Topics We Cover:
- Why Do Internships in High School?
- How to Find Biotech Internships for High School Students in LA
- 10 Biotechnology Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
- Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Biotech Internships
- Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
Biotech internships for high school students in LA can put Southern Californian teens on the path to professional success. High school biotech internships provide students the chance to explore areas within the field, gain insight into career paths, develop skills, and ultimately build career readiness.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Another benefit high school internships can provide Los Angeles students, and students in general, is a boost in their odds of college admission—70% of students attending a U.S. News top 50 university participated in at least one internship while in high school, according to the consultancy PRISM.
High school internships in fields like biotech demonstrate to colleges that a student has explored fields of interest outside of the classroom, verified their ambitions, and gained real-world experience—all of which makes them stand out in competitive admissions environments.
Furthermore, engaging in a biotech internship in high school can help students gain entry to pre-professional organizations and groups—for example, pre-health and pre-med societies or an undergraduate research society.
How to Find Biotech Internships for High School Students in LA
Online lists and search tools are a proven method for discovering biotechnology internships for high school students in LA and across the nation. StandOutSearch is a valuable resource for teens searching for internship opportunities—it’s the largest free database of high school internships online and features a number of filters to streamline your search, including:
- Field of interest
- Location
- Format (in-person, virtual, hybrid)
- Salary (paid or unpaid)
MIT Admissions also compiles a useful list of high school internships and summer programs. The downside of official internship programs is that they’re generally incredibly competitive.
Los Angeles students serious about securing a biotech internship will want to develop a cold outreach strategy—in other words, a plan for contacting potential internship providers to land a position. Cold outreach can feel intimidating; however, the guide and templates included at the end of this article help take some of the stress out of the process.
10 Biotechnology Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
1. StandOut Connect
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect is a program that helps match gifted high school students with online internships in their industry of interest. Potential sectors include finance, STEM, medicine, law, arts, and more. StandOut Connect is funded by StandOutSearch, the largest free database for high school internships. The program has been featured in Forbes and was created with the help of investment from The University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
2. Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Volunteer Program
Ages: 15-19
Location: Valencia, CA
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, Winter
Deadline: Rolling
High school volunteers are asked to commit to working a weekly four-hour shift and a minimum of 200 hours over the course of a year or more. Volunteers serve in a variety of roles, including:
- Guest ambassador
- Patient support
- Emergency department
- Gift shop representative
- Special events
Many volunteers enjoy the experience and continue to contribute after fulfilling their year-long commitment.
3. Kaiser Permanente High School Program
Ages: 16-19
Location: Locations across California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: January 9
The KP Launch Program provides high schoolers with seven-week paid internships in non-clinical healthcare fields. Participants build job skills, gain work experience, and explore the numerous career paths available in the healthcare field. Internships are available in areas including:
- Consulting services and project/program management
- Health care and hospital operations
- Information technology
- Quality assurance and care management
- Research and development
In addition to their internship, participants also engage in weekly skill-building workshops and engage in networking opportunities like community service projects and social events.
4. Joint BioEnergy Institute | iClem Student Intern
Ages: Sophomores and Juniors
Location: Emeryville, CA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 16
The Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (iCLEM) is a paid seven-week high school internship improving students’ understanding of biotechnology, microbiology, and biofuels. Interns work on a research project, build college readiness, and explore careers in science.
5. Cedars Sinai - High School Student Volunteers
Ages: 14-18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Timeline: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Deadline:
- Winter/Spring: December 4
- Summer: April 2
- Fall: August 6
The Cedars-Sinai High School Student Volunteer Program is the perfect opportunity for young students interested in a healthcare career. Participants connect with healthcare staff and interact with patients while getting an up-close look at how a large medical center operates. High school volunteers may assist with a variety of duties, including:
- Scanning and data entry
- Helping orient new patients
- Answering phones
- Delivering flowers and amenities
There are three volunteer sessions annually, each with unique time and shift commitments.
6. Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Volunteer Program
Ages: 16-18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Rolling
The Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center offers several volunteer programs, including the following:
- General Volunteer Program
- Teen Volunteer Program
- Red Vest Concierge
- Silver Angel Program
- Care Extender Program
- Gift Shop
- Acoustic Remedies Program
- Paws of Love—Pet Program
By donating their time, volunteers help elevate patient experiences throughout more than 40 departments on campus. Duties and time commitments vary depending on the program.
7. Department of Navy’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Ages: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
Location: Locations across California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: November 1
The Department of Navy’s (DoN) Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a great opportunity to gain hands-on, practical science and engineering experience. Students are placed in one of the DoN’s 38 labs—including six in California—exploring fields like algorithm design, cybersecurity, data analysis, and software development.
Internships are eight weeks long—participants work five days a week for a total of 40 hours and are paid.
8. Emma Bowen Foundation Internship
Ages: Seniors
Location: Locations across the country
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: None
Kickstart your career in media or technology with the EBF Internship. Whether you’re interested in producing, journalism, web development, engineering, business, PR, sales, or another field, this program gives you the chance to gain real-world experience. Selected interns will immerse themselves in dynamic organizations, build practical skills, and take the first step toward long-term career success.
9. St. John’s Hospital Student Volunteer Program
Ages: 16-18
Location: Camarillo, CA
Timeline: Year-long
Deadline: Rolling
St. John’s Hospital provides high school students with an abundance of opportunities. Positions are available in areas like:
- Admitting
- Emergency
- Intensive care/coronary care
- Medical records
- Mother-infant unit
Volunteers are required to work a weekly three- to four-hour shift and a minimum of 75 hours over six months.
10. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - High School Intern Program Research
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: Locations across the country
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
This eight-week unpaid internship places high school interns in NIST labs across the country to participate in cutting-edge research projects. Students work with leading scientists and engineers on a research project while developing valuable hard and soft skills, gaining insight into careers, and expanding their professional network.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Biotech Internships
If none of the opportunities above are right for you, you’ll want to develop a cold outreach plan for securing a biotechnology internship in Los Angeles. The guide below provides a straightforward approach to a process that many high schoolers find daunting.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
Students looking for internships for high schoolers in LA should use LinkedIn to find small companies where they can assist with jobs like maintaining labs and recording, entering, or organizing data. Small companies often need extra help and are more likely to take on a high school intern.
When reaching out to professionals, try to find personal ties—for example, a shared hobby, hometown, or passion for a particular sports team. Use caution when meeting with professionals you don’t know; virtual meetings and interviews are the safest option.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
If you’re looking for a research position, online university staff directories are a great resource for finding professors who might offer opportunities. High schoolers normally assist professors with manual tasks, like cleaning and maintaining workspaces or organizing samples, which requires internships to be in-person.
Students doing computational research are the exception, with opportunities available online. Computational research internships often demand a foundational knowledge of coding languages such as Python or R, which you can learn for free with resources like Coursera’s Python for Everybody and R Programming courses.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
Aim to send at least 50 emails to increase your chances of securing a high school biotechnology internship. When reaching out to professionals, include a Google Drive link—PDFs and Docs can cause delivery issues—to your resume and make sure the link’s share settings allow anyone with it to view.
If you need to craft a resume, our resume template and tips is a fantastic reference for creating a powerful resume that captures your achievements and experiences—ultimately opening doors to professional opportunities. The University of Chicago has also published a useful resume template and guide.
Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.
Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.
Template for Finding an Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I read about your company on LinkedIn and found the concept quite interesting. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience].
I was wondering if you might be looking for interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field].
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Whether you’re applying to established programs or pursuing a cold outreach approach, securing biotechnology internships in Los Angeles as a high school student requires persistence. These opportunities can be competitive, but many students find the experience valuable for gaining early exposure to a biotech career. If this guide was useful, consider saving it for reference or sharing it with a peer.
Wishing you success in your internship search!
