The Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) is run by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It places high school students in NIST laboratories for the summer.
Interns spend seven weeks at the Gaithersburg, Maryland, or Boulder, Colorado, campus on a research project with NIST scientists and engineers, ending with a poster session. The 2027 call is expected on USAJobs, with applications due at the end of January 2027.
Benefits & funding
- Seven weeks of hands-on research with a NIST mentor; full-time, 40 hours a week, in the 2026 cycle.
- An unpaid volunteer placement: no stipend is paid at present, though NIST says it is working on one.
- Students and their families arrange and pay for their own housing and transport.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizens only.
- High school juniors or seniors at the time of application; the FAQ also admits students who have just graduated and not yet started college. Sophomores cannot apply.
- Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- A permanent home within 50 miles of the host campus (Boulder or Gaithersburg); NIST states no exceptions.
- Must commit to the full program and pass a background check.
- Gaithersburg interns under 18 need a Maryland work permit.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“be a high school junior or senior at time of application … have a permanent residence within a 50-mile radius of their host campus (NIST Boulder or NIST Gaithersburg)” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
Residence required
USA
Education required
High School
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Application process
- 1Apply through the SHIP vacancy on USAJobs (2027: expected to open around mid-October 2026, due at the end of January 2027).
- 2Submit a resume, transcript, one-page personal statement, an availability form signed with a parent, and proof of citizenship.
- 3Name two recommenders, one a STEM teacher; letters are due within four calendar days after the vacancy closes.
- 4Mentors review files and may call you for a phone or in-person interview, or make an offer directly.
Program timeline
Mid-October 2026 (expected)
2027 vacancy opens on USAJobs.
End of January 2027
2027 applications due.
January 26, 2026
2026 deadline (past cycle).
June 22–August 7, 2026
2026 program; 2027 dates TBD.