11 Robotics Internships for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- May 17, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: May 26
The world of mechanics, electronics, artificial intelligence, and technology in general is continuously evolving. If you’re keen to explore modern technology, science, and machines, robotics is a career option you can consider. As the world becomes increasingly tech-savvy, the demand for devices that solve problems and enhance quality of life is also increasing. Whether you want to automate redundant tasks, improve medical systems, explore outer space, or simply build something new, robotics plays a pivotal role.
A robotics internship can help you build practical skills such as coding, mechanical design, and data analysis while honing your communication and professional skills. Additionally, participation in such internships can be a valuable addition to your resume and enhance your college applications. Not to mention, an internship experience can impress future employers, too!
We’ve curated a list of the 11 best robotics internships that you can apply to as a high school student! Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Location: Virtual.
Application deadline: Summer cohort (regular admission 1): April 14 | Summer cohort (regular admission 2): May 12
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year. The summer cohort begins June 3.
Eligibility: High school students who can dedicate 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. These internships are open to undergraduates and gap-year students as well.
Cost: Starting at $1,990. Financial aid is available.
Ladder Internships is a fairly selective program founded by Harvard alumni that pairs high school students with startups and nonprofits globally for remote internships. The program offers options in a broad spectrum of industries, including technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer science, sustainability, business, medicine, and more. As a Ladder intern, you will work on real-world projects and present your work at the end of the program. This program incorporates one-on-one communication and time management training, among other activities, and group discussions with fellow interns. You will be paired with a manager at your organization and also a Ladder coach, who will be your second mentor.
Location: New Haven, CT
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: 6 weeks between June and August (dates TBD).
Eligibility: High school students entering junior or senior year who will be at least 16 years old at the start of the internship.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid.
If you are curious about robotics and/or human social behavior, this internship is ideal for you. The Yale Social Robotics Lab offers high school students the opportunity to participate in special projects for six weeks during the summer. You will work alongside a lead scientist, students, and staff at the lab. This is a highly competitive program that selects students based on their interests, skills, and the current workload in the lab. The internship is an educational opportunity that combines training with learning, developing new skills, and gaining a deeper understanding of concepts through application.
Location: Depending on the project, remote or on-site at one of NASA’s 10 field centers.
Application deadline: July (Fall session) | November (Spring session) | April (Summer session)
Dates: Spring (16 weeks, from mid-January to early May) | Summer (10 weeks, from late May/early June to August) | Fall (16 weeks, from late August/early September to mid-December)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens with a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) who are a full-time student (high school through graduate level) and at least 16 years of age at the time of application.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, interns receive a stipend based on academic level.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships to high school and college-level students to contribute to its mission to advance science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration. The program allows you to gain work experience while working with mentors who are research scientists, engineers, and professionals. Internships may be full-time or part-time and cover a wide range of fields such as space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, robotics, ecology, and so on. As a NASA OSTEM intern, you will get to design experiments, analyze data, and help develop cutting-edge technologies. For tips on how to get a NASA internship as a high schooler, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Lexington, MA
Application deadline: March 22
Dates: July 10 - August 15
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, a local high school rising senior, and be 16 years old before the start date.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend is provided
The Summer High School Internship Program at MIT Lincoln Laboratory offers a unique opportunity for rising seniors in the New England area to explore STEM careers before committing to a specific area of study in college. High school interns are paired with Laboratory staff mentors to complete projects, solve problems, and apply technical and interpersonal skills in a professional environment. You will have access to many of the laboratory’s technical and professional resources. At the end of your project, you will present your work at the laboratory. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Multiple locations, vary from lab to lab.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 17 - August 9
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Cost/Stipend: No cost (but students must cover accommodation and transportation costs).
The Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) offers students the chance to work on NIST research projects. The program is divided into six organizational laboratories that conduct research in a wide variety of physical and engineering sciences. If you’re interested in robotics, we recommend choosing the Engineering or Information Technology Laboratories. Here, your primary focus will be networking and communications, computer security, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and human interaction with computers. As an intern, you will participate in research activities on a wide range of topics such as computer network modeling, biometrics for computer access and security, cryptography, bioinformatics, data mining, machine learning, etc.
Location: There are several lab locations to choose from across the country.
Application deadline: Applications typically open in August and close in November.
Dates: Typically eight weeks (with a possible extension of up to two additional weeks).
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who have completed at least Grade 9, are currently enrolled in high school, and will be 16 years of age or older by the internship start date. Graduating seniors are eligible. Check whether your preferred lab has any other prerequisites.
Cost/Stipend: Stipend for new participants: $4,000 | Returning participant: $4,500.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) places academically talented high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories for eight weeks during the summer. SEAP interns engage with Naval research and technology while receiving mentorship from the country’s top scientists and engineers. Additionally, interns receive expert technical guidance in several areas such as physics, robotics, mathematics, electronics, aerodynamics, material science engineering, and others. SEAP is a highly competitive program with only around 300 placements in over 38 laboratories around the country. If you’re looking to learn about robotics, we recommend you choose a lab accordingly! 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. Transportation, meals, and housing are not provided.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: The program runs in summer, and exact dates vary from location to location.
Eligibility: Current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Check other specific criteria here.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend amount varies by internship location and program duration.
In this program, you will spend your summer in a university research lab or one of the U.S. Army Research Laboratories and Centers. As an intern, you will work one-on-one with a university researcher or Department of Defense (DoD) scientist on research projects using advanced equipment and techniques. The Army-sponsored research you will be a part of addresses the USA’s most significant challenges and helps you hone critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. If you’re interested in robotics, you can choose research options that apply principles of coding, like the ones offered by the University of Pennsylvania. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA (virtual options are available).
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: July 8 - August 4
Eligibility: High school juniors (11th grade) attending school in the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: None
The 4-week Beaver Works Summer Institute is a project-based STEM program featuring workshop-style courses on various subjects. Some of the courses offered in the field of robotics include Remote Sensing for Disaster Response, Serious Games Development with Artificial Intelligence (SGAI), and Unmanned Air System–Synthetic Aperture Radar. For example, Remote Sensing for Disaster Response covers GIS, remote sensing, image processing, network science, and deep learning for emergency management applications. It uses Python to process geospatial data, satellite and aerial imagery, and analyzes networks to prepare, monitor, and respond to disaster situations. The BWSI has generally received solid reviews from alumni. You can check the current course listing here. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Evodyne Robotics Academy, Mountain View, CA, and virtual.
Application deadline: TBA
Dates: Dates are yet to be announced.
Eligibility: Students must be in their junior year, have completed the Genesis Track, and be at least 16 years old.
Cost/Stipend: Neither is disclosed.
This program, conducted by the Evodyne Robotics Academy, focuses on hands-on learning and building technical skills through collaborative projects. As a participant, you will work at Evodyne's Research Lab to help enhance their robots and design and create new ones for educational programs and research-oriented advanced robotics. During the summer break, you will also act as a teaching assistant, as you will know how the robots work and what problems younger students face. If you’re interested in building something unique, consider this internship as it provides in-depth lessons in 3D printing, 3D design, AI, computer vision, and mechatronics, among others!
Location: Danville, VA
Application deadline: TBA
Dates: June 3 or June 10 - July 25
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school graduates with plans to attend college in the fall
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend is provided
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) offers an annual summer internship program that provides students with meaningful job training. The internship program offers leadership development experiences in diverse career fields, including research and data analysis, public relations, human resources, AgTech research, coding and robotics, information technology, and more. Each internship requires 224 hours, with a weekly time commitment of 28 hours, representing an eight-week internship term. For more information, please visit the official website.
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Application deadline: 2nd Monday of the Fall, Spring, or Summer I Terms.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, dates not specified.
Eligibility: High school students as well as undergraduates are eligible.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend is provided.
The Maryland Robotics Center offers high school students the opportunity to participate in the MRC Pathways program through research internships. This is a paid opportunity that provides guidance from MRC faculty. Interns at MRC learn a range of skills, from technical ones such as coding and prototyping to interpersonal skills like teamwork, communication, and collaboration. You will learn about algorithms, sensors and perceptions, and programming languages used to build and control robots. Additionally, you will be a part of field trips to robotics labs, industry sites, and research facilities. These trips provide exposure to the larger robotics community and insights into trends in the robotics industry.
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.
Image Source: NASA logo