If you're a high school student interested in STEM and scientific research, interning at a research lab is a great way to enhance your college applications. These opportunities not only provide you with a practical learning experience but also familiarize you with the subject matter and the skills you need to excel in the field. A lab internship will also allow you to collaborate with professionals and explore scientific disciplines firsthand. 

From conducting experiments to analyzing data, lab internships will help you cultivate your interest in science, hone your skills, and lay the groundwork for future academic and professional endeavors. In this blog, we’ll discuss 10 great lab internships for high school students. Most of these internships are fully funded and provide stipends. Let’s get started!

1. Princeton University’s Science Outreach Laboratory Learning Program

The Laboratory Learning Program is a full-time, free research experience for high school students. It’s tailored for STEM students specializing in engineering or natural sciences. You will have the opportunity to research various topics, including soft robot development, antibiotic discovery, biophysics, and more. If selected, you will work in Princeton’s labs, and the university's faculty and research staff will mentor you. The program dates are flexible and span 5-6 weeks in the summer (no weekend or evening activities). To learn more about this internship, check out our complete guide here.

Location: Princeton, New Jersey

Program dates: Each research opportunity follows a different schedule.

Cost: Free

Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 years or older by June 15, U.S. citizens, Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs), or international students attending a US high school. High school grads below 18 years of age by June 15 can also apply.

Application deadline: March 15th

2. Berkeley Lab’s Experiences in Research (EinR) Internship

A paid internship over 6 weeks, Berkeley’s Experiences in Research (EinR) offers practical learning experiences in STEM. In this program, you will explore research projects with subject matter experts. You'll learn about data science, coding, administration, communication, experimental research, data collection, and more. The main aim of this internship is to help you gain the skills and confidence you need to build a career in STEM. Additionally, joining this program will enable you to develop professional connections with lab mentors at Berkeley. Check out the available internship projects for the summer.

Location: Berkeley, California

Program dates: June 17 - July 26

Cost/Stipend: Free. Students will receive a stipend of $500/week!

Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 years or older by June 17, enrolled in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in Northern California, and have experience in independent work.

Application deadline: April 1

3. ISB’s High School Summer Internship

Through their 8-week-long, paid STEM internship, ISB offers you the chance to work in a lab with professionals, explore biology topics, and apply your learning to a research project. Internship topics include computational biology, microbial interactions, the microbiome, cancer, and more. Every topic is pre-aligned with an ongoing research project at ISB. You will collaborate with mentors and witness the entire research process. While biology is the core of this opportunity, you will also be able to pick up essential skills in other STEM disciplines like math, coding, and engineering. If you qualify for this internship, you can also participate in ISB’s prestigious STEM Leadership Program. 

Location: Seattle, Washington State

Program dates: July 1 - August 23

Cost/Stipend: Free. Students will receive a stipend of $5,000

Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in 11th grade and reside in the United States.

Application deadline: March 15th

4. Boyce Thompson Institute’s High School Research Internship

Boyce Thompson Institute offers a research internship for high school students interested in STEM, specifically science and biology. Their projects encompass advanced topics such as plant science, plant molecular biology, plant biotic interactions, bioinformatics, and other related fields. Spanning 6-7 weeks, BTI’s internship program offers you the chance to explore both lab experiments and fieldwork. You’ll attend weekly seminars with scientists from Cornell, BTI, and the USDA; attend lab meetings; write a research proposal; and more. This will help you develop a skill set that can enhance your resume. To learn about potential projects and their faculty sponsors, check here. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

Location: Ithaca, New York

Program dates: June 25 - August 9

Cost/Stipend: Free. Students receive a stipend of $4,200 (housing and meals not included).

Eligibility: High school students residing in Ithaca who will be 16 years of age and not have graduated by June 25.

Application deadline: March 31

5. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program

NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s ARISE Program is a free research opportunity for 10th and 11th-grade high school students. In this STEM lab research program, you will spend the first 5 weeks in NYU faculty labs, contributing to research objectives under the mentorship of graduate or postdoctoral students. In the remaining 2 weeks of your internship, you will attend workshops, experience college advising, and participate in other activities to prepare for college applications. The internship is designed to help you develop skills in biology, computer science, engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and more. Check the available research opportunities here. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

Location: New York City

Program dates: June 3 - August 9

Cost/Stipend: Free. Students will receive a stipend of $750.

Eligibility: Students residing in New York City and completing 10th or 11th grade in June

Application deadline: March 1, or until spaces are filled

6. Department of Navy’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an eight-week apprenticeship program for high school students interested in naval research. This program is highly selective, with approximately 300 placements in over 38 laboratories nationwide. Because of its association with the US government, it’s highly prestigious. As a participant, you’ll be placed in a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory of your choice to engage in research under the mentorship of scientists and engineers. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

Location: There are several lab locations to choose from across the country. 

Program dates: 8 weeks during the summer (possibility of extending up to 2 weeks)

Cost/Stipend: Free. New participant stipend: $4,000; Returning participant stipend: $4,500

Eligibility: High school students who have finished at least 9th grade, will be 16 years or older by the start of the internship, and are solely US citizens. (Learn about eligibility exceptions here)

Application deadline: Applications open on August 1st and close on November 1st.

7. JBEI’s Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (iCLEM)

iCLEM is a seven-week-long internship opportunity for high school STEM students. If topics such as microbiology, biotechnology, and biofuels interest you, this is an ideal internship to familiarize yourself with them. iCLEM is targeted toward students from socially underrepresented, low-income backgrounds. If selected, you will get the chance to intern at the prestigious Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) labs. You will also go on field trips and participate in workshops under the guidance of scientists and experts. 

Location: JBEI Laboratories, Emeryville, CA

Program dates: June 14 - July 26

Cost/Stipend: Free. Students will receive a stipend of $3,000!

Eligibility: Applicants must be 15 years or older by December 31; be enrolled in a high school in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco Counties; be a US citizen/permanent resident/DACA recipient; have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and have passed Algebra 1 and Biology; see income details here

Application deadline: March 17

8. SUNY Oneonta’s Biological Field Station Internships for High School Students

SUNY Oneonta offers 9-week summer research internships for New York State residents. SUNY Oneonta internships are highly selective, with only 1-3 positions available for high school students (with one place awarded to a resident of Otsego County, NY). During the internship, you will assist faculty and staff at the BFS central lab with their research projects or work on your own research project. You will engage in fieldwork, laboratory analyses, data analysis, and writing. You can view previous publications here! The program concludes with you producing a poster to display your research findings to your mentor, BSF faculty, and other interns.

Location: SUNY Oneonta campus, Buffalo, NY

Program dates: Late May-August (9 weeks)

Cost/Stipend: Free. Students will receive a stipend of $3,000! 

Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or above with an academic background in environmental or natural sciences.

Application deadline: April 12

9. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) Internship

This program offers the opportunity to work one-on-one with a university researcher or a Department of Defense (DoD) scientist mentor on research projects. As an intern, you will be exposed to high-tech equipment and techniques. The Army-sponsored research that you will be a part of addresses the USA’s biggest challenges. The program aims to hone critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills to prepare you for a career in STEM. This program is conducted at the US Army’s Research Labs and Centers across the country. You can check all the available opportunities here. Being a part of this program will also make you eligible to attend their webinars and workshops. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.  

Location: There are AEOP locations in almost every state. Students may select their preferred location. The program is intended for commuters.

Program dates: Varies depending on the internship opportunity

Cost/Stipend: Free. Students will receive an educational stipend.

Eligibility: High school students and US citizens/permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements may apply based on application location. Check details here.

Application deadline: Based on the specific state you’re applying from. Most applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

10. Salk Institute’s Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program

The Salk Institute’s Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars program is an eight-week paid internship opportunity for high school students to gain experience performing scientific research. You will develop skill sets needed for careers in STEM and receive mentorship from Salk scientists. As a Salk intern, you will contribute to research projects and learn about wet lab techniques, bioinformatics, data analysis, and science communication through seminars. You’ll get an inside look at the Salk Institute’s research, community, and culture. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to network with fellow students and mentors at Salk.

Location: San Diego, California

Program dates: June 17 - August 9

Cost/Stipend: Free. Students will receive stipends! 

Eligibility: San Diego County residents who will be 16 years or older by June 17, have completed at least one year of high school-level chemistry and biology with a minimum grade point average of 2.75, and have a work permit from their school.

Application deadline: April 5

Another option — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program!

If you are looking to start your research journey with 1–1 mentorship from a top Ph.D. scholar in a STEM field, check out the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. 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.

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.

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