If you’re a high schooler in Alabama looking for an internship, here are five worth knowing, across STEM research, healthcare, space science, and data. They’re a chance to work with professionals and build real skills. Dates and details change each year, so confirm with each program before applying.
1. UAB PRISM (Pre-College Research Internship for Students from Minority Backgrounds)
What it is: An eight-week program (about five students a year) that gives underrepresented high schoolers a real understanding of the research process and how discoveries improve patient care. UAB surgeons, faculty, and senior research staff mentor participants, who also get clinical shadowing experience and present their research at the end.
Dates: applications typically open in late fall with a deadline in February, for a program that runs June to July. Check the UAB page for the current cycle.
Eligibility:
- High school junior
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- From a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the field (per NIH criteria: African American, Hispanic, Native American, Native Alaskan, or Native Pacific Islander), or a first-generation college-bound student
2. Alabama Power Internship Program
What it is: Run by the Edmundite Missions Center for Workforce Development, this one-semester program combines paid work in the Missions with academic support and workforce training, building employment, communication, and other job skills. It’s funded by an Alabama Power Foundation grant.
Eligibility and details: note this one is narrow, it’s limited to seniors at Selma High School. It’s about 15 hours a week at $12 an hour. You apply with a high school transcript and a recommendation letter from a teacher, business owner, or other adult in an occupational role, and qualified applicants get an interview.
3. QuantHub Alabama Data Scholars
What it is: A paid program that places high school juniors and seniors from around the state into learning experiences to build data-literacy skills and connect them with data science careers. QuantHub provides the training software through schools across Alabama.
Duration: an 8-week paid experience.
Eligibility: high school juniors and seniors; no prior experience needed.
4. AEOP High School Internships
What it is: The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) places students in a university research lab or a U.S. Army research lab for the summer, working alongside professional scientists and engineers. It’s good preparation for competitive college admissions and a STEM career.
Eligibility: current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Good to know:
- Internships are offered through universities and U.S. Army labs across the country.
- They’re designed for commuters: transportation, meals, and housing aren’t provided, so keep that in mind when choosing a location.
- Some locations have specific age, grade, or prerequisite-coursework requirements.
- You must meet the eligibility rules, complete the application, and submit any required recommendations by the deadline.
5. ASMS Internship
What it is: The Alabama School of Math and Science (ASMS) runs a summer internship for rising 11th and 12th graders to work in a field they’re interested in.
Details: a minimum of 60 hours at the internship site, weekly check-ins with ASMS staff, and a presentation at the start of the next school year. Completing it earns 0.25 CU of general elective credit at ASMS.
The bottom line
Want to land more selective internships anywhere? Here’s a video where Rishab Jain, a Harvard student, walks through how to do it.
Leave a Reply