Online Research Internships for High School Students
Updated: 2 days ago
TL;DR
This roundup features 13 research internships you can complete remotely, spanning medicine, psychology, AI, computer science, physics, math, and earth science. You'll find free programs like NASA's SEES internship alongside paid options, with several offering need-based financial aid. Eligibility ranges widely, so check grade requirements closely: Stanford AI4ALL admits only current 9th graders, while other programs span sophomore through senior year. Application deadlines span December through May. If you want to work one-on-one with a PhD mentor on a fully individual project, Lumiere's Research Scholar Program is worth a look too.
If you are a high school student interested in research, an online internship lets you work directly with mentors and real data without traveling or paying for housing. The programs below span artificial intelligence, medicine, physics, mathematics, earth science, and engineering, and range from free, rolling-enrollment internships to highly selective university-run cohorts with fixed application windows.
How do you get an online research internship as a high school student?
The right internship typically has a combination of mentorship, a solid output, and a structure that suits you.
Check eligibility requirements: Age and grade cutoffs vary across programs, and you need to check these to figure out which programs you can even apply for. George Mason's ASSIP sets a 15-year-old minimum for remote or computer-lab placements and a 16-year-old minimum for wet-lab tracks, while Stanford's AI4ALL is open only to current 9th graders.
Plan around the deadlines: Check deadlines carefully, because several programs close their next cycle far in advance. Colorado School of Mines gives priority consideration to applications submitted by April 10, even though the program starts in May. It’s best to start your search in the fall, so you’ll have the time to gather transcripts and recommendation letters without rushing.
Highlight research interest in your application: Duke University mentions that they look for applicants who are curious and are motivated to get answers. Therefore, you should try to show your research interest in your applications. This can make you more likely to get into the program you want.
How do online research internships compare to in-person research experience?
Factor | Online | In-person |
Mentor access
| Wide; you could work with a mentor on the other side of the world | Limited to mentors near you or where you are willing to travel |
Time commitment
| One week to several months, often self-paced around your school schedule (EnergyMag's quarter-time track, for example, runs 1 to 9 months at about 8 hours a week) | Typically a fixed multi-week block on campus, with less flexibility to spread the work around other commitments (check options here)
|
Admissions weight
| Evaluated on substance, not setting. A former admissions officer told U.S. News & World Report that extracurriculars matter because they show the qualitative skills a student brings, not where or how the activity took place. | Same standard applies. Setting doesn't change how the work is weighed.
|
Cost | Typically $0 to $4,580 (free options like NASA's SEES program on one end, up to $4,580 for Stanford's Clinical Summer Internship virtual track on the other) | Typically $3,325 to $6,580 in tuition, though NASA's SEES on-site track is free, with housing, meals, and local transportation provided for selected participants |
What skills and benefits do you gain from an online research internship?
You build the same core research skills as an in-person internship: data analysis, academic writing, and working through a problem that doesn't have a known answer yet. You also pick up skills specific to remote work that an in-person placement won't teach you.
You learn to manage a long-term project: Most online research internships check in weekly, not dail. This helps you build the ability to plan your own work between meetings, something that’ll help you with future college coursework.
You build technical skills: Stanford's AIMI Summer Research Internship, for example, teaches applied AI and medical imaging skills that carry over directly into later coursework.
You produce a valuable output: Several programs here help you produce a useful output by the end of the program. EnergyMag leads to a published report, while ASPIRE ends with a project poster. You can then use these in college applications.
Do online research internships help with college applications?
Yes, and the clearest evidence comes from outcomes data. Lumiere's admissions report, drawing on survey data from 492 alumni, found that students who completed a mentored research project done entirely online were roughly four times more likely to be accepted to a top university than the general applicant pool.
Admissions officers evaluate the substance: When evaluating applicants, admissions officers look for the work you’ve done. They consider research ability and the desire to pursue research. As long as you can demonstrate this, whether a program is online or in-person does not matter.
Mentor recommendations are very important: At many of these internships, you’ll have a mentor who supervises your project. When applying for colleges, this mentor can write a detailed, valuable letter of recommendation.
Publication signals credibility: If a program helps you publish your research in a peer-reviewed, reputed journal, it shows that your research held up to those standards. This indicates strong research abilities to admissions officers. However, publication is far from guaranteed even with strong research, so it shouldn't be the only goal you're working toward.
How we selected these programs
We evaluated every program on this list against four criteria, so you know what to expect before committing time or money to a remote internship.
Mentor access and involvement: How much direct one-on-one time you get with the person supervising your work, and whether that person holds an active research or clinical position themselves.
A finished output: Whether you leave with a paper, poster, published report, or presentation, rather than only a certificate of participation.
Transparent cost and fee structure: The full price, including any application fees, plus whether aid or stipends are actually available.
Remote delivery expertise: Whether the program was designed as a virtual experience from the start, with structured check-ins and defined deliverables, rather than scaled down from an in-person track.
Section | Top programs | Cost | Best for |
Medicine, psychology & life sciences | Stanford CNI-X, Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI), Camp Zon (Boston Children's Hospital) | Free - $6,580 | Students drawn to brain science, clinical medicine, or genetics who want real patient- or lab-adjacent exposure |
AI & computer science | Stanford AIMI, Stanford AI4ALL, Colorado School of Mines (CS@Mines), SPARK Summer Mentorship | Free - $1,299 | Students interested in AI, machine learning, or CS research, from 9th-grade entry points to mentor-matched projects |
Physics, math & engineering | Stanford SUMaC, UMD WIE RISE!, EnergyMag Internship | Free - $8,950 | Students drawn to pure math, engineering fundamentals, or energy-sector research |
Earth, space & interdisciplinary research | NASA/UT Austin SEES, ASPIRE (Johns Hopkins APL), George Mason ASSIP | Free - $1,299 | Students interested in earth/space science or defense-adjacent research, including hybrid remote-plus-onsite formats |
Medicine, Psychology & Life Sciences
From brain science to clinical skills to genetics research, these three programs put students directly in front of real patients, data, or lab experiments in the life sciences.
Location: In-person (Stanford campus) or virtual, offered as CNV-X
Cost/Stipend: $3,325 in-person or $1,725 virtual, plus a $50 application fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Estimate: approximately 10%, per third-party sources; not independently published by Stanford
Dates: Two weeks; the 2026 cycle ran in-person July 6 through 17 and July 20 through 31, and virtually June 8 through 19 and June 22 through July 3
Application deadline: Recurring window mid December to March 1; the 2026 cycle (December 15, 2025 through March 1, 2026) is closed
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; must be 16 or older by the program start date
CNI-X introduces neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology through seminars led by Stanford's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences faculty. Students complete a collaborative capstone project proposing a solution to a real mental health challenge. Some units cover sensitive topics like eating disorders and adolescent stress, which the program flags to applicants in advance.
Who it's best for: A student specifically drawn to brain science and mental health who's comfortable with sensitive clinical topics coming up in the curriculum.
Location: On-campus (Stanford) or virtual; a separate, fully online Fall Intensive is also offered
Cost/Stipend: 2026 Summer On-Campus $6,580, Summer Virtual $4,580, plus a $95 application fee; 2026 Fall Intensive $2,480 plus a $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate
Dates: The 2026 Summer Session 1 (in-person) ran July 13 through 24; the Fall Intensive runs 10 weeks, with registration opening May 1, 2026
Application deadline: Summer registration opens November 1 annually; Fall Intensive registration opened May 1, 2026
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors (16 or older), seniors, and undergraduate premed students; a high school biology course is strongly encouraged beforehand
CSI puts students through hands-on clinical skills sessions, including physical exams, differential diagnosis, and guided dissections, across a range of medical specialties, led by Stanford faculty clinicians and current medical and PA students.
Who it's best for: A student set on medicine specifically who wants hands-on clinical skills practice rather than lab-bench research.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Estimate: described as paid, but Zon Lab does not publish a specific dollar amount
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; a small cohort based at Boston Children's Hospital
Dates: Two weeks; the 2026 cohort ran July 6 through 17
Application deadline: 2026 cycle closed (deadline was April 24, 2026)
Eligibility: High school students or rising college freshmen, 16 or older by June 1 of the program year, residing in and attending high school in Massachusetts
Camp Zon has student teams design a real research project studying anemia using zebrafish. The lab performs the students' experiments live, and teams analyze the resulting data and present findings. It's one of the only paid options on this list, and the only one restricted to Massachusetts residents.
Who it's best for: A Massachusetts-based student specifically interested in genetics or hematology research who wants a paid opportunity.
AI & Computer Science
These four programs cover the technical side of STEM, from artificial intelligence and machine learning to hands-on computer science research and team-based mentorship projects.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Estimate: no fee is published on Stanford's current 2027-cycle program page; a recent past cycle charged $850 tuition plus a $40 application fee, but this may not carry forward
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Estimate: around 25 students per year, per consistent third-party and prior-cycle sourcing
Dates: Two weeks, typically mid June; exact 2027 dates aren't announced yet
Application deadline: Summer 2027 cycle opens November 10, 2026, closes February 1, 2027
Eligibility: High school students entering 9th through 12th grade in the fall; must be 14 or older by program start; a recent cycle also required U.S. residency, not reconfirmed for 2027
This virtual program introduces AI's applications in healthcare through technical lectures, a mentored group project, and Lunch and Learn talks with AI and healthcare professionals. Stanford is holding a free virtual info session on November 10, 2026 for prospective 2027 applicants.
Who it's best for: A student with some math or programming background who wants a structured, mentored entry point into health AI specifically.
If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here! Our Review of Stanford's AIMI Program for High School Students
Location: Online or residential (Stanford campus)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition-free; need-based support available for residential travel
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate
Dates: The 2026 cycle ran online June 15 through 26 and residential July 19 through 31
Application deadline: 2026 cycle closed (deadline was February 6, 2026); recurring pattern opens in December, closes early February
Eligibility: Open only to students currently in 9th grade; must be older than 14 and younger than 16 during the program
AI4ALL is co-hosted by Stanford HAI and the Stanford AI Lab specifically to broaden who gets an early start in AI. It's the only program on this list restricted to a single grade, 9th graders only. Students explore computer vision, robotics, medical AI, and natural language processing through lectures, team research projects, and mentorship from AI practitioners.
Who it's best for: A current 9th grader, and only a 9th grader, who wants a free, structured introduction to AI research.
Location: Golden, CO; remote options available depending on track
Cost/Stipend: Research internships are unpaid, though $20/hour scholarships are available this cycle; the Computing for Good track costs $200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Roughly 2 to 4 research interns plus 30 to 50 Computing for Good interns per cycle
Dates: Research internships run late May through early August; Computing for Good runs June 22 through July 28, 2026
Application deadline: Priority consideration for applications submitted by April 10, 2026; final decisions by May 15, 2026
Eligibility: High school and community college students with an interest in computer science; no prior CS training required
CS@Mines offers three distinct tracks through one shared application: faculty-mentored research in areas like AI, robotics, or cybersecurity; Computing for Good, a team programming project with a social-impact focus; and DECTech, a K through 8 STEM outreach role.
Who it's best for: A student who wants to try computer science specifically, choosing between solo faculty-mentored research or a team social-impact project.
Location: Greater Seattle area, WA; individual projects may be in-person, hybrid, or fully remote
Cost/Stipend: Free, volunteer-run; a $25 application fee applied under the program's prior name and structure, current fee not reconfirmed this run
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate
Dates: Annual cycle: project details published in March, student applications in April, mentor matching and selection in May and June
Application deadline: Opens in April annually
Eligibility: High school students, grades 9 through 12; U.S. citizens or permanent residents only, not open to international students; primarily serves the Greater Seattle area
SPARK matches students one on one with industry, university, or nonprofit mentors on a specific project of the student's choosing, with recent topics spanning machine learning, extreme weather modeling, and semiconductor research. The program recently renamed itself from the SPARK Summer Internship Program to the SPARK Summer Mentorship Program, the same organization and mission under a new name.
Who it's best for: A student based in or near Seattle who wants a real mentor-matched project rather than a fixed curriculum.
If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here! 7 Tips to Help You Land an Internship at SPARK SIP
Physics, Math & Engineering
These four programs sit in the harder sciences and engineering, spanning fusion energy, pure mathematics, introductory engineering research, and energy-sector analysis.
Location: Online or residential (Stanford campus)
Cost/Stipend: 2026 tuition: $3,750 online, $8,950 residential; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Estimate: under 6%, per Stanford's own admissions messaging; the residential session admits about 40 students, each online session about 64
Dates: The 2026 cycle ran online Session 1 June 15 through July 3 and online Session 2 July 6 through 24; residential Session 1 ran June 21 through July 17
Application deadline: 2026 cycle closed (deadline was March 13, 2026)
Eligibility: Must be in 10th or 11th grade at time of application; at least 15 during the program
SUMaC is pure mathematical enrichment, not for credit or grade, covering abstract algebra, number theory, or algebraic topology through daily live lectures and a heavy, college-level proof-writing workload.
Who it's best for: A student who has already read and written mathematical proofs and specifically wants pure math, not applied or competition math.
If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here! Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC): 6 Great Reasons to Apply
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $25 for Summer 2026; scholarships available for demonstrated financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; open enrollment, filled to capacity (the 2026 cohort was full)
Dates: One week; the 2026 program ran July 27 through 31, 2026
Application deadline: Closed for 2026; Summer 2027 program information becomes available in January 2027
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th grade students; open to all genders, though designed with women in mind
This webinar-style program introduces a different engineering discipline each day, including aerospace, bioengineering, and materials science, through virtual lab tours and lectures from current Maryland engineering students. It's explicitly not a credit bearing program or a research internship, but an introduction to how engineering research works, including at-home-friendly experiments.
Who it's best for: A student who wants a low cost, one week taste of engineering research rather than a multi-week commitment.
Location: 100% virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free, unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; described as a limited number of spots
Dates: Half-time track (2 to 8 weeks, about 20 hours/week) runs in summer; quarter-time track (1 to 9 months, about 8 hours/week) runs year-round
Application deadline: Rolling, no fixed deadline
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; at least one honors science or English class; GPA of 3.25 or higher
Interns research and analyze a specific renewable-energy company, technology, or market segment with a mentor's guidance, producing a report published on the EnergyMag site under the student's name.
Who it's best for: A student who wants a flexible, self-paced research-and-writing internship they can start almost any time of year.
Earth, Space & Interdisciplinary Research
These four programs range from NASA-mentored Earth and space science to defense-research internships to explicitly interdisciplinary work blending humanities and STEM.
Location: Hybrid: a remote distance-learning component plus an on-site component at UT Austin's Center for Space Research
Cost/Stipend: Free; housing, meals, and local transportation provided for on-site and scholarship participants. UT/CSR notes the program's continuation depends on future funding availability
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Estimate: third-party sources cite figures from roughly 4% to 23% depending on the year and track, too wide a range to state a single confident number
Dates: The 2026 cycle ran remotely June through July 3 and on-site July 5 through 18, with the Science Symposium July 20 and 21
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was February 22, 2026 at 8:00pm PT, with no late applications accepted
Eligibility: High school students, most sourcing points to rising juniors and seniors; must be U.S. citizens
Interns work with NASA, academic, and industry mentors on real mission data, including remote sensing, astronomy, and space geodesy, culminating in a Virtual Science Symposium presentation.
Who it's best for: A student interested in Earth or space science who wants a hybrid remote-plus-on-site NASA research experience rather than something fully virtual.
If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here! The Ultimate Guide to the NASA and UT Austin's SEES Internship
Location: In-person at APL (Laurel, MD) or virtual; residency required in specific Maryland, Virginia, or D.C. counties
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Less than 10%, per APL's own current program page
Dates: Summer session, with an optional academic-year extension from September to May
Application deadline: 2026 cycle closed; notification by May 15; recurring deadline historically mid February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, 15 or older, minimum 2.8 GPA, and residency in specific MD/VA/D.C. counties
ASPIRE pairs students one on one with an APL staff mentor across eight placement areas, including programming, math, engineering, and physical science. Interns finish the program with a digital project poster and can continue into the academic year if both intern and mentor agree.
Who it's best for: A student who lives in one of the eligible MD/VA/D.C. counties and wants prestigious, unpaid defense-research exposure.
If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here! ASPIRE Internship at Johns Hopkins: 8 Reasons to Apply
Location: In-person, hybrid, or remote at George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) and collaborating institutions
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee, waivable for financial need; $1,299 tuition for 3 college credits upon acceptance, also waivable
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Estimate: approximately 10%, per two independent third-party sources; not officially published by George Mason
Dates: 8 weeks; the most recent cohort ran June 18 through August 12, 2026
Application deadline: Opens early December, closes mid February annually; the 2026 cycle (December 8, 2025 through February 15, 2026) is now closed
Eligibility: Remote or computer lab interns must be 15 or older by program start; wet lab in-person or hybrid interns must be 16 or older; no maximum age as long as you haven't yet graduated college
ASSIP pairs high school and community college students one on one with George Mason faculty researchers across dozens of fields, including astronomy, bioengineering, cybersecurity, and neuroscience. Interns earn three college credits from George Mason and can request a scholarship stipend for research placements. The program runs in remote, in-person, or hybrid formats depending on the mentor's lab.
Who it's best for: A student who wants genuine one on one lab mentorship across almost any STEM discipline and doesn't mind paying tuition in exchange for college credit.
If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here! George Mason's ASSIP: Is It Worth It in 2026?
Frequently asked questions: online research internships for high school students
What is the best way to find online research internships for high school students?
The most reliable path is applying to a structured program with a published application process. Programs on this list, like NASA and UT Austin's SEES program or George Mason's ASSIP, publish clear eligibility criteria and deadlines you can plan around. If you want a fully individual, one-on-one project instead of a fixed-curriculum program, Lumiere's Research Scholar Program matches you directly with a PhD mentor.
Do you need to be a certain age to apply for an online research internship?
Yes, age requirements vary by program and can differ even within a single program's tracks. Stanford's AIMI Summer Research Internship requires you to be at least 14 by the program start date, while NASA's SEES program is generally aimed at rising juniors and seniors. George Mason's ASSIP sets separate minimums for its remote and wet-lab tracks, 15 for remote or computer-lab placements and 16 for in-person lab work.
How much do online research internships cost?
Costs on this list range from free to several thousand dollars. NASA and UT Austin's SEES program and EnergyMag's internship are both free, while Stanford's CNI-X runs $1,725 for the virtual track and $3,325 in person. Most programs that charge tuition also offer need-based financial aid, though you typically need to request it separately during or after applying.
How do you balance an online research internship with schoolwork?
Most online research internships are built around a part-time weekly commitment rather than a full-time schedule, which makes balancing them with schoolwork easier. Programs like EnergyMag's internship run at 8 hours a week on the quarter-time track. Building a weekly block for your internship work, the same way you'd schedule a class, helps you avoid falling behind on either commitment.
Can an online research internship lead to a job offer?
It's uncommon at the high school level. However, the skills and mentor relationships you build can lead to further opportunities, like a continued research placement or a recommendation for a later position. Johns Hopkins APL's ASPIRE program, for example, allows interns to continue into the academic year if both the student and mentor agree, which can extend the relationship well past a single summer.
What subjects can you study through an online research internship?
You can pursue subjects across medicine, psychology, artificial intelligence, computer science, physics, mathematics, engineering, and earth or space science, depending on the program you choose. Stanford's Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience and Camp Zon focus on medicine and life sciences, while Colorado School of Mines and SPARK cover computer science and AI.