15 Internships for High School Students in Houston
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 11 min read
Looking for a way to get some work experience before college? Then, internships are worth considering. Interning in high school helps you build professional skills, explore career paths, and strengthen your resume while building valuable industry connections. As an intern, you will get to explore a subject area of choice, work on tasks and projects, and/or shadow or work alongside professionals.
In Houston, you can find many internships in various subject areas and interests, including healthcare, energy, research, and technology. Offered by top institutions such as the University of Texas, these experiences can help you prepare for future career paths and even academics. Whether you are a local or a non-Houston resident, you can benefit from these programs and find one that suits your needs.
To help you get started, we have listed 15 internships for high school students in Houston.
15 Internships for High School Students in Houston
Location: Various sites across the U.S., including in and around Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided, but it varies from location to location.
Dates: Start and end dates vary from location to location
Application deadline: None, applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents | Additional requirements vary by location
AEOP summer internships are opportunities to work in U.S. Army Research Laboratories or university research labs and contribute to research that addresses national challenges. You will engage in U.S. Army-sponsored STEM research and join a community of peers for ongoing support, virtual office hours, webinars, and workshops. The program will offer you access to experts from the Department of Defense, academia, and industry. It also provides an opportunity to explore DoD STEM research and careers and gain valuable work experience in state-of-the-art labs. While the tasks vary based on the site you choose, you may work on tasks in areas like AI/ML, energy/power, cybersecurity, biology, and materials science, under expert supervision and mentorship.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid is offered.
Dates: Varying start and end dates for each cohort (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter)
Application deadline: Varies depending on the chosen cohort | Winter: November; Spring: January; Fall: September; Summer: May
Eligibility: High school students, undergrads, and gap year students who can work for 10 to 20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective virtual program for high school students interested in getting some real-world work experience with fast-growing start-ups. These start-ups operate in a range of industries, including tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. As an intern, you will work closely with company managers and a dedicated Ladder Coach on real projects, and at the end of the program, you get to present your work to the company. Most of the start-ups in the program have raised over a million dollars in funding. You can explore internship options and areas on the application form.
Location: MohanLab University of Houston, Science & Engineering Research Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
MohanLab’s high school internships are meant for students interested in biomedicine, bioengineering, and other health-related fields. The program starts with one to two weeks of instruction on basic lab techniques, after which you will engage in bench research, working closely with a scientist or graduate student. You can also choose to continue research even after the summer internship ends, using the extended opportunity to complete your manuscript and data analysis. The program ends with the presentation of research findings. Your work may be submitted to research publications. You can check out past intern experiences and project details here.
Location: Various nonprofits in Houston, TX + a summit in Washington, D.C.
Stipend: A stipend is offered
Dates: 8 weeks during the summer, including the summit from July 21 – 26
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with U.S. work authorization and permanent residence in one of the eligible locations
The Student Leaders Program offers high schoolers eight-week paid internships at local nonprofits. You will gain hands-on experience in community service and pick up leadership skills by engaging with groups like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America or Habitat for Humanity. During the program, you will also attend a fully funded week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you get to meet students from across the country and learn how nonprofits, businesses, and government work together to solve local issues. This is a selective program, with only about 300 students around the country accepted each year, making it a competitive opportunity. The experience can also offer you insights into the daily operations of nonprofits, professional work environments, and community service and engagement.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: A stipend of up to $6,800 is offered
Dates: 10-week internship in the summer
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are 18 years or older; applicants should be first-generation college students, with disabilities, and/or belong to backgrounds that are economically disadvantaged and educationally disadvantaged
The UPWARDS program is a 10-week research training program for high school students and undergraduates. During the program, you will get to engage in lab-based research alongside a faculty mentor. You will also engage in coursework and undergo training to be better equipped for future academics and career opportunities. The program also offers access to seminars, lectures, and career development sessions. The program will end with a poster session, where you get to present your work with peers and faculty members. This experience can help you get early exposure to the research process and environment.
Location: Virtual and in-person opportunities available in Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Most interns get stipends based on their academic level and session length
Dates: The exact dates vary for each internship—Spring: Mid-January – early May | Summer: Late May/early June – August | Fall: Late August/early September – mid-December/January
Application deadline: Spring: September 12 | Summer: February 27 | Fall: May 22
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 and have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) provides remote and in-person internships to high schoolers. You can look for available opportunities here. As an intern, you will get some hands-on work experience and opportunities to learn from NASA research scientists and engineers. Each internship typically involves work on a project. You may get to design experiments, assess data crucial to NASA’s missions, and/or help the researchers and engineers develop new technologies. You can also choose to work on administrative or business-related tasks. This experience can help you get some insight into NASA's work and develop professional and technical skills.
Location: Virtual + possible in-person activities at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid
Dates: Course: Late October – April | Summer opportunities: June and July
Application deadline: Early October.
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens and Texas residents
Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) is a year-long STEM program for Texas high school juniors, designed in partnership with NASA. While it isn’t a traditional internship, this free program offers internship-like experiences and hands-on activities to participants. It begins in the fall with a four-month online course focused on space exploration, Earth science, technology, and aeronautics. During the school year, you will engage in fun, interactive lessons, including design challenges, quizzes, writing assignments, and virtual chats with NASA scientists and engineers. If you are one of the top-performing students, you will be invited to a special five-day virtual summer experience called Moonshot.
Location: Various sites in Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a stipend is offered
Dates: June 10 – August 2
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Academically advanced high school juniors and seniors from at-risk schools
The CIS Committee, in partnership with Communities In Schools of Houston (CIS), offers summer internships in the legal field to students from at-risk schools. This paid, eight-week internship allows you to work at a law firm and gain valuable insights into the legal profession. Along with hands-on experience, you will receive mentoring and participate in enrichment programs. For instance, you also get to participate in a mock trial, for which you will undergo prep sessions led by an attorney. You may also get to visit law university campuses to explore the programs they offer.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800 for 10-week participation and $6,120 for nine-week engagement
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Texas who are 18 or older at the start of the program
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences, held at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, is a 10-week internship. It offers up to 10 Texas students the chance to engage in hands-on research experiences in biomedical disciplines. This internship can also offer you a sneak peek into the life of a biomedical researcher. During the program, you will work in the MD Anderson labs five days a week, gaining insights into scientific investigation. You will also get to attend seminars, where faculty members discuss research topics. Hands-on activities like writing an abstract, poster making, and elevator speech competitions are also key parts of the program. The internship ends with a presentation, where you get to share your experiences with other participants and the programming team.
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid internship for high school students
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 16 or older
The Houston Methodist Summer High School Research Internship provides hands-on experience in medical research and healthcare. You will work alongside undergraduate students on independent projects and receive mentorship in translational research. The program includes lab work and scientific writing training. Career and professional development opportunities are also part of the program. You will also get to attend seminars and lectures. The experience concludes with a research symposium where you will share your research findings with scientists, peers, and staff.
Location: Harris County Attorney’s Office, Houston, TX
Stipend: $15/hour
Dates: July 14 – 25
Application deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Harris County students entering grades 10 to 12 | Preference is given to students from a low-income background, first-generation college students, and/or students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in legal professions
The Summer Legal Academy (SLA) at the Office of the Harris County Attorney is a two-week program for high school students interested in law. The program offers an introduction to the law school application process, legal careers, and different areas of law. Here, you will attend lectures, hear from guest speakers, and meet attorneys and community leaders. The program also conducts mock law school classes, case study analysis, and LSAT logic games. Hosted by Harris County’s civil legal office, SLA offers a firsthand look at what it’s like to study and work in the legal field.
Location: Remote and in-person internships at various sites in Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend is provided, but varies based on the internship
Dates: Varies, but summer internships run from May to August
Application deadline: Variable based on the role selected
Eligibility: High school students
The Baylor College of Medicine Internship Program offers high school students the chance to explore careers in healthcare by working in departments like pediatrics, urology, and medical ethics. You can apply as a Student Helper or Project Intern, depending on your interests. You may offer administrative or laboratory support to the host facility’s staff. For instance, the Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center often looks for high school interns to work within its research labs, administrative, and psychosocial services departments. The program can offer you early exposure to clinical operations, research, and/or administrative work and a real-world understanding of the medical field.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid internship
Dates: 8- to 10-week internship in the summer
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school students in good academic standing who are 18 or older
The DACCPM Summer Research Program is a research and lab training opportunity for high school and college students. You will get to work in laboratory settings and learn lab safety practices and techniques for collecting, assessing, and presenting scientific data. You will also work alongside a faculty mentor on a research project they are currently conducting. You will also get to conduct a literature review to get some information for your project, which could be focused on areas like chemotherapy-induced pain, opioids, perioperative immune function, and cancer recurrence. At the end of the program, you will participate in a symposium and present your work.
Location: Remote internships available for Houston high schoolers
Cost/Stipend: No participation fee; $25 application fee that can be waived
Application deadline: Not specified, but applications are processed in February
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old | Applicants for wet-lab internships should be at least 16 years old
ASSIP is an eight-week research opportunity offered to high schoolers in on-site and remote formats. You will get to work with university researchers on projects and contribute to their research efforts. You can choose a mentor and a research project that will be carried out remotely. Research areas are available across disciplines, including engineering, computer science, finance, math, and biology. This internship can be a chance to explore a field and get some hands-on exposure to the scientific research process. You also have the chance to get your research abstract featured in the university’s student research journal. Apart from project work, you will engage in discussions and meetings to learn about potential career paths in STEM.
Location: Remote
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. high school students over the age of 14 | A background in healthcare is preferable
Stanford’s AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program for high school students. You will get to explore the basics of AI in the context of healthcare and work on solving a real-world medical challenge with the help of AI. You will also have access to mentorship offered by Stanford Student Leads and researchers throughout the program. The program also offers opportunities to engage in group work sessions, social activities, and virtual interactive sessions led by guest speakers from nonprofits, government, academia, and industry. You will also work on a research project, which you can continue engaging in even after the program ends.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are interested in working on an independent research project, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, which are selective virtual high school programs for students founded in partnership with researchers at Oxford and Harvard. In the past, we received over 4,000 applications for 500 spots in the program. You can learn about the program formats on the application form here.
Also, consider checking out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research opportunity for talented, low-income students. In the past, we offered 150 applicants 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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - MD Anderson Cancer Center logo