5 Neuroscience Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
- Estelle Reardon
- Sep 9
- 6 min read
Topics We Cover:
Neuroscience internships for high schoolers in Los Angeles can provide many benefits to LA-based students. From invaluable insight into potential career paths to boosting college odds, there’s a reason why more and more high schoolers are pursuing internships.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Before exploring high school neuroscience internship opportunities in Los Angeles, it’s essential to understand how advantageous internships are to high schoolers. The consultancy PRISM found that 70% of students attending a U.S. News top 50 university completed an internship while in high school.
High school internships help students stand out in competitive college admissions, demonstrate an interest in fields they’re passionate about, and gain real-world, professional experience. Completing a high school internship also makes it easier to gain admission to pre-professional and student-run organizations and increases your chances of securing college internships.
How to Find Neuroscience Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
Online search tools and lists are a proven strategy for discovering high school neuroscience internships in LA and beyond. StandOutSearch is a great place to start—it’s the largest free online database of internship programs for high school students. MIT Admissions also provides a helpful list of notable high school internships and summer programs.
The drawback of official internships is that they’re typically extremely competitive. If you’re serious about landing a high school internship, you’ll also want to form a cold outreach strategy—that is, a plan for connecting with potential internship providers. Below, we’ve included some tips for creating a cold outreach strategy, as well as email templates for reaching out to potential internship hosts, to simplify and reduce the stress of finding an internship.
5 Neuroscience Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
Most of the neuroscience internships for high school students in Los Angeles listed below have acceptance rates of 20% or lower. Given the tight odds, we recommend applying for at least five neuroscience high school internships in LA. If you see an exciting opportunity, write the deadline on your calendar so you don’t miss out!
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect is a program that connects exceptional high school students with meaningful online internships across their fields of interest. Students can explore opportunities in diverse sectors, including finance, STEM, medicine, law, the arts, and beyond.
The program is powered by StandOutSearch, the nation’s largest free database for high school internships, and has been recognized by publications such as Forbes. StandOut Connect was developed with strategic investment from The University of Chicago’s prestigious Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Ages: 16-18
Location: California
Timeline: Year Round
Deadline: Varies
Sandia hosts student interns ranging from those in their final years of high school to undergraduates to researchers working toward PhDs. Interns work on real-world, challenging projects and may participate in intern-specific programming, such as career fairs, symposiums, presentations, and site tours.
Interns are also afforded opportunities to socialize, travel, and explore life in New Mexico and California.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Southern California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 31
Interns in this 10-week summer program are exposed to—and develop a deeper understanding of—topics in translational science. Participants explore topics such as the genetic basis for common and complex traits and diseases in humans and the integration of mobile technologies to monitor and improve healthcare.
Students also learn about study design and analysis procedures for translational research, gain firsthand experience with clinical trials, and build foundational knowledge of scientific concepts. Students work under the guidance of a mentor and are encouraged to connect with other interns.
Ages: 15-17
Location: Santa Barbara
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 17
Although not a neuroscience internship strictly speaking, the Research Mentorship Program provides an excellent opportunity for high schoolers to gain hands-on research experience. Students work with a mentor while learning about research techniques, gaining insight into potential career paths, and developing their academic goals.
Students will also gain direct experience with university life and build their network of professionals and peers.
Ages: 14-18
Location: Los Angeles
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: April 27
Just 15 to 20 high school students from the Los Angeles area are accepted into this competitive free summer program. Participants are introduced to the field of neuroscience, learning fundamental concepts and basic lab techniques while building a passion for the field. The program explores fields like molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neuroanatomy.
Program participants also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and explore potential career paths in neuroscience.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School InternshipsÂ
If the opportunities listed above aren’t the right fit for you, the next step to obtaining a neuroscience internship for high school students in Los Angeles is to launch a cold outreach strategy. Many high schoolers find this intimidating, but the guide below makes the process considerably more simple and less stressful.
Keep in mind, it’s safest to interview and meet with professionals you don’t know virtually.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School InternshipÂ
LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for discovering small companies that may offer an internship. Small companies are often shorthanded and more likely to take on a high school student to assist with tasks like grant writing, creating presentations, updating websites, data entry, and maintaining lab equipment.
When reaching out to professionals, try to find something personal to connect over, such as a shared hobby, passion for a sports team, or hailing from the same hometown.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research PositionÂ
Online university staff directories are a tried-and-true resource for discovering professors hosting research positions. Most high school research opportunities are in-person, as these opportunities typically involve assisting with manual lab tasks, like cleaning and organizing lab equipment.
Computational research is the exception, however, remote research positions generally require an introductory knowledge of Python or R. Fortunately, you can learn these on your own, for free, within a few months through resources like Coursera’s Python for Everybody and R Programming course.
How to Structure and Send Outreach EmailsÂ
Cold outreach is a numbers game—the more internship inquiries you make, the better your chances are of securing a neuroscience internship. Aim to send at least 50 emails to potential internship providers to bolster your chances of success.
When reaching out, include a Google Drive link to your resume, as Word Documents and PDFs can sometimes hinder delivery. Limit your resume to one page and make sure the sharing setting on the document allows anyone with the link to view it. If you have work samples—like the URL to a website you designed or a GitHub profile—make sure to include them.
Don’t have a resume? Don’t worry! Our high school resume template and tips offer straightforward instructions on creating a resume that stands out—helping you land an internship. The University of Chicago’s free resume template and guide is another helpful resource.
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
Landing a high school neuroscience internship in Los Angeles requires persistence. These coveted spots are tough to secure—whether you’re targeting established programs or cold emailing professionals and researchers directly. However, there’s a payoff: students who push through the rejections and keep applying consistently find it’s game-changing for their future careers.
Ready to start your internship journey? Save this guide and share it with fellow aspiring neuroscientists. Your breakthrough internship is out there. Go get it!