10 Internships for High School Students in Nebraska
If you are a high school student, internships are a valuable opportunity to explore potential career paths and build new skills. Internships can help you gain practical experience and build professional networks. For high school students in Nebraska, internships offer hands-on experience in fields like engineering, environmental science, and healthcare.
Internships develop essential skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and communication—qualities that can set you apart when applying to competitive universities. An internship can also provide early exposure to professional settings, allowing you to work on real-world projects and build connections that may prove beneficial in future academic or career pursuits.
Here’s a list of 10 internships for high school students in Nebraska, covering fields from AI and tech to biology and public service.
Location: Remote
Cost: $2,490 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: December 15, 2024
Internship Dates: Starting January 5, 2025 (8-week program)
Eligibility: High school students with prior experience in AI/ML or completion of a
The Veritas AI Internship, founded by Harvard graduate students, offers high school students hands-on experience with real-world AI and machine learning projects. Interns work with mentors from top companies like Google and Microsoft on industry projects for VC-backed startups. You can build technical skills, network with professionals, and receive a certificate upon completion, enhancing your resume and college applications. This program offers a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field.
Location: Remote
Cost: $2,490 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: December 3, 2024 for the winter cohort
Internship Dates: December 16, 2024 onwards for the winter cohort
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 connect high school students with high-growth startups in fields ranging from tech and AI to marketing and journalism. Interns work directly with startup leaders and Ladder coaches on impactful projects, gaining skills in communication, time management, and project execution. Past founders include alumni of YCombinator, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. The program also includes one-on-one training and group sessions, making it a solid choice for students seeking entrepreneurial experience.
Location: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Omaha, NE
Cost: The first-year fee is $85, and $40 for succeeding years
Application Deadline: Year-round
Internship Dates: Starts with a kick-off meeting in September every year
Eligibility: High school students
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has volunteer opportunities for students through the Zoo crew, a group that supports the zoo's mission by participating in educational and on-ground programs. This volunteer program provides you with an opportunity to work alongside zookeepers and biologists, helping with animal care, conservation projects, and educational outreach. You will gain hands-on experience in biology, ecology, and environmental science while developing leadership and teamwork skills. The program also includes opportunities to learn about zoo operations and conservation practices.
Location: Various national forests and public lands across the U.S. Region 2 encompasses national forests and grasslands in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and most of South Dakota and Wyoming. Contact Chandra Allred for registration
Cost: Free (participants are paid Federal or state minimum wage)
Application Deadline: Contact Chandra Allred for information
Internship Dates: Summer program lasting 1-3 months
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years old at the start of the program and 18 or younger on the final day; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a valid Social Security Number
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) offers high school students a paid summer experience working on conservation projects in national forests and public lands. You will join a team to complete meaningful projects such as trail construction, invasive species removal, historic building preservation, and wildlife research. This program emphasizes teamwork, environmental stewardship, and professional development. You will gain exposure to green careers and conservation-related college and apprenticeship opportunities as well as network with professionals in natural and cultural resource management. This is an ideal program for students interested in environmental science, outdoor work, and exploring green career paths.
Location: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Cost: Stipend of $12/hour
Application Deadline: March 15, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Internship Dates: 8 weeks session starting from June 3, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Open to select Lincoln-area high school students who will be 16 years or older as of June 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience (NCMN) at the University of Nebraska offers a STEM summer internship program for high school students. You will receive hands-on guidance and training in both experimental and theoretical techniques within STEM labs at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. You can assist in research projects in areas like biology, chemistry, and engineering. The program concludes with a presentation of research findings, allowing you to learn scientific communication skills. Applicants who are accepted into multiple summer research programs will be required to commit exclusively to the NCMN High School Internship if selected.
Location: University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Information Science and Technology, Omaha, NE
Cost: Free (with a stipend)
Application Deadline: March 27, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Internship Dates: June 5 – July 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: High school students
UNO’s High School IT Internship Program offers students hands-on experience in fields like robotics, bioinformatics, software engineering, cybersecurity, and mobile app development. You will work alongside UNO faculty and students on real research and development projects, getting a practical introduction to IT and tech innovation. With a commitment of 20 hours per week, the program includes activities on topics ranging from public health informatics to gaming lab research. The program includes weekly progress reports, a mid-term presentation, and a final project presentation to faculty, giving you a chance to develop both technical and professional skills.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 2025 (exact date TBD)
Internship Dates: June 18 – 30, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program). Join the virtual info session on December 9, 2024, to learn about AIMI’s 2025 Summer Programs
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 and older
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship provides high school students with a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine. You will attend lectures on the fundamentals of AI in healthcare, engage in hands-on group projects, and receive mentorship from Stanford researchers. The program also features guest lectures by leaders in the field, offering insights into cutting-edge applications of AI and machine learning to advance human health.
You will work on group projects to develop innovative AI healthcare solutions and receive a certificate of completion. This virtual program is highly selective, typically accepting 20 interns per cohort. As a free offering from a prestigious institution, it provides valuable experience for students interested in AI and healthcare fields, making it a good addition to your college applications.
Location: Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, and Phoenix, AZ
Cost: Free (with potential for a stipend)
Internship Dates: Summer and part-time projects available during the school year
Application Deadline: Not specified (contact program coordinator for details)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ and undergraduate students with Native American ancestry
The Eppley Institute Cancer Research Internship at UNMC offers high school students an opportunity to participate in community-based cancer research projects. You will work within the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, conducting research that aligns with your interests in cancer biology, public health, or laboratory sciences. You will receive mentorship from experienced researchers and may earn a stipend for your work. The program provides a pathway for you to contribute to impactful cancer research while gaining hands-on experience in a professional lab setting.
Location: University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Cost: No application fee specified; students earn $12/hour, working 20-40 hours per week for up to 8 weeks
Internship Dates: June – August 2025
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Eligibility: Nebraska residents currently in 10th or 11th grade at the time of application
The Young Nebraska Scientists (YNS) Program at UNL offers high school students the chance to participate in advanced scientific research over an 8-week summer internship. Focused on disciplines such as biology, biomechanics, climate science, physics, chemistry, nanoscience, and materials engineering, the program allows you to work closely with UNL scientists on research topics like Emergent Quantum Materials and Technologies (EQUATE), climate science, and animal neurobiology. You will gain hands-on experience with laboratory technology, build essential research skills, and explore complex scientific questions alongside researchers, building a valuable foundation for future STEM careers.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025 session will close in February 2025
Internship Dates: Two-week session in June 2025
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students and recent graduates
The Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship, hosted by the University of Texas Southwestern’s Department of Psychiatry, is a two-week virtual program designed to introduce high school and early college students to diverse careers in mental health. Through interactive sessions led by mental health professionals, you will explore fields like psychotherapy, neuropsychological testing, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, and community psychiatry. The program features clinician-scientists, including licensed clinical social workers, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and psychiatrists, offering insights into their roles and contributions to mental health care. This internship provides a comprehensive look at career opportunities in the mental health field.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.