14 STEM Internships for High School Students in Maryland
- Stephen Turban
- May 13
- 9 min read
If you are a high school student in Maryland looking to pursue science, technology, engineering, or math at an advanced level, internships in the state can give you a real head start. Instead of only learning from textbooks, you get to apply your knowledge in real settings, work on research projects, and solve real-world problems.
As an intern, you can also build skills like data analysis, technical writing, lab work, coding, teamwork, and problem-solving. These are the very skills colleges and future employers look for, which can make your applications stand out from the crowd after high school!
To help you find the right fit, we’ve put together a list of 14 STEM internships for high school students in Maryland!
14 STEM Internships for High School Students in Maryland
Cost/Stipend: Most interns receive a stipend, however, some opportunities are unpaid
Location: Virtual or at a NASA center. In-person internships in Maryland are conducted at the Goddard Space Flight Center.
Dates: Summer: Late May – August | Fall: Late August – Mid-December | Spring: Mid-January – Early May
Application Deadline: Summer: February 27; Fall: May 16; Spring: September 12
Eligibility: U.S. citizens with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), who are at least 16 years old at the time of application.
NASA’s OSTEM Internship Program gives high school students in Maryland an opportunity to work with one of the largest and most respected research organizations in the world. Having direct project experience with NASA on your profile as a high school student can show colleges that you are serious about building technical and research skills early.
You can build skills in satellite image analysis, coding in Python and MATLAB, aerospace engineering basics, laboratory techniques, technical report writing, robotics, remote sensing, and data visualization. Fields you might work in include Earth science, computer science, mechanical engineering, astrophysics, and environmental research. You will be assigned to a specific project and paired with a mentor, contributing to real NASA work rather than just observing.
Cost/Stipend: Program costs start at $2,490
Location: Virtual
Dates: 8-12 week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder Internships offers a selective startup internship program for high school students interested in gaining real-world experience. Through the program, you work with a high-growth startup for about eight weeks on projects in fields like technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more.
Most startups partnered with Ladder have raised over a million dollars, and you work directly with your project manager and a Ladder Coach throughout the internship. You build skills in industry research, technical writing, market analysis, product development, and communication. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Here is the application form.
Cost/Stipend: None
Location: Gaithersburg, MD OR Boulder, CO
Dates: Second/third week of June to the second week of August (actual dates vary by year)
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors living near the NIST Gaithersburg or NIST Boulder campus with a minimum 3.0 GPA
NIST’s Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) offers you the chance to work with NIST scientists and engineers. You’ll contribute to research projects in fields like physics, chemistry, computer science, or engineering. Depending on your assignment, you’ll gain hands-on experience with lab equipment, data analysis, and programming.
You can intern at one of NIST’s six specialized laboratories: Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL), Engineering Laboratory (EL), Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), or Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML).
Cost/Stipend: In-person interns receive an hourly stipend (currently $15/hr).
Location: Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD
Dates: June – August (8 weeks for in-person, 5 weeks for virtual)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Virtual program for high school juniors and seniors; in-person program for Baltimore juniors and seniors with an interest in behavioral or brain health sciences and strong academics.
The JHIBS Internship offers you the chance to explore neuroscience and medicine through hands-on research at Johns Hopkins. In the in-person track, you’ll spend 8 weeks working on a neuroscience project, gaining skills in experimental design, data analysis, lab techniques, and scientific writing. You’ll attend seminars, shadow neurologists during clinical rotations, and develop a final presentation.
The program also includes sessions on science communication, research ethics, time management, and career skills. In the virtual track (5 weeks), you’ll focus on science presentations, learning lab techniques, data visualization, and professional development, while also gaining exposure to foundational research methods.
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided for the summer internship
Location: Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD
Dates: Summer internship: Typically mid-June to mid-August (8 weeks). Full year internship: summer internship + academic year credit internship
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising Montgomery County Public School juniors or seniors, at least 16 years old, and authorized to work in the U.S.
IBBR’s Internship Program offers high school students interested in biotechnology or biomedical research the chance to work on cutting-edge lab projects. As an intern, you’ll be paired with a research mentor and gain hands-on experience using techniques like cryo-electron microscopy, x-ray crystallography, and mass spectrometry to study biomolecules.
You’ll also learn skills in data analysis, experimental design, and scientific communication. Throughout the internship, you’ll understand how research contributes to therapeutic development, biotech innovation, and improving medicines and manufacturing processes.
Cost/Stipend: Participants receive $500/week
Location: University of Maryland, Princess Anne, MD
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: May 31 (tentative)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, accepted into an accredited U.S. college/university (preference for certain universities), with a minimum 2.7 GPA and planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in geoscience.
The Geosciences Bridge Program is a six-week STEM internship for high school students in Maryland interested in careers in geosciences. During the program, you’ll engage in a mix of college-level coursework and hands-on learning in fields like marine biology, atmospheric science, marine chemistry, and GIS/remote sensing.
You’ll live on campus and take two for-credit college courses: College Algebra or Calculus, and a Freshman Seminar. Along with lectures, you’ll participate in field trips, lab work, and practical activities, gaining skills in scientific research, data analysis, and field study techniques, all guided by university faculty and research staff.
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 (first-year interns); $4,500 (returning interns)
Location: Various labs across the country. Maryland locations include Annapolis, Bethesda, Patuxent River, and Silver Spring
Dates: 8 weeks; exact dates vary by lab
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Academically talented sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old at the start of the program, Must be U.S. citizens, Students are encouraged to check for any specific lab requirements.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) gives you the chance to spend your summer working on real research in a Department of Navy lab. You’ll be placed alongside scientists and engineers for eight weeks, where you'll gain firsthand experience in Naval research and technology.
You'll work closely with mentors on research projects, getting exposure to the tools, methods, and challenges of professional science and engineering. You’ll also develop technical and analytical skills, clarify your career goals, and strengthen your college applications.
Cost/Stipend: Stipend varies by internship location and duration
Location: Virtual/various labs across the country. Maryland locations include Aberdeen, Bethesda, Frederick, Adelphi, and Silver Spring
Dates: Typically during the summer months (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current high school students who are U.S. citizens or legal residents. Additional requirements may vary by location
The AEOP High School Internship gives you a chance to work one-on-one with a professional scientist or engineer, either in a university research lab or a U.S. Army research center. You’ll spend your summer contributing to real research projects, gaining hands-on experience with lab techniques, high-tech equipment, and the day-to-day pace of scientific work.
Throughout the program, you'll develop skills in data collection, lab procedures, and scientific communication, while being mentored by researchers. You’ll also connect with other interns across the country and participate in workshops focused on STEM careers, college prep, and professional development.
Cost/Stipend: Paid and volunteer internships are available
Location: The majority of internships take place in Annapolis, MD, but may also be located across the state of Maryland
Dates: 10–12 weeks in June-August (summer) and October-December (fall)
Application Deadline: Varies by internship; summer applications open in February and fall applications open in July
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school or college with a minimum 2.5 GPA, or who have graduated within one year of the internship start date
As a DNR intern, you’ll work on real environmental projects across Maryland. You might inspect marina equipment, design shoreline restoration plans, or collect biological data in local rivers. The program focuses on fieldwork, giving you experience in conservation, fisheries science, outdoor recreation planning, and environmental outreach.
You’ll also build skills in research, environmental monitoring, and community communication. At the end of the internship, you’ll give a short presentation to DNR staff about what you worked on.
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $3,000
Location: Based on your locality
Dates: Mid-June – Late July/August
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: All current high school students who are residents of the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada and are at least 16 by the end of the application period
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program gives you the chance to explore careers in fisheries and aquatic science through hands-on work over eight weeks. You’ll be paired with a professional mentor and gain experience in activities like fish population surveys, water quality testing, lab analysis, and data processing.
Some of your work might take place outdoors in the field or on boats, while other projects may happen inside research labs or through educational outreach. You’ll build skills in environmental research, scientific observation, data handling, and conservation practices, while also starting to build connections in a field that focuses on sustainability and ecological impact.
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $3,000
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Dates: Typically June – August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Students from households earning less than 200% of the federal poverty limit and who are educationally under-resourced.
The Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE) at Johns Hopkins is an eight-week biomedical research program for high school students from low-income and under-resourced backgrounds. As a SARE Scholar, you’ll split your time between hands-on lab research and advanced classes in subjects like scientific writing, math, bioethics, and data analysis.
You’ll work closely with a mentor, usually a PhD student or postdoc, and build skills in lab techniques, critical thinking, collaboration, and scientific inquiry. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research findings in a final presentation.
12. ASPIRE Program
Cost/Stipend: None
Location: Virtual/Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Dates: Late June – August
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors at least 15 years old by June 1, U.S. citizens, with a minimum 2.8 GPA.
The ASPIRE program gives you the chance to explore science and engineering through real-world projects with professional mentors at APL. You’ll be matched with a mentor and assigned to projects based on your chosen STEM fields, like aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, environmental science, or cybersecurity. You’ll also select project types that fit how you want to work, whether through coding, lab experiments, design work, public communication, or research.
Cost/Stipend: $2,530 for current high school students, $2,840 for students who have graduated high school
Location: NIH campus, Bethesda, MD
Dates: July 7 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors (or recently graduated students) who are 17 years old by June 1st, have a cumulative 3.0 or higher GPA, attend a school where 30% or more of the student body participates in the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program, and live in Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia within 40 miles of the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD
HiSTEP is a free 5-week STEM internship for high school students in Maryland, focused on biomedical science and healthcare. You’ll take part in hands-on workshops, attend lectures, visit research labs, and work on group projects. The program is meant for students from underserved schools who are interested in science and healthcare careers.
You’ll explore topics like neuroscience, microbiology, psychology, and biochemistry while building skills in research, critical thinking, and communication. The program also includes college prep, career planning, and sessions on leadership and wellness. You’ll work in small groups, meet NIH researchers, and learn directly from mentors.
Cost/Stipend: $3,995 (scholarships available). Students in the data science track get a $750 stipend
Location: Virtual
Dates: Data Science: July 7 – August 8; Quantum Computing: June 23 – July 25; Artificial Intelligence: June 23 – July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Incoming 9th to 12th graders. Prerequisites can differ by track
The National High School Research Program gives you the chance to build college-level research and technical skills in fields like Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and Data Science. In the first two weeks, you’ll receive training in data management, algorithm development, research design, and data interpretation.
In the last three weeks, you’ll work on an independent research project, guided by mentors from government, universities, or industry. You’ll build skills in coding, critical analysis, problem-solving, and professional communication while preparing work you can showcase on college applications.
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.
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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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