About

Experiences in Research (EinR) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is a six-week, project-based summer internship designed to give high school students hands-on exposure to professional STEM environments within a national laboratory setting. Hosted by Berkeley Lab’s K-12 STEM Education and Outreach division, EinR places students on multidisciplinary teams working with scientists, engineers, and staff on real projects that contribute to lab operations and research-adjacent outcomes.

During the internship, participants work approximately 30 hours per week from mid-June through late July (for 2026, the dates are June 15 – July 24). Projects span a range of areas including administration and communication, coding, data science (both coding and non-coding), and experimental research/data collection, allowing students to develop professional skills in fields that reflect a broad spectrum of STEM work. Interns attend professional development workshops and career talks, and they gain experience in workplace collaboration, science communication, and project execution under the guidance of Berkeley Lab mentors. The internship format is hybrid or virtual depending on the nature of the project and logistics; however, projects that allow interns on-site for at least two days per week are prioritized.

EinR is open to current 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who are at least 16 years old by mid-June (June 15, 2026) and enrolled in high school in Northern California. While Berkeley Lab recommends applicants live within about a 20-mile radius of the lab for hybrid or in-person placements—specifically targeting Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties—all applications are reviewed regardless of location. The program is paid; interns receive a stipend of $500 per week for their participation. Students are eligible to apply only once, and they are selected based on their demonstrated interest in STEM and independent work experience.

Experiences in Research offers a practical, workplace-oriented internship experience that introduces students to how STEM expertise is applied in a national lab environment, helping them build professional skills and clarify future academic and career goals in STEM fields. Given its illustrious setting, paid stipend, and access to top academic and professional scientists and researchers, EinR is one of the best local options for STEM-focused Bay Area high-schoolers.