10 Paid Internships for High School Students in NYC

Internships offer high school students a valuable opportunity to gain real-world experience, explore potential career paths, and build meaningful professional connections—all while earning a stipend. Unlike many summer programs, which often come at a high cost, internships provide a practical, hands-on learning experience that helps students make informed decisions about their future studies and careers.

These programs are offered by prestigious universities, research institutions, and organizations, ensuring that you receive high-quality mentorship and exposure to professional work environments. Internships span various fields, including STEM, healthcare, business, and the arts, allowing you to refine your interests and enhance your resumes. Below is a list of 10 paid internships for high school students in New York City.

1. Stony Brook University - Simons Summer Research Program

Stipend: Interns receive a stipend.

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.
Application Deadline: February 7. 

Internship Dates: June 30 - August 8.

Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and 16 years old at the start of the program are eligible to apply.

The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University is a highly competitive program for rising high school seniors interested in scientific research. With an acceptance rate of just 0.05%, the program attracts students who work closely with faculty mentors on cutting-edge research projects. You will engage in formulating hypotheses, analyzing data, and developing problem-solving and analytical skills. The program culminates in a symposium where you will present your findings to peers, mentors, and faculty, providing a platform for academic networking and professional growth.

2. Columbia University - Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)

Stipend: Interns receive a stipend.
Location: Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY.

Application Deadline: Applications typically open in October.
Internship Dates: July - August.

Eligibility: High school students in 10th and 11th grade and currently enrolled in one of the partner programs, S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School and BioBus, are eligible to apply. Applicants must reside in New York City, and preference is given to students in upper Manhattan and the South Bronx.

Columbia University’s BRAINYAC program offers high school students hands-on experience in neuroscience research within university labs. Each participant is paired with a mentor from Columbia’s neuroscience department and gains exposure to experimental techniques and data analysis. By the end of the program, you will develop a solid understanding of laboratory research and explore potential career paths in academic science. 

3. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

Stipend: $3000.
Location: The program places you in a fishery center within a 45-minute commute from your home.

Application Deadline: January 19.
Internship Dates: The program typically runs for 8 weeks in the summer with exact dates varying depending on the location.

Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are 16 years or older and living in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Pacific Islands are eligible to apply. 

Administered by the American Fisheries Society, the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid summer internship designed to introduce high school students to fisheries and aquatic sciences. You will work alongside professionals in various settings, including field sites, laboratories, offices, and research vessels, and gain hands-on experience in electrofishing, habitat restoration, data interpretation, and specimen analysis. The program not only fosters interest in fisheries science but also equips you with transferable research skills applicable to biology and environmental sciences.

4. SUNY Oneonta - Biological Field Station Internships

Stipend: $3000.
Location: State University of New York, Oneonta, NY.

Application Deadline: March 26.
Internship Dates: The internship runs for 9 weeks in the summer with a flexible start date.

Eligibility: New York State high school students who are 16 years or older are eligible to apply.

SUNY Oneonta offers a selective nine-week summer research internship at its Biological Field Station (BFS). Each year, one to three high school students are selected to work in the BFS central lab alongside faculty and staff. As an intern, you will participate in fieldwork, laboratory analysis, data interpretation, and scientific writing. Past projects have involved dissecting fish, sampling water, and surveying plant and fish populations. The internship concludes with a poster session where you will present your research findings to faculty, mentors, and peers.

5. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Summer Student Program

Stipend: $1200.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.

Application Deadline: February 7.
Internship Dates: June 30 - August 22.

Eligibility: High school juniors who are 14 years or older by June and live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of Main Campus are eligible to apply. Applicants must have a 3.5 grade point average in science subjects.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) offers an eight-week paid summer internship focused on computational and translational biomedical research. With an acceptance rate below 2%, the program selects only 20 students annually. As an intern, you will undertake independent research projects aligned with your mentor’s ongoing work in fields such as cancer biology, pharmacology, structural biology, computational genetics, molecular biology, and immunology. In addition to conducting research, you will also attend scientific meetings and gain exposure to professional research environments.

6. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory - Partners for the Future

Stipend: Need-based stipend is provided.
Location: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.

Application Deadline: March 21.
Internship Dates: September - March.

Eligibility: High school seniors with a passion for science are eligible to apply.

This program provides high school seniors with the opportunity to conduct original research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. You will commit to at least 10 hours per week of research-related activities under the mentorship of experienced scientists. You will gain hands-on experience in molecular biology and advanced research techniques. The program concludes with an oral presentation, allowing you to showcase your findings before an audience of mentors, researchers, teachers, and parents.

7. NYU - Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)

Stipend: $1000.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY.

Application Deadline: February 21.
Internship Dates: June 2 - August 18.

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools are eligible to apply.

The ARISE program at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering is a ten-week summer research internship that provides high school students with hands-on experience in engineering and applied sciences. Research areas include robotics, civil and urban engineering, and mechanical and electrical engineering. You will receive mentorship from graduate students and postdoctoral researchers while participating in workshops on scientific ethics, data collection, and research methodology. The program emphasizes supporting underrepresented students and includes public speaking training to help you effectively present your research at the closing colloquium.

8. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai - CEYE High School Summer Program

Stipend: Interns receive a stipend.
Location: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. 

Application Deadline: February 16.
Internship Dates: July - August.

Eligibility: Rising high school seniors are eligible to apply.

The CEYE High School Summer Program at Mount Sinai provides students with an immersive experience in healthcare and medical research. You will engage in clinical rotations, attend seminars on medical ethics and patient care, and maintain a detailed logbook of your experiences. In addition to taking pre- and post-assessments, you will also conduct research projects and present your findings in a final paper and presentation. The program fosters mentor-mentee relationships and provides insight into the medical profession.

9. NYU - High School Bioethics Internship

Stipend: $640.
Location: Remote.

Application Deadline: Applications for the summer internships will be available in early to mid-April.
Internship Dates: To be announced.

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. 

NYU’s High School Bioethics Project offers a two-week paid internship for high school students covering topics such as public health, law, biotechnology, and patient advocacy. You will spend 10 to 15 hours per week discussing assigned readings, preparing group presentations, and engaging in reflective dialogues. At the end of the program, you will submit a reflective essay and a short report on a key topic discussed during the internship. This opportunity provides an in-depth exploration of bioethics while fostering critical thinking and research skills.

10. Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars Program

Stipend: Weekly stipend ranges from $501 to 805.
Location: Rome Laboratory, New York. NY.

Application Deadline: January 10.
Internship Dates: Various dates throughout the year. 

Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale are eligible to apply. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted at an educational institution, taking at least a half-time academic course load leading to a degree or certificate for the semester immediately preceding the internship session. 

The AFRL Scholars Program offers high school students a paid internship focused on aerospace engineering and advanced technology research. You will work on cutting-edge projects under the guidance of experienced scientists and engineers. As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience in research and technology development while touring AFRL laboratories. The program provides an in-depth introduction to aerospace science and innovation, making it a great opportunity for students interested in engineering and related fields.

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