8 STEM Internships For High School Students In Philadelphia
STEM internships are a good option for high school students who want to explore diverse career paths in the medical, scientific, engineering, or business sectors. If you are one of these students and a resident of Philadelphia, our blog today covers a range of STEM internships for you to consider.
An internship or summer program offered by a reputable organization or university can enhance your understanding of your chosen field. Working in a laboratory, learning from professionals, and gaining firsthand knowledge in your STEM subject of choice can help your college applications stand out. These opportunities not only allow you to contribute to published research papers but also enable you to witness the real-world impact of your work. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
We’ve compiled a list of 8 internships and research programs for high school students interested in STEM in Philadelphia. Whether you’re interested in biology, engineering, or technology, there’s an internship that can help you explore that field.
Cost: $2490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
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 alums, 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 such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising seniors in high school
Cost: Unpaid internship
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: Summer (6-week program, from early or mid-June to July). Check out the documents required here
The General Robotics, Automation, Sensing, and Perception Lab (GRASP) is a well-regarded engineering and robotics research center at the University of Pennsylvania. The GRASP Lab’s mission is to create and integrate knowledge through scholarly research, entrepreneurship, and innovation, with a special focus on robotics and entrepreneurship. Each summer, GRASP faculty members select high school interns at the discretion of each GRASP faculty member. You may reach out directly to a faculty member whose work aligns with your research interests. A list of faculty members may be seen here.
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ
Cost: No cost. Paid internship, but the amount has not been specified
Application Deadline: Applications typically close by January or February
Dates: June 18 – August 16
The Monell Science Apprenticeship Internship Program allows high school students to explore biomedical science, medicine, and other STEM disciplines. Aimed at students from underrepresented backgrounds, this program provides research experience under the guidance of scientists. You will gain valuable laboratory skills and develop your public speaking and written communication. The program concludes with a public conference where you will present your research to peers, mentors, family, and scientific staff. Beyond the research experience, you will attend scientific lectures and explore career paths in STEM. This internship has an acceptance rate of less than 10%. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: Current 9th-10th grade students, including international students
Cost/Stipend: Free
Application Deadlines: February 14
Dates: July 8 – August 2
The Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program at the University of Pennsylvania is designed to enhance college access for first-generation and underrepresented students in Philadelphia. This four-week experience allows you to engage with faculty from Penn’s schools of Medicine, Nursing, Engineering, Law, and Dental Medicine. You will explore various career opportunities while gaining practical knowledge in digital literacy, wellness, and professional development. The program focuses on personal and academic growth, offering workshops on SAT preparation, financial literacy, and life skills.
Location: Out of the several lab locations to choose from across the country, students in Philadelphia can select one of two options: Naval Surface Warfare Center and Naval Information Warfare Center
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, currently enrolled in high school (including graduating seniors and those taking college-level courses), have completed at least grade 9, and be 16 years or older by the internship start date
Stipend: New participant: $4,000; Returning participant: $4,500
Application Deadlines: November 1
Dates: Eight weeks (with the possibility of extending up to two additional weeks), usually starting in June. Dates vary depending on the lab you choose
SEAP offers high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors the chance to engage in real Naval research at DoN laboratories for eight weeks during the summer. This program provides experience in fields like physics, biology, robotics, engineering, and computer science under the mentorship of Navy scientists and engineers. SEAP exposes you to career opportunities in Naval science, technology, and engineering. This program is highly competitive, with around 300 placements in over 38 laboratories across the country. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: Rising junior or senior currently enrolled in a Philadelphia high school (public or charter school)
Stipend: Stipend awarded at the end of the internship, amount not mentioned
Application Deadlines: Applications are currently open for the after-school program. Check here for details
Dates: Summer Component: July 8 – August 2, After School: Weekly after-school program held throughout the school year
This STEM Internship Program offers high school students affected by community violence an opportunity to explore STEM fields while addressing social justice issues. This program combines science, technology, engineering, and medicine with community impact, empowering you to understand the effects of violence on both yourself and your community. Through activities, you will learn from experts in forensic science, healthcare, and community action. You will explore the criminal, physiological, and psychological impacts of violence, as well as community-wide effects. You will also explore careers in STEM.
Location: William Tennent High School, Warminster, PA (January – May) | Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (July – August)
Eligibility: High school students from Philadelphia and the surrounding communities
Stipend: Free internship program with no stipend provided
Application Deadlines: Generally in October for the spring session and in March for the summer session
Dates: Consecutive Saturdays from late January to early May, Tuesdays and Thursdays from July to August
TRIP is a lab-based course for high school students who want to explore science and medicine through research. Hosted by the Fox Chase Cancer Center, TRIP offers you the opportunity to conduct hypothesis-driven experiments. Over three phases, you will examine the effects of diet, environmental stress, and genetics on organismal development while mastering essential lab skills. Throughout the internship, you will gain experience in using lab equipment, designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting your findings.
Location: The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: High school freshmen in Philadelphia and surrounding areas
Cost: No cost. Students must arrange their own transportation to and from the Franklin Institute
Application Deadlines: November 13
Dates: Academic year: October – February, Summer: July 4th – early August
The STEM Scholars Program at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is designed for students in grades 9-12 who are interested in STEM. Each year, the program selects 20 freshmen from the Philadelphia area, focusing on reaching students from historically underrepresented communities in STEM. The curriculum includes workshops, academic enrichment, and exposure to various STEM and STEAM industries. You’ll engage in professional development, entrepreneurial experiences, ACT test preparation, and college essay tutoring. Rising seniors are given the opportunity to complete internships in their fields of interest.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, 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 4,000 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 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.