15 Internships for College Students in Denver, CO
- Stephen Turban
- 13 hours ago
- 13 min read
If you're a college student in Colorado looking to gain professional experience, internships are one of the best ways to do that. They help you develop practical skills, build confidence, and make valuable connections for your future career.
With its growing industries, research hubs, and start-up scene, Denver offers excellent internship opportunities for college students. Whether you're interested in biomedical research, engineering, public health, tech innovation, or criminal justice, there’s an internship in Denver that can help you expand your skills and explore what excites you. In this list of 15 internships for college students in Denver, we’ve focused on programs that stand out for their prestige, practical experience, and networking opportunities. These internships not only enhance your résumé but also let you apply classroom knowledge to projects, gain insight into various career paths, and prepare for graduate school or future jobs.
If you're looking to explore even more competitive opportunities beyond Denver, feel free to check out this set of blogs. For now, let’s explore the best options close to home!
Location: Remote!
Cost: Varies depending on program type | Full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks | Open to undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world. The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that addresses a genuine need of the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!
Location: Aurora and Denver, CO
Stipend: $7,000 plus housing/food/transportation allowances
Dates: June 1-August 7
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents | Students from underrepresented groups in STEM are prioritized
The REU-RGB internship program offers a select number of college students a research and training internship in the biosciences each summer. You’ll be matched with one of 22 mentors, each leading a lab at MSU Denver or CU-Anschutz to pursue a research project in genomic biology. Potential research topics include epigenetic regulation, translational programming, RNA editing, tumor progression, and other related areas. You’ll be trained in bioscience research skills across experimental design, laboratory methodologies, computational analysis, research ethics, and science communications to enhance the quality of your work and prepare for future projects. You’ll additionally have networking opportunities with faculty members and professional researchers, and you will present your work to the cohort at the end of the summer. The program is geared towards preparing students for PhD-level training in biological sciences, so you’ll also receive support in planning for your next academic steps.
Location: CU Anschutz Webb-Waring Center, Aurora, CO
Stipend: Fully funded (stipend + housing + travel coverage)
Dates: 10 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling application review
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students considering a career in medicine and/or medical research | Students at the University of Notre Dame, Princeton, Yale, and Williams are particularly targeted
CUSP offers a 9-week medical research and educational training program for a select group of undergraduates considering a career in medicine or pursuing MD/PhD programs. You’ll begin each day with an educational and networking event, where you’ll meet with faculty members (primarily MD/PhDs) to learn about their research and career evolution. You’ll also speak with current early-stage graduate students to receive near-peer guidance on preparing for the future. During the afternoon, you’ll work on original biomedical research projects under the guidance of a CU mentor, which you’ll present at the internship’s closing ceremony. Other features include tours of the medical school and research facilities, such as the Visible Human Project, the Emergency Department, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. To begin planning for graduate school, you’ll network with the Deans for Admissions for CU Anschutz’s medical school, graduate, and MD/PhD programs to learn about the application process, requirements, and recommendations. A similar year-long program, the Colorado Undergraduate Research in Environmental Health Sciences Program, is also offered by the Webb-Waring Center for six undergraduates attending college in Colorado.
Location: USBR Technical Service Center, Denver, CO
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: 12 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students | Must be U.S. Citizens or Nationals | Background check required
Part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the USBR’s Technical Service Center hosts a yearly Summer Intern Program for students across science, engineering, and economic disciplines, providing real-world support for governmental operations in hydraulics and power. Science students can pursue placements in standard disciplines, such as Biology and Ecology, or explore niche fields, including Geophysics and Hydrology. Engineering options range across Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Materials, and more. If you’re interested in both finance and environmental topics, placements in Economics or Water Asset Management can be strong fits. Your work will vary based on your placement area, but in each internship, you’ll be matched with a working group to support an ongoing project serving the Denver area and U.S. water and power infrastructure at large. Other benefits include weekly professional development sessions, field trips to Reclamation research facilities and sites, and networking events. You’ll finish the internships by presenting your work through a capstone poster or webinar symposium presentation.
Location: University of Colorado Denver School of Public Health, Denver, CO
Stipend: A $2,000 food stipend is provided for each student to cover the cost of meals plus fully-funded tuition, room, and board
Dates: June 22–July 31
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from January through March | The program is capped at around 20 students
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate juniors and seniors, or an early graduate student | Must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents | At least some experience in programming and college-level mathematics, and an interest in data science/biostatistics required
The NIH-funded CoSIBS hosts both undergraduate and graduate students for a summer of research in biostatistics and data science with a public health orientation. You’ll learn how data science methodologies can support disease diagnostics, treatment, and prevention through translational research and a combination of classes, seminars, research projects, and more. You’ll complete coursework, including daily lectures and labs, that develops skills in programming with R and biostatistical modelling, resulting in two transferable credit hours. In seminars, you’ll hear from interdisciplinary researchers across biomedicine and data science on both research developments and career planning skills. Other training areas include research ethics and preparation for a cohort-wide hackathon. For the research portion, you’ll contribute to multiple ongoing projects with University of Colorado faculty and professional researchers, under the guidance of a primary mentor. Prior projects have included evaluating environmental determinants of health by analyzing deep genotyping data and conducting statistical analyses of gut microbiota during weight loss interventions. The program also offers a Summer Fellowship for Undergraduates, which allows students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds to spend four weeks working on biostatistics research before joining the CoSIBS cohort.
Location: Denver District Attorney’s Office, CO
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: Vary by position
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in the criminal justice system
College students interested in fields across law, communications, and policy can consider an internship at Denver’s District Attorney’s Office, which offers flexible-length opportunities throughout the year. In Victim Advocate Internships, you’ll work with a current professional at the DA to help victims understand and proceed through the judicial process. As a communications intern, your work will encompass a range of tasks, including monitoring news coverage, writing public- and media-facing materials, attending court hearings, and more. In Criminal Justice placements, you’ll assist with active investigations by reviewing police reports and evidence, organizing case files, and attending court proceedings. In these roles, you’ll get an inside look at how the prosecution system functions while networking with governmental figures and directly supporting crime victims.
Location: University of Denver, Denver, CO
Stipend: $700/week plus fully-funded housing and $500 in travel support
Dates: 9 weeks from early June to mid-August
Application Deadline: March 1 | Limited to only 10 students | Rolling admissions post deadline if spots remain
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors majoring in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or similar, with demonstrated interest in program subject areas | Minimum GPA of 3.0 | Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
The NSF-funded Power and Energy Systems for Smart Cities internship program gives college students the opportunity to support innovations in sustainable infrastructure through hands-on research. You’ll focus on one or more of eight potential research themes, including Energy Economy, Community Microgrids, Transportation Electrification, and Quantum Computing, completing a research project under the mentorship of a DU mentor. Throughout the internship, you’ll also attend weekly lab meetings, research seminars, professional development workshops, networking events, and field visits to Denver industry sites and labs. You’ll finish the program by writing and presenting a final research report and receive funding to attend a national research conference in the following year.
8. Neuroscience Colorado Research Experience (N-CORE) Summer Research Educational Internship Program
Location: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $5,000
Dates: 8 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (not including graduating seniors) in or from Colorado planning to pursue a career and/or graduate level study in research | Students from underrepresented groups in STEM or socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply
N-CORE is a research training program for students originally from or currently attending college in Colorado with a focus on biomedical neuroscience. You’ll be paired with a Neuroscience faculty member and will work in their lab to complete a research project over the course of eight weeks. You’ll also be mentored by a group of graduate students who focus on preparing you for graduate-level study and building connections within the CU Anschutz research community. In addition to research, you’ll attend a professional development series focused on graduate and medical school preparation, from determining the best-fitting programs for your goals to honing your research skills. You’ll present your work at a cohort-wide symposium at the end of the program. N-CORE provides ongoing support after program completion, including graduate school application counseling and identifying school-year paid research opportunities.
Location: Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO
Stipend: $6,600 plus fully-funded room and board and a travel allowance
Dates: May 19–August 1
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field or rising college freshmen | Must be US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents | International students may apply, but will not be funded | Students from underrepresented groups in engineering are particularly encouraged to apply
ICECRM is an 11-week internship for college students looking to gain advanced research experience in computational materials sciences and informatics. You’ll be paired with both a professor and a graduate student mentor to complete an independent research project. Possible topics range from machine learning to electrolyte chemistry, electronic transport, and other related fields. Your mentors will also provide you with training in data and materials science research methods. The program emphasizes skills in scientific communication, so you’ll also attend workshops on creating effective graphs and figures, developing slide decks, and delivering research presentations. You’ll present your work to the cohort at the end of the internship.
Location: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Dates: May 27–July 25 (20 hours/week)
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students | Accepted students are typically attending school in Colorado, but out-of-state applicants are eligible, too
Designed as a direct pipeline to the CU Anschutz Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Development (CSD) PhD program, the Developing Scholars Program offers research mentorship, academic training, and professional development over the course of nine weeks. You’ll begin the program with a "Bootcamp” training program on advanced topics in cell and molecular biology and research techniques before joining a research project in a CSD lab matching your interests. Outside of the lab, you’ll attend a weekly seminar series focused on topics across biomedicine, clinical applications of lab research, and presentations from graduate students. You’ll also have access to professional development opportunities, including workshops on delivering academic presentations, exploring various careers in biomedical research, and navigating the graduate school application process. You’ll finish the program by presenting your work at a research symposium.
Location: University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $6,000 plus $1,000 for housing and up to $500 for travel (if out-of-state)
Dates: May 31–July 31
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Current undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors (includes graduating seniors) | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients
The CU Cancer REU offers summer research fellowships for students interested in pursuing graduate-level studies in biomedicine and/or attending medical school. You’ll be matched with a Cancer Center mentor and begin the fellowship by developing a report planning the goals and structure of your project before beginning your research. Twice a week, you’ll attend lectures on cancer-related topics, ranging from health disparities in cancer treatment to nuances in researching varied types of cancer. You will also attend a series of clinical workshops to learn how cancer research is translated into actual treatments, with focus topics including molecular diagnostics, experimental therapeutics, personalized medicine, and other related areas. To plan for your next steps after college, you’ll also attend a series of career mentoring discussions, hearing from panels of faculty, post-docs, and scientists on topics including academic trajectories, careers in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, and open Q&As. You’ll finish the program by delivering a presentation on your research findings.
Location: Denver Health, Denver, CO
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: One full academic year
Application Deadline: Rolling application review beginning in January
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, or Regis University enrolled in a pre-health or health sciences program with a minimum GPA of 2.8 | Must have completed at least 15 credit hours | Admitted students are typically first-generation college students and come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds
Denver Health offers college students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare the opportunity to gain direct experience in a professional setting. You’ll shadow a Denver Health doctor or healthcare professional in your intended practice area, who will also serve as your program mentor. You’ll gaining exposure to patient-facing medical treatment protocols. To expand your medical knowledge, you’ll also attend weekly seminars, lectures, and workshops, leading to one transferable college course credit. Professional development features include networking events with Denver Health treatment providers, guidance on discerning career paths in healthcare and medicine, and support in planning for post-graduate degree programs.
Location: CBI locations in Denver, Arvada, Greeley, Pueblo, or Grand Junction, CO
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: June-August (Summer) or September-November (Fall) | Exact dates vary | Must be at least 7 weeks
Application Deadline: Mid-January
Eligibility: Current undergraduate or graduate students, or recent graduates | Recommended majors include biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and forensic science | Background investigation required
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation offers STEM students interested in the criminal justice system and forensic research the opportunity to pursue semester- or summer-long internships. You’ll work in a CBI lab completing research supporting criminal investigations, with the ability to analyze evidence in areas across DNA & Serology, Firearms, Toxicology, Latent Prints, and more. While your lab may have a specific focus area, you’ll be encouraged to explore work across disciplines and support multiple forensic research areas within your assigned case. Your experience can differ significantly based on your primary project; however, all work is directed toward building scientific evidence for a criminal prosecution or acquittal. You’ll develop your career through making connections within a governmental agency, honing your laboratory research skills, and demonstrating your ability to work in an advanced, high-stakes environment.
Location: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $35,000 plus $5,000 for health insurance, tuition remission for courses taken during the program, and funded travel to a scientific conference
Dates: One year beginning June 1
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Recent college graduates (no more than 36 months post-graduation by program start date) | Recent master’s graduates are eligible if they have completed their bachelor’s within 36 months of program start | Must be intending to pursue a career in biomedical research and enroll in a PhD or MD-PhD program following PIKE-PREP
College seniors seeking to gain additional research experience before pursuing a graduate degree in biomedicine can consider the PIKE-PREP program, a year-long internship offering opportunities in research, professional development, and academics. You’ll start the program by developing a personalized plan for your research and development goals, alongside a combination of networking and research facility tours. In the fall and winter, you’ll focus intensively on mentored research, supplementing your work with academic programming including journal clubs, seminars on your research area, and a course in biostatistics. You can opt into additional undergraduate and graduate school courses to boost your transcript. You’ll receive guidance on graduate program applications as well, and attend a graduate recruitment event for CU Anschutz’s PhD and MD/PhD programs. By the end of the internship, you’ll complete your research project and attend or present at a national conference.
Location: University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO
Stipend: $14,340/year (must be applied to tuition), funded travel to academic conferences, and funding for summer research internships
Dates: Application opens every spring semester (2-3 years)
Application Deadline: Late March
Eligibility: Honors-level CU-Denver students who are rising sophomores or juniors and planning to pursue a PhD and career in behavioral or biomedical sciences
Designed to motivate students to pursue PhDs and research careers in biomedical and behavioral sciences, the MARC U-STAR academic and internship program provides up to three years of funded support and research opportunities for CU Denver students. During the year, you’ll have access to supplemental coursework in research design, ethics, and methodologies, including professional development opportunities like touring local research facilities, mentored exploration of potential research graduate schools, and lab rotations. You’ll work with a personal mentor to learn skills in writing and presenting research papers, developing academic CVs, and more. In the summers before your junior and senior years, you’ll undertake two fully-funded research internships tailored to your academic interests and goals; the first of which must be in Denver, and the second granting the ability to remain in Denver or work at a Research University or Institute in locations across the U.S.
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, check out students’ reviews of the program here and 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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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