15 STEM Internships for High School Students in Chicago
- Stephen Turban
- 4 days ago
- 11 min read
If you are a high school student in Chicago interested in gaining early exposure to STEM fields, a STEM internship can be a great starting point.
Internships in STEM fields can provide you with real-world applications of both core and advanced STEM concepts, which are typically not covered in school. As an intern, you will also explore your field of choice in great detail through training sessions, research work, field work, projects, group-based activities, and/or workshops.
Internships can also help you develop critical professional skills, network with mentors and experts, and get insights into career paths before entering college. A STEM internship also looks impressive on a resume or college application, as it highlights your initiative, curiosity, and commitment to your field of interest.
Chicago is home to many research institutions, hospitals, and tech companies that offer high schoolers access to unique STEM opportunities.
To help you find the right option in the city, we have curated a list of 15 STEM internships for high school students in Chicago. We have prioritized options that are credible, rigorous, and are fully funded or stipend-based.
If you are looking for more prestigious STEM programs/internships for high schoolers, check out this set of blogs!
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students get a stipend of $4,800
Location: Ryerson Laboratory, UChicago Hyde Park, Chicago, IL
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students in Chicago
The DSI Summer Lab is an eight-week research program for high school and undergraduate students. Here, you will work with a mentor on research in fields like biomedical research, climate and energy policy, materials science, computer science, and data science. During the program, you will learn about research methodologies and practices and work on your research. The program also organizes a weekly speaker series where you get to hear from leading data science researchers. You will also engage in social activities and attend professional development and training sessions. The program will end with a symposium, where you get to present a final video discussing your research findings.
Cost: Varies based on programs. Financial assistance is available.
Location: Remote
Dates: Vary based on the internship format and cohort. Typically, multiple eight-week programs are conducted across cohorts throughout the year.
Application deadline: Varies based on the cohort | Regular admissions for the summer cohort close on June 23
Eligibility: High school students, undergrads, and gap-year students who can work for 5 to 10 hours/week for eight weeks
Ladder Internships are virtual opportunities for high schoolers interested in working with startups and nonprofits around the world. While applying, you can choose from various subjects, including STEM-related fields such as technology, environmental science, machine learning, AI, and healthcare. Based on your preferences, you will intern with a company working in the STEM field of choice. As an intern, you will work on your assigned tasks, engage with the host organization’s team, and contribute to real projects relevant to the assigned startup. At the end of the program, you will present your work to the team. Additionally, you will get access to one-on-one training sessions to work on your communication and time management skills, as well as engage in group sessions with other interns. You can learn more about the program on its application form.
Location: Online
Dates: Vary based on the program and cohort. The AI Scholars program lasts 10 weeks, and the AI Fellowship program is conducted over 12 to 15 weeks.
Application deadline: Varies based on the cohort. The upcoming summer cohort’s deadline is May 25.
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI offers multiple programs for high schoolers, including opportunities to work on personalized projects and get 1-on-1 mentorships. The programs have been developed by Harvard graduate students and alumni and are intended for those with an interest in STEM subjects, especially AI and its real-world applications. If you choose the beginner-friendly AI Scholars program, you will work with PhD students from top institutions. Additionally, you will get to learn how to work with Python while exploring topics in machine learning, AI, and data science, like neural networks, natural language processing, and regression. You will also be placed in a small group to work on a project. On the other hand, the AI Fellowship program has a mentorship component to help you come up with a unique project. You can check out projects that past Veritas AI participants have worked on here.
Cost/Stipend: A stipend is offered
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Dates: 6-week program typically from the end of June to early August
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and attend a high school in Chicago
This six-week summer research internship, a collaboration between After School Matters and the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, offers hands-on experience in scientific research. Here, you will engage in a one-week research bootcamp followed by five weeks of laboratory work, dedicating approximately 20 hours every week to the program. This internship is an opportunity to shadow science and engineering professionals and understand how they work in an innovative and collaborative environment. Instead of a 1-on-1 internship, After School Matters has you working with a full team of mentoring PME researchers, providing you access to a broad swathe of experience. The program also covers the basics of research and science communication, helping you understand the research process and present your work.
Cost/Stipend: No fees; a stipend is offered, but the amount varies based on the location and duration of the internship
Location: Various locations in the U.S., including Chicago, IL
Dates: Varies based on the chosen project and site, but most internships are conducted during the summer
Application deadline: None—applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students | Certain sites and projects may have additional requirements.
The AEOP’s High School Internship program is an opportunity to get hands-on STEM-based research experience at no cost. Here, you will get to work on science and engineering projects with university researchers, scientists, and/or Department of Defense staff. As an intern, you will work in a university lab or a U.S. Army Research Lab, assisting with U.S. Army-funded research. While the research requirements can vary based on the lab location you choose, you may get to explore areas like synthetic biology, structural engineering, software engineering, geosciences, materials science, and coastal science and engineering. A key feature of the internship is that you will get to work on and submit an abstract of your research, which will be published in AEOP’s online journal.
Stipend: A stipend of $500/week is offered
Location: Lemont, IL (about 50-minute commute from Chicago)
Dates: Six to eight weeks in the June–August period
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students who are at least 18 and graduating from an Illinois high school in the summer and enrolled to attend a college full-time
Argonne National Laboratory offers internship programs that allow high school students to work alongside world-class scientists. Through the College Bound Research Program, you will get to work with mentors on research projects in a laboratory or office setting alongside engineers and scientists. You will also contribute to scientific discovery, which is a key outcome of the research process, and explore tools and methods crucial to solving problems and analyzing data in the process. The experience can help you explore your interests, the research process, and careers in STEM. You will also get insights into the daily operations and ongoing research work at a national laboratory.
You can continue working on your research with your mentor even after the program ends. You can check out past DSI projects here to know what to expect.
Cost/Stipend: A stipend is offered.
Location: Glencoe, IL (within the commutable distance of Chicago)
Dates: June 24 – August 9
Application deadline: April 16
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors enrolled in a Chicago public school
Chicago Botanic Garden offers environmental science internships through its College First program to high school students in Chicago interested in botany, ecology, or environmental research. During the program, you will attend in-depth courses on college-level environmental science and engage in hands-on research under the guidance of a mentor. Every Friday, you will get to explore local ecosystems. College and career prep sessions, as well as campus visits, are also key program components that can help prepare you for future professional pursuits. The internship goes beyond the seven weeks in the summer, with monthly school-year meetings scheduled to keep you engaged.
Cost/Stipend: A stipend of $500/week is offered
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL (43 minutes away from Chicago, IL)
Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school seniors and recent graduates in Illinois
PRISM is a summer internship for students interested in exploring STEM topics like particle physics, engineering design, quantum science, and artificial intelligence. During the program, you will work on a research project under the guidance of a mentor and share your work with others by presenting an abstract and a poster at the end of the program. Additionally, you will get to connect with Fermilab professionals and explore STEM careers. You will also participate in lectures, engage in hands-on activities, and tour Fermilab’s research facilities. This experience can help you get insights into a particle physics laboratory’s daily operations and the fields of engineering and physical sciences. The program also offers professional development opportunities.
Cost/Stipend: A stipend of $3,000 is awarded
Location: Multiple sites in the University of Illinois, Rush University, and the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL
Dates: Second week of June to the first week of August
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old
The ResearcHStart program is an internship opportunity to learn about and engage in cancer research. This program is selective, accepting just 30 students each year. If selected, you will work in laboratories and get hands-on exposure to fields like bioengineering, biophysics, biochemistry, cancer immunology, pharmacology, cancer disparities, and experimental cancer therapeutics. These concepts are covered through activities as well as a cancer-based faculty lecture series. You will also get to access skill-building and career development sessions during the program. The internship is also an opportunity to get guidance from research professionals and university faculty. The program will end with a research symposium.
Cost/Stipend: A stipend is offered
Location: Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL
Dates: TBA
Application deadline: Varies annually
Eligibility: High school students in Chicago
The Adler Planetarium provides several opportunities for Chicago teens to engage with astronomy. Its summer internship is meant for high schoolers interested in astronomy, cosmology, and those who want to learn the intricacies of managing museums and planetariums. Your work tasks may include creating space visualizations using computers and audiovisual equipment, assisting the museum staff with science writing and design/photography, communication, and social media, and promoting science education. This experience can help you explore technology and other STEM fields and learn online marketing strategies. You will also get to work on teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills as you collaborate with peers and Adler staff.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students get rewards like discounted museum tickets, free museum entry, and volunteer hours
Location: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
Dates: Six-week session: July 1 – August 7 (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) | 12-week session: October 11 – January 10 (Saturdays)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in Chicago
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, or Griffin MSI, offers two STEAM-focused learning experiences: a six-week drop-in program and a 12-week structured research experience. As a participant, you will participate in activities and learn about careers in science, tech, engineering, art/design, and math. You will also engage in civic engagement activities and leadership development sessions. You will also get the opportunity to work as a volunteer, assisting Griffin MSI staff and community partners in setting up STE(A)M-based activities. The experience can help you get insights into museum activities, community engagement, and STEAM pathways.
Cost/Stipend: Free program; a stipend is offered
Location: Harold Washington College, Chicago, IL
Dates: June 23 of the first year – May 9 of the next year
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors | Preference and exclusive benefits are offered to Chicago high school students
The Teen Fellows program is a 15-month internship for high schoolers interested in gaining hands-on exposure to Chicago’s architecture. Here, you will take college courses at Harold Washington College and earn credits from City Colleges of Chicago. The program also offers opportunities to explore Chicago’s constructed environment and visit architecture firms and key sites in the city. You will come up with digital designs using software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, Rhinoceros, InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, and begin building your portfolios. The program also focuses on career exploration in the fields of architecture and design. During the second summer session, you will intern at a local design or architecture firm and earn a stipend.
Cost/Stipend: A stipend is offered
Location: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors
MedSTEM Explorers is a six-week, paid summer pre-internship program hosted by Rush University Medical Center. The program introduces you to careers in STEM and healthcare. Here, you will get to develop academic, healthcare, and workplace skills while engaging in research on real-world health issues affecting Chicago communities. You will also explore various healthcare professions and learn how to be better prepared for applying to and attending college. Successful completion of this internship can make you eligible to participate in the more advanced MedSTEM Pathways internship program.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students get stipends
Location: Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school juniors aged 16 or older
The Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program is a six-week paid internship designed for high school students planning to pursue degrees in biological sciences. Hosted by Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, the program combines intensive research training with support for academic and professional development. You will be matched 1-to-1 with a Northwestern faculty member and given a hypothesis-driven clinical research project, gaining hands-on experience in a laboratory setting and furthering the institute’s ongoing scientific studies. The program also offers workshops and seminars to enhance your understanding of scientific career options and current research methodologies. The program culminates in a presentation at the annual Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Symposium.
Cost/Stipend: Free
Location: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
Dates: Two years starting November 15
Application deadline: September 29
Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors with a GPA of at least 3.0
The Northwestern Medicine GCM Grosvenor Discovery Program is an internship offering an introduction to medical science and healthcare careers. Through tours, guest speaker talks, group discussions, and hands-on activity sessions, you will gain exposure to what a career in healthcare can look like. You will also get access to professional development sessions as well as leadership and community service-based activities. Unlike a conventional internship that requires attendance on all weekdays, in this two-year program, you will meet faculty on the third Saturday of every month during the school year.
One other option —Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are interested in pursuing independent research, you can consider applying to any of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, which are selective online high school experiences developed by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, more than 4,000 students applied for just 500 spots! You can learn more about the program, formats, and the application details on the form here.
Additionally, consider checking out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, which is a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, it offered 150 eligible students full 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.
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