High school is an ideal time for students to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and gain applied experiences that can shape their future academic and career goals. During the academic year, from August to May, PNNL offers internships to high school students interested in either business or research, with work available up to four hours per day, five days per week. Students can also receive elective credits for these internships through work-based learning programs at their schools. During the summer, students can work up to full-time from June to August. 

Depending on their interests, students may work closely with experienced PNNL business professionals, scientists, or engineers and receive mentorship by dedicated and engaged staff. 

In addition to work and research experience, high school interns participate in leadership development activities, laboratory tours, and communications and career awareness workshops. Students must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to work in PNNL laboratory spaces and in some field work settings.

High School Intern Program

Are you a high school student interested in a business career? Or are you interested in preparing for careers in STEM? Consider an internship at PNNL! Below are tips for the application process. 

Key Program Dates & Information

Academic year internship applications open in early February and close in June for internships taking place during the following academic school year between August and May. Summer internship applications open in early February and close in March, for internships taking place between June and August. 

Applying for an Internship

During active application cycles, visit the PNNL careers page and type "High School" in the search bar to find current openings. Save your resume and cover letter into one PDF file as the system will only accept one uploaded file.

• Cover Letter: Explain why you are applying for an internship. Be specific. Why do you want a high school internship opportunity? Convince the reader to look at your application. Your cover letter will be seen first; therefore, it must be well written and specific to the job for which you are applying. Remember to show your enthusiasm and passion for learning. 
• Resume: Provide educational background and academic information. If relevant, include advanced placement courses and scores. You may want to include a list of your computer programming courses, STEM learning experiences, and/or office skills. If relevant, include volunteer or prior work experiences. Include two personal references.
• Unofficial Transcript: Be prepared to ask your counselor or work-based learning coordinator for a copy of your transcript.