8 Machine Learning (ML) Internships for High School Students
In the competitive landscape of college admissions, it is crucial for high school students to find a way to distinguish themselves. Internships are a great way of doing this as they offer a gateway to real-world experiences that aren’t found within classrooms. For those interested in machine learning, internships can set an early foundation for a complex topic such as this one and give you a headstart on a career in tech. Machine learning internships also generally offer the chance to work alongside industry experts and build a valuable network.
Along with getting hands-on experience and learning essential skills, these programs also enhance problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaborative abilities. In this article, we'll explore 8 machine learning internships specifically designed for high school students.
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years of age
Program dates: 5-6 weeks during the summer (depends on the specific project)
Location: Princeton University
Stipend: None
The summer internship offered by Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program is a full time, research experience for students in high school. As a participant, you will get to work on a specific research opportunity in either engineering or natural sciences, while being mentored by Princeton faculty and research staff. The roster of research projects for 2024 includes three options involving machine learning — machine learning of smart polymeric materials, using machine learning to navigate ocean currents, and machine learning for green power generation and propulsion.
Considering this, you can expect future iterations of the program to also include projects related to machine learning. You will culminate the program by submitting a 2-page research report. On the downside, the program usually receives over 700 applications, so it can be quite difficult to get into. Additionally, keep in mind that this internship is a commuter program and the university does not offer housing, making it more suitable for students living in the area.
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
Eligibility: High school students who are over the age of 14
Program dates: June 17, 2024 – June 28, 2024
Location: Virtual
Stipend: None
If you are interested in the application of AI and machine learning in the field of medicine and healthcare, consider this research internship. The program will include lectures on the fundamentals of AI in healthcare, mentoring by Stanford researchers, guest lectures, and group projects involving hands-on work. During the internship, you will focus on developing innovative AI solutions to advance human health, which would include several aspects of machine learning. The program doesn’t offer any academic credit but you will receive a certificate of completion. As a virtual program that is offered by a prestigious institution, this program is a solid choice for those who can’t travel or leave their homes. Although, each cohort usually accepts 20 interns so the process can be quite selective.
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines through the year (Fall deadline on August 27, 2023)
Eligibility: All high school students
Program dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts through the year
Location: Virtual
Fee: $1,990
Financial assistance: Full financial aid is available
Ladder Internships is a selective virtual internship program for high school students to work on real-world projects with top startups. The program offers you 1-on-1 guidance and support from managers while working on a real-world project. Machine learning and AI is one of the program’s available research fields and one of the previous students worked on creating an ML model to boost a company’s subscriber base. You will be expected to commit about 5-10 hours per week and leave the program with a letter of completion. Since this is a virtual program, it’s best suited to those who don’t have the means of travel to attend in-person internships. You can learn more about the program here.
Application deadline: First week of February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who have a minimum GPA of 3.0
Program dates: 8-week program from June to August (exact dates may vary)
Location: NIST campus in either Boulder, CO or Gaithersburg, MD
Stipend: None
Organized by the National Institute of Standard and Technology (an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce), this program is a research-based internship. As an intern, you get to work on a research project at one of six NIST laboratories and be mentored by a NIST scientist. You can opt for the Information Technology Laboratory which includes machine learning along with topics like computer network modeling, cryptography, data mining, information visualization, and more. This program is a great way to get hands-on experience in the field of technology. You can go through a few of the previous topics here to get a better idea!
Application deadline: February 11, 2024
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
Program dates: June 18, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Location: Remote, hybrid and in-person (at the university) options available, depending on mentor
Stipend: None, $25 application fee
George Mason University’s ASSIP is another internship that offers an opportunity to work on a research project under the guidance of a professional mentor. Through your application, you can list 3 mentors of interest, after which you will be paired with one of them. There are several mentors — from the departments of computer science, cyber security engineering, and information sciences and information technology — who have included machine learning in their list of topics. Through the program, you will also develop scientific writing skills and explore STEM careers. You can also go through the previous participants’ work to get an idea of what the research topics can look like.
Application deadline: Deadline is generally in the first few days of February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old
Program dates: Specific dates unavailable. The program usually takes place during the summer.
Location: Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, Maryland
Fee: None, a stipend should be provided
Taking place at the Goddard Space Flight Center, this opportunity allows interns to contribute to research in earth science and climate studies. As an intern, you will study Antarctic clouds and blowing snow and their interaction with the surface using observations from NASA satellites. Big data analysis and machine learning techniques form a key part of this process. Needless to say, a NASA internship at the Goddard Space Flight Center is a highly prestigious opportunity and would give your academic profile a boost. However, the internship is also open to undergraduate and graduate students so you can expect it to be quite competitive.
Application deadline: The deadline is generally during the second half of March
Eligibility: Graduated high school seniors who are at least 16 years old and have completed a pre-calculus or equivalent course. Students must also live within 50 miles of one of the two offices in Washington and Georgia respectively
Program dates: July 8, 2024 – August 2, 2024
Location: Redmond, Washington or Atlanta, Georgia
Stipend: Not specified
Microsoft’s internship may only be open to graduating seniors but it can still make a useful addition to your profile right before you start college or even as an opportunity during a gap year. As an intern, you will work in a team on a project within the design phase of product development. Through hands-on work, you will get exposure to software engineering, UX design, and more which could include elements of machine learning. While the focus may be on areas other than ML, the prestige and credibility of a Microsoft program can make up for the difference. Participants will also receive mentorship from Microsoft employees, build a network, and explore how their interests can lead to a career in tech. You can read our in-depth review of the program here.
Application deadline: March 1, 2024
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who are residents of New York
Program dates: June 3, 2024 – August 9, 2024
Location: New York University
Stipend: $750
Organized by NYU, ARISE is a prestigious opportunity for high schoolers to engage in STEM research. You get to choose your preferred areas of research while applying and later get assigned to a specific lab. One of these is the Machine Learning for Good Laboratory, which looks at using machine learning for social good like detecting diseases or improving fairness in criminal justice. Some of the other available labs also look at machine learning such as the Building Informatics and Visualization Lab, the Privacy and Security Automation Lab, and the Music and Audio Research Lab. The program includes two weeks of remote coursework followed by five weeks of hands-on research in person and a colloquium at the end. Another option for a research program is the Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University.
Bonus - Veritas AI
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
One more option - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’d like to participate in a rigorous research program open to high schoolers, you may want to consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 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 Ph.D. 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: Stanford AIMI logo