15 STEM Internships for High School Students in Maryland

If you are a high school student interested in STEM, an internship can give you a head start on exploring your interests and preparing for college. STEM internships let you work on real projects, learn practical skills, and see how the concepts you study in school are applied in university labs, research centers, or tech organizations. If you’re based in Maryland, there’s plenty of options to choose from!

These programs also give you a chance to meet mentors, connect with peers who share your interests, and build a network that can help you later in college or your career. Many programs are fully funded or low-cost, so you can participate without worrying about tuition or fees. Internships like these also strengthen your resume and college applications by showing initiative, curiosity, and early experience in STEM fields.

Below, we’ve put together a list of 15 STEM internships for high school students in Maryland!

15 STEM Internships for High School Students in Maryland

1. AEOP: Research & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (REAP)

Acceptance Rate: Competitive

Location: Various universities, including ones in Maryland

Stipend: Paid

Dates: 5-8 weeks during the summer

Application Deadline: February 28

Eligibility: High school students, with a focus on encouraging participation from students traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields

The Army Educational Outreach Program Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program gives high school students the chance to work on real university-level research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor. You take part in hands-on research, build advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills, and gain direct experience with academic research in a university setting. The program is offered at universities across the country, including Morgan State University in Maryland. The program helps you explore future STEM careers while learning how research works in the real world.

2. Ladder Internship Program

Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available

Location:  Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world

Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). 

Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

Ladder Internships is a selective virtual program where you work with a fast-growing start-up on real-world projects. You choose from companies in fields like technology, artificial intelligence, health, marketing, journalism, and more. Most start-ups in the program have raised over one million dollars. During the eight-week internship, you work closely with your manager and a Ladder Internships Coach. You complete a project, present your work to the company, and build professional skills along the way. 

3. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 8 students (in-person)

Location: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD + a virtual experience

Cost/Stipend: No costs; $15/hour (in-person); The virtual experience is unpaid

Dates: 8-5 weeks from June – August

Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1

Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors, with a preference for students from Baltimore City public schools, for the in-person program

Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences is a highly competitive summer research program for high school students interested in neuroscience and medicine. You can choose either an in-person or virtual format, depending on your availability and preference. The program combines laboratory research with clinical shadowing, helping you understand the connection between scientific discovery and patient care. You learn essential lab techniques, analyze data, and help present research findings as part of a professional research team.

4. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

Acceptance Rate: Competitive

Location: Varies by lab, including ones in Maryland

Cost/Stipend: None; A stipend of $4,000 (new participants) & $4,500 (returning participants)

Dates: 8 weeks in the summer

Application Deadline: November 1

Eligibility: U.S. high school students (16+) who have completed 9th grade to seniors who are graduating

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program is a summer internship managed by the United States Department of the Navy that places high school students in Department of Defense laboratories. In Maryland, the Naval Research Laboratory is a key site where you can work on cutting-edge research projects. Over eight weeks, you gain hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields such as computer science and materials science. You work under the guidance of a mentor, contribute to real research, and present your findings at the end of the program.

5. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Summer Student Volunteer Program

Acceptance Rate: Competitive

Location: FDA White Oak Campus, Silver Spring, MD

Cost/Stipend: None

Dates: Varies by position

Application Deadline: Varies by position

Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old

The United States Food and Drug Administration Summer Student Volunteer Program allows high school students to work directly on public health and regulatory science projects at the Food and Drug Administration’s White Oak campus in Maryland. You are matched with a mentor and placed in a specific FDA center, such as the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, or the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Your work may include reviewing data on foodborne illness outbreaks, analyzing trends in drug approval timelines, evaluating the safety of medical devices, or contributing to research on tobacco regulation and public health messaging. You attend internal seminars on topics like clinical trial design, regulatory ethics, and emergency response coordination. 

6. Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) ASPIRE Program

Acceptance Rate: Approximately 10%

Location: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD

Cost/Stipend: None

Dates: 6-8 weeks in the summer

Application Deadline: January 1 – February 15

Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors (15+) with a GPA of 2.8 minimum; More details here

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Student Program for Inspiring and Reaching Excellence is a highly selective mentoring program for high school students interested in applied science, engineering, and technology. You work with professional scientists and engineers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory on real-world research and development projects. The program is project-based, meaning you focus on a specific technical challenge or research question aligned with your interests. Past projects have included robotics, cybersecurity, aerospace systems, biomedical engineering, and data science. 

7. University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB): CURE Scholars Program

Acceptance Rate: Selective

Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

Cost: Fully funded

Dates: Year-round program with an intensive summer component

Application Deadline: September 22

Eligibility: 6th-10th graders attending a partner school in West Baltimore

The University of Maryland, Baltimore CURE Scholars Program is a multi-year STEM pipeline that prepares students from West Baltimore for careers in science, healthcare, and research, with a strong emphasis on cancer biology and biomedical science. Each summer, you work in the University of Maryland, Baltimore, laboratories on hands-on STEM projects, such as analyzing cancer cells, studying public health data, or exploring biomedical technologies. You learn lab techniques, practice scientific inquiry, and build research skills under the guidance of faculty mentors. Throughout the year, you also attend STEM workshops, academic enrichment sessions, and mentoring meetings that deepen your understanding of science and strengthen your college and career readiness.

8. NASA OSTEM Internships

Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive

Location: Virtual + various NASA centers, including Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

Cost/Stipend: None; Paid

Dates: 10 weeks during the summer

Application Deadline: February 27

Eligibility: U.S. high school students (16+) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

NASA’s Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Engagement offers summer internships for high school students to work directly on NASA research projects in Earth science, astrophysics, heliophysics, and planetary science. You are paired with a NASA scientist and contribute to active research that supports space exploration and scientific discovery. Your work may include analyzing satellite data, developing software tools, designing engineering models, or conducting experiments in physics and planetary science. You gain hands-on experience with NASA’s mission-driven research and learn how science and technology are used to explore space and protect Earth.

9. University of Maryland: Women in Engineering (WIE) Summer Program

Acceptance Rate: Selective

Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Cost: $1,500; Scholarships available

Dates: July 6 – 11

Application Deadline: Spring (tentative)

Eligibility: Rising high school junior and senior girls

The University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering Summer Program introduces high school girls to the full spectrum of engineering through hands-on design projects, lab tours, and mentorship. Over five days, you explore different engineering disciplines, such as aerospace, mechanical, civil, and electrical, each with its own set of activities and challenges. You work on real engineering design projects, visit advanced research labs, and meet faculty and current engineering students who share their experiences and career paths. The program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of engineering and helps you understand how different fields connect to solve real-world problems.

10. University of Maryland: Terp Young Scholars Program

Acceptance Rate: Competitive

Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Cost: Commuter: $1,730; Online: $1,365; Financial assistance offered

Dates: July 14 – August 1

Application Deadline: January 7 – June 1

Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a strong academic record

The University of Maryland College Park Terp Young Scholars Program gives high school students the chance to earn college credit by taking a three-week undergraduate course alongside current University of Maryland students. The program offers a wide range of courses, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects such as biology, computer science, environmental science, and engineering design. You experience the pace and expectations of college-level academics, participate in discussions and assignments, and receive grades that appear on an official University of Maryland transcript.

11. Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program

Acceptance Rate: Not very selective

Location: Online

Cost: Enrichment courses: $1,795; College credit courses: $3,995; Need-based scholarships available

Dates: The program is available year-round with courses of varying lengths (1-12 weeks)

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older

The Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program offers high school students flexible access to college-level STEM and academic courses developed by Georgetown University faculty. STEM courses include topics like medicine, physics, robotics, biotechnology, and computer science. You learn through dynamic video lessons and receive support from mentors (for enrichment courses) or teaching assistants (for credit courses) as you work through the material. The format allows you to build rigorous academic experience into your own schedule while exploring advanced subjects at a top-tier university.

12. Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Information not specified

Location: Multiple locations, including Maryland

Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend of $125/week

Dates: Varies by location, but programs are hosted between June and August

Application Deadline: March – April

Eligibility: Students in grades 5-12

The United States Army's Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science Program at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research helps middle and high school students explore science through hands-on lab work. You learn directly from college mentors who are trained by Army scientists and guide you through real experiments and research activities. You work in professional labs, ask scientific questions, test ideas, and learn how research supports public health and national defense. Past projects have included studying brain science, disease outbreaks, and biomedical tools.

13. Morgan State University: Summer Academy of Actuarial and Mathematical Sciences (SAAMS)

Acceptance Rate: Highly selective

Location: Hybrid; In-person at Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD

Stipend: Paid

Dates: June 30 – July 25

Application Deadline: February 28 (priority); April 30 (general)

Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders as well as graduating seniors

Morgan State University Summer Academy of Actuarial and Mathematical Sciences is a four-week online program that helps high school students build advanced skills in mathematics, statistics, and actuarial science. You take part in rigorous math instruction designed to strengthen your problem-solving abilities for college-level coursework or math competitions like Olympiads. You also learn about careers in actuarial science through guest speakers, virtual field trips, and interactive sessions with professionals in the field. The program introduces you to real-world applications of math in finance, insurance, and risk analysis, while helping you explore future college and career pathways.

14. Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR): High School Internship Program

Acceptance Rate: Competitive

Location: Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD

Stipend: Paid

Dates: June 16 – August 8

Application Deadline: February 13

Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (16+)

The Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research Summer Internship is an eight-week program for high school students in Montgomery County Public Schools who want hands-on experience in biotechnology and biomedical research. You work side by side with a scientist from the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, a joint research center run by the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. You take part in a specific research project, learn lab techniques used in professional bioscience labs, and contribute to real scientific work. Past projects have included protein engineering, genetic analysis, and biomedical imaging. 

15. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend of $2,530/month (pre-graduation rate) or $2,840/month (post-graduation rate)

Location: NIH Intramural Research Campus, Bethesda, MD

Dates: Minimum of 8 weeks between late May and mid-August 

Application Deadline: February 19; reference letters due February 26

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are current high school seniors (enrolled at least half-time) and at least 18 years old by June 1

The National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program gives high school students the chance to work on biomedical research at one of the largest medical research agencies in the world. You are matched with a National Institutes of Health scientist and placed in a research lab where you contribute to projects in fields like genetics, neuroscience, cancer biology, bioinformatics, and infectious diseases. Over eight to ten weeks, you learn lab techniques, analyze data, attend seminars, and explore how research connects to public health. You also take part in career development workshops and meet other interns from across the country. 

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 

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