Transform Your Summer with 10 Neuroscience Internships for High School Students

If you’ve got a fascination with how the brain works—or you’ve just been daydreaming about the “future you” in a lab coat—then a summer neuroscience internship might be exactly what you’re looking for. Learn from experienced scientists and undergraduate mentors who are eager to pass on their passion to the next generation.

This is a chance to move beyond textbooks and actually jump into the exciting world of research and practical application. Whether you’re already dissecting neurons in your biology class or just figuring out if the sciences are your thing, there’s something about the hands-on work of an internship that just can’t be matched. 

And we’re here to break it all down for you. From publishing research to working with expert mentors, high school neuroscience internships have something for every aspiring scientist-in-the-making. 

Plus, can we talk about the bragging rights you’ll get from these neuroscience summer internships for high school students? Endless. 

Why Neuroscience Internships Matter for High School Students

Neuroscience internships matter—they matter a lot.

While your peers are bingeing new shows on Hulu this summer, you could be gaining skills that’ll undoubtedly turn heads in the admissions office and beyond.  

Hands-on Activities in Real-Life Labs

Textbooks are great, but there’s nothing like stepping into a real research lab. Neuroscience internships provide you with opportunities to work alongside professional faculty like advanced graduate students, analyze data, and engage in scientific experiments—from brain imaging to behavioral research. 

Real-life experience like this obviously widens your knowledge base but also reassures you that you’re not just reading a subject. You’re living it. And there’s no better way to increase your understanding and mastery of a topic than by interacting with it IRL, as the kids say.

Boosting Your College and Career Prospects 

Colleges love applications that say, "I’m not just curious about neuroscience—I do neuroscience." An internship demonstrates initiative, motivation, and a focus that admissions committees admire. Many universities and institutes offer specialized programs tailored for high school students interested in neuroscience.

As for what this will do to help you explore and pursue a future career path? Needless to say, getting your feet wet early in the field of neuroscience could very well be the start of something huge. 

Mentoring and Networking

Internships connect you with neuroscientists, grad students, and even like-minded high school peers who are just as passionate and just as determined as you are. These connections can evolve into college recommendations, future collaborators, or simply your own personal cheer squad that gets just as excited about your research topic as you do.

Top 10 Neuroscience Internships & Programs for High School Students

If the idea of working in a prestigious lab or collaborating with expert mentors appeals to you, then it’s time to look into these summer research programs. 

1. BRAINYAC (Brain Research Apprenticeships at Columbia University) 

Here, at the Zuckerman Institute, high school students partner with leading neuroscientists as they step into the world of neurobiology and data analysis. This neuroscience research program offers a fantastic intro to what real-world research looks like. 

2. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford 

Stanford blends psychiatry, neurobiology, and collaboration into this two-week whirlwind program. It goes beyond just sitting in lecture halls or filling vials to study the nervous system in research labs, too, as the program also covers topics important to young adults as they make the transition to adulthood (such as self-care strategies).

The capstone symposium? Think TED talks but for young neuroscientists. 

3. Heithoff-Brady High School Scholars Program at Salk Institute 

Eight weeks of paid exposure to neuroscience? Sounds like a dream.

The Salk Institute, consistently ranked as a top five elite research institute, invites high school students to participate and work side-by-side in a lab with actual Salk scientists on cutting-edge research.

This internship focuses on molecular biology and genetics, with students expected to participate in seminars, biotech site visits, workshops, and more. The entire program culminates with a final research project presentation. 

4. Neuroscape Internship at UCSF 

Take the buzzword “brain imaging” and run with it at UCSF. Their program puts you at the forefront of cognitive and neurodevelopment research. You will not only have the opportunity to research emerging topics in neuroscience but also present your research.

5. Youth Neurology Education and Research Program (MGH) 

Dive into clinical practice and research at Massachusetts General Hospital. From neurodegenerative diseases to patient care techniques, this internship covers it all. It’s designed specifically for interns who are from communities that are underrepresented in the field of neurology.

6. Yale Pathways Research Internship Program

Yale gives interns the chance to explore complex topics such as autism and Alzheimer’s via hands-on research, all while working alongside leading academics. 

This seven-week internship was designed to foster relationships between Yale laboratories and the high school students who one day want to work in them, making it a great option for building your professional network. Not to mention, it’s a great way to pursue some of the most up-and-coming research opportunities in neuroscience!

7. USA Brain Bee 

This one isn’t a research lab, exactly, but it’s one of the coolest neuroscience competitions out there, so it’s an opportunity for high school students to think about if they want to expand their skills and knowledge in neuroscience this summer. 

And trust us, testing your knowledge of the brain has never been this fun or rewarding. 

8. SPINES (Summer Program in Neuroscience, Ethics, and Survival) 

Immersive? Absolutely. This six-week program at the Marine Biological Laboratory at the University of Chicago combines cutting-edge neuroscience with in-depth discussions on bioethics. 

With a 20+ year track record in training successful neuroscientists (most of them from backgrounds underrepresented in neuroscience), you can bet that these neuroscience summer programs for students will help you get ahead.

9. Brain Camp at UC Berkeley 

The name sounds relaxed, but there’s nothing lazy here. UC Berkeley’s program, formally referred to as the Psychology and Neuroscience Summer Program, dives deep into sensory systems and cognition through fun labs and experiments. 

Students attending this hands-on research program will work directly in the Cognitive Psychophysiology Lab and connect with distinguished guest speakers. 

10. Penn Neuroscience Research Academy 

This program focuses on everything from addiction to neurodevelopment and is hosted at the prestigious Perelman School of Medicine. You’ll learn from members of the Biological Basis of Behavior program at Penn, all of whom are leaders in medicine, research, health, and disease.

How Long Are Most High School Neuroscience Internships?

Neuroscience internships come in different shapes and sizes—from one-week intensives to full-on eight-week research experiences. But regardless of the duration, you’ll walk away with valuable takeaways that you can use not just for today but deep into the future. 

If you’re looking for a short-duration program to help you gain quick exposure and a brief overview of the field, along with some professional development, there are lots of one-to-two-week programs out there, like UC Berkeley’s Brain Camp.

There are also mid-length programs if you’re looking for a taste of something more, like BRAINYAC or SPINES. These are long enough for you to feel like you’re getting involved, yet short enough to fit into a packed summer schedule. 

And if that still isn’t enough, there are programs like the Heithoff-Brady Scholars Program. These not only fund your interest as paid internship opportunities but are long-term (eight or more weeks), so you can really immerse yourself in the world of neuroscience.

How to Get an Internship in High School with No Experience?

If you’re worried about your limited neuroscience knowledge and afraid it might hinder your opportunities as you start applying to neuroscience internships, take a deep breath. 

Most high school internships care more about passion over credentials. When it comes to figuring out how to get a neuroscience internship, don’t panic. There are lots of ways to demonstrate your expertise, even without it dotting your resume.

To gain some experience, you can start first with online courses, like those on Khan Academy or Coursera.

Another option is to begin with an independent research program, like the Core Program at Polygence. Here, you’ll be paired with an expert coach to help you design and lead your project.

Still not sure you have what it takes? Just reach out. Email some professors or labs to express your interest. Even if it means volunteering to observe the research first, taking the initiative to reach out shows that you’ve got drive and passion, even if you’re lacking in the experience department, and that’s something the industry really values.

Taking Your Neuroscience Passion Further with Polygence

At Polygence, we understand how overwhelming it can be to sort through endless opportunities as you try to find the perfect summer research program. Because of this, our mission is to help students just like you stand out through personalized mentorship. 

With Polygence, you can choose the neuroscience topic that interests you most, from cognitive psychology to AI in brain science (or anything else that sparks your creativity). 

You’ll work one-on-one with a professional research mentor to create a project that boosts your resume (and may even get you published) while allowing for intensive research. You’ll be able to decide on the skills you want to hone, whether that’s writing, experimentation, or analysis, and then leave with tangible results that speak volumes about your dedication to the field of neuroscience.

Make Neuroscience Part of Your Summer Journey

This summer, you don’t have to dream about being in a fancy lab or coming up with the next big neuroscience breakthrough. You can just do it!

Internships are about gaining valuable hands-on experience, meeting the right mentors, and building confidence in your abilities. With these tips, you’ll be able to check off all of those boxes.

Are you ready to take charge of your neuroscience goals? Work with Polygence mentors through our Core Program or Pods to build your very own research project, and consider applying to one of these neuroscience summer internships for high school students today