STEM summer internships for high school juniors and seniors

High school internships give students an opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom. Internships can provide students insights on what it is like to be working in a specific career.

If you are a high school student with an interest in STEM, you should consider participating in a summer internship. Engaging in a STEM internship will allow you to apply your classroom knowledge to real-world problems, fostering a deeper understanding of the subjects you are passionate about.

How to Find STEM Internships for High School Students

The best way to find official programs to apply to is through online search tools and lists. Use LinkedIn to find local small companies where you can help with skills such as coding or technical grant writing. These companies will be the most likely to hire high-school-aged students. Use the staff directories of local universities to find professors to reach out to about research positions.

11 STEM Internships for High School Students

Stanford’s STEM: Summer Internship

Stanford’s STEM: Summer Internship is an exceptional opportunity, hosted by one of the world’s renowned institutions, that offers a unique gateway into the heart of technological innovation. During the internship, you’ll find yourself engaged in cutting-edge projects and collaborative endeavors, providing hands-on experiences that transcend traditional classroom learning. 

NASA OSTEM Internship

Becoming a NASA intern is a highly competitive process. Interns have the chance to work on cutting-edge research and receive mentorship from current NASA employees. Internships can be completed during the fall, spring, or summer, and spaces for high school students are limited to select centers.

To qualify, students must be at least 16 years old and have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Ladder Internship Program

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students. In the program, students work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries including AI, machine learning, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more.

Air Force Research Library Scholar Program

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program offers stipend-paid summer internship opportunities to upper-level high school students. The selected interns gain valuable hands-on experiences working with full-time AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology and are able to contribute to unique, research-based projects.

Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight week paid summer internship and mentoring program for high school students sponsored by the American Fisheries Society (AFS). Their vision is to stimulate interest in fisheries and aquatic science among underrepresented groups in the profession today.

Emma Bowen Foundation Internship

Whether you’re interested in being a producer, a journalist, a web developer, an engineer, a business executive, a PR agent, a sales representative, or any other career in media or tech, the EBF Internship is here to help you get your start. If selected, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in these organizations so you can learn, grow and put yourself on the fast-track to career success.

Amazon Future Engineer

Participating in the Amazon Future Engineer Program is an enriching experience for high school students with a passion for technology. Tailored to provide hands-on experience, the internship program is designed to expose you to the day-to-day challenges and innovations within Amazon’s tech-centric environment.

The Intern Project Summer Program

The Intern Project (TIP) is a summer program designed for high school students from schools across Los Angeles County, offering them the chance to gain invaluable experience in various career fields. This program is particularly beneficial for students interested in STEM, as it includes internships in Engineering & Tech, Healthcare & Medical Technology, along with other areas like Arts, Media & Entertainment, Business, Government/Non-Profit/Philanthropy, and Sports.

BioBus Junior Scientist Internship

BioBus creates immersive laboratory environments, including mobile labs and community labs, in which students join scientists for hands-on scientific exploration during in-school, after-school, weekend, and summer programs, as well as internships.

Meta (Facebook) Summer Academy

Externs of Meta Summer Academy (formerly known as Facebook Summer Academy) will have the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day operations of one of the world’s leading social media networks by being part of a dynamic workforce.

University of Michigan Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship

The Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship Program at U-M is a six-week program that aims to increase interest in basic science research by giving high school students from under-resourced areas the chance to work with researchers at U-M in a hands-on science laboratory experience.

Conclusion

Whether you are applying to established programs or launching a cold outreach strategy, the name of the game when looking for a high school internship or research position is perseverance. These opportunities can be extremely difficult to find, but most students find it worth it in the end to get a head start on building their careers.