Neuroscience Internships for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 32 neuroscience internships for high school students. Of these, 19 are free to participate in and 7 offer virtual participation. Examples include AAN Neuroscience Research Prize, American Academy of Neurology Neuroscience Research Prize, and ASDRP - Computational Neuroscience Track.
- 32
- listed
- 19
- free
- 7
- virtual
- 31
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are neuroscience internships for high school students?
- Neuroscience Internships for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in neuroscience. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- When are the application deadlines?
- 31 of the 32 internships listed here have a specific deadline month noted. Deadlines vary by program, so check each listing for exact dates.
- Are any of these internships free?
- Yes — 19 of the 32 internships listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 7 of the 32 internships listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are neuroscience internships good for a college application?
- Yes — neuroscience internships are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in neuroscience on college applications.
Related Categories
32 activities found·Browse by category
AAN Neuroscience Research Prize
Submit a research paper on a neuroscience topic. Winners present at the American Academy of Neurology conference.
American Academy of Neurology Neuroscience Research Prize
National competition co-sponsored with the Child Neurology Society for original high school research on the brain and nervous system, judged on relevance, creativity, and data interpretation.
ASDRP - Computational Neuroscience Track
Apply specifically to the Computational Neuroscience or Molecular Neurobiology labs. Located in Fremont.
Boston University RISE Internship/Practicum
A six-week residential BU summer program where rising seniors either intern full-time in a university research lab or take an intensive practicum in a field such as computational neurobiology, culminating in hands-on research experience and possible science-fair-quality projects.
CHOP Neurology High School Scholars Program
A paid five-week internship at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia pairing sophomores through seniors with a neurologist or neuroscientist mentor for a research project, clinical shadowing, and a final poster presentation. Program is paused for 2026, set to resume July 2027.
Columbia Zuckerman Institute BRAINYAC
Places NYC high schoolers in Columbia neuroscience labs to work one-on-one with scientist mentors on ongoing research, entered via partner-organization nomination.
CU Boulder Science Discovery – STEM Research Experience
Seven-week summer program at the University of Colorado Boulder where high school students work 15-20 hours per week alongside graduate students and faculty on real research projects in biology, engineering, neuroscience, and other STEM fields, plus a research methods class on finding and evaluating scientific articles. Concludes with a STEM Research EXPO where students present their poster.
Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
A full-time paid summer neuroscience research internship at Duke University for Durham-area sophomores and juniors, pairing students with faculty mentors in active Duke neuroscience labs plus professional-development workshops.
International / USA Brain Bee
Live Q&A neuroscience competition for high schoolers testing knowledge of the brain, neuroanatomy, histology, MRI, and patient-diagnosis skills, running through local, regional, national, and international levels.
International Neuroscience Olympiad (INO)
Global brain-science competition using exams, events, and collaborative learning to make neuroscience accessible to students worldwide.
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS)
An eight-week Johns Hopkins summer internship placing high schoolers in neuroscience labs to work on projects related to brain imaging and neurological disease under faculty and postdoc mentorship.
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
An eight-week paid summer research internship for Baltimore high school juniors/seniors in neuroscience and mental health medicine.
JSHS (Junior Science & Humanities Symposium) - NorCal
Research presentation competition. You must submit an original neuroscience research paper to compete.
Max Planck Florida Institute (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
A six-week full-time paid internship in neuroscience (also scientific-programming and mechanical-engineering tracks) with hands-on wet-lab work including genetic engineering, histology, and microscopy.
MGH Youth Neurology Education and Research Program (YNERP)
A paid summer research internship at Massachusetts General Hospital's Department of Neurology, pairing high schoolers with neurologist mentors on projects in brain imaging, cognitive neuroscience, and neurological disorders. Open only to students living or studying in Massachusetts.
NEURO-RocHS
A paid six-week neuroscience research program pairing Rochester high schoolers with University of Rochester Del Monte Institute lab mentors for hands-on research and career-pathway exposure. Currently limited to Rochester City School District partner schools.
NIH / NINDS High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
A highly competitive 8-10 week paid internship placing students in NIH labs, with NINDS focusing on the nervous system, neurodegeneration, stroke, and brain cancer, culminating in a Summer Poster Day.
Polygence - Neuroscience Research
1-on-1 research mentorship. You can request a mentor specifically in Neurobiology or Cognitive Science.
Salk Institute Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars
A prestigious, paid eight-week internship at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies where high schoolers work one-on-one with Salk scientists, including in neuroscience labs, on original research. Open to San Diego County residents.
Scripps Research Alcohol Research Center – HS Mentorship Program
A neuroscience-focused mentorship program offering both a virtual Summer Journal Club and an in-person lab research track exploring how alcohol and drugs affect the brain.
SPICE – Summer Program in Computational Psychiatry Education
A free eight-week NYC program at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai introducing high schoolers, especially from underrepresented STEM backgrounds, to computational psychiatry and neuroscience research.
Stanford SIMR - Neurobiology Track
You must select the "Neurobiology" institute on your application. This matches you with a faculty mentor for 8 weeks of hands-on research. Extremely competitive (<5% acceptance).
ThinkNeuro Virtual Research Internship
A fee-based, 10-week virtual neuroscience research program pairing high schoolers with mentors from institutions including Harvard and Stanford Medicine to complete an independent research project.
UC Davis Young Scholars Program (UCD-YSP)
6-week residential research. You can request placement in the Center for Neuroscience or Mind Institute.
UCLA Brain Research Institute – CELL Scholars
A paid, school-year research position at UCLA for high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds, working in UCLA labs, including neuroscience, with graduate mentors on technical and coding skills.
UCLA BrainSPORT Summer High School Internship
An in-person clinical research internship with pediatric neurologist Dr. Christopher Giza's team, where students assist with concussion and traumatic brain injury research through neuroimaging, cognitive testing, and patient recruitment.
UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
A free UCLA program (Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care) with virtual "Grand Rounds" seminars, an Alzheimer's-awareness peer club, and a selective Virtual Summer Program pairing students with mentored research.
UCSC Science Internship Program (SIP) - Neuroscience Projects
10-week research internship. In the application, you select specific research areas; usually 15+ projects are in Neuroscience (e.g., "Neural Circuitry," "Cognitive Modeling").
UCSF SEP High School Intern Program
A highly competitive 8-week paid internship. You are placed in a UCSF research lab. Approximately 30-40% of placements are in Neuroscience or Neurology departments.
UCSF Summer Research Experiences in Neuroscience (SREN)
Specifically for students underrepresented in the sciences to gain authentic research experience in UCSF neuroscience labs.
University at Albany RNA Institute High School Bioinformatics Summer Camp
A competitive virtual camp training students to analyze RNA-sequencing data through live lectures and mentorship, with an independent bioinformatics project based in neurodegenerative-disease research.
Yale Neuroscience Summer Scholars (YNSS)
An eight-week summer program covering neuroscience, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation, with didactic education, lab-technique training, and a supervised research project for New Haven Public Schools students.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.