AEOP Internship Benefits

• Stand out from your peers by making the most of your summer. The experience of an AEOP internship looks good to college admissions officers.
• Be in the room where it happens. Apply classroom knowledge and feed your curiosity by immersing yourself in the research world. Not only will you be exposed to high-tech equipment and cutting edge techniques, but you will learn the sounds, smells, and the pace of the lab. Learn the culture of STEM.
• Mentorship is the special sauce. There is so much to learn from the people in the lab. As an AEOP Intern you will receive formal mentorship from a professional scientist or engineer. In addition to this, there will be multiple opportunities for you to learn from the STEM practitioners, of varying levels of experience, around you. Receive guidance and coaching and start building a network that will make all the difference in your STEM journey.
• Research that matters. U.S. Army-sponsored research addresses the Nation’s biggest challenges. An AEOP internship provides the opportunity to be part of the long history of discovery and innovation for the benefit of our country.
• Ongoing support. Connect with a community of like-minded peers, other AEOP interns from throughout the country in virtual office hours with Near Peer Mentors. Near Peer Mentors are just a few steps ahead of you. They provide “real talk” and answer intern’s most pressing questions. Take advantage of the AEOP’s ongoing webinar series that highlights hot STEM careers, research areas, and additional opportunities with the AEOP. Or, attend a workshop to build college-readiness and professional skills.
• Earn a stipend. Not only is participation in the AEOP free, all AEOP intern receive an educational stipend in recognition of their work.

Information for Applicants

• In collaboration with universities and U.S. Army Research Laboratories and Centers, the AEOP is proud to offer summer internships for high school students throughout the country.
• Internships take place onsite unless otherwise noted. (In the case of location closures due to COVID-19 restrictions, internships may be offered remotely or cancelled depending on individual location circumstances.)
• AEOP High School Internships are designed for commuters. Transportation, meals, and housing are not provided. It is important to keep this in mind when selecting locations in the application.
• Applicants must meet eligibility requirements, complete the AEOP High School Internships application, and submit recommendations (if required) by the due date in order to be considered for an internship.
• Locations may require that applicants meet specific age or grade in school requirements (not negotiable). Prerequisite coursework may also be required.
• In the effort to ensure equitable access to STEM education, some sites target participants from priority populations or military connected families.
• Please review the application FAQ for application tips and answers to frequently asked questions. We strongly recommend that you write the essay and gather materials (transcript, etc.) before starting the application.
• There is no application fee and participation in AEOP Internships is free.
• All interns earn an educational stipend in recognition of their participation. The stipend amount varies by internship location and program duration. If selected for the internship, information about the stipend will be provided in the award letter.
• More information about AEOP Summer Internships and the application can be found here.

Stay up-to-date with our application and future opportunities by joining our mailing list here.

Eligibility

All participants must be current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location.

In alignment with the federal government, AEOP supports diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM and is interested in broadening participation from priority populations. To support this effort, some (but not all) AEOP High School Internships have been specifically designed for participants from priority populations. (AEOP Undergraduate Internships are open to participants from all backgrounds. Candidates from priority populations are encouraged to apply.) The information provided by applicant, will be used both to statistically understand AEOP’s reach and to determine if you meet AEOP’s broad definition of priority populations. Later in this form, you will be asked for more detailed demographics. The information you provide will be treated as confidential and submission is voluntary.

For these specific sites, applicants must meet at least two of the criteria listed below:

• Military-connected, which may include:
  • Military children: dependents of members of the Active Duty Armed Forces and Veterans.
  • Military-connected: military children plus the dependents of members of the National Guard and Reserves.
• Economic: Family’s taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level; those who qualify for free and reduced-price meals (FARM) programs; were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants; homeless; in foster care
• Racial and ethnic minorities that are historically underrepresented in STEM: Alaskan Natives, Native Americans, Black or African Americans, Latinx/Hispanic Americans, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.
• Individuals with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Individuals with English as a second language (ESL) or English language learners (ELLs).
• First-generation college students.
• Students in rural, frontier, or other federally targeted schools, such as title 1 schools.
• Females in STEM fields where they remain underrepresented (physical science, computer science, mathematics, and engineering).