Chemistry Internships for High School Students: A Comprehensive Guide

For high school students with a budding interest in chemistry, internships offer an invaluable opportunity to explore the field, gain practical experience, and solidify their career aspirations. An internship is a great way for you to gain hands-on experience in the field. As an intern, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals, develop new skills, and gain insights into the latest trends in the industry. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to chemistry internships for high school students, highlighting the benefits, types of opportunities available, and a curated list of programs to consider.

Why Pursue a Chemistry Internship?

A career in chemistry has multiple possibilities - biochemistry, chemical engineering, material science, and even environmental chemistry. An internship showcases your dedication to the subject, and proves to admission officers that you can apply theoretical concepts in practical situations. It can also help you to network with researchers who are at the top of their field. You can later use these connections either for job opportunities or even letters of recommendation!

Hands-on Experience: Internships provide practical, hands-on experience in a laboratory or research setting, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios.
Skill Development: Interns develop essential laboratory techniques, data analysis skills, and problem-solving abilities, which are highly valuable for future academic and professional pursuits.
Career Exploration: Through internships, students can explore various subfields within chemistry, such as biochemistry, materials science, or environmental chemistry, helping them identify their specific interests and career paths. Through an internship, you can explore various career prospects to figure out the area you're most interested in.
Networking Opportunities: Internships provide opportunities to network with industry professionals, researchers, and mentors, establishing valuable connections for future career prospects.
College Application Enhancement: Participation in a chemistry internship demonstrates a strong interest in the field, showcasing dedication and initiative to college admission officers. Additionally, an internship showcases your dedication to the subject, and proves to admission officers that you can apply theoretical concepts in practical situations.
Personal Growth: Internships foster personal growth by encouraging independence, responsibility, and time management skills, preparing students for the challenges of college and beyond.

Types of Chemistry Internships

Chemistry internships for high school students can vary in focus, duration, and structure. Some common types include:

Research Internships: These internships involve working alongside faculty researchers on specific research projects in university or government laboratories.
Industry Internships: Industry internships offer opportunities to work in chemical companies, pharmaceutical firms, or other related industries, gaining experience in product development, quality control, or analytical testing.
Summer Programs: Many universities and research institutions offer structured summer programs specifically designed for high school students interested in chemistry. These programs often include a combination of laboratory work, lectures, and workshops.
Virtual Internships: With the rise of technology, virtual internships have become increasingly popular, allowing students to participate in research or industry projects remotely.

Featured Chemistry Internship Programs for High School Students

To help you get started, here is a list of chemistry internships for high school students that you can consider:

1. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation-Chemistry Track

Cost: Fully funded
Location: Remote
Application Deadlines: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Program Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students or those planning to enroll as college freshmen in the fall with a high level of academic achievement.

The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is a non-profit program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. It provides access to independent research experiences, pairing students with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on a research project. At the end of the 12-week program, students develop an independent research paper.

Read also: UCLA Chemistry Test

2. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)

Cost/Stipend: Free, except for a $65 application fee. Participants receive a stipend.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Dates: June 22 - August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet academic requirements
Acceptance Rate: 3%

The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a fully funded summer program hosted at MIT. RSI combines research, college-level coursework, and expert mentorship. The program begins with a week of seminars in fields such as chemistry, biology, and engineering. Students then spend five weeks conducting research under the guidance of MIT professors and scientists, concluding with a presentation of their findings.

3. Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University

Cost/Stipend: No tuition; \$2,781.50 for on-campus housing and meals.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 5%

The Simons Summer Research Program offers high school juniors the opportunity to engage in STEM research under the mentorship of faculty. Students can explore a variety of fields, including chemistry, biomedical informatics, physics, neurobiology, and more. The program culminates in the creation of a research abstract and a poster presentation at the final symposium.

4. NASA OSTEM Internship Program

Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 16 or older, full-time high school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Acceptance Rate: 5%-10%

The NASA OSTEM Internship program allows high school and college students to work on NASA projects in chemistry, robotics, space microbiology, aeronautics, and more. As a high school student, you may participate in projects like designing experiments, analyzing mission data, and developing technologies for space exploration.

5. Project SEED Summer Program by the American Chemical Society

Cost/Stipend: Free; interns receive a $4,000 stipend.
Location: In-person labs at universities, government labs, and other facilities, with virtual research options also available.
Program Dates: June-July (8-10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Mid-May
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who have completed at least one chemistry course and whose family income is at or below 300% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Acceptance Rate: 5%-10%

The Project SEED Summer Program offers laboratory research experience in chemistry. The program fosters interest in chemistry careers while preparing you for college and professional success. The program aims to support students from underrepresented communities.

6. University of Pennsylvania’s Chemistry Research Academy

Cost: Free for qualifying public/charter high school students in the School District of Philadelphia (via Penn Summer Scholarship).
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Dates: July 5 - 26
Application Deadline: Applications open December 2
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th-grade students who have completed at least one year of high school chemistry before the program begins.
Acceptance Rate: 15%-20%.

The Chemistry Research Academy at the University of Pennsylvania offers high school students an introduction to advanced chemistry research. With approximately 50% of class time dedicated to laboratory work, you will gain experience in spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and experimental method optimization.

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7. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Cost/Stipend: Free; $25 application fee (waivers available). Unpaid.
Location: Fully remote, hybrid, or in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Dates: June 18 - August 8
Application Deadline: Application will open on December 2 and close on February 2.
Eligibility: Remote internships: Minimum age of 15 by program start date. In-person/hybrid computer labs: Minimum age 15. In-person/hybrid wet labs: Minimum age 16.
Acceptance Rate: Not enough information is available to ascertain.

The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) helps high school students work alongside faculty researchers on STEM projects. This program fosters hands-on learning in fields such as chemistry, biology, engineering, environmental science, and more. As an intern, you will engage in laboratory or computational research, gaining exposure to advanced technologies, scientific writing, and problem-solving strategies.

"My experience at ASSIP for the last two summers was probably the most beneficial and impactful experience I have had in my life so far. It taught me how to be a better scientist and engineer, how to develop new ideas, and how to make those ideas a reality. I accomplished a lot that I never thought I was capable of doing as a high school student such as filing for three patents and inventing new technologies to be used by companies to help others." The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

8. NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)

Eligibility: U.S. citizens
Acceptance Rate: Not enough information is available to ascertain.

The NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) provides opportunities for high school students to conduct scientific research at one of the oldest physical science laboratories in the United States. Department of Commerce, the program allows you to work alongside scientists and engineers on real-world projects.

9. Stanford University’s Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS) Program

Cost: Free; no tuition required
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Dates: June 17 - 27 (tentative)
Application Deadline: Applications open in January
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old and reside locally
Acceptance Rate: Not enough information is available to ascertain.

The Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS) Program offers high school students the opportunity to gain exposure to advanced chemical research. This experience allows you to shadow graduate students and researchers in the chemistry department, providing a unique perspective on research.

10. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program

Cost: Free; full tuition scholarship with a $750 stipend
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Dates: June 2 - August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: NYC high school students who will have completed 10th or 11th grade by the program start
Acceptance Rate: Not enough information is available to ascertain. Only 70-80 students shortlisted.

The Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) program allows high school students to conduct research in engineering and related fields. ARISE combines educational workshops with research experience under the mentorship of NYU faculty.

Read also: Emory's Chemistry Department

11. ASPIRE Program

Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 15 or older with a GPA of 2.8 or higher. Applicants must reside in specific Maryland counties.
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 15%-20%.

The ASPIRE program allows high school juniors and seniors to explore STEM careers through projects and mentorship. You will work on real-world challenges alongside lab staff.

12. Summer High School Intern Program by NIST

Eligibility: Be juniors or seniors in high school during the application period and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in February.
Program Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No participation cost (but students must cover housing and transportation costs); Unpaid.

The Summer High School Intern Program by NIST is a program for students who have finished their junior or senior year of high school (by the start of the program) and demonstrate an interest in scientific research. In this program, students will get the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research at NIST and work closely with NIST staff scientists and engineers on a specific research topic.

13. Ladder Internships

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for Spring and Summer cohorts.
Program Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Cost: Starting at \$1990. Financial aid is offered.
Location: Virtual!

Ladder Internships, founded by Harvard alumni, is a selective program that allows high school students to work with start-ups and nonprofits across the world in a range of different industries. Some of the organizations you can choose to intern offer projects that cover concepts in chemistry, technology, finance, environmental science and sustainability, business and marketing, healthcare and medicine, and more.

14. Project SEED by American Chemical Society

Eligibility: Applicants must be current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (and recent graduates) who have completed one course in high school chemistry. Preference is given to students whose maximum family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August
Cost/Stipend: No cost; \$4000 is awarded to the interns.
Location: Varies based on lab choice.

Project SEED is a paid, summer fellowship program for high school students. Once accepted, students commute daily to a research lab (typically about 8 hours per weekday, Monday through Friday) for anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks. This program offers an opportunity for students keen on working in laboratories and conducting work in the field of chemistry.

15. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program

Eligibility: Interns for remote internships must be 15 years or older by June 18th. Internships for in-person or hybrid internships in computer labs must be 15 years or older by June 18th. Interns for wet-lab in-person or hybrid internships must be 16 or older by June 18th.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in February.
Program Dates: June 18 - August 9
Cost/Stipend: \$25 application fee (transport and housing are not covered); Unpaid.
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program allows high school students to work one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason University to develop their research projects. In this 8-week internship, you will gain hands-on experience using cutting-edge, sophisticated equipment and technologies, develop and exercise scientific writing and communication skills, explore STEM career choices through discussion forums and meetings with role models, and develop and exercise creative skills, which are crucial to performing innovative research.

16. EM OPALS Internship with UC San Diego

Eligibility: Current 9-12th high school students and community college students. Residents preferred (no housing and transportation provided). Students under 16 years old need to follow the Minors in laboratories from UCSD guidelines.
Application Deadline: April 30
Program Dates: July 8 - August 2
Cost: \$2,000 + \$42 (non-refundable mandatory application fee)
Location: University of California, San Diego Campus

The EM OPALS program provides high school students with hands-on experience in STEM by spending 20 hours/week at a UC San Diego research laboratory. If you are interested in biochemistry, we encourage you to apply to the EM OPALS program!

17. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

Eligibility: U.S. citizens
Application Deadline: Summer internship applications open on August 1st and close on November 1st every year.
Program Dates: The internship lasts eight weeks during the summer (with the possibility of extending up to two additional weeks).
Stipend: New participant: \$4,000 | Returning participant: \$4,500

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories where they take part in real Naval research for eight weeks during the summer.

18. California Academy of Sciences Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program

Eligibility: To be eligible for the program, applicants must be currently enrolled full-time as a 9th or 10th-grade student in an SFUSD school, maintain a GPA of 2.5 and a grade of C or higher in science and math, be able to obtain a valid work permit (US citizens and others authorized to work in the US), and commit to all attendance requirements for 2-3 years, through high school graduation.
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: After school and on weekends, year-round participation for 2-3 years till graduation.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Careers in Science interns get paid above minimum wage.
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA

This long-running program invites applications from San Francisco students from underrepresented communities in the field of STEM to learn about science and sustainability.

19. St. Louis’s Young Scientist Summer Focus Program

Eligibility: Students from any high school in the Greater St. Louis area (Missouri and Illinois) may apply when they are in the 11th grade (i.e. their junior year).
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in February.
Program Dates: June 3 - July 26
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Scholars receive a \$4,000 stipend for the summer.
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Conducted by Washington University in St. Louis, the YSP Summer Focus Program provides high school students in the Greater St.Louis area with funded, 8-week summer research internships. In the program, you will be paired with a mentor and a tutor.

20. ASE Internships by Saturday Academy

Eligibility: Applicants must be a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader (or equivalent) and be the minimum age by June 17th, but for the VA Healthcare System, they must be 16 by May 15.
Application Deadline: March 8
Program Dates: June to August (8-10 weeks)
Cost/Stipend: \$40 application fee; A learning stipend of \$1,100, or \$650 for part-time positions is provided to the interns.
Location: Varies depending on the internship.

Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering (ASE) program typically offers about 75 internships each year. Mentor partners vary but usually fall under one of the following general disciplines: Biology, Health or Medicine, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics.

Additional Opportunities and Resources

Besides the programs listed above, several other resources can help high school students find chemistry internships:

National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. Many REU sites also accept applications from high school students.
University Research Programs: Many universities offer research opportunities for high school students in their chemistry departments. Check the websites of local universities for available programs. The Department of Chemistry’s summer research awards will support undergraduate students to pursue research with UW Department of Chemistry faculty during summer quarter. This funding opportunity is open to all UW students whether they are currently active in research or have little or no research experience.
Government Laboratories: National laboratories such as the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offer summer research internships for high school students. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funds summer research internship for undergraduate (sophomore to senior) students in science, mathematics, engineering, technology, and science policy.
Online Databases: Several online databases, such as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's catalog of biomedical research opportunities, compile internship and summer research opportunities for students of all levels. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has compiled a catalog of biomedical research opportunities offered nationwide for high school, undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and first year medical students. Be sure to check the catalog regularly, as it is frequently updated with new opportunities.

Tips for Finding and Applying for Chemistry Internships

Start Early: Begin your search for internships early in the academic year, as many programs have deadlines several months in advance.
Network: Talk to your science teachers, guidance counselors, and family friends who may have connections to chemistry professionals or research institutions.
Tailor Your Application: Customize your application materials, including your resume and cover letter, to highlight your specific skills and interests related to chemistry.
Highlight Relevant Coursework: Emphasize any chemistry courses you have taken, as well as any related science or math courses.
Show Enthusiasm: Express your genuine interest in chemistry and your eagerness to learn and contribute to the research or industry setting.
Prepare for Interviews: Practice answering common interview questions and be prepared to discuss your academic background, research experience, and career goals.
Follow Up: After submitting your application or completing an interview, follow up with the program coordinator or interviewer to reiterate your interest and thank them for their time.

Building a Foundation for a Chemistry Career

In addition to internships, high school students can take several steps to build a strong foundation for a future career in chemistry:

Take Challenging Courses: Enroll in advanced chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics courses to develop a strong understanding of the fundamental principles. These will prepare you to succeed in your major coursework.
Participate in Science Clubs and Competitions: Join science clubs, such as chemistry club or science olympiad, and participate in science competitions to further explore your interests and develop your skills.
Conduct Independent Research: Consider conducting independent research projects in chemistry, either at home or under the guidance of a mentor, to gain hands-on experience and showcase your scientific abilities.
Read Scientific Literature: Stay up-to-date on the latest developments in chemistry by reading scientific journals, articles, and books.
Develop Strong Writing Skills: Writing is a critically important skill for any science career.
Consider Foreign Language Courses: Foreign language courses (or learning for free online) may be especially beneficial for students considering working abroad in research or healthcare, or in international business careers.

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