Stanford Young Investigators

High school internships: Be a young investigator

At the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, high school scholars spend the summer working in research groups and laboratories on the main Stanford campus. Since 2004, over 300 high school students have worked in our research labs and learned about the process of science first hand. We offer several different options, with different areas of focus and time commitments.

• Students are supervised directly by graduate scholars, post docs and lab managers. This program enables graduate scholars to serve as supervisors, prepares high school scholars for college and helps strengthen the connections between Stanford and local high schools. 

• Twice a week we have talks, lab tours, and field trips as a group. This is a time that interns get to learn about the broad field of sustainability, Earth, and environmental sciences and get to know one another. These activities take place on the same day each week.

•  Young Investigators is not a camp and organized social activities are limited.

Watch the slide show of interns in action - lab work, group fun and presentations!

• History of Life and Biodiversity Group Internship - Collaborative research 4 days a week with a team of 10+ interns exploring marine fossil animal evolution and mass extinction through 540 million years of Earth history. Interns work on newly discovered fossils and conduct analyses on morphological evolution and extinction focusing on groups such as arthropods, molluscs and brachiopods.
• Oceans - Work one-on-one with a scientist to investigate human causes and natural and environmental changes, understand, and advance knowledge of our blue planet while tackling the most pressing challenges in climate and sustainability.
• Geology - Work one-on-one with a scientist to investigate how Earth and other planets formed, how their surfaces and interiors change over time, and how processes like earthquakes shape our planet today.
• Energy - Work one-on-one with a scientist or engineer in one of our energy research groups. Projects may range from battery efficiency and crude oil interfaces to AI-based early fire detection, depending on available positions.
• Environmental Science & Engineering - Work with scientists to study soil and ecosystem health, field research, and lab work, including microbes, water chemistry, fire management, and climate data.
• Agriculture Group Internship - Engage in hands-on sustainability research at the O'Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm, a 6-acre living lab exploring symbiosis, nutrient cycling, and the connections between food production, ecology, economics, and health.
• Social Sciences - Work one-on-one to better understand how the behaviors and choices made by individuals and organizations affect the world’s ability to achieve sustainability goals.

applications are now closed and will open 2/1/27 - 3/15/27

This internship is for scholars who have completed at least one year of high school. Also, applicants must live and attend school in the San Francisco Bay Area, No exceptions and not be further than 25 driving miles from campus.

Please read through the website to learn more before you begin your application.  Read the Frequently Asked Questions
Deadline is March 15, 2027.