Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)

The NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) is a summer research internship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology for high school students interested in science. Interns join NIST labs and work alongside staff scientists and engineers on a research problem, learning from NIST researchers while carrying out a project of their own. SHIP is a seven-week program that runs each year from mid-June to early August. It is held in person on two NIST campuses, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Boulder, Colorado. Participating labs cover engineering, information technology, communications technology, materials measurement, physical measurement and neutron research. The summer closes with a poster session where interns present their work; in 2026 it was held on August 6. The internship is unpaid and run as a volunteer program, and NIST describes it as competitive. NIST does not charge a program fee, but students and their families must arrange their own housing and transportation for the summer. For high schoolers looking for hands-on experience at a federal research laboratory, SHIP offers time in working labs and direct contact with professional scientists.

U.S. citizens who are high school juniors or seniors when they apply, with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher and a strong interest in scientific research. Must commit to the full seven-week program and live within 50 miles of the host campus (Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO); students arrange their own housing and transportation. Apply through USAJOBS with a resume, transcript, one-page personal statement, signed availability form, and two recommendations (one from a STEM teacher).