Technology internships can help you move beyond the classroom and see how technical work happens in real organizations. Depending on the program, you may explore areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics, software development, artificial intelligence, biomedical research, engineering design, IT infrastructure, or digital media. Many technology internships also include mentorship, project-based work, professional development sessions, and opportunities to present your findings or contribute to ongoing team tasks. As a high school student, this kind of experience is especially valuable as it helps you test different career paths before committing to a college major.
Why should you spend time in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a growing mix of universities, research institutes, government agencies, healthcare systems, and technology companies that offer solid tech internships for high school students. The Research Triangle region, which includes Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, is especially known for its concentration of STEM opportunities, with institutions like Duke University, RTI International, NIEHS, and major tech employers nearby. This means, as a North Carolina high school student, you’ll have access to internships that connect technology with fields such as public service, biomedical research, environmental science, open-source software, and data-driven healthcare. You’ll also get to build practical skills in programming, data analysis, research methods, technical communication, and workplace collaboration.
Here are 15 technology internships for high school students in North Carolina that stand out for their relevance, mentorship, and exposure to real-world STEM work.
You can also check out these guides on technology competitions and online coding programs for high school students!
Key Takeaways
- North Carolina’s technology internships span government agencies, university research labs, biomedical institutions, and private tech companies, giving high school students exposure to fields like cybersecurity, AI, regenerative medicine, and software development
- Several internships offer competitive stipends, including NIEHS SIP ($2,530–$2,840), Duke STAR Program ($4,000), and NCDIT Future Technologist Internship ($20/hour), making technical experience financially accessible
- The Research Triangle region’s concentration of institutions, including Duke, RTI International, and NIEHS, gives North Carolina students unusually direct access to internships connecting technology with public health, environmental science, and biomedical research
- Several programs, including Stanford AIMI, EDIT AI, ASSIP, and NASA SEES, are fully virtual, expanding access for students outside the Research Triangle area
- If you want to take your technical interests further with an independent, mentored research project, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs offers a longer-format complement to these internships
15 Technology Internships for High School Students in North Carolina
1. NCDIT Future Technologist Internship
Location: N.C. Department of Information Technology, Raleigh, NC
Stipend: $20/hour
Dates: Summer (June – August) + fall, winter cohorts
Application Deadline: February 13 (summer); June 22 (fall – winter)
Eligibility: High school students or residents with limited IT experience
The NCDIT Future Technologist Internship introduces you to how technology supports public services across North Carolina. As an intern, you’ll gain hands-on exposure to areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics, infrastructure management, and digital operations within a state government setting. You’ll work under the guidance of experienced professionals who will help you build workplace readiness along with basic technical skills. Depending on the role, your tasks may involve supporting internal systems, learning how data is used in public-sector decision-making, or observing how digital services are maintained. The program also helps you see how technology careers can exist beyond private companies, especially in government and civic infrastructure.
2. DukeREP Engineering Research Program
Location: Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, Durham, NC
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: November 21 – February 15
Eligibility: North Carolina rising high school juniors and seniors (16+)
DukeREP places you inside a university engineering research environment where you’ll work alongside faculty, graduate students, and lab teams. Depending on your assigned lab, your project may connect to biomedical engineering, robotics, renewable energy, computational modeling, or another active engineering field. The program helps you understand how technical research moves from a broad question to experiment design, testing, analysis, and interpretation. You’ll also develop familiarity with lab expectations, safety practices, and the collaborative routines that shape university-level research. Weekly seminars and professional development sessions add context around college preparation, STEM pathways, and engineering careers.
3. Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics (SVSM)
Location: Appalachian State University, East Carolina University (ECU), UNC Charlotte, and UNC Wilmington (UNCW)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Varies by campus
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: North Carolina rising high school juniors and seniors
Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics gives you a residential college-campus experience built around STEM research and advanced problem-solving. You’ll work in small groups on a faculty-guided research project, which may involve fields such as ethical data science, nanoscale science, environmental monitoring technology, maritime cybersecurity, biology, or applied mathematics. Before beginning the campus experience, you will attend a research-prep component that helps you understand how to read scientific papers and approach academic research more independently. Once on campus, you’ll learn how researchers define a problem, gather evidence, analyze results, and communicate findings clearly. Many projects will require you to divide tasks, compare ideas, and troubleshoot as a team. Campus life activities further help you connect with other students who share strong interests in science and technology.
4. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: NIH campuses nationwide, including Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: High school seniors (enrolled at least half-time as a senior in high school at the time of application) who are 18 years old and enrolled in an accredited institution; Must live within 40 miles of the NIH campus
The NIH Summer Internship Program gives high school seniors the chance to work in a federally funded biomedical research environment, including opportunities connected to computer science, data analysis, and health-related technology. Your work may involve laboratory research, computational biology, psychology, chemistry, or other scientific areas, depending on your mentor and placement. The program places you in active research settings where you will learn through assigned tasks and guided practice. You may attend workshops that introduce scientific methods, research ethics, career pathways, and professional communication. Mentorship is central to the experience, helping you understand how scientists frame questions and contribute to larger projects. Many interns also get to present their work by the end of the program.
5. RTI International Internship Program
Location: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC + Virtual
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Summer and year-round opportunities
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (16+); International students are eligible; however, some opportunities, based on client and project requirements, are only available to U.S. citizens
RTI International’s internship program allows you to explore technology in a professional research organization that works across public health, environmental science, social policy, data science, and information technology. Your responsibilities will depend on the specific project, but you may contribute to organizational or client-facing work that uses research, data, and technical tools to address real-world problems. The program is useful if you want to see how technology supports decision-making outside a traditional classroom or software company setting. You may collaborate with professionals from different disciplines, which can help you understand how technical work connects with policy, communication, and social impact. Some roles may involve data organization, research support, digital systems, or analysis tasks tied to a larger project goal.
6. City of Durham YouthWorks Summer Internship
Location: Various locations in Durham, NC
Stipend: Up to $880+
Dates: 6-8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Durham City or County residents (ages 14-24)
Durham YouthWorks offers an introductory workplace experience where you will be matched with a local employer based on availability and program needs. While placements vary, you may gain exposure to fields such as business, public services, technology, maintenance, office support, or community-based work. If placed in a technology-related role, you may assist with basic IT support, digital tasks, data entry, communications, or other operational projects. The program also includes career-readiness training, which helps you build professional communication, workplace expectations, and problem-solving skills. Supervisors provide guidance as you learn how to manage responsibilities in a real work setting.
7. Red Hat High School Internship
Location: Red Hat, Cary, NC
Stipend: Paid
Dates: July 7 – 18; July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 10 – 28
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors (16+) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0; Must be Raleigh residents
Red Hat’s high school internship gives you a focused look at how an enterprise software company operates, especially within the open-source technology space. You may work on projects connected to software development, IT infrastructure, technical documentation, or technology-focused marketing, depending on the company’s needs and your background. The experience helps you understand how open-source principles shape collaboration, product development, and technical problem-solving. Under the guidance of Red Hat professionals, you will gain exposure to programming, documentation, systems work, or team-based project workflows. The program also includes opportunities to tour the workplace, attend seminars, and learn from career panels.
8. NIEHS Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC
Stipend: Before Graduation: $2,530; After Graduation: $2,840
Dates: 8 weeks (May – September)
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: High school seniors (enrolled at least half-time as a senior in high school at the time of application) who are 18 years old and enrolled in an accredited institution; Must live within 40 miles of the NIH campus
The NIEHS Summer Internship Program connects you with environmental health research that uses advanced laboratory methods, analytical tools, and biomedical technologies. As an intern, you will work under scientific mentors in a research environment focused on how environmental factors affect human health. Technology is central to many projects, meaning you may encounter methods such as molecular analysis, genomics, toxicology tools, computational modeling, or data interpretation. The program also helps you strengthen scientific reading and communication through optional journal clubs and research discussions. By participating in a poster session, you’ll practice explaining technical findings to scientists and peers in a professional format.
9. Duke University Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) Program
Location: Duke University’s Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC
Stipend: $4,000
Dates: June 22 – July 24
Application Deadline: November 17 – January 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Duke STAR Program introduces you to clinical and pharmaceutical research through a structured, mentor-guided project. You’ll begin by exploring scientific literature and identifying a research question related to a medication or therapeutic topic. From there, you’ll work with Duke faculty mentors and a small team to design a hypothesis-driven study, organize methods, and develop a formal research project. The technology connection comes through applied statistics, data analysis, research databases, and the use of evidence to answer clinical questions. You’ll receive guidance from statisticians, clinicians, and a medical writer, which helps you understand both the technical and communication sides of research. The program also includes lectures on topics such as pharmacoepidemiology, antimicrobial therapy, ethics, and medical research methods. By the end, you will have completed a presentation and written a thesis.
10. Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) SREP
Location: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Stipend: None
Dates: Virtual Academy: July 13 – 17; Research Program: June 22 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Eligibility: NC high school students (ages 16-18)
WFIRM’s Summer Research Exposure Program introduces you to regenerative medicine through mentored research, shadowing, and exposure to advanced biomedical technologies. You may explore areas such as tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, biomaterials, and other methods used to study how biological tissues can be repaired or replaced. The program begins with training that helps you understand lab safety, research expectations, and the scientific process. As you work with faculty, students, and staff, you gain a closer look at how engineering, biology, and technology come together in regenerative medicine. Weekly meetings, seminars, and the Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course add context around the field and its career pathways. The team-based environment also helps you practice asking questions, observing research workflows, and communicating scientific ideas.
11. Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Summer Internship
Location: Multiple locations nationwide, including NC
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer (exact dates vary by placement)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school seniors who plan to attend a four-year accredited U.S. college or university and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship gives you exposure to professional work in media, entertainment, business, and technology. Once matched with a partner organization, your role may involve digital media, engineering, web development, technical support, data-related tasks, or business operations. Mentorship is a major part of the experience, with professionals helping you build both career readiness and industry-specific skills. You may also participate in workshops, networking opportunities, and professional development sessions beyond your daily placement. This internship can show how technical skills apply in media companies, communications teams, and digital business environments.
12. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Location: Virtual + On-site at UT Austin, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free (virtual), $2,000 (in-person; scholarships offered); Unpaid
Dates: June – July 21 (virtual internship); More info here
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (16+) who are US citizens; Applicants who have previously participated in an on-site SEES internship are ineligible
The SEES High School Summer Intern Program places you in a national research environment focused on Earth science, space science, aerospace, and data analysis. You’ll begin with virtual coursework that introduces scientific concepts, research expectations, and in some tracks, Python programming. As the internship progresses, you’ll work with NASA, academic, and industry mentors on projects connected to mission data, remote sensing, planetary science, astronomy, Earth systems, or natural hazards. The experience also builds technical skills in data visualization, systems thinking, modeling, and scientific communication. The program concludes with a symposium where you present your research.
13. EDIT AI Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 13 – August 31
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students with a demonstrated ability in computer science
The EDIT AI Summer Internship focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, biomedical research, and clinical problem-solving. You’ll work with complex data types such as pathology images, electronic health records, biomedical text, metagenomic sequences, graphs, or multi-omics datasets. Through workshops, lectures, and mentored research, you will learn how computational tools can be used to detect patterns and support medical investigation. You may use tools such as Python, R, and high-performance computing resources while developing or applying algorithms to research problems. Regular seminars and mentorship help you connect technical methods with real clinical and research questions. By the end of the program, you will present your findings, gaining experience translating advanced computational work into clear, research-focused communication.
14. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $2,400 + $45 application fee (financial aid is available); Unpaid
Dates: June 15 – 26 and July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 20
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (14+) with solid math or computer programming skills, or those who have worked on a healthcare project
Stanford AIMI’s Summer Research Internship introduces you to how artificial intelligence is used in healthcare, especially in medical imaging and clinical decision-making. The program combines lectures, mentored team projects, and hands-on work with healthcare datasets. You will learn core concepts in machine learning, model evaluation, medical imaging AI, clinical applications, and responsible AI use. Working in small groups, you will explore a focused research question with support from Stanford-affiliated mentors and student leads. The “Meet the Expert” sessions add perspective from professionals in academia, healthcare, industry, nonprofits, and government.
15. George Mason University: Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,299 + $25 application fee (financial aid offered); Unpaid
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old (remote internships)
ASSIP gives you the opportunity to join faculty-led research projects in STEM fields with strong technology connections. Depending on your placement, you may explore areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, robotics, computer modeling, software engineering, human-computer interaction, game design, or assistive technology. Your work may involve analyzing datasets, building models, reviewing research, supporting experiments, or developing project materials under mentor guidance. Workshops and regular check-ins help you strengthen writing, presentation, and problem-solving skills as your project develops. A key feature of the program is that some students contribute to research that later appears in journals or conference presentations. The internship concludes with opportunities to present your work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What technology internships are available for high school students in North Carolina?
North Carolina offers technology internships through state government (NCDIT), universities (DukeREP, Duke STAR, Wake Forest WFIRM), federal research institutions (NIH, NIEHS), private companies (Red Hat, RTI International), and city programs (Durham YouthWorks). Virtual options including Stanford AIMI, EDIT AI, ASSIP, and NASA SEES are also accessible to North Carolina students statewide.
Do I need prior technical experience to apply for these internships?
It depends on the program. NCDIT’s Future Technologist Internship is specifically designed for students with limited IT experience. Durham YouthWorks and the Emma Bowen Foundation internship are accessible entry points without requiring strong technical backgrounds. More advanced programs like EDIT AI and Red Hat’s internship expect demonstrated computer science ability or relevant coursework.
Are there paid technology internships for high school students in North Carolina?
Yes. NCDIT pays $20 per hour. NIEHS SIP offers $2,530 to $2,840 depending on graduation status. Duke STAR Program provides a $4,000 stipend. DukeREP, RTI International, Red Hat, and the NIH Summer Internship Program are all paid positions. Durham YouthWorks offers up to $880 or more depending on placement length.
Which North Carolina internships connect technology to healthcare or biomedical research?
NIEHS SIP focuses on environmental health research using genomics, toxicology tools, and computational modeling. Duke STAR Program applies data analysis and research databases to clinical and pharmaceutical questions. Wake Forest WFIRM introduces tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting in regenerative medicine. EDIT AI and Stanford AIMI both apply artificial intelligence specifically to medical imaging, pathology, and clinical data.
Are there free or unpaid technology internships, and are they still worthwhile?
Yes. Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics, NASA SEES, Stanford AIMI, EDIT AI, and ASSIP are unpaid or have no stipend, but they offer strong mentorship, exposure to active research projects, and opportunities to present findings, which can carry real weight for college applications even without compensation.
Which internships are accessible to students outside the Research Triangle area?
RTI International offers virtual opportunities alongside its Research Triangle Park location. Stanford AIMI, EDIT AI, NASA SEES, and George Mason’s ASSIP are all fully virtual, meaning location within North Carolina is not a barrier. The Emma Bowen Foundation internship is available at partner organizations nationwide, including placements in North Carolina.
Is there a way to extend a technology internship experience into a longer, independent research project?
Yes. If you finish an internship and want to go deeper into an independent research question, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs offers a trimester-long, mentored program in subjects spanning technology, data science, and related fields. You’re paired with a professor or PhD scholar and develop a 20-page research paper, which serves as a strong next step for students who want to move from internship-based exposure into producing original research.
When should I apply to technology internships in North Carolina?
Deadlines vary widely. Summer Ventures closes January 5, and Duke STAR Program’s window runs from November through early January. NCDIT’s summer cohort closes February 13, and NIH and NIEHS internships close in February. Stanford AIMI and ASSIP also close in February. Red Hat’s internship closes between March 10 and 28, and Durham YouthWorks closes March 23. RTI International and the Emma Bowen Foundation use rolling admissions. Reviewing program timelines in the fall and applying early to the most competitive and paid internships is strongly recommended.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that allows you to conduct advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!