18 Exciting Neuroscience Internships & Research Opportunities for High School Students

Neuroscience is the interdisciplinary study of the nervous system at the intersection of biology, psychology, and other fields. It’s an exciting field that’s advancing at a rapid pace and the great part is that you can start to get involved as a high school student! In this article we’ll walk you through what to expect from a neuroscience internship, provide a comprehensive list of internships, and also guide you through best practices on how to apply for these internships.

What to Expect from a Neuroscience Internship

Neuroscience internships typically allow you to do research under the guidance of university faculty mentors and give you access to the university’s facilities. If you’re excited about neuroscience, this basically means that you have an entire playground of resources to explore, and you can learn technical laboratory skills as well as academic research and writing skills.

Whether you're interested in biomedical sciences, computational neuroscience, social science, or scientific literature, you'll find an exciting research program below.

Top Neuroscience Internships for High School Students

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) High School Summer Research Program

NIDA offers a high school summer research program focused on addiction research. Participants work with leading scientists, engage in research projects, and learn about the effects of drugs on the brain and behavior.

• Location: Various NIDA locations

• Stipend: $15.00 per hour

• Deadline: February 2, 2024

2. Research Experiences for High School Students (REHS)

REHSS programs at UC San Diego allow high school students to participate in neuroscience research projects. During this 8-week volunteer program, you will gain exposure to career options, hands-on computational experience, work readiness skills, and mentoring by computational research scientists. You'll take part in regular lab meetings and participate in group discussions. At the end of the program, you will create a scientific poster highlighting your research and future career goals.

• Location: San Diego, CA

• Cost: Free

• Deadline: March 2024

3. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship Program

The Stanford Clinical Summer Internship Program is an intensive six-week experience that provides high school students with the opportunity to work in clinical psychology and psychiatry settings. Participants engage in research, shadow professionals, and learn about the mental health field.

• Location: Palo Alto, CA

• Cost: $6,380

• Deadline: February 25, 2024

4. UCI Brain Camp

UCI Brain Camp is a summer program for middle and high school students that offers an opportunity for immersion in neuroscience. The 2-week full-day brain science camp features lectures and seminars, workshops, laboratory tours, dissections, and other hands-on activities and experiments.

Location: Irvine, CA

Cost: $2195

Deadline: Rolling

5. University of Pennsylvania Neuroscience Research Academy

The Neuroscience Research Academy explores the biological foundations of the brain, progressing from the cellular foundations of the neuron to an understanding of the sensory systems, and culminating with higher-order cognitive functions such as memory, emotion, and morality. Taught by members of Penn’s Biological Basis of Behavior program, this neuroscience research internship program introduces current students to this cutting-edge field in both research and medicine, which has provided important insights into understanding the mind in both health and disease.

• Location: Philadelphia, PA

• Cost: $9,700

• Deadline: February 15, 2024

6. Harvard University Pre-College Program (Neuroscience Focus)

Harvard's Pre-College Program with a neuroscience focus introduces high school students to the field through coursework, seminars, and hands-on research experiences. At this summer neuroscience internship program, you'll explore the brain's intricate workings and its role in behavior and cognition.

• Location: Cambridge, MA

• Cost: $5,550

• Deadline: January 10, 2024 (Priority), February 14, 2024 (Regular)

7. Psychology & Neuroscience at Yale University

Yale’s Summer Springboard offers neuroscience summer programs that introduce high school students to the study of the nervous system, brain structure, and function. Participants engage in experiments and hands-on research projects.

• Location: New Haven, CT

• Cost: $6,098

• Deadline: Rolling

8. Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (Neuroscience Track)

The Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University includes a neuroscience track for high school students. This program provides a comprehensive overview of neuroscience, covering topics like neural circuits, brain development, and neuroimaging techniques.

• Location: Baltimore, MD

• Cost: $695 - $2,130

• Deadline: Rolling

9. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)

This internship is designed to help expose students to neuroscience with a hands-on mentored research experience. For the in-person internship experience, JHIBS selects 8 students from Baltimore City public schools, and these students participate in a research project guided by faculty, staff and student mentors and participate in clinical rotations with Johns Hopkins neurologists. The summer program culminates in a final oral or poster presentation. You can check out past intern projects here for reference.
If you’re not based in the Baltimore area you can participate in a 5-week virtual internship experience, where you learn basic laboratory techniques and also receive mentorship. 

• Location: East Baltimore, Maryland or virtual

• Pay: Hourly wage and transportation funds for in-person experience, $500 scholarship for virtual interns

• Program Dates: June - August

• Eligibility: Rising junior and senior high school students, focus on underrepresented minority students

• Application Deadline: Deadline passed but applications reopen on December 1

10. Explorations in Neuroscience Internship

This 7-week internship is funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and provides an opportunity for high school students to experience biomedical research and learn from trained mentors. 

Interns gain hands-on research experience in Neuroscience, Neurological Injury, or Neurodegeneration, and will not only work directly with a trained mentor, but will also learn from graduate students and technicians working within the lab. Another great aspect of this internship is that students can participate in the Explorations in Neuroscience journal club and receive formal training in reading and presenting primary literature. As a result, this summer internship is a great opportunity to develop both laboratory skills and academic writing skills.

• Location: Columbus, Ohio

• Pay: Paid internship

• Program Dates: June 17 - August 2

• Eligibility: Rising junior and senior high school students

• Application Deadline: April 1, 2024

11. Youth Neurology Education at Mass General Hospital

This is a full-time, 40 hour per week internship based in-person in the Boston area. Interns will spend the first few days of the internship completing “bootcamp” and onboarding activities. Onboarding activities include completing required research and clinical training, engaging in interactive sessions on skills needed to excel in a laboratory setting, networking, and the start of 1:1 mentoring. 

After interns complete bootcamp, they will be assigned to a lab under the mentorship of an MGH Neurology faculty member. Mentors all do their own advanced research in neuroscience so this is a great learning opportunity. Over the course of the summer, interns complete work in the lab under the supervision of their mentor and other lab members and also engage in three weekly didactic sessions led by leading neurologists and neuroscientists to learn more about the field from diverse leaders. Interns also create final presentations at the end of the program to present their summer research experiences to peers, mentors, family, and the MGH Neurology department.

This high school summer internship has a particularly strong mentorship component and gives high school students the rare opportunity to learn from experienced researchers.

• Location: Various locations in the Boston area

• Pay: Paid internship for 40 hour work week

• Program Dates: July 1 - August 9

• Eligibility: Rising junior and senior high school students living or studying in Massachusetts

• Application Deadline: March 1, 2024

12. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Internship

This six-week internship is designed for students interested in brain structure, function and development, and the advanced imaging techniques and technologies used in neuroscience. Interns will participate in research projects alongside MPFI scientists, prepare a written scientific abstract based on their research project, and deliver a short presentation at the end of the summer. Interns gain experience doing hands-on “wet lab” techniques such as genetic engineering, microbiology preparations, histological staining, and microscopy. You can find past student presentations on the MPFI website.

Although this internship is geographically limiting, it’s a great opportunity if you live in the area.

• Location: Palm Beach / Martin County, Florida

• Pay: $12.50 per hour

• Program Dates: June 17 - July 26

• Eligibility: Rising junior and senior high school students attending a Palm Beach or Martin County high school

• Application Deadline: February 1

13. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)

Through DUNE, you will be matched with a cutting-edge neuroscience lab at Duke University based on your research interests, where you can perform hands-on neuroscience research and gain technical research skills. 

There’s also an emphasis on mentorship and professional development, where you’ll receive individualized mentorship and also participate in a series of professional development workshops with local experts. At the end of the summer you’ll present at the end-of-summer poster session for your peers, family, and Duke scientists. If you’re interested in learning more about what the DUNE experience is like, you can check out the DUNE Scholar Series page to hear alumni stories.

Again, this research program is geographically limiting, but if you’re within commuting distance to North Carolina it’s an excellent learning opportunity.

• Location: Duke University, North Carolina

• Pay: Receive stipend + lunch

• Program Dates: June 10 - August 2

• Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school, must live in North Carolina

• Application Deadline: March 1

14. UCSF Neuroscape

Neuroscape was launched in 2017 with the goal of helping students gain first hand interactive experiences in translational neuroscience. Applications are submitted through the SFUSD school system so unlike other internships you’ll find out application info from a teacher or counselor at your school. 

In this internship, you’ll be paired with a team of mentors to work on an independent research project, with projects ranging from literature reviews to interactive media programming. The internship culminates in short presentations about what interns learned over the summer. There are also group enrichment activities that supplement learning each week and cover a wide range of topics from neuroanatomy to machine learning. Interns can use this time to connect with others in the program and to learn from experts.

• Location: San Francisco, California

• Pay: Not specified

• Program Dates: Based on student availability

• Eligibility: High school students studying in a San Francisco (SFUSD) high school

• Application Deadline: TBD, check website for updates

15. BRAINYAC

The Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC) connects students with a summer research experience in a Columbia laboratory. Each student is paired with a neuroscientist mentor and interns learn how laboratory research works and how amazing discoveries are made!

BRAINYAC works only with partner programs in New York City so if you live in the area, check out their website to see if you’re affiliated with one of their partner programs.

• Location: New York City

• Pay: Not specified

• Program Dates: Not specified

• Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors in high school, open to students from select partner programs and schools that serve students in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx

• Application Deadline: Opens in October 

16. BrainSPORT

Interns in the BrainSPORT program have the opportunity to learn from a multidisciplinary team that consists of research scientists, clinicians, a nurse practitioner and researchers in the BrainSPORT program. The leader of the BrainSPORT program has a whole list of accolades that you can read on the website, but currently the team is working on the largest and most comprehensive study of adolescents with persistent post-concussion symptoms. 

If this topic sounds interesting to you, interns will work directly with BrainSPORT Study staff to recruit patients, enter research data, and conduct study protocols. Interns also have the opportunity to attend weekly Traumatic Brain Injury lab meetings with the BrainSPORT team, which can be great opportunities to learn more about clinical research.

This summer internship program definitely allows the student to be very involved in the program and is a great clinical research experience.

• Location: Los Angeles, California

• Pay: Not specified

• Program Dates: Early June - late August

• Eligibility: Rising juniors, especially if you are interested in extending internship into academic year

• Application Deadline: Opens back up next Spring

17. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Neurology HS Scholars

The Neurology High School Scholars Program involves working closely with a neurologist or neuroscientist on a basic science or clinical research project, shadowing physicians in a clinic, and attending a weekly educational session with other interns. 

The program is 5 weeks long, and at the end of the program, students will prepare a poster presentation outlining their project results. As a result, this internship provides a unique opportunity to work on your project showcasing skills, which is an important skill for research! This internship also requires an in-person interview for final candidates - read on below to learn more about how you can prepare for these interviews!

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Pay: $1,000 stipend

• Program Dates: July 7 - August 15

• Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Must be at least 16 years old

• Application Deadline: March 1

18. Barrow Neurological Institute Internship Program

This internship program has been around for more than 20 years, and high school interns perform hands-on lab work with cutting-edge technology.  In addition to research internship opportunities, they also offer support roles in Neuroscience Publications and the Barrow Neurological Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Institute.

The internship gives you the opportunity to work with your choice of different labs within the Institute, such as neuroepidemiology, neurodegenerative disease, and the brain tumor center. Be sure to do your research on which lab best suits your interests.

• Location: Phoenix, Arizona

• Pay: Not specified

• Program Dates: June 27 - August 2

• Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old and in high school

• Application Deadline: April 1. Check back in December for next application period

How to Apply for Neuroscience Internships

Preparing Your Application

In the application process, internship programs typically ask you to submit essays explaining your interest in neuroscience and biology. Internship programs aren’t necessarily expecting you to have technical skills, since you’re in high school and the whole point of most programs is to introduce you to the field. 

Writing a Stand-Out Essay

In the essay portion of the application, it’s critical that you express your curiosity for the field and your desire to learn. Remember that applicants don’t differentiate themselves by having more skills or knowledge since everyone is usually new to the field. Applicants stand out by having clear reasons for why they’re interested in neuroscience and expressing how they intend to make the most of the program. Do your research by browsing through the internship program website and find some aspects of the program that really resonate with you, and mention those in your essays.

Letters of Recommendation and Interviews

Many internships require letters of recommendation, so if you know during the school year that you’d like to apply for a neuroscience internship in the summer, try to build relationships with your teachers in school (especially science teachers) and do well in their classes! They can be the ones to write your recommendation letters.

A smaller portion of internships have in-person interviews. For these, we recommend that you review your essays and know by heart your reasons for why you’re interested in neuroscience and how you’d make the most out of the program. Other than that, just relax! Don’t be afraid to share what you’re passionate about.

Maximizing Your Internship Experience

Networking and Professional Development

We encourage you to also learn as much as you can from the graduate students and researchers in the lab. They were once in your shoes and can be incredible resources for helping you navigate the neuroscience field in college! You can check out our list of the top colleges for neuroscience in the US. 

Ask a lot of questions, get to know them, and over time they’ll appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness to learn!

Turning Your Internship into a Career Opportunity

The value you gain from an internship doesn’t just stop after your internship ends! The mentors you meet during your internship can be lifelong mentors as you continue to navigate neuroscience. In the final weeks of your internship be sure to express your interest in keeping in touch with your mentors. Get their contact info and set up a certain frequency for staying in touch so that they can follow your journey and also connect you with future opportunities.

Opportunities at Polygence

Interested in doing neuroscience research on your own time? Explore Polygence’s Research Mentorship Program where you can explore a neuroscience topic of your choice and work with an expert mentor to help your dream research opportunities come to life. If you’re stuck on finding the right project idea you can also check out our list of 21 neuroscience research project ideas.