14 STEM Internships for High School Students in Florida
If you are a high school student interested in STEM, internships can be a practical way to explore your interests and gain professional experience. STEM internships allow you to develop technical skills, gain early exposure to research or industry environments, and build meaningful connections with professionals and peers. This can also be an opportunity to go beyond classroom learning and engage in problem-solving, teamwork, and professional workflows used in STEM fields.
Why should you intern in Florida?
Florida is home to a wide range of universities, research centers, hospitals, and technology-driven organizations that offer high-quality STEM internships for high school students. Depending on the internship, you may assist with laboratory experiments, analyze scientific data, develop software, or conduct field research in environmental science. These opportunities are valuable for both Florida students and out-of-state students seeking experience in the state’s growing STEM and research ecosystem.
To help you identify the right opportunities, we have narrowed down 14 STEM internships for high school students in Florida.
If you are looking for internships in Florida, check out our blog here.
1. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Placements across 50 U.S. states, along with Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, with sites available within a 45-minute commute of your home
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; dates set by students and mentors on a one-on-one basis
Application deadline: January 25
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up
Hutton Juniors Fisheries Biology Program is an in-person, eight-week paid summer internship that places you within a real fisheries or aquatic science setting near you. You will work with a professional mentor in fisheries biology or a related field and engage in tasks associated with aquatic habitat protection, management, and restoration. You will gain an understanding of how fisheries science connects biology, ecology, and sustainability while engaging in lab and field work, including examining aquatic specimens, conducting fish population surveys, electrofishing, and data processing. The program also offers exposure to the daily routine of a fisheries biologist and insights into other career paths in the animal and aquatic sciences.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies, based on the program format you choose; need-based financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts run each year
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines each year
Eligibility: High school students who can commit to 5 – 10 hours of work over 8 to 12 weeks
Ladder Internships offers high schoolers opportunities to work with high-growth start-ups across various fields, including STEM areas such as deep tech, environmental science, software engineering, web design/UX, finance, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and mental health. As an intern, you will work under the supervision and guidance of a start-up manager and a Ladder Coach on projects that align with your interests and the organization’s goals. The experience allows you to contribute to real-world projects, present your work in a professional setting, and build workplace skills. While applying, you can choose the Startup Internship and work with an organization’s representative, or opt for the CEO Internship, where you will work directly with a start-up CEO from a FAANG (Facebook, Google, etc.) background. You can also choose the Combination program, which combines the CEO Internship format with a mentored research opportunity.
3. Wertheim UF Scripps Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internships
Location: Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $4,480
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 5 – July 31
Application deadline: March 1; applications open on December 8.
Eligibility: High school rising juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, who live and go to school in Palm Beach or Martin County and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This eight-week internship is designed to help high schoolers explore chemical and biological research while working with scientists. During the first week, you will attend an introductory course covering standard techniques and applications in biomedical research. Then, you will work with UF Scripps lab staff, diving into the scientific process, research planning, and experimental design, and developing lab skills. The program also provides exposure to careers in biomedical engineering, biotechnology, research, and drug discovery. At the end of the eight-week program, you will produce a written scientific abstract, deliver an oral presentation, and showcase a poster to share your research findings.
4. M-DCPS Summer Youth Internship Program
Location: Various locations across Miami-Dade County, FL
Stipend: $1,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 1 – August 2
Application deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders who are 15 – 18 years old, enrolled in Miami-Dade County Public Schools or Charter Schools, and have completed the online pre-internship course
This internship program blends classroom learning with hands-on experience by placing you directly into professional work environments across Miami-Dade County. Over the course of five weeks, you will build and apply skills in business, engineering, technology, or hospitality settings while earning school credit. You can indicate your preference for STEM-focused placement. Each placement focuses on skill-building, including problem-solving, workplace communication, and time management. You will work on assignments and receive regular feedback from your supervisor. This is also an opportunity to start building your professional network.
5. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various labs across the country, including in FL
Stipend: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Cohort size: ~300 students/year; Florida-specific numbers not available
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grade 9 and are 16 years old or older; specific labs may have additional requirements.
SEAP is a mentored research program that places high school students in Department of the Navy laboratories. Over the course of eight weeks, you will dive into naval science and engineering research under the mentorship of a scientist within a lab setting. At the assigned lab, you will assist the staff with Naval STEM projects, helping to run tests, experiments, and tool-development procedures. The program also offers professional development opportunities, including chances to shadow and connect with researchers and other STEM professionals. Additionally, you will gain insight into careers in naval research and technology during the program.
6. American Chemical Society’s Project SEED
Location: Multiple sites throughout the U.S., including Florida
Stipend: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~350 students/year; Florida-specific details not available
Dates: 8 – 10 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: April 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have completed at least one high school chemistry course, have demonstrated financial need (those with an annual income of ≤300% based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines), and hold U.S. citizenship
Project SEED offers high school students the opportunity to conduct mentored chemistry research for 8 to 10 weeks during the summer. As a participant, you will join a university, industrial, or governmental lab and work with researchers on independent or group research projects. You will write a report or prepare a poster to present your work at the end of the summer. The program may also offer access to poster/science fair field trips, career panels, and college-prep support, as well as the opportunity to return to the program next summer to continue engaging in research.
7. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $14/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~8 students selected in the past
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application deadline: February 8; applications open on December 16
Eligibility: Palm Beach or Martin County rising high school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, who are authorized to work in the U.S.; track-specific pre-requisites may apply.
This six-week internship program allows you to contribute to research within neuroscience and related fields under the guidance of MPFI scientists. The program offers you the option to choose from various tracks: Mechanical Engineering, Scientific Programming, Neuroscience, and Programming/Coding for Public Engagement. Depending on your placement, you will practice wet-lab techniques, help develop software for data analysis, design or create custom parts in SolidWorks, or develop online activities and apps to promote STEM engagement. You will conclude the program by writing a scientific abstract and delivering a short presentation of your work.
8. UCF’s High School Summer Internship Program
Location: University of Central Florida Main Campus and Medical Campus, Orlando, FL
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – July 18
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 11 and 12
This summer internship allows you to participate in interdisciplinary research projects focused on quantum science. You will join a research lab and spend the summer exploring the various aspects of quantum materials and the field’s links with physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering. You may work on the lab’s main areas of research, such as catalysis on topological materials, electronic structure and light matter interaction in layered quantum materials, and quantum material–biological material interfaces. The experience can offer insights into how quantum materials can help meet future computing, energy, and healthcare needs.
9. Moffitt Cancer Center’s HIP IMO
Location: Moffitt Cancer Center at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stipend: $1,000 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11, ages 16 and up
The HIP IMO (High School Student Internship Program in Integrated Mathematical Oncology) at Moffitt enables high school students to explore interdisciplinary career paths in cancer research. Here, you will work with a scientist or staff member from the IMO department on an individual research project. Throughout the program, you will attend lab meetings, document your findings, and find opportunities to build research skills. At the end of eight weeks, you will prepare a three-page report summarizing your research findings and deliver a 15-minute oral presentation.
10. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship
Location: University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: January 31; applications open on December 1.
Eligibility: High school juniors from the Miami and Broward areas
The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship offers approximately eight weeks at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine to gain research experience. You will work with a lab staff member, postdoctoral researcher, or faculty member to work on a research project. You can choose from two tracks: the computational track, which uses computer models and simulations to better understand natural systems, or the biological track, which offers a traditional wet-lab experience. At the end of the summer, you will deliver an oral presentation to share your findings with peers and faculty.
11. Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program
Location: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2 – December 3
Application deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA enrolled at Duval County or St. Johns County schools in Florida
The SPARK Research Mentorship Program provides high school students with mentored research experiences at the Mayo Clinic labs. As a participant, you will spend about 25 hours/week working in the assigned lab on projects in biomedical sciences. You will participate in weekly Lunch and Learn sessions, one-on-one mentor meetings, lab meetings, and lab work during the program. You will learn about research ethics and methodologies, and produce a competitive project to submit to science fairs. You will present your work as a poster at the end of the program.
12. Florida State University’s Young Scholars Program
Location: Florida State University (FSU), Tallahassee, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~40 students selected in the past
Dates: June 7 – July 18
Application deadline: February 15; applications open on January 1.
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students with a 3.0 unweighted GPA or higher and at least a score in the 90th percentile on standardized math/science exams with permanent residence in Florida
This is a six-week residential program designed for high school students interested in mathematics, science, and computer programming. As a Young Scholar, you will take science and math courses and spend two days every week conducting mentored research alongside FSU faculty. The program offers opportunities to advance personal growth and academic development, collaborate with peers, and build leadership skills. You will submit a research paper and deliver oral presentations to discuss your findings. You will live on the FSU campus, gaining firsthand exposure to university resources, classrooms, and dorms.
13. Florida International University Summer Research Internship Program
Location: Florida International University, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Cohort size: Varies each year; ~25 – 30 students in past cohorts
Dates: June 12 – August 7
Application deadline: TBA; applications open in spring
Eligibility: South Florida high school juniors and graduated seniors (committed FIU-bound graduated seniors or accepted FIU transfer students), ages 16 and up, with an unweighted GPA of 3.0+
FIU’s Summer Research Internship Program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct research on cardiovascular health. Over eight weeks, you will work in a lab, assisting university professors with their research. Your responsibilities will include working on an assigned research project, preparing an abstract, reviewing case studies, engaging in workshops, and attending journal clubs. At the end of the internship, you will present your work to peers and faculty and stand a chance to win awards and the opportunity to present the project at the MARC U*STAR symposium in December.
14. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual internships available for Massachusetts students
Cost: $25 application fee + $1,299 tuition for three course credits; fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP, run by George Mason University, offers remote research internships in various STEM disciplines, including physics, neuroscience, biochemistry, statistics, computer science, and engineering. Over eight weeks, you will work with an assigned mentor on STEM research, refining your scientific writing and communication skills in the process. During the program, you will also learn about various STEM career paths through interactions with researchers or STEM professionals. The program ends with a symposium, where you will learn about the research conducted at ASSIP over the summer.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
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!