High School Internship Program

Students who wish to participate in the High School Internship Program must meet the following requirements:

1. Have senior status AND be at least 16 years of age at the time the internship begins.
2. Have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
3. Attend a high school located in northern New Mexico
4. Pass a new employment drug test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements must do the following to apply:

• Complete the online iRecruitment application and upload a cover letter, resume, and current unofficial transcript. Note: Students who fail to upload all required documents will not be considered. For step-by-step instructions, visit How to Apply and read the Student opportunities section. If you have problems with the online application, visit Application Process Issues for assistance.
• The cover letter should describe key aspects of the applicant’s background and include two or three academic areas of interest.
• The application and required documents must be submitted by 11:59PM on the specified deadline.

iRecruitment instructions

There are two sets of application instructions.

1. If neither you nor your parent/guardian have ever worked at the Lab, use these application instructions (pdf).
2. If you or your parent/guardian currently work at the Lab or have ever worked at the Lab, use these application instructions (pdf). 

The best way to improve your chances of getting an internship at LANL is to reach out to prospective mentors working on projects that align with your academic and professional interests. The High School Intern Project Description Book is a great resource for identifying prospective mentors.

There are two separate application periods, one for the summer season and one for the fall/spring season. Note: If you are not selected for a summer internship and you want to be considered for the fall/spring season, you must reapply.

Summer 2023 High School Internship Program, Job Ad IRC116457

• 2023 SUMMER INTERNSHIP DEADLINE: April 11, 2023 at 11:59PM
• The application period for the summer program runs from January 1 to April 11, 2023.
• Students must apply during the spring semester of their junior year to be considered for this program. Students with senior standing cannot apply for this program and should apply to the Undergraduate Student Internship Program instead.
• Students who are selected for the summer program will intern the summer after completing their junior year and before beginning their senior year of high school.

Fall 2023/Spring 2024 High School Internship Program, Job Ad will open on August 1, 2023

• 2023–24 FALL/SPRING INTERNSHIP DEADLINE: December 31, 2023 at 11:59PM
• The application period for the fall/spring program runs from August 1–December 31, 2023.
• Students must have senior standing to apply to this program.
• Students who are selected for the fall/spring program can intern during the fall/spring academic year for a maximum of 20 hours a week.

Mentors select interns by searching the resume database in iRecruitment. We recommend you explore the Lab's website and locate projects/programs/research that interests you and aligns with your educational goals. You should contact individuals listed on these webpages and inquire about potential student internships and inform them of your interests. You may also review the Student Project Description Books to identify prospective mentors. Many students are selected for internships after networking with Lab employees.

Note: Internship positions are competitive and the decision to hire students rests entirely with the mentor. Once a mentor has narrowed their search, they will contact the student directly to conduct a phone or in-person interview.

When a student is selected for an internship position:

1. Student completes paperwork specified by the mentor for the hiring package.
2. Mentor submits a hiring package to Human Resources (HR) for approval.
3. Upon approval, an official offer letter is emailed to the student.
4. Student reviews and accepts the offer and returns the signed offer letter to HR within two weeks of receiving the letter.
5. Once the signed offer letter is returned, HR will confirm a start date and the student will be scheduled for new hire orientation. Note: Students should not report to their worksite until they have gone through the hiring and orientation process.