15 Internships For High School Students In Illinois
If you are a high school student looking for practical experience before you enter college, participating in an internship can be a great learning opportunity. These experiences allow you to explore different career paths, apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to professional settings, and gain a clearer sense of your interests and strengths. Internships can help you broaden your professional and peer network, develop valuable skills, and improve your resume with practical work experience.
Illinois is home to many reputable universities and organisations that offer both paid and unpaid internships throughout the year. These internships provide you with experience in many fields, including AI, ML, Business, medicine, engineering, and more. You get to participate in seminars, workshops, attend faculty lectures, and go on lab tours. Both local and out-of-state students can find internships that suit their interests and allow them to explore the professional opportunities in Illinois.
To make your search easier, here is a list of 15 internships for high school students in Illinois
1. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL (On-site and off-site work schedule)
Stipend: $500/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school seniors enrolled in an Illinois school must be U.S. citizens with proof of medical insurance
PRISM by Fermilab is a four-week intensive research program for high school students where you will get to interact with Fermilab professionals and explore various STEM fields. You will learn in-depth about topics such as particle physics, engineering design, quantum science, and artificial intelligence. You will attend lectures led by experts, engage in hands-on activities, and go on tours to the Fermilab research facilities. This dynamic research and mentorship program will help your professional development through a supportive network in STEM and prepare you for future academics.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies with program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. If you are interested in AI, ML, and data science, then you will benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option is the AI Fellowship program, where you get to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on an individual project. It will give you access to the in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Northwestern University Research Program for High Schoolers (NURPH)
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Stipend: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20-30 students (Approx.)
Dates: June 23 – August 8 ( Tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
NURPH is a seven-week paid program that gives underrepresented Chicago area high school students to pursue careers in STEM fields. The program will help you build supportive mentor networks, gain academic confidence, and develop foundational skills in STEM. High school students from Chicago Math and Science Academy, Northwestern Academy, and Holy Trinity High School will get access to the University laboratory resources. You will get to perform 20 hours of research under the mentorship of professional researchers, five hours of professional skills development for STEM careers, and five hours of education in material science and engineering.
4. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply here.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
5. Chicago EYES on Cancer
Location: University of Chicago Medicine, Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $5000 paid annually (Taxable)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school sophomore, junior, or senior, OR college freshman or sophomore, minimum age: 16, high school students must be residents of Cook, Will, Lake, or DuPage counties in Illinois, or Lake County in Indiana
The Chicago Educators and Youth Enjoy Science (EYES) on Cancer is a two-year program that includes two eight-week summer research experiences along with academic year activities. Conducted monthly. It is a research program for high school students with an interest in biomedicine. You will work full-time in research laboratories, go through an intensive research training, and attend a cancer-based summer lecture series. You will be allowed to present your work across basic, translational, clinical, and population-based areas of cancer research in a symposium as the program culminates.
6. Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab at the University of Chicago
Location: Ryerson Laboratory, UChicago Hyde Park Campus, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $4,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 16 – August 8 (Tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students must be located in the Chicago area, with familiarity in at least one programming language (C++, Python, Java), or relevant coursework in statistics, computer science, and math is preferred
The DSI Summer Lab is an eight-week paid summer research opportunity for Chicago-area high school and undergraduate students. You will be paired with data science mentors from various fields, including data science, social science, computer science, materials science, climate and energy policy, public policy, and biomedical research. Working with these mentors will help you improve your research methodology skills and gain practical experience through real-world data science projects. You will get to present your research findings as final videos as the program culminates.
7. University of Illinois Summer Science Internship
Location: University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford (Rockford, IL)
Cost/Stipend: Free/ A stipend is paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Illinois high school students must be at least 16 years old
The University of Illinois Summer Science Internship is a research mentoring program for high school students. The internship will allow you to be a part of a research team and work with leading scientists in the field of Science. You will receive career-building training in presentation skills, leadership skills, and teamwork. The projects included in the program are based on cancer research, drug discovery, and vaccine development. The internship is a great opportunity to receive guidance from mentors and prepare for college with confidence.
8. UChicago Youth Internship Program
Location: University of Chicago, IL
Stipend: City of Chicago minimum wage paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: June 23 – July 31 (Tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: April 24
Eligibility: Chicago high school students who are at least 16 years old, residents of Chicago, and have an interest in health sciences, computer sciences, and IT services careers
The UChicago Youth Internship Program is a paid opportunity for Chicago high school students that spans two summers. It will provide you with an opportunity to explore STEM careers, gain valuable skills, and prepare you for the college application process. In the first year of the program, you will participate in workshops, seminars, workplace tours, college tours, and post-secondary planning. After completing the first year, you can reapply for the second year of the program, which includes a six-week job in health sciences, computer sciences, or IT services within one of several University units.
9. Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs
Location: University of Illinois, Champaign County, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 29 – August 21 (Tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: March 24
Eligibility: Rising 10th - 12th graders from Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Wisconsin
The Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research is a free six-week program that will provide you with hands-on experience in various areas of STEMM, including cancer immunology, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, physics, bioengineering, electrical engineering, quantum mechanics, and more. You will participate in weekly seminars and learn to prepare a research poster, interact with faculty, researchers, and students who will support you in your research. You get the opportunity to present your research with a research poster and symposium as the program concludes. It is a great opportunity to improve your research skills and gain confidence as a future STEMM professional.
10. Chicago Summer Business Institute Internship (CSBI) Program
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with a 3.0 average or a “B” on report card, must be Chicago residents and have a family household income below $80,000/year
The Chicago Summer Business Institute is a paid summer internship for Chicago high school students that will introduce you to the financial services sector and provide an incentive to continue your education, along with preparing you for a career in Business. You will get the opportunity to broaden your professional network by connecting with experts from different fields, including law, finance, government, and more.
11. Northwestern Medicine GSM Governor Discovery Program
Location: Multiple locations in Illinois
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Begins on November 15
Application Deadline: September 29
Eligibility: First year applications - High school sophomores and juniors, minimum age - 15 years, GPA - 3.0/4.0; Second year applicants - Must have completed year one of the Discovery Program and maintained good standing.
The Northwestern Medicine GSM Governor Discovery Program is designed for high school students interested in a healthcare career. Through this program, you will get to explore jobs in healthcare by going on tours, engaging in group discussions and activities, and listening to guest speakers. You will get the opportunity to develop clinical skills, gain leadership experience, and explore careers in medicine, nursing, and research by building a network with healthcare professionals.
12. University of Illinois- SHARP Program
Location: Various research laboratories, the University of Illinois Chicago Medical Campus, IL; Surgical Innovation Training Laboratory, SITL, 912 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL
Cost: $3,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school students (minimum age: 16 years), two recommendation forms, official transcript, and guardian’s consent
The Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program (SHARP) is a 10-month program where you will be introduced to medical research in AI, robotics, and engineering. This program is offered by the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery at the University of Illinois Chicago. It consists of three components: a six-week summer research lab, a school-year component, and a community service component. In the summer research component, you will attend scientific lectures, be a part of biomedical engineering projects, and receive career mentorship. You will also get an opportunity to continue with your research during the school year.
13. Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $14,490 + $50 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: June 14 – July 13
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: Grade 10 and 11 high school students
RIBS by Summer at UChicago is a four-week intensive training program for high school students. The program will expose you to a wide range of research laboratory techniques, including molecular, microbiological, and cell biology techniques. You will be a part of project-based training in the application of current molecular techniques in genetics, developmental biology, cell biology, and cancer biology. Once the two-week training is completed, you will spend the remaining time on an independent project. You will write weekly assignments, attend seminars led by faculty, and participate in group presentations. You will present your project at a research forum as the program concludes.
14. Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $500 (Taxable)
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: July 13 – 25
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school students, females, and underrepresented individuals are encouraged to apply
Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology is a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in Science and Medicine. The goal of the program is to empower talented students to enter biomedical career pathways. The program will allow you to work in collaboration on a genetics-based research project and a patient case study project. You will also be a part of panel discussions, skill-building workshops, and faculty lectures that will help you gain knowledge and build networks. The program is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in cancer research.
15. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging’s Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 Application fee; Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students must be U.S. citizens, with preference given to math, biology, and computer science backgrounds, minimum age: 15 years
The Stanford Centre for AIMI’s Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program for high school students. The internship will help you explore the clinical and technical aspects of AI in healthcare. You will engage in mentoring activities with Stanford researchers and student leads, work on hands-on group research projects, social activities, and attend introductory lectures about AI fundamentals. The program may also offer you an extended research internship opportunity. The program is open to all students; those from underrepresented backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.
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