If you’re a high school student interested in STEM, why not consider an internship at PNNL? During this summer apprenticeship, students work with a scientist-mentor in a specific research area for 10 weeks. Students participate in educational and leadership development activities involving laboratory demonstrations, field trips, and communications, and career awareness workshops.
Restrictions May Apply: Due to PNNL policy, students under 18 years of age are not eligible to work in laboratory spaces and may be restricted from certain kinds of field work.
Key Dates: Student Research Apprenticeship Program positions are posted on the PNNL careers page as they become available. Be sure to check the job site often. Read individual job postings carefully for specific closing dates. Apprenticeships take place between June and August.
Eligibility: If you meet the criteria below, please apply! To be considered for an apprenticeship, students must:
- be currently enrolled in a public or private school and interested in pursuing a career in STEM or related field
- be at least 16 years of age at the time the internship begins
- be a sophomore, junior, or senior at the time of application
- have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (from 9th grade to current standing)
- be able to complete the 10-week internship without interruption.
In accordance with PNNL’s diversity goals, preference will be given to eligible students of Hispanic, African American, or Native American ethnicity. Preference is also given to students who have completed advanced placement courses. However, all applicants are welcome.
Applying for an Apprenticeship
Once postings are open, a list of all high school internships will be available on the PNNL jobs website. Type High School in the search bar to find current openings. Collect the items listed below and then bundle them into one PDF file. The system will only accept one uploaded file. Please be careful— if you make a mistake, you will need to create a new profile and start the process over.
Cover Letter: Explain why you are applying. Be specific. Why do you want a summer research apprenticeship 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.
Resume: Provide educational background and academic information. You may want to include advanced placement courses, a list of your computer programming courses or experiences, and/or office skills. Include two personal references.
Unofficial Transcript: Ask your counselor or work based learning coordinator for a copy of your transcript.
Personal Statement: Describe who you are beyond your academic achievements and potential. Offer information regarding the kinds of activities, leadership, or impactful experiences you’ve had that contributed to your interest in STEM.
Remember, if any of the application components are missing and/or are not uploaded in one PDF file, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.