13 Bay Area Summer Internships for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jan 13
- 9 min read
If you want your summer to move you closer to your career goals, an internship is one of the most practical ways to start. Internships bring you into professional environments where you learn how teams function, how tasks are assigned, and how projects develop over time. You also get a firsthand look at different industries and roles. Being part of a summer internship also gives you something concrete to add to your resume and helps signal to employers that you’re ready to enter the workforce.
What summer internships are available for college students in the Bay Area?
The Bay Area is known for its wide range of companies, from tech firms to research centers to mission-driven organizations, many of which offer summer internships for college students. These programs allow you to explore areas like engineering, business, design, data, and public service while gaining a clearer sense of how projects are executed in workplaces. Choosing a local program in the Bay Area can also help you cut down on travel, housing, and day-to-day expenses, making it easier to focus on the work itself.
To support your search, here’s a list of 13 Bay Area summer internships for college students! If you're looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Ladder’s University Internship Program is an eight-week, remote experience that connects college students and young professionals with fast-growing startups for real project work. You’re matched with a company based on your interests, and your weekly schedule stays light enough, about five to ten hours, to fit alongside classes or other commitments. Depending on your placement, you might build a machine learning model, conduct market research, design a product prototype, or contribute to a go-to-market plan. The work is structured to give you material you can use later on your resume or portfolio. You will work closely with your manager at the startup. Apply here!
Location: San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $6,500. The program covers travel and housing in San Francisco.
Program Dates: June 1 - August 7
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled as undergraduates who will not have graduated before the fall
The California Academy of Sciences’ Summer Systematics Institute gives you a full-time research experience in biodiversity, evolutionary biology, and museum-based science. You begin with a week of field training at Point Reyes Field Station, where you learn natural history methods, basic science communication, and coastal biodiversity monitoring. You then spend nine weeks in Golden Gate Park working at the Academy’s research facility and museum. You conduct an independent research project with guidance from your advisors and take part in lectures, lab exercises, and workshops on molecular techniques, systematics, and global change. You also speak with museum visitors, which helps you practice explaining scientific work to the public. The program concludes with a research symposium where you present your findings.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $36.65–$39.39/hour
Program Dates: May – September
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing degrees related to transportation planning, transportation engineering, or aligned fields; must be based in the Bay Area for the duration of the internship
The SFMTA Planning & Engineering Internship Program offers undergraduates the opportunity to work within one of San Francisco’s largest public agencies responsible for the city’s transportation network. Each year, the program brings in 20–40 students who are placed on planning or engineering teams across divisions such as Streets, Transit, Finance & Information Technology, Taxis, Access & Mobility Services, and the Office of the Chief Strategy Officer. You’ll support teams involved in transportation planning, street design, curb management, transit operations, program delivery, fleet engineering, accessible services, funding strategy, asset management, and facilities work. The scope of assignments typically includes helping design or implement multimodal safety improvements, coordinating with city partners, conducting community outreach, and responding to transportation-related requests from residents.
Location: San Francisco, CA (Head Office) or Los Angeles, CA (Branch Office)
Stipend: Paid internship
Program Dates: May start for semester-system students; June start for quarter-system students
Application Deadline: September 15 - October 10
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate or graduate students graduating between December of the current year and June 2 years from the current year; U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The SF Fed Internship Program provides you with hands-on exposure to the work of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. You’ll contribute to projects across a wide range of departments, including Banking Supervision, Identity Access Management, Economic Research, and Financial Services. Assignments vary by team but generally involve research, analysis, and operational support tied to the economic and financial stability of the region. Across the 10-week paid program, you’ll participate in business seminars, workshops, and an executive speaker series designed to expand your understanding of the Federal Reserve System and build professional skills.
Location: Multiple, including San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid (amount varies by role)
Program Dates: Summer internship, exact dates vary by role
Application Deadline: Varies; requirements are listed in each job description. You can check it out here.
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who meet the role-specific criteria outlined in each posting.
Salesforce’s Futureforce program offers university internships that place you on teams working across product security, internal engagement, systems engineering, program coordination, and product management. The Bay Area–based in-person opportunities include Product Security Engineer, Product Security Risk and Operations Specialist, Program Coordinator, Systems Engineer, and many more. Each position outlines its own eligibility and skill requirements, which you must review in the job descriptions provided by Salesforce. These roles are designed for those interested in contributing to large-scale technology and enterprise systems while gaining hands-on exposure to the workflows inside a major tech company.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Stipend: Paid mentorship program
Program Dates: June - August
Application Deadline: Candidates may submit a Job Interest Card to receive notifications
Eligibility: College students who meet the general qualifications outlined by MTC
The Ann Fitzgerald Flemer College Mentorship Program offers you a paid opportunity to build experience in transportation planning, finance, and operational project work within the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Each mentee is paired with a dedicated mentor who guides the program, helping you refine your career interests while contributing to projects across the agency. You’ll gain exposure to regional planning and transportation processes while working alongside teams responsible for various aspects of Bay Area mobility.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid internship
Program Dates: 12-week summer program
Application Deadline: Applications open November–January
Eligibility: Open to community college, university, and graduate students enrolled in a degree program or recently graduated; applicants must be able to work in person at the Chronicle’s San Francisco office
The San Francisco Chronicle gives you a twelve-week newsroom experience inside a fast-moving digital news operation. You report, design, photograph, and work on audience engagement for both the website and the print edition, and you take part in training sessions alongside your daily assignments. You work with experienced journalists, receive mentorship, and learn how a large newsroom runs in a digital setting. Roles include Audience Intern, Breaking News Reporting Intern, Datebook Intern, Data Reporting Intern, Digital Design/Development Intern, Food + Wine Reporting Intern, Metro Reporting Intern, Sports Reporting Intern, and Visuals Intern.
Location: South San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid, rate varies per role
Program Dates: Summer, varies by role
Application Deadline: Varies by role
Eligibility: Undergraduate students meeting role-specific requirements listed in each Genentech job description
Genentech offers several South San Francisco–based summer internships that give college students the opportunity to contribute to projects in strategy, business development, and finance within one of the Bay Area’s leading biotech companies. The roles include Global Pharma Strategy, Corporate Business Development, and more, each housed at the company’s South San Francisco campus. You’ll engage with teams working across the commercial, business, and scientific ecosystem, supporting projects that align with your assigned business units. Responsibilities vary by role but typically involve analytical work, project support, and contributions to team initiatives.
Location: Oakland, CA
Stipend: $3,000–$4,300
Program Dates: 9-week program, June - August. Check the website for the latest updates.
Application Deadline: Typically early February
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year college, at least 16 years old by June 1, in good academic standing.
The Summer Student Research Program places college students into active biomedical research settings at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland. The program provides full-time, in-person mentorship and project-based learning across clinical and basic science labs. You’ll be paired with a dedicated mentor and participate in a structured curriculum involving weekly seminars, journal clubs, and scientific discussions led by MDs and PhDs from UCSF and partnering health systems. Throughout the nine weeks, you’ll conduct guided research, develop abstracts and proposals, and build skills in scientific reading, analysis, and communication. The experience concludes with a formal research symposium where you’ll present your findings to the scientific community.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Around $15,000
Program Dates: May 31 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduates who will not graduate before the spring; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or students eligible under DACA/AB540; must have completed at least four semesters or six quarters and intend to pursue a PhD in UCSF-aligned life or health science fields.
The UCSF Summer Research Training Program offers undergraduates the chance to conduct graduate-level biomedical research under the mentorship of UCSF faculty. Over ten weeks, you’ll work full-time in labs across the university’s health and life science departments, gaining exposure to experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. In addition to research, you’ll attend weekly seminars and professional development workshops, building both technical skills and an understanding of academic career pathways. Throughout the program, you’ll take part in a range of community activities and social events designed to create a collaborative cohort experience. The summer culminates in a research symposium.
Location: DOE National Laboratories nationwide, including Bay Area labs such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, CA) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (Menlo Park, CA)
Stipend: Usually around $6,000/10 weeks
Program Dates: 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduates at accredited 2-year or 4-year colleges, or recent graduates meeting program criteria.
The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program offers undergraduates the chance to conduct research in the U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories, including major Bay Area research centers such as Berkeley Lab and SLAC. Over the ten-week summer session, you’ll work under the guidance of DOE scientists on research projects that span physics, chemistry, engineering, computing, environmental science, and energy innovation. You’ll gain hands-on experience using advanced facilities, join cohort events, and develop research skills aligned with national laboratory missions. Throughout the program, you’ll attend seminars, professional development workshops, and collaborative meetings while contributing to ongoing laboratory research initiatives.
Location: Multiple locations in the Bay Area
Stipend: Salary determined by the host company
Program Dates: May–August, 10 weeks
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: UC Berkeley undergraduates with sophomore or junior standing, minimum 3.2 GPA, relevant biology/chemistry coursework, lab experience, and authorization to work in the U.S.
The QB3-Berkeley Undergraduate Biotech Internship Program connects UC Berkeley undergraduates with Bay Area biotechnology companies for an immersive, full-time summer research experience. Over the 10 weeks, you’ll join partner companies as a full-time employee, contributing to interdisciplinary projects while learning scientific techniques used in industry settings. Interns have previously been placed at companies such as Abalone Bio, Aralez Bio, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, Correlia Biosystems, Encellin, Nodexus, Valitor, and others, working across therapeutics, diagnostics, synthetic biology, and bioengineering.
Location: Richmond, CA
Stipend: $7,500 to $10,000
Program Dates: 9 to 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Stanford undergraduates, including graduating seniors in Spring Quarter. All majors welcome. Preference for students who have not previously received a Bill Lane Center internship and those returning in the fall.
The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) hosts a summer intern within its Resilient Landscapes Program, a multidisciplinary team focused on ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, and landscape-scale planning across the Bay Area and California. This internship allows you to gain experience in environmental research, geospatial analysis, and applied ecological planning. Depending on ongoing projects and your background, responsibilities may include historical ecology research, urban biodiversity assessments, sea-level rise adaptation planning, multi-benefit stream management studies, or landscape visioning projects in cities around the Bay Area. You’ll contribute through literature reviews, GIS mapping, data analysis, archival research, report writing, and the development of scientific graphics. The role includes meetings with scientists across the 40+ person program, occasional field visits, monitoring activities, and stakeholder workshops.
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 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.
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