15 Prestigious STEM Internships for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- May 9
- 13 min read
If you’re a high schooler interested in STEM, you may be looking for ways to gain hands-on experience beyond the classroom. One option? Internships in STEM!
What are internships in STEM? Why should I go for a prestigious internship?
Prestigious STEM internships for high school students offer exposure to professional environments, advanced research, and mentorship from experts in the field. These opportunities help students develop technical skills, explore career paths, and build meaningful professional connections early on. In particular, online internships offer accessible, flexible options, enabling students from different locations to participate in rigorous experiences without relocation costs.
Below is a curated list of 15 prestigious STEM internships for high school students, selected based on several factors, including prestige, the rigor of the professional experience, selectivity, and opportunities to network with researchers and industry professionals. Each program listed below offers structured mentorship, hands-on projects, and exposure to real-world STEM applications.
Why should I do a STEM internship in high school?
Participating in a STEM internship during high school offers several concrete benefits. First, students gain exposure to professional research environments and develop technical skills that go beyond classroom learning. Many prestigious STEM internships for high school students also provide mentorship from scientists, engineers, and industry professionals, helping students refine academic and career interests. These internships often include collaborative projects, presentations, and professional development workshops, which strengthen communication and teamwork skills.
Additionally, completing a competitive STEM internship demonstrates initiative, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to academic growth. Selective programs can strengthen college applications by showcasing experience with advanced research or technical projects. Students may also gain access to professional networks, recommendation letters, and exposure to emerging STEM fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, aerospace engineering, and environmental science.
15 Prestigious STEM Internships for High School Students
Location: Remote
Cost: Cost varies, depending on program type, with full financial aid available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students | Students should be able to work for 10-20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In this internship program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are, on average, high-growth companies that raise over a million dollars. You will work closely with the start-up's manager on a real-world project and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long with 8 sessions with the company. At the end of the internship, you will receive a letter of completion from the company.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S. (check lab locations here)
Cost | Stipend: No registration fee | A stipend of $4,000 for new participants and $4,500 for returning participants is paid | Sponsoring lab will cover work-related travel expenses, if applicable to the internship role
Program Dates: Typically, between May-end to June-end, with the start date varying based on the lab's schedule (8 weeks, may be extended up to two additional weeks)
Application Deadline: November 1 (applications typically open on August 1)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students who have completed at least Grade 9 | Must be at least 16 years of age on or before the internship start date | Should be U.S. citizens (check here for exceptions to eligibility requirements) | Around 300 students are placed across 38 labs
The Department of Navy (DoN)'s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a STEM-focused Naval research program for academically bright sophomores, juniors, and seniors. You will assist your mentor on a guided research project, with some labs offering job shadowing opportunities with professional researchers. Based on the lab, you will participate in activities outside of the internship work, such as attending a technical meeting or seminar, touring labs, and participating in outreach events. You will build technical and research skills, participate in professional development workshops, and gain networking opportunities with STEM professionals and other interns. At the end of the program, you will present a quad chart that details your summer work.
Location: London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo
Cost: Varies according to program | Financial aid available
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 – 18
Immerse Education's Career Insights Program provides high school students with opportunities to explore STEM careers in major global industry hubs. You will have an immersive project-based learning experience with established companies, attend interactive workshops, and visit offices, factories, and headquarters. You can explore STEM fields such as chemistry, biology, computer science, mathematics, software development, engineering, and more. The program also includes in-person weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and sessions where you will receive personalized feedback on your resume and tips to strengthen your overall profile. You will also present your findings to industry experts at the end of the program. You can find more details about the application here!
Location: AFRL, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), OH
Cost | Stipend: Paid internship
Program Dates: June 8–July 31
Application Deadline: January 10 (applications typically open on November 1)
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or greater | Must be 16 years of age by June 1 | Must be a U.S. citizen (check all program requirements here)
High school juniors and seniors keen to pursue a prestigious STEM internship could consider the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)'s Wright Scholar Research Assistant Program. In this STEM Outreach program, you will explore science and engineering disciplines for 9–10 weeks during the summer. You will be matched with an AFRL mentor based on an area of interest and the mentor's requirements to work on a meaningful research project. You will attend enrichment programs and lectures by prominent scientists and engineers, and tour various engineering/medical facilities. You will gain networking opportunities with universities during campus tours. You will present the project work at the end of the program.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June–August (six weeks in summer)
Application Deadline: Typically early- to mid-December
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old | Limited to 100 students
The MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)'s STEM program organized by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) is a free summer program for competitively selected top-achieving students. You will work in research labs, attend college-level classes led by MIT faculty, and gain insight into current STEM research topics through seminars and interactive lectures. You will collaborate with peers on a research project, mentored by MIT faculty, researchers, and graduate students. You will also participate in educational and other activities and undertake off-campus field trips. At the end of the program, you will make a professional-level presentation of your project's research goals, processes, and results.
Location: UT Center for Space Research, West Pickle Research Center, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 for paid student participation | Free for scholarship recipients | No cost for the virtual component | Travel scholarships are available
Program Dates: May 15–July 3, with varying dates for online modules | July 5–18 is the on-site internship | July 20–21 (SEES Virtual Science Symposium) | Check full schedule here
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores/juniors | Must be age 16 by July 5 | Must be U.S. citizens | Earlier interns at SEES are not eligible
The University of Texas at Austin's STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) is an extremely selective summer program for high school students with a keen interest in STEM. You will complete distance-learning activities online prior to the on-site campus internship. You will work with scientists and engineers to interpret NASA satellite data for their specialized fields, such as remote sensing, astronomy, and more. You will attend weekend events and undertake off-campus field trips, such as to NASA's Johnson Space Center. At the end of the program, you will present your research work to NASA experts, scientists, families, and guests at the SEES Virtual Science Symposium and receive a NASA certificate of completion.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost | Stipend: Free | A $2,000 stipend is paid at the end of the program
Program Dates: June 1–August 14
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Students completing grade 10 or 11 | Must be New York City residents | Must commit to the entire full-time program
NYU Tandon School of Engineering's ARISE Program is a 10-week, free summer program that combines academic coursework with hands-on lab research. Over four weeks, you will participate in lab safety training sessions, attend workshops on expository writing, and receive support for college applications. Coursework includes scientific ethics, engineering concepts, research skills, and more. You will then spend six weeks conducting research in NYU's research labs, assisting faculty and researchers with their projects. You will build connections with industry professionals and scholars. At the end of the program, you will present your research work at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) poster symposium.
Location: CCNY City College of New York, NY
Cost | Stipend: Free with a stipend for participation in both spring and summer components
Program Dates: February 10–May 23 (Spring) | July 6–August 6 (Summer)
Application Deadline: November 20–January 16
Eligibility: New York City public high school students in grade 10/11 during spring (check partnering schools here) | Must have passed at least one of these New York State Regents (NYS) exams with a grade of 66 or better: algebra, algebra II, geometry (check all requirements here) | Limited to 25 students for the spring component and 10 for the summer component
The STEM Research Academy of the City University of New York (CCNY) at City College of New York combines an initial pre-college science course with summer research. In the science course component, you will learn how to conduct a literature search in the library databases, read journalistic articles and other scientific literature, formulate researchable questions, and design experiments. If you are one of the 10 students selected for the summer component, you will participate in a five-week structured internship for which you will be matched with a CUNY/CCNY faculty mentor based on your field of interest. You will present your research work on the CCNY campus and at the New York Science Center for Research and Mentoring (NYSCRM) poster presentation at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). You will earn college credit on receiving a grade of C or better and, on fulfilling all required criteria, may be awarded a $1,575 stipend!
Location: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM (remote option available; check details here)
Cost | Stipend: Salary: $16.89 hourly rate
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts in spring, summer, and fall
Application Deadline: February 13 (Spring) | April 15 (Summer) | September 30 (Fall)
Eligibility: High school second-semester junior at the time of applying and a senior during the internship with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 | Must be attending a high school in New Mexico | Must be 16 years old at the start of the internship
The Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) Internship Program provides high school students with opportunities to gain work experience while exploring STEM and other professional careers. You will be matched with a research project based on your skills and interests, and you can select up to 3 projects in the application. You will intern part-time during the school year and full-time for about 10 weeks during the summer. Earlier cohorts have worked on projects in engineering services, nanotechnology, materials synthesis, energy and natural resources security, and more. You will present your research work at the student symposium hosted by LANL's Student Programs Office at the end of the program.
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD (La Jolla, California location closed)
Cost | Stipend: Hourly rate based on the level of education completed and/or school credit (check compensation rates here)
Program Dates: May–August (occasional internships are available throughout the year)
Application Deadline: Rolling, till the internship post is filled (summer posts typically released in March)
Eligibility: Students enrolled full-time with a 3.0 GPA/B average | Graduates, undergraduates, and educators are also eligible | Must be at least 16 years or older and eligible to work in the U.S. | Additional criteria may apply based on the internship role
The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) Internship Program provides students and educators with opportunities to gain hands-on experience through research projects in the biomedical field. You will receive mentorship from faculty and staff in research areas like bioinformatics, genomic medicine, infectious diseases, and more. You will attend seminars to gain insight into research methods and technologies and participate in professional development workshops to explore career pathways. You will build both soft skills and skills in scientific communication and critical analysis. At the end of the program, you will present your research work at the annual poster symposium.
Location: Maine Space Grant Consortium's host institutions across Maine
Cost | Stipend: Paid internship (an earlier cohort received a $2,200 stipend)
Program Dates: Six weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Maine high school juniors attending a Maine school or are homeschooled with a GPA equivalent of an A | Must be residents of Maine and U.S. citizens | Typically limited to 7–12 students
The Maine Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) High School Internship is a part of the Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS) program, supported by MSGC and NASA. In this six-week paid summer internship, you will gain hands-on experience working on research and technology development at an MSGC affiliate institution. Earlier host institutions included the University of Maine, Pratt & Whitney, and Fairchild Semiconductor. You will participate in experiential learning activities to gain insight into the application of research protocols and processes to projects spanning diverse STEM disciplines. You will gain project-specific skills, as well as time management and collaboration skills.
Location: Lockheed Martin facility at multiple locations across the U.S.
Cost | Stipend: Paid internship (varies by location)
Program Dates: June–August (9+ weeks in the summer)
Application Deadline: Typically in January, with applications open in October
Eligibility: Currently enrolled at a local high school | Must live within commuting distance from a participating Lockheed Martin facility | Must be age 16 at the start of the internship
Lockheed Martin Space's High School Internship Program provides high school students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience alongside aerospace scientists and engineers. You will gain insight into defense technologies and processes through on-the-job training sessions and project work. Earlier cohorts have worked on defense systems, AI algorithms, instruction manuals, and more. You will gain exposure to products and tours of facilities. You will build connections while job-shadowing professional mentors. You will also attend professional development workshops, participate in networking events, and engage in community service. You will gain key skills in time management, work ethic, and problem-solving.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost | Stipend: No tuition fee | $95 non-refundable application fee | Need-based financial aid may be offered if required for program participation
Program Dates: June 22–August 14
Application Deadline: February 1 (applications typically open in November)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors (in 11th or 12th grade at the time of application) | Must be at least 14 by June 21 | Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Stanford University's SHTEM (Science, Humanities, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Program is an unpaid internship that provides high school students with opportunities to gain exposure to research across diverse disciplines, including engineering, biology, psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, and more. You will gain hands-on work experience on a mentored research project in collaboration with Stanford faculty, researchers, and graduate students. Earlier cohorts have worked on Discrete Cube Mathematics, DNA compression, Decision Making in Games, Nanopore Technology, and more. You will enhance communication and collaboration skills, and, for some projects, you may also build technical skills in advanced programming. You will present your work at a Stanford research symposium at the end of the program.
Location: Berkeley Lab main campus (hybrid option may be available for some projects)
Cost | Stipend: A stipend of $500 per week
Program Dates: June 15–July 24
Application Deadline: March 22 (applications typically open on February 2)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 enrolled in public schools within Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties | Should have a GPA of at least 3.5 | Must be at least 16 years old by June 16 (check all criteria here) | Typically 2–3 interns per project
High school students keen to gain hands-on research work experience in STEM could consider the Berkeley Lab's Experiences in Research (EinR) Internship program. Over six weeks in the summer, you will work with peers, mentored by experts, on STEM projects and associated fields such as data science, coding-dependent work, and administration. In case of data science and Python-related projects, you can attend a free bootcamp hosted by the lab staff to gain skills before starting the project. You will attend professional development sessions, career talks, and networking sessions. You will develop professional skills such as scientific communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.
Location: George Mason University, Science and Technology Campus, VA/Fairfax, VA | Remote and hybrid options available for some internships
Cost/Stipend: $1,299 for three college credits with need-based financial aid available/100% waived tuition if on free/reduced lunch at your high school/receive any amount of Pell Grant aid for college | $25 application fee (may be waived based on financial need)
Program Dates: June 18–August 12
Application Deadline: February 15 (applications typically open on December 8)
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students | Should not have graduated from university before or during the internship | Must be 15 years or older by June 18 (16 years or older for wet lab in-person or hybrid internships) | Check all criteria here
George Mason University's Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) provides high school students with in-person, virtual, and hybrid opportunities to gain valuable hands-on research experience using cutting-edge equipment and technologies. Fields of research include forensic science, STEM education, bird populations, nanoscience, robotics, STEM-related entrepreneurship, and more. You will strengthen scientific writing, problem-solving, and communication skills. You will attend synchronous didactic training sessions and get access to institutional resources. You will also explore STEM career choices through discussion forums and meetings with professionals. The program wraps up with a research symposium where you will present your findings to peers and researchers.
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 graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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.
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