If you’re a high school student who wants to learn more about healthcare and medicine, a medical internship can give you the kind of early experience that goes beyond the classroom. These opportunities let you step into real-world medical environments, where you can see how hospitals, labs, and research centers operate.
Medical internships for high school students often include activities like assisting with research projects, observing medical professionals, or contributing to laboratory work. Along the way, you’ll start building an advanced skillset, whether that’s understanding basic medical procedures, learning how to collect and analyze data, or getting an inside look at how doctors and researchers work with patients and case studies.
If you’re based in or around New Jersey, there’s plenty of local options you can choose from. New Jersey is home to many hospitals, universities, and healthcare organizations that run these internships every year. For students who live in the state, choosing a local program is also a smart move financially, since you don’t need to factor in travel or accommodation costs.
To help you get started, we’ve pulled together 15 medical internships for high school students!
16 Medical Internships for High School Students in NJ (New Jersey)
1. Ladder Internships
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 an online internship program for high school students. You work with a fast-growing start-up for 8 weeks on real projects. These start-ups come from many industries like artificial intelligence, machine learning, healthcare, marketing, journalism, finance, and more. Most of them have raised over $1 million. You are matched with a company based on your interests. You work directly with your manager and also get support from a Ladder Coach. At the end of the internship, you present your work to the company.
2. MINDS Program (Medical Internship Navigating Diversities and Science)
Location: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Cost: Free. Participants will be paid a stipend of $1200
Application Deadline: May (tentatively)
Program Dates: 4 weeks – July 14 through August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from underprivileged backgrounds, with a minimum 3.0 GPA, can apply
The M.I.N.D.S. Program is a paid summer internship that gives you direct exposure to careers in medicine. You’ll visit hospitals, participate in medical simulations, and learn from professionals across different specialties. Through lectures and discussions, you’ll explore internal medicine, health disparities in New Jersey, and the social determinants of health. You’ll also work on mentored medical research projects and receive SAT prep support, building both academic and career skills.
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. Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES)
Location: Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: Free. Participants will be paid a stipend
Application Deadline: March 8, but open until all spots are filled
Program Dates: June 25 – August 27
Eligibility: High school students who turn 16 before June 15 and are citizens or permanent residents of the United States
RUYES is a two-year cancer research program for high school and undergraduate students. Each summer, you spend about 10 weeks doing hands-on research in a Rutgers lab. You also attend seminars to learn more about cancer and how to read and understand scientific research. You work about 35 hours per week during the summer. Each year, you also complete 70 hours of professional development and community engagement activities. At the end of the program, you create a research poster and give a 10-minute presentation about your work.
5. Science Medicine and Related Topics (SMART)
Location: Medical Science Building, Newark, NJ for in-person sessions.
Cost: $75 program fee for the winter cohort; $350 program fee plus a $25 non-refundable application fee for the summer cohort
Application Deadline: May 9
Program Dates: January 25 – March 15 (only Saturdays) for the winter cohort and June 30 – July 25 (Monday to Friday) for the summer cohort
Eligibility: Rising 7th- to 12th-grade students residing in New Jersey
The SMART program at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is a pre-college medical enrichment experience for students in grades 7 through 12. You learn directly from medical students, faculty, and certified science teachers. The program introduces you to careers in medicine, dentistry, and biomedical research through hands-on science learning and exposure to medical topics. In the summer, you attend online sessions four days a week and spend one day each week at Rutgers Health New Jersey Medical School. In the winter, sessions are held in person at the Medical Science Building. You study subjects like biology, chemistry, and anatomy.
6. Coriell Summer Experience for High School Students
Location: Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 15
Program Dates: Mid-July – Mid-August
Eligibility: Applicants must be US residents, at least 17 years old, and able to commute to the campus daily
The Coriell Summer Experience is a four-week biomedical research internship for high school students. You work alongside scientists and technicians at the Coriell Institute in Camden, New Jersey. The program gives you hands-on experience in biobank operations and biomedical research. You learn how to generate, freeze, and distribute biological samples, induce pluripotent stem cells, and observe karyotyping and may also extract DNA and explore chromosome analysis in Coriell’s molecular biology labs. You attend scientific seminars and receive training in public speaking and professional skills. At the end of the program, you present a formal PowerPoint to Coriell staff and peers, sharing what you learned.
7. BRInj’s High School Summer Research Program
Location: Biomedical Research Institute of New Jersey, Cedar Knolls, NJ
Cost: The fee is $1795 per session for the program, and students can apply for either one or both sessions; scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Acceptance letters are sent in May
Program Dates: July 14 – July 25 for Session 1 and July 28 – August 8 for Session 2
Eligibility: High school students who can commute to BRInj
The BRInj High School Summer Research Program is a two-week biomedical internship for high school students. You work in a state-of-the-art lab alongside PhD and MD scientists and gain hands-on experience in basic research and lab techniques. You attend educational seminars, learn core lab skills, and shadow doctors through a partnership with MidAtlantic Neonatology Associates. The internship helps you build transferable skills for college-level lab work and future research opportunities.
8. Summer Research Scholar Program at the Center for Discovery and Innovation
Location: Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI), Nutley, NJ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June 2 – August 15 or July 7 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students who are over 16 and can commit to at least 25 hours per week.
The Summer Research Scholar Program at CDI is a hands-on biomedical research internship for high school and college students. You work directly with lab staff to assist in scientific experiments, collect and enter data, and help compile study documents. Research topics include infectious diseases, cancer, immunology, and neurocognitive and behavioral health. You are paired with a mentor who guides you throughout the program. You must be at least 16 years old to apply, and students under 18 need parental consent.
9. Liberty Science Center’s Partners in Science
Location: Varies based on the research topic
Cost: Free. Participants will be paid a stipend of $1000
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 28 – August 23
Eligibility: Students entering 11th and 12th grades the upcoming academic year and turning 16 before July 1
Partners in Science is an eight-week summer research internship for rising high school juniors and seniors. You are matched with a mentor in science, health, or technical fields and work on research projects in professional labs at universities, hospitals, or research centers. You explore topics in medicine and health while developing skills in scientific inquiry, data analysis, and science communication. You also attend workshops at Liberty Science Center and present your research at a final symposium
10. Kean University’s Group Summer Scholars Research Program (GSSRP)
Location: Kean University, Union, New Jersey
Cost: The four-week session costs $2,500 and the two-week session costs $1,250
Application Deadline: March 14
Program Dates: July 7 – July 31 or July 21 – July 31
Eligibility: High school students who can commute to the campus and commit to the entire program
GSSRP is a hands-on summer research internship for high school students interested in science, medicine, and engineering. You work with Kean University faculty and researchers on real lab projects. Medical topics include cancer biology, drug discovery, and molecular biology. You choose a research stream and gain technical lab skills while learning how scientists study disease and develop treatments. The program also includes workshops on professional skills, lab instrumentation, and college and career planning.
11. Einstein-Montefiore Summer High School Research Program (EMHS)
Location: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June 27 – July 30
Eligibility: High school students who are US citizens, at least 16 years old by the start of the program, and reside in the tristate area (NY, NJ, and CT) are eligible to apply
The EMHS program is a five-week full-time biomedical research internship for high school students. You work in a research lab at Albert Einstein College of Medicine under the guidance of a principal investigator, postdoctoral fellow, or undergraduate mentor. You assist with scientific experiments, collect and analyze data, and learn how research is conducted in medical and biomedical fields. The program begins with an orientation day, where you receive lab safety training and meet your mentor. Throughout the summer, you attend faculty seminars, workshops, and enrichment sessions focused on research ethics and medical science.
12. NJIT’s Forensic Science Initiative (FSI)
Location: University Heights, Newark, NJ
Cost: The program costs $1525 and has a registration fee of $50 (scholarships available)
Application Deadline: March (tentatively)
Program Dates: July 7 – August 7
Eligibility: High school students who have opted for a forensic science course in their senior year
The Forensic Science Initiative (FSI) at NJIT is a five-week summer research internship for rising high school seniors interested in forensic medicine and science. You work in NJIT’s custom-built labs and participate in hands-on experiments in forensic biology, forensic chemistry, crime scene investigation, and forensic law. You also take part in field research at sites across the Greater Metropolitan Area and attend college prep workshops, including SAT/ACT prep and personal statement writing.
13. Hunterdon Health’s Shadowing Program
Location: Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Program Dates: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who are over 16 years old
Hunterdon Health offers a seasonal shadowing program for high school students interested in healthcare careers. You observe medical professionals in departments such as inpatient nursing, outpatient physical and occupational therapy, medical imaging, and more. This is an observation-only experience with no hands-on clinical work. Each shadowing session lasts up to 8 hours per department. You are assigned based on department availability and cannot enter isolation rooms or provide patient care.
14. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: The program costs $850 and has an application fee of $40 (scholarships available)
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: High school students who are over 14 and are US citizens or permanent residents
The AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in artificial intelligence in healthcare. You attend daily lectures on AI fundamentals, clinical applications, and research methods and also work in small groups on a research project guided by Stanford mentors. The program includes mentoring sessions, hands-on group work, and virtual career lunch talks with professionals from academia, industry, government, and nonprofits. Topics cover medical imaging, machine learning, and health equity.
15. The Reconceive Project
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications open throughout the school year
Program Dates: Varies by program
Eligibility: High school students from grades 9 to 12
The Reconceive Project is a student-led nonprofit that offers virtual research and writing internships for high school students interested in medicine and healthcare. You can join medical committees, contribute to research-based articles, and help create educational resources on topics like anatomy, pathology, and public health. You also receive mentorship from medical students and professionals, attend health advocacy workshops, and participate in outreach initiatives..
16. Volunteer at Jersey City Medical Center
Location: Jersey City Medical Center, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted all year long but students interested in volunteering only in summer need to send applications by April 1
Program Dates: Flexible
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older, can speak English, and have a social security number can apply.
The Jersey City Medical Center offers a year-round volunteer program for high school students interested in healthcare careers. You support hospital staff by assisting with non-clinical tasks such as greeting patients, assembling information packets, escorting visitors, and helping with clerical work. If you volunteer during the school year, you must commit to at least 3 hours per week. Summer volunteers must work 20 hours per week. You must complete a minimum of 50 total hours to receive a letter of completion.
Image source – RWJBarnabas Health