About

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a competitive, paid eight-week summer research internship offered by the U.S. Department of the Navy for academically motivated high school students interested in STEM. Through SEAP, students are placed in one of approximately 25–30 Department of Navy research laboratories nationwide, where they work as research apprentices alongside professional scientists and engineers on active projects that reflect real naval science and technology challenges. The program’s structure immerses participants in laboratory settings, experimental design, and data analysis—offering a substantive experience beyond typical classroom environments.

To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens (though some labs consider Permanent Residents) who have completed at least 9th grade and are at least 16 years old (select labs accept 15-year-olds) by the internship’s start. SEAP recruits high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with strong academic performance, compelling personal statements, and teacher recommendations. The annual application cycle runs from August 1 to November 1, with recommendations due by November 10. Decisions are typically issued between January and March for the following summer. For 2026, interns receive a $4,000 stipend for new participants and $4,500 for returning participants, paid bi-weekly.

Instruction and mentorship occur within the assigned lab, where participants are integrated into research teams and receive feedback from mentors. Depending on the lab, interns may engage in computational modeling, experimental testing, or applied engineering tasks tied to naval research domains such as materials science, oceanography, robotics, or cybersecurity.

SEAP is institutionally rooted in the Office of Naval Research’s broader STEM workforce development strategy to cultivate future scientists and engineers by offering authentic research experiences early in academic life. Participants finish with concrete laboratory experience and professional mentorship. While SEAP does not confer academic credit, its immersive research focus and placement within Department of Defense laboratories position it among the most rigorous and elite pre-college STEM internships available.