12 Summer Internships in Boston for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 12
- 8 min read
If you’re in college and looking to gain experience beyond your coursework, summer internships can help you explore your interests in a more practical setting. These opportunities allow you to work on research, clinical, or industry-focused projects while building skills in communication, analysis, and professional collaboration. They can also help you better understand potential career paths and academic goals.
In Boston, many internships are offered through universities, hospitals, research institutes, and nonprofit organizations. These programs span biomedical research, healthcare, psychology, and public service, with formats ranging from lab-based research to clinical observation to project-based work.
Why should I do a summer internship in college?
Participating in a summer internship can help you see how your field operates outside the classroom and what day-to-day work looks like. You’ll build practical skills, take on responsibilities, and learn how to work in professional environments. You can also connect with mentors and peers, which can be useful as you plan your next academic or career steps.
To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of 12 top summer internships in Boston for college students.
If you’re looking for paid online internships, check out our blog here.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort (Spring: January | Summer: May | Fall: September | Winter: November)
Eligibility: Students able to work 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks; open to high schoolers, undergraduates, and gap-year students
Ladder Internships curate opportunities for students to experience what it's like to work in a high-growth organization. The program connects you with over 50 host companies from a wide range of industries, including technology, AI/ML, healthcare, media, non-profits, and consulting, with a full list available in their application form. Many of these startups have significant fundraising experience, and their founders often bring experience from top accelerators and leading tech firms. During the eight-week internship, you’ll work closely with both your start-up manager and a Ladder Coach, who will mentor you as you take on meaningful, real-world projects. Your assignments can range from developing a business strategy and conducting a market analysis to understanding the nuances of cybersecurity or coding an MVP, culminating in a portfolio-worthy deliverable that showcases your skills and impact.
Location: Longwood Medical Area campus, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $450/week
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Dates: May 31 – August 8
Application Deadline: Applications open November 1
Eligibility: College students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in biological and/or biomedical sciences
This ten-week Summer Research Internship at Harvard Medical School introduces college students to the world of biomedical research. As part of this summer internship in Boston for college students, you'll conduct lab research under the guidance of faculty and graduate students, gaining hands-on experience in a professional setting. In addition to the lab work, you will participate in weekly sessions on science communication, research ethics, and preparation for competitive PhD programs. A key milestone of the program is the opportunity to present your research at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium and deliver a final oral presentation at the end of the program. The program provides housing, travel support, and a stipend, so you can focus fully on your research and professional development.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: May – August (Summer Track)
Application Deadline: Applications will open around March
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The PACaRI Program at Boston Children’s Hospital is a 12-week summer experience that blends clinical shadowing with hands-on research. You’ll start with a structured training phase, followed by one day each week spent observing anesthesia technicians in operating rooms. At the same time, you’ll join a research project focused on anesthesiology and pediatric care. Weekly lectures and skill-building sessions will cover literature review, professional development, and preparation for graduate school. The program culminates in a presentation of your research findings to faculty and peers, giving you practical experience in both clinical and research settings.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts (Remote options available)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Fall/Spring: 8–10 hours/week; Summer: 30 hours/week
Application Deadline: Fall applications open August 21; portal available by September 12
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (preferably juniors or seniors) majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Psychology, Health Policy Management, or related fields; must receive academic credit or external funding
The Pediatric Epilepsy Research Internship at Boston Children’s Hospital provides hands-on experience in healthcare research with a focus on pediatric neurology. As an intern, you’ll work on data entry, database optimization, patient enrollment, and administrative support, while being introduced to seizures, epileptic encephalopathies, medical terminology, research methods, and clinical data management. You will also help develop monitoring tools for clinical biomarkers and participate in research collaborations within epilepsy networks. This internship is ideal for students interested in healthcare research or considering a future in pediatric neurology.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Stipend offered
Dates: June 1–July 31
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (rising junior or rising senior at the start of summer)
The Summer Training as Research Scholars (STaRS) Program at Boston University is a 10-week, on-site summer research internship for undergraduate students interested in biomedical sciences. As an intern, you’ll be placed in a lab under the guidance of a faculty mentor, working on hands-on research projects in areas such as heart, lung, and blood studies. In addition to lab work, you’ll participate in seminars and workshops focused on research techniques, scientific writing, presentation skills, and professional development, helping you prepare for future graduate study or MD/PhD programs.
Location: Boston College, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $6,000 stipend; students not accepted through NSF REU admissions process will not receive a stipend but will be supported in external funding applications
Dates: 10 weeks in June
Application Deadline: December 8
Eligibility: Rising sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students, particularly from underrepresented and/or minority groups; strong students not meeting REU funding criteria may still be accepted
The BC Cooperation Lab NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates offers a hands-on research internship focused on social and developmental psychology. As an intern, you will work closely with a mentor to study cooperation in children, exploring questions related to culture, evolution, and development. You will gain experience with core research methods, including running studies with child participants, quantitative and computational data analysis, and integrating psychology with anthropology and evolutionary biology. You will also attend weekly lab meetings, educational workshops, training in research methods, and panels designed to help your psychology PhD applications. This program gives you both hands-on research experience and insight into advanced academic pathways.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Stipend offered
Dates: June 3 – August 29
Application Deadline: February 25
Eligibility: Must be enrolled full-time in a 4-year accredited college/university (freshman, sophomore, or junior)
The Orthopedic Trauma Summer Internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is a 10–12 week program for undergraduate and medical students interested in orthopedics and clinical research. During the internship, you’ll work closely with the orthopedic trauma service, gaining real-world research experience by collecting and analyzing data, conducting literature reviews, and contributing to case reports. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to observe clinical work in operating rooms, outpatient clinics, and inpatient wards, as well as attend conferences and rounds to understand how a busy trauma service functions. The program also provides mentorship and networking opportunities with faculty, residents, and research staff, helping you develop professional skills, gain insight into clinical workflows, and explore potential careers in surgery, medicine, and healthcare research.
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA (Boston area)
Cost/Stipend: $5,400 stipend
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 11
Eligibility: Enrolled in a four-year college in the U.S. with a minimum GPA of 3.2/4.0
The Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP) is a nine-week summer internship at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for undergraduate students interested in biomedical research and genomics. As an intern, you’ll work in a research lab under the mentorship of experienced scientists, contributing to active projects in areas such as cancer, infectious disease, computational biology, and genomics. In addition to hands-on lab experience, you'll participate in workshops and seminars on scientific communication, career development, and preparation for graduate school. The program concludes with an oral or poster presentation of your research, giving you experience in sharing your work in a professional setting.
Location: Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital (near Boston, MA)
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: Undergraduate students, typically rising juniors or seniors; exceptional rising sophomores may be considered
The Lurie Center for Autism Summer Undergraduate Research Internship is a nine-week, full-time program for undergraduate students interested in clinical, translational, or preclinical research related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions. During the internship, you'll work with a faculty mentor on a semi-independent research project, taking on tasks such as literature review, study design, data collection and analysis, and lab-based techniques including neuroimaging or microscopy. You'll also attend weekly seminars on ASD and research methods, gain exposure to clinical care by observing patient evaluations, and participate in professional development workshops that support your academic and career goals.
Location: Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: Two rounds: fall and spring
Eligibility: Currently enrolled Boston College undergraduates; first-years, sophomores, and juniors only. Seniors not eligible
The Corcoran Center Summer Internship at Boston College is a 10-week paid placement that lets you work with nonprofit, government, or mission-driven organizations in Boston on real projects related to community development, urban planning, and affordable housing. During the program, you'll take part in professional-development workshops, undertake field visits to development and construction sites across the city, and receive mentorship from both Corcoran Center staff and your host organization. You will also build practical skills, expand your understanding of urban and real estate challenges, and wrap up the experience by presenting your work at a closing event, giving you both experience and strong connections within Boston’s civic and community-impact network.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, across Harvard-affiliated hospitals and research institutions
Cost/Stipend: Pays stipend (amount varies by year)
Dates: Late June to mid-August
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students
The CURE (Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences) Summer Program at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is an eight-week paid research internship in Boston that places you directly in a cancer research lab under the mentorship of Harvard scientists. Throughout the summer, you'll take on a real research project in areas such as cancer biology, health disparities, public-health research, or computational science. Alongside your lab work, you’ll participate in weekly seminars, skill-building workshops, and career-development sessions that prepare you for future STEM and healthcare pathways.
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates or rising college freshmen who are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The Youth Neurology Education & Research Program is a six-week, full-time summer internship at Massachusetts General Hospital that gives you hands-on experience in neuroscience and clinical research. The program begins with a boot camp that introduces you to essential research methods and clinical skills. After training, you'll join your assigned lab and work with a neurology faculty mentor and an undergraduate research partner who will guide you through your project. You will spend about 40 hours each week conducting experiments, attending seminars led by medical professionals, and participating in ongoing neurology studies. Overall, the program will help you build practical skills, gain exposure to real clinical environments, and deepen your understanding of brain and nervous-system research.
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.
Image Source - Ladder Internships logo