15 Research Internships for High School Students

If you are looking for opportunities to gain real-world work experience before college, internships can be a solid next step! Internships place you in workplaces under the guidance of professionals to contribute to real operations. This is where you can build practical skills like collaboration, communication, time management, and teamwork.

If you are interested in scientific inquiry, then consider research internships! Research internships give you the chance to contribute to ongoing investigative and experimental scientific work at universities, research organizations, nonprofits, or private companies. Unlike short-term programs, research internships typically focus on producing specific outputs, such as data analysis, written reports, or experimental results. Opportunities are available across fields like science, social science, technology, and the humanities. Depending on the placement, your work may involve collecting or analyzing data, reviewing academic literature, supporting experimental work, or producing written reports.

What do research internships for high schoolers include?

Research internships for high school students typically involve working on a defined project under the guidance of a mentor at a university, lab, or organization. Most internships begin with an onboarding period where you familiarize yourself with the research context, existing work in the area, and the specific goals of your project. Over time, you will take on more defined tasks and work toward producing a concrete output, such as a written report, a dataset, a presentation, or a contribution to a larger ongoing study. The pace and structure vary depending on the organization and the nature of the work. 

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 research internships for high school students. 

If you are also looking for research-focused programs, check out our list of summer opportunities here.

15 Research Internships for High School Students

1. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES Summer Intern Program

Location: Virtual and University of Texas Center for Space Research, Austin, TX
Cost: Free for virtual participants | $2,000 for on-site participants; full scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~10.75 acceptance rate in the past
Dates: On-site internship: July 5 – 18; Virtual project: June – July 21; Virtual Science Symposium: July 20 – 21
Application deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students, ages 16 and up, in grades 10 and 11

The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) High School Summer Intern Program is a research internship hosted by the University of Texas Center for Space Research in collaboration with NASA, focused on Earth and space science research using mission data. During the program, you will work with datasets from NASA’s Earth-observing satellites and work on research projects across areas such as remote sensing, climate science, and planetary studies. The internship includes structured research tasks such as analyzing and visualizing data, applying computational methods, and contributing to project-based investigations. The program also includes preparatory online modules and project-specific virtual sessions conducted before the on-site portion or the final project phase. SEES concludes with a virtual symposium, where you will present your work to peers and NASA researchers.

2. NIST Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)

Location: NIST campuses in Boulder, CO, or Gaithersburg, MD
Cost: Free; no stipend
Acceptance rate: 4% for Boulder, CO applicants | 10.6% for Gaithersburg, MD applicants
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher; students must be U.S. citizens who live within 50 miles of either the Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO NIST campus.

SHIP places high school students in research labs to work under the mentorship of scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a non-regulatory federal agency focused on measurement science. You will work on a research project under a NIST mentor, using research tools and techniques relevant to the assigned lab’s work. Placements span areas such as environmental science, materials science, physics, chemistry, engineering, cybersecurity, and manufacturing. You will learn how to collect and examine data, work with measurement instruments, and explore professional laboratory environments. At the end of SHIP, you will present your research project in the form of a poster.

3. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)

RSI is a selective summer research program for high school students offered by the Center for Excellence in Education in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The program begins with coursework that introduces scientific theory and current research across STEM fields. This is followed by an individual research placement, where you will work under the guidance of scientists in university labs, hospitals, or industry settings. The research phase involves reviewing the academic literature, defining a research question, and conducting analysis or experimentation. At the end of RSI, you will present your work in oral and written formats.

4. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of the Navy (DoN)

SEAP is a paid, research-based summer program that places high school students in naval labs. During the eight-week program, you will learn about real-world naval science and engineering research while working with scientists in a lab. You will contribute to research projects and learn about careers in naval research and tech. The program also offers professional development opportunities, such as seminars, meetings, and presentations. You will additionally shadow and connect with researchers and other professionals during the program.

5. Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 12 students/year
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and graduating seniors, ages 17 and up, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents

The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a competitive program that allows high schoolers to conduct research across a range of disciplines, including computer science, biology, chemistry, and engineering. You will work closely with Texas Tech faculty mentors on research projects, gaining experience in designing/running laboratory experiments, analyzing data, or conducting theoretical research. The program also offers access to workshops, seminars, and discussions. Throughout the experience, you will find opportunities to refine skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and science communication. At the end, you will submit a research report discussing your work.

6. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)

Fermilab’s PRISM is a research-focused summer program in which high school students work on structured STEM projects at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, engaging with physics, computing, and engineering. Each week, you will explore a different scientific theme, including particle physics, quantum science, engineering design, and artificial intelligence. You will attend expert-led lectures, participate in activities tied to the week’s theme, and tour Fermilab’s research facilities. Throughout the program, you will work with a Fermilab STEM professional who will serve as your mentor. You can also attend professional development sessions alongside your research work. The program concludes with the submission of a research abstract, poster, and final presentation.

7. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship

This is a summer research program where high school students work alongside scientists at MPFI on projects related to brain structure, function, and development. You can choose from four tracks: neuroscience, scientific programming, mechanical engineering, and programming for public engagement. Depending on your track, you will gain practical exposure to wet lab techniques, software development for data analysis, custom parts fabrication, or building web applications for educational use. At the end of the internship, you will deliver presentations to share your research with MPFI scientists and peers.

8. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) @ NYU

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools

ARISE is a 10-week paid summer research internship offering high schoolers lab training and the opportunity to engage in research projects in NYU labs. The first four weeks are dedicated to remote training sessions covering lab safety, college writing, and research skills. Over the course of six weeks, you will work in an NYU lab, contributing to research in STEM fields like engineering, biology, or bioengineering. You will spend the summer gaining 150 hours of lab experience, attending seminars, and working on your research presentations, which you will deliver at the end of 10 weeks. The program also offers college application support.

9. University of Georgia’s Young Scholars Internship Program (YSP)

Location: University of Georgia’s Athens, Griffin, and Tifton campuses, GA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – July 10
Application deadline: January 23
Eligibility: High school students, ages 16 and up by program start, who have completed their sophomore year, at least one lab-based high school science course, and one semester of algebra

The Young Scholars Internship Program is a five-week research internship at the University of Georgia for high school students interested in agricultural, food, and environmental sciences. Alongside a faculty mentor, you will work on a defined research project and assist with data collection, experiments, and analysis. Depending on your assigned project, work will take place in laboratory or field settings and contribute to ongoing research. The program also includes workshops and scheduled visits to agricultural sites to observe different areas of study within the field. At the end of the five weeks, you will participate in a three-day research conference on campus, where you will present your research in the form of a poster. 

10. University of Chicago Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab

Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $5,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; 22 students in the past cohort (the number can vary each year)
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Undergraduate students and Chicago-area high school students; familiarity with one or more programming languages (Java, C++, Python, etc.) and relevant coursework in statistics, computer science, and math is preferred.

The DSI Summer Lab is a research internship at the University of Chicago Data Science Institute focused on interdisciplinary data science research. You will be paired with a mentor to contribute to a project in areas such as computer science, social science, public policy, or biomedical research. You will gain experience working with datasets, applying computational methods, and engaging with research methodologies used in ongoing projects. Social and recreational events like picnics, concerts, sports, and trivia are also part of the experience. The program includes a speaker series and group sessions covering current research and domain-specific topics. You will practice communicating your work through final videos, which will be showcased at a symposium at the end of the program. 

11. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR)

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee (waivers available) + limited number of need-based stipends
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~50 students/year
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; preference given to Bay Area students.

SIMR is a biomedical research internship at Stanford University that places high school students into faculty-led labs working across areas such as immunology, neurobiology, genetics, and bioengineering. You will join a specific research group and contribute to ongoing projects within that field. The internship involves laboratory work that may include data collection, experiments, and analysis over the course of the program. You will connect with mentors, including faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students, who will provide guidance on research methods and project development. The schedule also includes lectures introducing current topics in biomedical science. The experience will conclude with a poster presentation.

12. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program

Location: Stony Brook University campus, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No tuition; residential fee: $2,360.25 (optional); a stipend will be awarded
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and are at least 16 when the program begins

The Simons Summer Research Program is an in-person STEM research program for high school students. It offers research opportunities across STEM fields, including engineering, geoscience, computer science, physics, astronomy, math, and chemistry. During the program, you will join a Stony Brook University research team and contribute to a research project, learning how to collect and analyze data, use lab tools, and document your work. You will engage in faculty talks to learn about STEM fields and attend workshops to refine your research skills. You will submit and present a research abstract and poster at the end of the program.

13. Biorocket Research Internship Program @ Genspace

Biorocket is a research internship at Genspace, a community biology lab in Brooklyn, where you get to conduct original research in genetic engineering and molecular biology. Working under the guidance of scientist mentors, you will design and carry out an independent research project using techniques in genetic engineering and molecular biology. Lab tours and visits to biotech companies are part of the program, offering you direct exposure to how research is conducted across different settings. Science communication is also a core part of the program, which offers opportunities to share your work with peers and family members.

14. Idaho National Laboratory Internship

This program lets you work on active research at a national laboratory, gaining exposure to energy, security, and advanced science work. During the program, you will be matched with scientists or engineers and contribute to ongoing research projects in fields such as nuclear energy, cybersecurity, and environmental systems. You will work within established research teams, engaging in project-based tasks while observing how laboratory research is structured and carried out. The internship includes mentorship, exposure to laboratory operations, and opportunities to present your work at the end of the program.

15. New York Historical’s Student Historian Internship Program

The Student Historian Internship Program is a paid, in-person internship at The New York Historical, where you will conduct historical research and produce a digital project that serves as a public educational resource. The work is organized around a specific historical theme, and your research will be grounded within that framework. You will work with the museum’s archives, library, and collections to examine primary sources and engage in reading and writing throughout the program. Sessions with professional staff will introduce you to fields such as public history, archival research, and digital humanities. 

One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program

If you are looking for a competitive mentored STEM research program in an area of your choice, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!

Image Source: University of Georgia