9 Marine Biology Internships for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 22, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 23
If you are a high school student interested in marine biology, an internship would be a great addition to your resume. Through an internship, you can highlight your ability to apply theoretical concepts in practical situations, a skill greatly valued by college admissions officers.
In this blog, we have curated a list of 9 marine biology internships that you can consider as a high school student! Every program is an opportunity to network with industry experts, gain exposure to different careers in marine biology, and conduct field research.
If you are interested in research opportunities and competitions in biology, you can look at our other pieces!
Why do a marine biology internship in high school?
Marine biology offers various career opportunities, and an internship can help you narrow down your future career and academic paths!
Additionally, the main benefit of an internship is gaining real-world experience in your field of interest. Moreover, the internships on this list allow you to network with peers and leading industry figures. These connections will enable you to learn from them and could be excellent references for letters of recommendation and future job opportunities!
Lastly, doing an internship while in high school showcases your commitment to your subject to college admissions officers. Mentioning this on your resume can increase your chances of acceptance to your dream school!
10 Marine Biology Internships for High School Students
Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an 8-week paid summer internship and mentoring program sponsored by the American Fisheries Society. As a Hutton Scholar, you will be mentored by a fisheries professional in your area. You will gain experience in marine or freshwater science, conducting laboratory and field research. Moreover, you will learn about career opportunities. Activities include electrofishing, examining specimens, data processing, establishing aquatic vegetation and fish habitats, and more. An added benefit is an all-expense paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit conducted at the University of Arkansas! To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Cost: No cost; stipend provided ($3,000 for 8 weeks)
Location: Based on your locality (Hutton aims to match students within a 45-minute commute of your home)
Application Deadline: February 14th
Program Dates: June to August (It depends on the Scholar's schedule)
Selection Rates: Selective (For their past cohort, they had a 12% acceptance rate)
Eligibility: High school students who live and have residency in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
SUNY Oneonta offers 9-week summer research internships for New York State residents. SUNY Oneonta internships are highly selective, with only 1-3 positions available for high school students (with one place awarded to a resident of Otsego County, NY). In the internship, you will aid faculty and staff at the BFS central lab with their research projects or work on your own research projects. You will experience a mix of fieldwork, laboratory analyses, data analysis, and writing. You can view previous publications here! The program concludes with you producing a poster to display your research findings to your mentor, BSF faculty, and other interns.
Cost: No cost; stipend provided
Location: SUNY Oneonta campus, Buffalo, New York
Application Deadline: March 10th
Program Dates: Late May through August
Selection Rates: Highly Selective
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center aims to use marine technology to challenge students to apply STEM to real-world problems in the maritime world. MATE has a variety of internships for high school students, from helping with turtle conservation to working alongside the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies. Each internship will allow you to network with industry experts. Note: MATE has a database for internships that includes external opportunities!
Cost: No cost
Location: Varies based on position
Application Deadline: Varies; the standard deadline is April.
Program Dates: Varies based on position
Eligibility: Open to all high school students. Certain programs have specific eligibility criteria.
Conducted by the National History Museum, this internship allows high school juniors and seniors to learn about potential careers in marine science. The program starts in the spring, where interns spend their weekends connecting with museum professionals to discuss marine research, collections, and program development. During the summer, interns become full-time employees and develop a marine science-related project. At the end of the program, you will have exposure to museum research and be able to contribute to museum conservation and interpretation!
Cost: No cost
Location: Varies based on internship.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: Part-time in April/May, Full-time from June-July.
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors at the Math, Science, & Technology Magnet Academy, Theodore Roosevelt High School, and Felicitas & Gonzalo Mendez High School in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles.
SoundWaters offers an internship that allows high school students to experience field research in marine biology. Through this internship, you will use the local environment to learn career and life skills. As an intern, you will work alongside SoundWaters team members and learn about Long Island Sound ecology, water chemistry, and the ecology of an estuary, as well as work with student groups! Your primary responsibilities will include assisting the educators and staff with aquarium care, program preparation, and teaching field study programs.
Cost: No cost
Location: Stamford, CT
Application Deadline: While the deadline is not specified, expect it to close a month before the program starts.
Program Dates: 5 weeks from May through June.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
The Dolphin Research Center is a not-for-profit marine mammal education and research facility that has operated for over 35 years. The Center offers a list of positions from Animal Care and Training to Research and Visual Communications. As an intern, you can expect to interact with DRC staff, gain research experience, and learn about various careers in marine mammal research! This opportunity will enhance your understanding of marine life and set the stage for a career in marine biology.
Cost: No cost
Location: Florida Keys
Application Deadline: October 1st (Winter Term) | February 1st (Spring Term) | June 15th (Fall Term)
Program Dates: Winter Term - January through April | Summer Term - May through August | Fall Term - September through December
Eligibility: High school students. Interns must be able to lift 50 pounds
LIA offers marine biology internships for high school students in the Aquarium’s education department. Interns are teamed with the educational department staff, who will mentor them throughout the internship. You will work with the public at the interactive touch tanks. You will assist the public and give lectures on the habitats during operating hours. An added bonus is the guidance mentors offer on pursuing a career in marine science. Through this internship, you can experience various aspects of marine science through the perspective of marine education. Moreover, you will refine your public speaking skills through your lectures.
Cost: No cost
Location: Long Island Aquarium
Application Deadline: Fall Semester - August 15th | Spring Semester - December 15th | Summer Semester - May 15th
Program Dates: While the specific dates are not mentioned, you will receive a weekly schedule in order to complete 120 hours with LIA.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
The Summer Teen Internship Program offered by New England Aquarium allows students to experience working at an aquarium and learn about prospective careers in marine conservation. Currently, there are 2 positions open for high school students - Visitor Services Assistant and Conservation Learning Aquarium Guide. You will offer the public insights into animals and ocean conservation issues and ensure a positive aquarium experience for visitors. You will participate in a professional development course and an ocean advocacy course weekly.
Cost: No cost; stipend provided (amount not specified)
Location: New England Aquarium
Application Deadline: You can expect applications to close a month to a month and a half before the program starts.
Program Dates: 7 weeks during the summer months (1 week of training + 6 weeks of work)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students residing in the Boston and Cambridge area.
Kwiáht Apprentices have the opportunity to carry out research of their choice with Kwiáht facilities and mentoring by associates. Kwiáht accepts proposals year-round from students where you can detail your research question, mentors, and analysis to be used. Through this apprentice, you can network with associates conducting marine biology research and gain experience in the field. An added benefit is that Kwiáht might offer a scholarship (subject to funds being available). Note: While this program is open to all high school students, Kwiáht prefers students from local public and private high schools in the San Juan Islands.
Cost: No cost
Location: Kwiáht laboratory, San Juan Islands
Application Deadline: Kwiáht accepts proposals year-round
Program Dates: Year-round
Eligibility: Open to all middle school and high school students.
Bonus - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are interested in doing university-level research in marine biology, then you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program logo