Looking to dive into real scientific research while still in high school? Paid science internships are a fantastic way to learn how research happens in the real world. From lab experiments and fieldwork to data analysis and innovative projects, these internships let you work alongside experienced scientists and mentors who guide you every step of the way.
Why should I consider paid science internships in high school?
Paid science internships give you experience that counts. You’ll build technical skills, learn how to approach real-world scientific problems, and gain insight into what a career in STEM could look like. Plus, the stipend shows that your time and effort are valued while helping you invest in your future. So if you’re passionate about biology, medicine, physics, or environmental research, these internships are an excellent way to explore your interests, strengthen your college applications, and start making a tangible impact in science.
Below, we’ve put together a curated list of 13 paid science internships.
13 Paid Science Internships for High School Students
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Application fee $50; participants get a stipend of at least $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cohort size of around 50 students
Dates: June 8 – July 30 (tentative)
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an 8-week summer research internship for high school students. In this internship program, you will dive into biomedical science by working in Stanford’s Institute of Medicine or affiliated labs. You will be paired with a mentor, and you can contribute to practical, ongoing medical or biological research projects in areas such as immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell science, genetics, bioinformatics, and cardiovascular biology. When you apply to the program, you can choose from eight research areas (institutes), and after acceptance, you’ll be assigned to one specific institute based on your preferences.
2. National Institute of Health (NIH) High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Location: Various NIH campuses
Cost/Stipend: Stipends are adjusted annually
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not disclosed
Dates: 8-10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Applications open in November, with deadlines to be announced
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident; enrolled at least half-time as a senior in high school; 18+ years
The National Institute of Health (NIH) High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP) allows you, as a high school senior, to engage in full-time biomedical research under the mentorship of NIH scientists. You will participate in the NIH Intramural Research Program and contribute to ongoing research projects across various scientific disciplines. If you are interested in biology, epidemiology, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, bioinformatics, or other health-related fields, you are encouraged to apply.
3. JCVI Internship Program
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, and La Jolla, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internships; stipend details not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 25 interns selected annually
Dates: 10–15 weeks during summer months (May–August); specific dates vary annually.
Application Deadline: Opportunities for the summer internship are usually announced in March
Eligibility: 16+ age; eligibility to work in the U.S.
The JCVI Summer Internship Program gives you an immersive research experience in genomics, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and related fields. You will get a dedicated mentor, an opportunity to collaborate and network with world-class scientists, participate in research projects tailored to your academic interest, access to state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and the chance to present your work in a judged poster presentation. This experience is designed to help you develop a comprehensive understanding of genomic research and its applications, preparing you to become a part of the next generation of scientists.
4. City of Hope Cancer Center Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Duarte, CA
Cost/Stipend: $4,500 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not disclosed
Dates: Typically 10 weeks during the summer; exact dates vary annually
Application Deadline: Typically ends in March
Eligibility: Open to advanced high school and undergraduate students; no prior research experience required
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy allows you to engage in biomedical research at City of Hope. You’ll select a research project that aligns with your interests and work full-time for 10 weeks under the mentorship of faculty from the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences. The program helps you develop critical thinking, scientific writing, and communication skills. You’ll attend weekly seminars, participate in workshops on topics like biomedical ethics, and present your research through oral presentations or posters. At the end of the program, you’ll submit a written report detailing your research. You’ll also receive a stipend of $4,500 upon completing the program.
5. The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Location: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine & Farmington, CT
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $ 7,000 stipend plus room, board, and travel (round-trip) are provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selects about 40 students annually from across the U.S.
Dates: May 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: Late January; application opens in early November
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
You’ll join the Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program (SSP) to work on real research in genetics and genomics under a scientific mentor, contributing to an ongoing lab project. Over 10 weeks, you will do about 40 hours per week, split between lab work, training sessions, and professional development (e.g., communication, data visualization, ethics). At the end, you present your work in a seminar or poster to researchers and peers. The living-learning community allows you to collaborate with and learn from students from many backgrounds. All housing, travel, and meals are covered, so that you can focus entirely on the research experience.
6. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High School Internships
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; stipend details not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not disclosed
Dates: 6–8 weeks during summer (typically mid-June to early August)
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. citizens/ permanent residents, aged 16+, rising high school juniors or seniors, GPA 3.0+
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High School Internship Program offers you a hands-on, immersive experience in STEM fields, including nuclear energy, cybersecurity, environmental science, and more. You will work closely with INL researchers, applying your classroom knowledge to real-world projects. The program emphasizes mentorship and professional development, giving you insights into scientific research and potential career paths. The internship program allows you to be part of groundbreaking research initiatives at the premier national laboratory.
7. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of Navy (DoN)
Location: Various Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 for first-time participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 300 placements yearly across more than 38 laboratories.
Dates: 8 weeks (typically between late-May and late-June)
Application Deadline: November 1, 11.59 PM (ET)
Eligibility: High school students, 16+ years
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) allows you to engage in real-world naval research at Department of Navy laboratories across the United States. Over eight weeks during the summer, you’ll work closely with scientists and engineers, contributing to ongoing research projects. This practical experience allows you to apply your academic knowledge in a real-world setting, helping you develop skills in scientific inquiry and technical communication.
8. Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP)
Location: At industry partner sites or online
Cost/Stipend: Stipend details not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not disclosed
Dates: Typically 8 weeks during summer (exact dates vary depending on the location)
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the location of the program
Eligibility: All high school students (grades 9 to 12)
The Spark Summer Internship Program is an intensive summer research internship where you can gain real-world experience in the tech industry. You’ll work closely with mentors from diverse industries, gaining practical experience and insights into potential career paths. Over 8–12 weeks, you’ll work full-time (30–40 hours per week), building skills in tech-focused research while being guided by industry professionals. Overall, Spark is designed to ignite your passion for learning and inspire you to pursue future academic and career opportunities in STEM. Previous Spark students have co-authored IEEE research papers with their mentors and also participated in prestigious competitions like the ISEF.
9. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, within a 45-minute commute of the student’s home
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 stipend paid in three installments of $1,000 each
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not disclosed
Dates: Typically 8 weeks during summer (exact dates vary by location)
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; at least 16+ years old
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program (Hutton Program) is an educational program sponsored by the American Fisheries Society (AFS) for high school students. In this program, you will explore careers in fisheries science and management while increasing diversity in the field, especially among underrepresented groups, including minorities and women. You may have the opportunity to participate in various activities, including taking fish population surveys, establishing aquatic vegetation and fish habitats, electrofishing, snorkeling, examining specimens under a microscope, testing water quality, processing data, assisting with children’s educational programs, and more.
10. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: $1,000 stipend upon successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 100 students are accepted per summer
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: Not announced yet
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in NYC high schools; applicants must be NYC residents
ARISE is a free, 10-week summer program that provides an immersive experience in STEM research. You can work in over 80 NYU research labs, covering fields like biomedical engineering, data science, and urban infrastructure. You can find the list of the partner labs here. The program begins with four weeks of foundational training in research ethics, lab safety, and college-level writing. The remaining six weeks let you collaborate directly with faculty and graduate students on real-world projects, giving you the chance to contribute meaningfully to ongoing research.
11. Lockheed Martin Space High School Internship
Location: U.S. cities with Lockheed Martin Space facilities
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; exact stipend not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; the specific cohort size isn’t disclosed.
Dates: 9+ weeks
Application Deadline: December 19
Eligibility: Must be 16+, enrolled in high school, and live near an LM Space facility
You’ll spend about 9+ weeks in the summer working on real aerospace and defense technology projects alongside Lockheed Martin Space engineers. The internship includes on-the-job training, mentoring and leader shadowing, professional development workshops, community service, and facility tours. You’ll get exposure to how complex systems are designed, tested, and deployed in the aerospace domain. The program also includes networking and social activities, giving you a chance to see what a STEM career might look like at a major defense-tech company.
12. Summer Internships for High School Students (Laboratory Learning Program) at Princeton
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: 5-6 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: In March
Eligibility: Must attend a local New Jersey high school, be 16+ by mid-June; U.S. citizen or permanent resident
The Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) is a full-time, free research experience in the sciences or engineering designed for you if you are a high school student living and attending a local school. You’ll be included in ongoing research programs and work under the close supervision of Princeton faculty and research staff. The Science Outreach supports Astrophysical Sciences, Center for Statistics and Machine Learning, Chemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Geosciences, Mathematics, Molecular Biology, Physics, Princeton Neuroscience Institute, and Psychology.
13. Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Above minimum wage; exact stipend details not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 44 interns annually
Dates: Interns enter the program in June as rising sophomores or juniors
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Open to rising 9th–10th graders in SFUSD with a 2.5+ GPA, C or higher in science and math, and a valid work permit
As an intern with the Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program, you will join a multi-year, year-round paid program designed for San Francisco high school students. You’ll engage in hands-on scientific research, fieldwork, and educational outreach while working closely with Academy scientists and educators. You’ll also take part in interactive training, receive mentorship, and attend college tours and STEM conferences. As you demonstrate achievement and reliability, you can advance to positions with greater leadership and responsibility.
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 – Stanford University