If you are a high school student planning to make a career in medicine, internships are an excellent starting point, and can help you build a necessary skillset.
Medical research internships for high school students provide early exposure to advanced scientific methods, data analysis, and the tools used by professionals in the biomedical field.
Whether focused on public health, molecular biology, neuroscience, or computational medicine, medical research internships for high school students help you develop the technical proficiency and analytical mindset needed in medical research careers. You’ll work with mentors, engage in lab-based or computational projects, and build skills in areas such as statistical modeling, lab assay techniques, bioinformatics, and scientific writing.
Below, we have listed 15 medical research internships for high school students that range from competitive paid placements in research labs to structured virtual mentorship programs. They also include a few virtual internships in medical research that allow students across the world to apply.
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to program type; financial aid is available / None
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter; 8–12 weeks); Fall cohort: September 15
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Fall cohort: August 24; Apply here
Eligibility: High school students able to commit 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder internships place you with startups and organizations in fields like health technology, biomedical innovation, and public health research. Ladder’s start-ups are dynamic, often having raised substantial funding, with founders from top accelerators like Y Combinator and companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. You may work on projects such as clinical data collection and analysis, literature reviews for medical product development, or bioinformatics-driven market studies. You’ll learn how to synthesize findings into research briefs, use tools like Google Data Studio or Python for analytics, and present your results to professional stakeholders. Mentorship is provided by both industry supervisors and trained Ladder coaches, ensuring consistent technical and project-management guidance.
2. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None; only a $40 application fee which can be waived for students with financial need / $500 stipend, $2,500 for eligible students in extra need-based aid
Dates: June 8 – July 30 (Tentative)
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors | Must be at least 16 by program start | Must be living and attending high school in the U.S. (priority given to Bay Area students) | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The SIMR program, or Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program, is a highly competitive, prestigious eight-week summer internship designed for high school students interested in biomedical sciences and medicine. It places you in Stanford research labs to work on medically oriented projects in fields like immunology, neurobiology, bioengineering, cancer biology, and regenerative medicine. You’ll collaborate with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students to conduct experiments, analyze data, and interpret results. Skills gained can include molecular biology techniques, microscopy, data analysis in R or Python, and scientific communication through lab meetings and presentations. The program emphasizes immersion in the research process and developing a deeper understanding of biomedical science.
3. Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Cost: Varies
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program
or have prior Python experience.
Duration: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session
Dates: Jun 9 – Aug 11 (Sundays, 11 AM – 1:30 PM EST)
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine program, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You will get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
4. Fred Hutch Cancer Center – Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid (exact amount disclosed to finalists); free ORCA transit card
Dates: Eight weeks, starting mid-June and ending mid-August
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a strong academic background and interest in science | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
SHIP offers rising seniors two weeks of intensive lab safety and research technique training, followed by six weeks of mentored research in Fred Hutch labs. Projects span cancer biology, immunology, infectious diseases, and public health research. You’ll gain hands-on skills such as pipetting, cell culture, microscopy, and data analysis using tools like Excel or statistical software. The program includes research seminars and career development workshops, culminating in a formal presentation to peers, mentors, and the Fred Hutch community. This immersive experience emphasizes hands-on learning, professional mentorship, and a real-world understanding of health science research careers.
5. Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA)
Location: Oakland, CA
Cost/Stipend: $1,800 + $75 non-refundable application fee / None
Dates: Spring: March 31–April 4; April 7–11; April 21–25 | Summer: June 2–6; June 9–13; July 21–25; July 28–August 1
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least their freshman year in high school
MISA is a 5-day, hands-on healthcare training program emphasizing clinical skill development and medical teamwork. It covers essential medical topics like anatomy, emergency care, and basic clinical skills, giving students a real look into the medical field. You’ll participate in clinical simulations, phlebotomy training, and collaborative exercises that mimic real healthcare settings. The curriculum covers patient assessment, infection control, and lab skills, with all concepts reinforced through active application. Unique to MISA are nationally recognized health certifications that students earn, boosting their credentials. Sessions run Monday through Friday, offering concentrated exposure to essential healthcare competencies in a professional training environment.
6. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student Program
Location: New York, NY (Upper East Side, Manhattan)
Cost/Stipend: None / $1,200
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors living near MSK’s main campus in NY, NJ, or CT | U.S. work authorization | Minimum 3.5 GPA in science | Must be 14+ by program start
This highly selective program places 20 high school juniors in MSK research labs to conduct mentored biomedical or computational projects in areas like cancer biology, genomics, immunology, pharmacology, and bioengineering. You’ll design and execute a self-directed project supporting a lab’s broader research, develop technical lab skills like cell culture, microscopy, data analysis in R/ Python, and participate in lab meetings. The program also integrates professional development sessions and exposure to translational medicine, culminating in a final research presentation. You will also collaborate with research staff, attend lab meetings, and get the chance to present your work internally, subject to research protocols and permissions.
7. Children’s Hospital Colorado – Summer Child Health Research Internship
Location: Children’s Hospital Colorado / University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO
CostStipend: None / $4,400
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically February
Eligibility: High school seniors over the age of 18 | Must be a Colorado resident
The Children’s Hospital Colorado Summer Child Health Research Internship is a competitive, paid program designed for high school seniors interested in pediatric and child health research. This internship will place you in the Department of Pediatrics research labs to work on projects related to child health, from developmental biology to pediatric disease prevention. Under faculty mentorship, you’ll engage in lab activities such as molecular assays, data collection, and statistical analysis, while also participating in a weekly seminar series on research methodology and pediatric topics. The program culminates with a written report and oral or poster presentation, with opportunities to submit abstracts to scientific meetings.
8. Helios Scholars at TGen
Location: Phoenix, AZ (TGen headquarters) or Flagstaff, AZ (TGen North)
Cost/Stipend: None / $14.70 per hour
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 4
Eligibility: At least 16 years old by program start | U.S. work authorization | full-time college/university student in Fall | Must be an Arizona high school graduate or currently enrolled at an Arizona college/university
This full-time summer research internship immerses participants in translational bioscience, with projects in laboratory research, computational biology, bioinformatics, mathematics, and research administration. At TGen headquarters, you might investigate genetic factors in cancer, diabetes, or neurological disease, while TGen North focuses on public health pathogens such as Valley Fever and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. You’ll develop skills in molecular biology techniques, statistical analysis, and scientific writing, and present your findings at a formal research symposium with both poster and potential oral presentations. The program also includes seminars on career exploration in biosciences, scientific writing, professional skills, networking events, and research presentations.
9. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Jupiter, FL
Cost/Stipend: None / $13/hour
Dates: Six weeks in Summer; typically mid-June to late July
Application Deadline: March 4
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors in Palm Beach or Martin County, FL | At least 16 years old | U.S. work authorization
MPFI offers a six-week immersive internship in neuroscience, with three research tracks: Neuroscience, Scientific Programming, and Mechanical Engineering. Depending on your track, you may perform genetic engineering, histological staining, and microscopy to study neural circuits; develop custom data analysis software using Python, Matlab, or C++; or design and machine research equipment with SolidWorks. You’ll work alongside MPFI scientists, produce a written scientific abstract, and deliver a formal presentation to the research community at the program’s end. This internship provides access to state-of-the-art facilities and expert mentorship, and valuable insights into neuroscience and advanced research methodologies.
10. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: Duarte, CA
Cost/Stipend: None / $4,500
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school who are at least 16 years old by program start | U.S. citizens or permanent residents | Should have completed high school courses in chemistry and biology
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy is a prestigious 10-week biomedical research program hosted by City of Hope in Duarte, California, designed for highly motivated high school students. It provides hands-on biomedical research experience in areas such as stem cell biology, molecular genetics, cancer biology, and DNA repair. Working under City of Hope faculty mentors, you will design and execute an independent research project, learn laboratory techniques, and develop scientific communication skills through weekly seminars, written reports, and a poster presentation. The program also offers opportunities to present at the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research and includes lab networking events and field trips.
11. Arthritis Foundation Summer Science Internship Program
Location: Stanford University (Stanford, CA) and University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
Cost/Stipend: None / $2,500
Dates: Eight weeks, early June–early August
Application Deadline: Typically March
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors | At least 17 years old by program start | Parental permission required if under 18 | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Arthritis Foundation Summer Science Internship Program is an 8-week internship based at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and affiliated institutions. It offers you the chance to work under the mentorship of top physicians and scientists on cutting-edge research related to rheumatology and immunology, with a focus on arthritis and related autoimmune diseases. You’ll engage in either bench research, such as molecular assays, cell culture, and microscopy, or clinical/translational projects involving patient outcomes data and epidemiological methods. The program provides direct mentorship from faculty and research staff, exposure to experimental design, and opportunities to analyze and present your findings.
12. Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center – Future Scientist Program
Location: IU School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: None / $3,000
Dates: Eight weeks between early June and late July
Application Deadline: Typically late February
Eligibility: Current high school juniors enrolled in a Marion County and Indianapolis public high school | Minimum 3.0 GPA | Ability to obtain work permit if under 16
The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center – Future Scientist Program is a summer research internship designed for high school juniors, particularly from Indianapolis and Marion County public schools. It places you in cancer research labs at the IU School of Medicine for a mentored, full-time summer research experience. You’ll work on independent projects related to cancer biology, molecular genetics, or biomedical data analysis, learning lab techniques such as cell culture, DNA/RNA extraction, and statistical analysis. The program emphasizes independent responsibility, professional conduct, and the application of scientific methods to real-world research questions.
13. Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None / $1,800
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors | At least 16 years old by the program start date | Permanent resident of eligible southwest Pennsylvania counties: Greene, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, and Cambria
The Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) High School Summer Internship Program is a competitive, six-week research internship for high school sophomores and juniors interested in biomedical science, particularly in reproductive biology, women’s health, and infant health. It will place you in basic, translational, or clinical research labs focusing on the aforementioned fields. You’ll work under faculty mentorship on a defined research project, learn experimental design and lab skills such as molecular assays, tissue culture, or data analysis, and participate in weekly “Lunch & Learn” career discussions. The program culminates in a formal PowerPoint research presentation to peers, faculty, and staff.
14. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None / $6,800 (10 weeks); $6,120 (9 weeks)
Dates: June 2 – August 8; option for 9 weeks if starting second week
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors who are 18+ by program start | U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or work-eligible visa holder | Accepted into a college starting Fall
This 10-week immersive research program places you in an MD Anderson laboratory under the guidance of a faculty mentor, where you’ll contribute to hands-on biomedical science projects. You’ll work full-time alongside researchers, gaining experience in experimental techniques, data collection, and scientific reasoning. The curriculum includes faculty-led seminars, exposure to allied health career pathways, and participation in competitions such as abstract, poster, and elevator speech events. The program concludes with a formal presentation and celebration luncheon, equipping you with both technical skills and professional confidence for your upcoming college career. The program is selective and only accepts up to 12 students.
15. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital High School Research Immersion Program
Location: Memphis, TN
Cost/Stipend: None / $4,800
Dates: June 2 – July 25 (community exhibition on July 26)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors in eligible counties (Memphis-Shelby and immediate surrounding counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas) | Age 16+ | Minimum 3.0 GPA
This eight-week program immerses you in mentored research at St. Jude in areas such as laboratory science, psychology, epidemiology, clinical research, or data science. You’ll work in pairs with a research mentor to conduct a project and collaborate with a science educator to explore broader questions about the nature and equity of science. Alongside developing your technical skills, you’ll create a personal statement reflecting your growth as a scientist and prepare a scientific poster for a public community exhibition. With full-time engagement, the program provides hands-on experience and professional mentorship to prepare you for future STEM pathways.
16. University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center – Advancing Research In Science with Excellence (ARISE)
Location: University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI
Cost/Stipend: None / $15 per hour
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Must have completed sophomore year | Age 16+ at start of program
This 8-week internship places you in a cancer research lab for 20 hours per week, where you’ll learn core laboratory skills, attend weekly lab meetings, and receive one-on-one guidance from a principal investigator while working on your own research project. Beyond lab work, you’ll participate in 3–5 hours of enrichment activities each week, including career panels, medical ethics discussions, science presentation workshops, and visits to the Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy. The program emphasizes both technical skill-building and professional development, with opportunities to network with peers and professionals in cancer research.
Image source – Medical Immersion Scholars Academy