
Dates: June 9 – August 1 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from the San Francisco Unified School District or partner Bay Area schools who have completed at least one year of biology and are 16 or older by the program start date
If you’ve ever dreamed of doing real science in a world-class research lab, UCSF’s High School Intern Program (HIP) gives you that opportunity. Over eight weeks, you’ll work full-time on a biomedical research project under the guidance of UCSF scientists and mentors. You’ll learn to use lab equipment, analyze data, and think critically about scientific questions, all while contributing to real, ongoing research. The program also includes workshops on college readiness, STEM careers, and presentation skills, helping you prepare for your next academic steps. By the end of the summer, you’ll present your findings at a research symposium and leave with new confidence in your ability to pursue a future in science.
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 – University of California, San Francisco