8 Internships for High School Students in Phoenix, Arizona
Finding the right internship can be helpful for high school students looking to gain real-world experience and build a strong foundation for their future careers in a field. Phoenix, Arizona, offers an array of internship opportunities that cater to various interests, from computer science to biomedicine.
These internships not only provide hands-on experience but also allow you to network with professionals, enhance their resumes, and gain valuable insights into their chosen fields.
Each program is designed to provide unique learning experiences, whether you're interested in cutting-edge technology, scientific research, or public policy.
In this blog post, we will explore 8 exciting internships available for high school students in Phoenix.
Location: NIH campus, as well as labs in Baltimore and Frederick, MD; Research Triangle Park, NC; Hamilton, MT; Framingham, MA; and Phoenix, AZ.
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided.
Application Deadline: February 16, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Internship Dates: 8 weeks between May to September (preferably June and July)
Eligibility: You must be a high school junior or senior and:
At least 17 years old by June 15, 2025
A U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
Attend high school in the U.S.
Live within 40 miles of the NIH campus to which you apply
Are you looking for an internship that allows you to conduct full-time research in biomedicine? The High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP) at NIH offers students the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research under the mentorship of scientists. This competitive program accepts approximately 7% of applicants, providing an immersive experience in the biomedical field.
Spanning 8 weeks, the HS-SIP program offers participants a stipend of $2530 per month. The program begins with an orientation designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a research environment. Interns will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, contributing to research projects in the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences. Additionally, the program offers professional development programs, educational advising, and well-being support to enhance your learning.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: $2490 (Financial Aid Available)
Application Deadline: November 24, 2024 for the upcoming Winter cohort
Internship Dates: December 16, 2024 onwards for the upcoming Winter cohort
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. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alumni, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Cost: No cost, scholarships available
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program); 2025 applications will open in December 2024
Internship Dates: July 1 to August 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: At least 16 years of age, enrolled in high school full-time
The Barrow Neurological Institute, the largest neurological disease treatment and research center globally, offers a research-focused Summer High School Internship Program. This year-round volunteer program allows students to gain hands-on experience in a professional lab setting, working with cutting-edge technology under the guidance of expert mentors.
Participants in this program not only learn advanced scientific techniques but also develop critical skills in evaluating scientific literature and communicating their findings. The program is designed to deepen students' understanding of biological principles, the causes of diseases, and their potential treatments. Students are encouraged to develop their scientific projects, which they can present at local and national competitions or even contribute to scientific publications.
Interns work closely with Barrow specialists, dedicating 20-40 hours per week during the summer. This experience equips students with practical knowledge and prepares them for future academic and career paths in the fields of neuroscience and psychology.
Location: Arizona State University campus
Cost: No cost; $1,800 stipend provided upon successful completion of the internship; interns are responsible for transportation costs
Application Deadline: February 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Internship Dates: May 27 to July 30, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a high school in the Phoenix metro area.
In this research internship, you'll be matched with a PhD student who shares your passion for specific research interests and will serve as your mentor throughout the program. Your mentor will guide you through a range of project options, including ongoing research and new ideas. If you have your research ideas, you can collaborate with your mentor to fully design and execute the project.
Examples of past projects include comparing linting tools and ChatGPT for code review, creating a secure finance bot simulation to highlight vulnerabilities in Python, and exploring social media ad scams based on consumer demographics.
Throughout the eight-week internship, you'll attend weekly lab meetings to present your progress, discuss challenges, and receive feedback from peers and professors. At the program's conclusion, you'll showcase your research findings in a presentation, an excellent opportunity to discuss what you've learned and potentially continue the project in your higher education journey.
Location: BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Cost: No cost; financial assistance available for costs like meals and transportation
Application Deadline: January 10, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program); 2025 applications will open in Fall 2024
Internship Dates: June 2 to July 18, 2025
Eligibility: Students must be at least 16 years old by June 2, 2025, and a U.S. citizen or legal resident with a minimum of one-year Arizona residency
The KEYS (Keep Engaging Youth in Science) program at the BIO5 Institute offers high school students in Arizona a unique opportunity to develop interdisciplinary skills in bioscience, biostatistics, biomedical science, biomedical engineering, data science, and environmental health research.
This seven-week summer internship is designed to equip students with hands-on research experience and training in biotechnology skills, science literacy, ethics, and communication—areas often not covered in traditional classroom settings. For the 2024 cohort, the acceptance rate was 13%.
Interns begin with a one-week training session, where they learn various bioscience and data science techniques to prepare to contribute to real-world research projects. Each student is then paired with a University of Arizona researcher who is leading an innovative, cross-disciplinary project. Interns are mentored by faculty, university students, and lab staff, providing a rich learning environment. The program culminates in a research showcase where students present their findings to the academic community, family, and friends.
Location: Mayo Clinic, Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, or virtual
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Application Deadline: February 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program). Applications typically open in December
Internship Dates: TBA for 2025. Two options were available in 2024:
In-Person Program: June 4 – 27, 2024 (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays)
Virtual Program: July 8 – 12, 2024 (Monday – Friday)
Eligibility: Open to Arizona high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.
The Mayo Clinic Career Advancement, Research, and Education Summer (CARES) Program offers Arizona high school students a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of healthcare careers. Designed to introduce students to diverse careers within healthcare, the program includes hands-on activities in a hospital setting, opportunities to connect with professionals, and long-term mentorship that extends beyond the summer.
CARES aims to inspire future leaders in healthcare. You will discover your strengths and explore potential career paths, such as physician, surgeon, biomedical researcher, and engineer. The program also includes sessions on college preparation, resume writing, and interviewing. Special consideration is given to students from underserved communities.
Location: Virtual or in-person in Philadelphia, PA
Cost: No cost; a limited number of need-based stipends are offered
Application Deadline: November 1, 2024, for the upcoming spring cohort; TBA for Summer and Fall 2025
Internship Dates: Spring: February – May; Summer: June – August; Fall: September – December
Eligibility: Students authorized to work in the U.S., including high school, undergraduate, and graduate students
The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) offers valuable internship opportunities for students during the Summer, Fall, and Spring terms. These internships provide a chance to connect with experts in foreign relations and gain experience working at a think tank. As an intern, you will be paired with a scholar or professional who will mentor you.
Summer interns also have the opportunity to attend weekly seminars focused on foreign policy and career development featuring guest speakers. Interns can participate in all FPRI’s events, and you have the option to work on a research paper that may be published in FPRI’s Intern Corner. FPRI often maintains connections with interns years after their internship ends.
FPRI offers several types of internships, such as research internships, where you work directly with FPRI staff and scholars in specific research areas such as the Middle East, Eurasia, Africa, or Asia. Special events/development interns assist with event-related tasks, while communications interns create content on international relations and foreign policy for social media. Operations interns help management staff with a range of tasks, including projects related to the internship program and other operational duties.
Location: Virtual or in-person in the Greater Seattle area, WA
Cost: No cost; some internships offer stipends
Application Deadline: April 22, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program); 2025 applications will open in March/April
Internship Dates: Vary depending on the opportunity, typically between May and August (~ 8–12 weeks)
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and reside in the United States can apply
With an acceptance rate of less than 5%, Spark SMP is a highly competitive internship aimed at future computer science majors. Open to all high school students interested in computer science, this program provides research opportunities, interactions with scholars, and real-world experience through full-time summer internships.
When applying, participants choose from 5-6 projects in areas such as machine learning, software engineering, competitive analysis, and market research. Additionally, Spark SMP offers valuable resources for college applications, bolstering students' prospects for higher education in the field of computer science.
The mission of this internship is to bridge the gap between eager students and the wealth of knowledge available in the professional world. SPARK provides opportunities for students to interact with industry leaders, university professors, and community figures, helping them gain experience in professional environments.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students 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.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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.