10 Biotechnology Internships for High School Students
- Estelle Reardon
- Aug 14
- 7 min read
Topics We Cover:
Why Do Internships in High School?
High school internships in biotechnology provide a number of valuable benefits to high schoolers. PRISM consultancy found that 70% of students admitted to the top 50 universities listed by U.S. News had completed at least one internship. Such experiences help high schoolers stand out in college admissions by demonstrating initiative and a clear career focus.
Biotechnology is a fast-growing and competitive field. Internships provide high school students exposure to professional settings and build key skills—like data analysis, advanced lab techniques, and regulatory compliance—that increase their chances for future internships, college organizations, and job opportunities.
How to Find Biotechnology Internships for High School Students
Online search tools and lists are a proven method for discovering biotechnology internships for high school students. The StandOutSearch database is a comprehensive listing of internship programs for high school students and is one of the largest free resources online. Another helpful tool is a list of high school internship programs provided by MIT Admissions.
Official internship programs are typically very competitive and possessing in-demand skills can set you apart from a competitive field of applicants. Knowledge of programming languages like R and Python (both of which you can learn for free through Coursera’s R Programming and Python for Everybody courses). Proficiency with Excel and an understanding of biology and chemistry will also help to separate you from the field.
High schoolers serious about securing biotechnology internships will want to develop a cold outreach strategy, or a plan for contacting potential internship providers—like organizations and professors—with the hopes of landing a position. Below, we provide some cold outreach tips along with email templates that make the process less daunting.
10 Biotechnology Internships for High School Students
Due to high demand and limited program availability, most biotechnology internships for high school students below have acceptance rates of 20% or less. Consequently, we recommend applying to at least five opportunities. If you find one that excites you, be sure to mark the application deadline on your calendar!
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect matches gifted high school students with online internships in their fields of interest, including finance, STEM, medicine, law, arts, and more. The program is powered by StandOutSearch—one of the largest online free databases of high school internships. The program has been featured in Forbes and was developed with support from The University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Massachusetts
Timeline: Spring
Deadline: TBD
The High School Apprenticeship Challenge provides more than 100 annual internship opportunities to underrepresented and low-income high school students. Internships are paid and available at small life science companies and research institutions. The program also includes pre-internship lab training and professional skill development.
Ages: Rising Senior
Location: New Mexico
Timeline: Summer, Spring, or Fall
Deadline: Contact for Deadline
The LANL’s High School Internship Program provides qualified high school seniors from northern New Mexico the opportunity to develop skills and gain work experience while receiving exposure to a variety of career fields. Interns are connected to various projects that include biomedical engineering and biotechnology.
Summer internships typically last 10 weeks and involve working up to 40 hours a week. School-year interns can anticipate working between 10 and 20 hours a week.
Ages: Rising Senior
Location: Massachusetts
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) is a six-week program where students conduct university laboratory research under the mentorship of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. Students can opt to participate in one of two tracks: an internship track, where students are placed with various research projects, or a Practicum track, which is more focused on learning and researching computational neurobiology.
Ages: 15-19
Location:Â California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 16
The Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (iCLEM) program is a seven-week paid summer science intensive that aims to increase participants’ understanding of biotechnology, microbiology, and biofuels. The program also contains components focused on career exploration and preparation for the college application process.
The internship program is open to California high school juniors and seniors in Almada, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties who are from low-income backgrounds.
Ages: 15-19
Location: Washington, D.C.
Timeline:Â Summer
Deadline: April 15
Although not an internship per se, the Georgetown University Biotechnology for Science & Health Academy provides a great opportunity for high schoolers to bolster their knowledge of biotechnology and the role it plays in the fields of health and science.
Students engage in hands-on lab exercises, listen to lectures, and participate in activities like cloning a gene, examining DNA, and exploring how DNA is used in forensics. Participants will also learn how biotechnology is used in other sectors, like agriculture and food science.
Ages: Rising Senior
Location: Houston, TX
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 28
Rising high school seniors interested in biomedical, bioengineering, and health-oriented professions will want to check out this competitive summer internship. Participants are instructed in basic lab techniques and undertake a research project led by a scientist or graduate student. At the end of the program, students present their research, some of which may contribute to research publications.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Massachusetts
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 3, 2025
Participants in the six-week TUBERS program explore cutting-edge biomedical research, investigate biomedical questions, and develop new methods of study. Students will learn research techniques and engage in in-depth study while learning experimental protocols, making predictions, and testing hypotheses.
Participants are encouraged to use their projects in national science competitions with the hope of earning honors or scholarship money.
Ages: 17-19
Location: Ohio
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
This eight-week summer high school internship program for graduating high school students in the Cincinnati area offers an excellent chance to learn firsthand about careers in the biomedical sciences. Participants are paired with mentors in a number of fields, including human genetics, neonatology and pulmonary biology, and developmental biology. The program concludes with students presenting a summary of their experience to the group.
Ages: 16-19
Location: New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
Students in this program learn about the latest advances in genetic engineering, biology lab skills, and science communication skills. Participants also get a behind-the-scenes look at real working labs, take field trips, and connect with scientific mentors. They also learn what it feels like to be a real scientist, work on a research project, and gain firsthand insight into potential career paths.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School InternshipsÂ
If the options above aren’t the right match, it’s time to take matters into your own hands with a cold outreach strategy—that is, a plan to reach out and connect with potential internship providers. Sounds intimidating? Don’t worry, the guide below breaks it down into easy steps.
One quick note: When connecting with professionals you haven’t met before, stick to virtual meetings or interviews.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School InternshipÂ
LinkedIn is an excellent jumping-off point for finding small companies and labs that may offer to let you intern, assisting with tasks like lab work and research. Smaller companies are a fantastic target for internships; they’re often shorthanded, making them more likely to take on high school students.
When reaching out to possible internship providers, make sure to highlight your interest in and knowledge of biotechnology. The more specific the better—for example, highlight the exact areas you’re interested in, like nanobiotechnology, medical biology, or genetic engineering.
It’s also useful when introducing yourself to prospective contacts to find a shared connection, whether it’s having attended the same school, being from the same hometown, or simply liking the same sports team.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research PositionÂ
Online university directories are a valuable resource for finding professors to contact about potential research positions. Remote research positions are tough to come by, as most high school interns assist with manual lab work like washing beakers and operating equipment. The exception is interns assisting with computational research related to bioinformatics.
How to Structure and Send Outreach EmailsÂ
For an effective cold outreach strategy, aim to send at least 50 emails to potential internship providers—the more emails you send, the better your chances of securing a high school internship. When reaching out, include a link to your resume, which should be no longer than one page. Our article, High School Resume Template and Tips, provides everything you need to know to get started crafting an attention-grabbing resume. Another great tool is the University of Chicago’s free template and guide.
StandOut Connect recommends sharing your resume via a Google Drive link (rather than a PDF) to avoid deliverability issues. Just make sure the link’s sharing settings allow anyone with the link to view it. You can also strengthen your resume by adding work samples, such as a website you designed, a social media account you manage, or your GitHub profile.
Email Template for Finding a High School InternshipÂ
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.Â
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].Â
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,Â
[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].Â
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!Â
Sincerely,
[Your name]

Conclusion
Whether you’re applying to established programs or starting a cold outreach campaign, perseverance is key to landing a biotechnology internship or research role in high school. These opportunities can be tough to secure, but the payoff—a head start on building your career—is well worth the effort. If this guide helped you, save it for later or share it with a friend. Good luck on your internship search!