10 Neuroscience Internships for High School Students in Boston
- Estelle Reardon
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Topics We Cover:
Neuroscience internships for high school students in Boston provide STEM-focused teens with numerous advantages, including hands-on experience, skill development, and an early start on a potential career path.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Engaging in neuroscience internships for high school students in Boston can put teens on the path to success. High school internships demonstrate to colleges and universities that a prospective student has explored their interests outside of the classroom and verified their interest in pursuing a career in a particular field.
Ultimately, high school internships help college applicants stand out to admissions officers. The consultancy PRISM found that almost three-quarters of students at U.S. News Top 50 universities participated in at least one internship while in high school.
Participating in a high school internship not only boosts a student’s odds of college admission, but it can also make it easier to join prep professional clubs and societies, like a pre-health club or undergraduate research program. Completing a high school internship also makes it easier to secure college internships.
How to Find Neuroscience Internships for High School Students in Boston
Online search tools and lists are a proven method for discovering neuroscience internships for high school students in Boston, as well as opportunities in other fields and in different locations. StandOutSearch is one such tool—it’s the largest free online database of internship opportunities for high schoolers and is easily refined using a number of filters, including location, field of interest, and format (in-person, online, or hybrid). MIT Admissions also provides a helpful list of summer internship opportunities.
The problem with official internships is that they’re generally super competitive—there are simply more high schoolers looking for opportunities than open positions. Students committed to landing an internship will want to develop a cold outreach strategy—that is, a plan for contacting potential internship providers to obtain an internship. Cold outreach can feel intimidating, but below we’ve included some tips and email templates to make the process less daunting.
10 Neuroscience Internships for High School Students in Boston
Many of the neuroscience internships for high school students in Boston listed below have acceptance rates of 20% or lower; for that reason, we suggest applying to at least five opportunities.
If you find an internship that excites you, write its deadline in your calendar, so you don’t miss out on an excellent opportunity.
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect pairs gifted high school students with meaningful online internships in fields like finance, STEM, medicine, law, and the arts. Powered by StandOutSearch, the largest free database of high school internships, and supported by The University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the program has been featured in Forbes.
Interns receive mentorship from alumni of top universities, learn how to recruit for and succeed in internships, and complete a two-month internship at a company founded by a top-university alumnus. Participants leave having led a meaningful project, with many earning opportunities to continue their work beyond the program.
Ages: 17-18
Location: Various Locations
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
This program provides 11th and 12th graders the chance to explore careers in research and healthcare. Internships last six to eight weeks. During this time, students engage in basic and clinical research, participate in professional development events, and receive mentorship.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Boston, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Rolling
Students in this paid six-week program work 30 hours a week in departments such as research, radiology, and materials management. Participants also engage in professional development activities, learn about community health and patient care, and explore healthcare careers.
The program is open to high schoolers who are residents of Boston.
Ages: Juniors
Location: Cambridge, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: December 10
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Research Science Institute brings together 100 of the world’s most accomplished high school students to explore scientific theory and gain work experience in science and technology research.
During the six-week program, students take intensive STEM classes, connect with professors, and complete an independent research project. The program concludes with written and oral presentations of participants’ work.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Medford, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 31, 2025
The Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS) Program is a free six-week summer program focused on biomedical research. Participants investigate key biomedical questions and explore innovative methods for studying cells, tissues, and organs while gaining firsthand experience with experimental protocols, making predictions, and testing hypotheses.
The program is open to high schoolers interested in biomedical research from Boston and the following Boston-area towns and cities:
Arlington
Cambridge
Chelsea
Everett
Malden
Medford
Melrose
Quincy
Revere
Somerville
Winchester
Ages: Juniors
Location: Boston, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
Interns in the Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) internship program spend six weeks working 40 hours a week on a research project. Interns build valuable technical and analytical skills while gaining real-world experience with the scientific process. The program culminates with the participants presenting the findings of their research at a poster symposium.
Research opportunities are available in a number of fields in addition to neuroscience, including:
Astronomy
Biology
Biomedical engineering
Chemistry
Medical laboratory research
Psychology
Public health
Ages: Sophomores and Juniors
Location: Worcester, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 2
This four-week, tuition-free residential program introduces students to careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, and healthcare. Participants build study and communication skills, explore fields such as mathematics, biology, and information technology, and connect with physicians and healthcare professionals.
The program is open to Massachusetts high school students only.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Waltham, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Rolling
This internship program connects low-income high school students with paid internship opportunities at research institutions and small life science companies. Participants receive pre-internship training, professional skills development, and exposure to biotechnology and biomedical careers. Since its launch in 2016, the program has supported more than 950 internships.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Cambridge, MA
Timeline: Year-round
Deadline: TBD
The Leaders through Education, Action and Hope (LEAH) Knox Scholars is a multi-year program that provides participants with experiential learning opportunities in science. Participants engage in lab work, receive mentorship, attend STEM-focused events, and develop college readiness. Ultimately, LEAH Knox Scholars build the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for careers in scientific research.
The program is open to students from the greater Boston area, including Boston, Cambridge, and Everett.
Ages: Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors
Location: Somerville, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: May 19
Students in this summer internship for Massachusetts high schoolers gain hands-on independent research experience. Students also participate in college-level lectures in areas such as immunology, microbiology, and oral health. The program concludes with participants presenting a poster to the Boston-area scientific community.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Neuroscience Internships
If none of the opportunities above are a fit for you, you’ll want a launch a cold outreach plan to secure a high school neuroscience internship in Boston.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
LinkedIn is one of the best platforms for finding companies that may be open to hosting interns. Look for small companies, which are commonly understaffed, and are more willing to take on a high schooler to assist with tasks like labeling samples, cleaning equipment, and entering data.
When reaching out to professionals, try to find personal connections, like a shared hobby, hometown, or favorite sports team. Remember that it’s always safest to meet people you don’t know virtually—opt for online interviews and meetings.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
You can search university staff directories to find professors who might be open to taking on high school research interns. Keep in mind, though, that remote research positions are harder to secure—most professors rely on high school interns for hands-on lab tasks like cleaning equipment or assisting with experiments.
The exception is computational research, which can often be done remotely if you have basic programming skills in Python or R. The good news is that you can learn either language online for free in just a few months through resources like Coursera’s Python for Everybody or R Programming courses.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
The more internship inquiries you send, the better your chances of landing one of these competitive positions. We recommend reaching out to at least 50 potential internship providers. Your email should include a Google Drive link to your resume—just be sure the sharing settings allow anyone with the link to view it. Using a Google Drive link is preferable to attaching a Doc or PDF, which can sometimes hurt email deliverability.
Whether you’re crafting your first resume or updating an existing one, our resume template and tips provide everything you need to create a winning document. The University of Chicago also offers a resume template and guide, which has proven to be a valuable 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
Whether you’re applying to established programs or reaching out on your own, perseverance is key when searching for neuroscience internships for high school students in Boston. These opportunities can be tough to land, but they’re well worth the effort for students eager to jump-start their careers.
If you found this article helpful, save it or share it with a friend—and good luck with your search!