13 Internships for High School Students in Maine
Doing an internship during high school allows you to gain practical experience that classroom learning cannot replicate. These programs provide a realistic view of professional environments and help you develop technical skills specific to your field of interest. Beyond technical growth, you build a professional network and enhance your college applications by demonstrating commitment to a career path. They also help clarify your academic goals before you commit to a specific university major.
Why should you intern in Maine?
Maine offers a unique professional landscape characterized by its leadership in specialized sectors such as marine biology, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. Internships for high school students in Maine provide access to research institutions and heritage industries that are foundational to the regional economy. In addition, the professional community in Maine often allows for direct mentorship from industry experts, providing a more personalized learning experience. You can gain experience in diverse environments, ranging from high-tech laboratories in Bar Harbor to industrial shipyards in Bath.
We’ve put together a list of 13 internships for high school students in Maine to help you narrow down your decision.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These internships span marine and ocean science (Bigelow BLOOM, Hutton Fisheries), genetics and genomics (Jackson Laboratory), environmental conservation (Acadia Youth Conservation Corps, Green Teens), civic engagement (LWVME Youth Council), and virtual STEM research (Stanford AIMI, ASSIP, Fred Hutch EVI).
Several programs are paid or provide stipends, including Jackson Laboratory ($7,500), Hutton Fisheries ($3,000), Acadia Youth Conservation Corps ($15.30/hour), LWVME Youth Council ($900), Maine MERITS (stipend provided), and Green Teens ($500).
Many Maine-based programs are geographically restricted to Maine residents or students, including MERITS (Maine juniors), Bigelow BLOOM (Maine juniors), Maine-SMART (southern Maine high schools), and the LWVME Youth Council.
Virtual options including Ladder Internships, Stanford AIMI, Fred Hutch EVI, New York Academy of Sciences Junior Academy, and ASSIP at GMU make competitive research and professional experience accessible to Maine students regardless of location.
Application deadlines are concentrated between January and April, with the earliest being Hutton Fisheries (January 25) and Jackson Laboratory (January 26), so students should prepare materials well before the end of the fall semester.
1. The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) Summer Student Program
Location: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
Stipend: $7,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24–28 positions (high schoolers and undergrads)
Dates: May 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors (18+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
This research internship for high school students in Maine focuses on genetics and genomics in a professional laboratory setting. You are paired with a faculty mentor to conduct an independent research project that contributes to the laboratory's ongoing biomedical studies. You learn advanced laboratory techniques, including CRISPR gene editing, data analysis, and scientific communication. The program concludes with a formal symposium where you present your findings to the scientific community. It is designed to develop the technical skills and professional maturity required for a career in genomic research.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (full financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
This virtual internship program pairs students with startups and nonprofits to work on professional projects across industries such as technology, finance, and healthcare. As an intern, you are supervised by a mentor from the host company and participate in weekly professional development sessions led by managers from top-tier firms. The work involves completing projects that address real-world business challenges, such as data analysis, marketing strategy, or software testing. You’ll use industry-standard tools to manage and present your deliverables. The objective is to build professional experience and soft skills in a remote work environment.
3. Maine Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) MERITS Program
Location: Host institutions across Maine
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Maine high school juniors
The Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS) program places students in STEM-focused internships at Maine-based research institutions and technology companies. You work on real-world projects related to aerospace, earth science, and advanced materials under the guidance of professional scientists and engineers. The objective is to provide hands-on experience in NASA-aligned fields and encourage the pursuit of STEM careers within the state. Skills gained include technical problem-solving, project management, and specialized laboratory or field data collection.
4. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Nationwide
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising and graduating high school seniors (16+)
This internship, sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, places high school students in state and federal fisheries agencies to work alongside professional biologists. The program aims to increase diversity within the fisheries profession and provide practical biological research experience. You’ll participate in field activities such as electrofishing, fish tagging, and habitat restoration in Maine’s lakes and rivers. Laboratory tasks include analyzing water samples, identifying fish species, and managing data sets for long-term population studies. The program provides a direct introduction to the careers available in natural resource management and conservation.
5. League of Women Voters of Maine (LWVME) Youth Council Internship
Location: Statewide
Stipend: $900
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 3-4 interns/semester
Dates: Fall, spring, and summer semesters
Application Deadline: September 19 (fall), January 16 (spring), May 15 (summer)
Eligibility: High school students
This internship provides high school students with a platform to engage with Maine’s legislative processes and civic advocacy. You’ll work with the LWVME to research state policy, assist with voter registration drives, and develop educational materials for young voters. The structure focuses on understanding state government structures, election laws, and the mechanics of grassroots organizing. You also attend legislative hearings and meet with state representatives to observe the policymaking process firsthand. Overall, you’ll develop leadership skills and get a practical understanding of non-partisan civic engagement.
6. Green Teens High School Internship
Location: Maine Maritime Museum, Bath, ME
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: March 3 – 31
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (sophomores can apply with a teacher’s recommendation)
The Green Teens program is an environmental and educational internship centered on the Kennebec River ecosystem, with a focus on vocational training in environmental stewardship and non-profit operations. You spend the summer conducting water quality testing, managing the museum’s organic gardens, and leading environmental education activities for younger campers. The work includes identifying invasive species and maintaining the museum’s waterfront trails and natural habitats. You’ll also receive training in public speaking and scientific communication to effectively share your findings with museum visitors.
7. Bigelow Keller BLOOM Program
Location: Bigelow Laboratory, East Boothbay, ME
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 16 students
Dates: May 17 – 22
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Maine high school juniors
The Bigelow Laboratory Ocean Outreach Membership (BLOOM) program offers a one-week intensive mini-internship in biological oceanography. You work alongside professional oceanographers to sample local waters and analyze the biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of the Gulf of Maine. Laboratory activities include identifying phytoplankton, measuring nutrient levels, and using remote sensing technology to study ocean health. The program objective is to give high school students in Maine a direct look at the scientific process from field collection to data interpretation.
8. Acadia Youth Conservation Corps
Location: Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME
Cost: $15.30/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Late-June – mid-August
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18 who are capable of physical labor, and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The YCC is a work-based internship program in which high school students in Maine perform vital conservation and maintenance projects within Acadia National Park. You work outdoors on tasks such as trail restoration, invasive species removal, and habitat protection. The program includes environmental education days during which you can shadow park rangers in various departments, including biology, law enforcement, and interpretation. The objective is to develop physical stamina, teamwork, and a practical understanding of natural resource management. You’ll also gain hands-on experience with specialized tools and learn about the ecological challenges facing Maine’s coast.
9. Maine-SMART High School Research Program
Location: University of Southern Maine (USM), Portland, ME
Cost: $50 (waivers available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Weeklong sessions from July 6 to August 7
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from southern Maine high schools
The SMART program focuses on conducting research within one of Maine’s seven targeted technology sectors. Currently, the program centers on algae growth research and environmental factors affecting sustainable aquaculture. You’ll experiment with different algae species, growth media, and agitation conditions in USM’s learning labs. The program aims to build foundational research skills by allowing high school students to do hands-on work while interacting with university faculty and industry professionals. You’ll also gain experience in experimental design, hypothesis testing, and lab equipment operation.
10. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $45 application fee + $2,400 (need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~50 students/session
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26; Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (14+)
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) hosts a virtual internship to explore the intersections of computer science, data science, and healthcare. You’ll be paired with experienced mentors to build technical skills by designing an industry-relevant research project. The program focuses heavily on machine learning applications, coding, and the real-world evaluation of artificial intelligence systems in medical spaces. You also attend a Meet-the-Expert speaker series to learn directly about career opportunities and ongoing innovations within the field. Upon submission of your independent research project, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion and personalized guidance for your academic future.
11. Fred Hutch Explorers Virtual Internship Program (EVI)
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: November – May
Application Deadline: October
Eligibility: High school students who are Coding for Cancer and Pathways Research Explorers alumni
EVI is a 32-week virtual academic-year research internship that provides advanced, hands-on experience in computational biology, data science, and public health inequities. You’ll be paired directly with a dedicated Fred Hutch faculty scientist or researcher as you work on an independent, data-driven research project, including writing custom statistical code in R-Studio, building Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and extracting data from major public health registries. Beyond the lab work, you’ll participate in weekly group meetings that cover professional development milestones, including writing community health op-eds, conducting informational interviews, and learning to publish scientific findings. The program culminates with formal poster and oral presentations to a panel of biomedical professionals.
12. New York Academy of Sciences Junior Academy
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: September – November and February – April
Application Deadline: July 2 (fall); January 13 (spring)
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17
The New York Academy of Sciences gives students a chance to collaborate on complex, real-world scientific problems. Utilizing a dedicated online platform called Launchpad, you form teams to address specific challenges in areas like ethical AI and sustainable waste management. Teams are matched with an academy-trained global scientist mentor who guides them as they conduct surveys, complete statistical analysis, and engineer original solutions. The program focuses heavily on training students in design thinking, data collection, quantitative evaluation, and the scientific method. At the end, you’ll refine your data visualizations and present a final five-minute presentation to a panel of expert judges.
13. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,299 (fee waivers available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students (15+)
The George Mason University ASSIP provides advanced scientific research training by matching high school interns directly with university faculty and graduate student mentors. You can choose from a wide array of STEM disciplines, including machine learning, computer science, biochemistry, neuroscience, and data modeling, although virtual interns cannot participate in wet lab experiments. At the end of the program, you’ll earn three transferable undergraduate college credits from George Mason University. The internship officially culminates with students designing a professional research poster and presenting their independent findings at the annual ASSIP Research Symposium.
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With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. Check out a past student’s experience in the program here. You can apply here!
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the best internships for high school students in Maine?
Strong options depend on a student's interests. Students drawn to marine or environmental science might consider Bigelow BLOOM or Hutton Fisheries, those interested in genetics research might look at the Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program, and those interested in civic engagement might consider the LWVME Youth Council Internship.
2. Are there paid internships for high school students in Maine?
Yes, several programs offer stipends or wages, including Jackson Laboratory ($7,500), Hutton Fisheries ($3,000), Acadia Youth Conservation Corps ($15.30 per hour), LWVME Youth Council ($900 per semester), Maine MERITS (stipend provided), and Green Teens ($500).
3. Are there virtual internship options for Maine high school students?
Yes, Ladder Internships, Stanford AIMI, Fred Hutch Explorers Virtual Internship, New York Academy of Sciences Junior Academy, and GMU ASSIP are all fully virtual, making them accessible to students across Maine regardless of proximity to a research institution.
4. Which Maine internships focus on marine biology or environmental science?
Bigelow BLOOM focuses on biological oceanography in the Gulf of Maine, Hutton Fisheries involves electrofishing and habitat restoration, Green Teens centers on the Kennebec River ecosystem, and Acadia Youth Conservation Corps involves trail restoration and habitat protection at Acadia National Park.
5. Which internships for Maine high school students offer college credit?
GMU ASSIP awards three transferable undergraduate college credits from George Mason University upon completion, while Stanford AIMI awards a Certificate of Completion and Fred Hutch EVI provides formal research presentation experience comparable to professional graduate-level work.
6. When should I apply to internships for high school students in Maine?
Deadlines are concentrated in the winter and spring. The earliest include Hutton Fisheries (January 25) and Jackson Laboratory (January 26), while others like Bigelow BLOOM (April 10) and Acadia Youth Conservation Corps (March 13) fall later in the spring.