Laboratory Internships
Laboratory internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working scientists and technicians, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings across {{top_industries_phrase}} are actively listed, with Onterris, BMW, and South County Hospital among the employers posting roles now.
Find Laboratory InternshipsOverview
Showing 5 of 8+ Laboratory Internships
Laboratory Technician Intern
Chicago Testing Laboratory, Inc. Flexible Schedule | 20–40 Hours per Week | Potential Full-Time Opportunity
Build real skills. Work with your hands. Start a career.
Chicago Testing Laboratory, Inc. is looking for a motivated, dependable person who is excited to learn and ready to work! This is a great opportunity for a recent high school graduate, trade school student, or college student who wants more than a typical internship.
You do not need previous laboratory or construction experience. We are looking for someone who is curious, hardworking, detail-oriented, and willing to learn. We will provide hands-on training and introduce you to the world of construction materials testing.
This internship has the potential to grow into a full-time career opportunity for the right person.
What You’ll Do
As a Laboratory Technician Intern, you will work alongside experienced team members and help test materials used in roads, buildings, and other construction projects. Your responsibilities may include:
- Receiving, labeling, logging, and tracking material samples
- Assisting with testing asphalt, aggregate, soil, concrete, and other construction materials
- Following step-by-step ASTM, AASHTO, and industry testing procedures
- Recording test results accurately and checking basic calculations
- Learning how to use specialized laboratory equipment and reporting systems
- Assisting with equipment inspections, calibrations, and routine maintenance
- Keeping laboratory work areas, tools, and equipment clean and organized
- Supporting special laboratory projects, training activities, and inspections Communicating test information and questions to the Laboratory Manager
Who We’re Looking For
You may be a great fit if you:
- Have a high school diploma or are on track to earn one
- Are currently attending college, community college, or a technical program—or are exploring your next step
- Show up on time and can be counted on
- Enjoy hands-on work and learning how things operate
- Pay attention to details and take pride in doing work correctly
- Are comfortable asking questions and receiving feedback
- Can follow written procedures and safety requirements
- Are willing to help with cleaning, organizing, and maintaining the laboratory
- Can work independently while also contributing to a team
Experience in construction, engineering, science, automotive work, manufacturing, or a laboratory environment is helpful, but it is not required.
Schedule
- Flexible schedule of approximately 20–40 hours per week
- Hours are available Monday through Friday
- We are willing to work around high school, college, and technical school schedules
- Potential opportunity to transition into a full-time role based on performance, business needs, and mutual interest
What You’ll Gain
This is not an internship where you will spend your day watching from the sidelines. You will receive practical experience and learn:
- How construction materials are tested and evaluated
- How laboratory results support safe, high-quality construction
- How to follow professional testing standards and procedures
- How to operate and care for specialized equipment
- How to document results accurately
- How careers in materials testing, construction, engineering, and quality control work
You may also have opportunities to work toward industry certifications as you gain experience.
Working Environment
This is an active, hands-on laboratory position. You should be comfortable standing for portions of the day, working around construction materials and equipment, and occasionally being exposed to dusty, dirty, noisy, or outdoor conditions.
Start Building Your Career
You do not need to have your entire career figured out. You just need to be ready to learn, work hard, and take advantage of the opportunity in front of you.
Join Chicago Testing Laboratory, Inc. and gain experience that can lead to a long-term career in materials testing, construction, quality control, or engineering!
Laboratory Technician Intern
Chicago Testing Laboratory, Inc. Flexible Schedule | 20–40 Hours per Week | Potential Full-Time Opportunity
Build real skills. Work with your hands. Start a career.
Chicago Testing Laboratory, Inc. is looking for a motivated, dependable person who is excited to learn and ready to work! This is a great opportunity for a recent high school graduate, trade school student, or college student who wants more than a typical internship.
You do not need previous laboratory or construction experience. We are looking for someone who is curious, hardworking, detail-oriented, and willing to learn. We will provide hands-on training and introduce you to the world of construction materials testing.
This internship has the potential to grow into a full-time career opportunity for the right person.
What You’ll Do
As a Laboratory Technician Intern, you will work alongside experienced team members and help test materials used in roads, buildings, and other construction projects. Your responsibilities may include:
- Receiving, labeling, logging, and tracking material samples
- Assisting with testing asphalt, aggregate, soil, concrete, and other construction materials
- Following step-by-step ASTM, AASHTO, and industry testing procedures
- Recording test results accurately and checking basic calculations
- Learning how to use specialized laboratory equipment and reporting systems
- Assisting with equipment inspections, calibrations, and routine maintenance
- Keeping laboratory work areas, tools, and equipment clean and organized
- Supporting special laboratory projects, training activities, and inspections Communicating test information and questions to the Laboratory Manager
Who We’re Looking For
You may be a great fit if you:
- Have a high school diploma or are on track to earn one
- Are currently attending college, community college, or a technical program—or are exploring your next step
- Show up on time and can be counted on
- Enjoy hands-on work and learning how things operate
- Pay attention to details and take pride in doing work correctly
- Are comfortable asking questions and receiving feedback
- Can follow written procedures and safety requirements
- Are willing to help with cleaning, organizing, and maintaining the laboratory
- Can work independently while also contributing to a team
Experience in construction, engineering, science, automotive work, manufacturing, or a laboratory environment is helpful, but it is not required.
Schedule
- Flexible schedule of approximately 20–40 hours per week
- Hours are available Monday through Friday
- We are willing to work around high school, college, and technical school schedules
- Potential opportunity to transition into a full-time role based on performance, business needs, and mutual interest
What You’ll Gain
This is not an internship where you will spend your day watching from the sidelines. You will receive practical experience and learn:
- How construction materials are tested and evaluated
- How laboratory results support safe, high-quality construction
- How to follow professional testing standards and procedures
- How to operate and care for specialized equipment
- How to document results accurately
- How careers in materials testing, construction, engineering, and quality control work
You may also have opportunities to work toward industry certifications as you gain experience.
Working Environment
This is an active, hands-on laboratory position. You should be comfortable standing for portions of the day, working around construction materials and equipment, and occasionally being exposed to dusty, dirty, noisy, or outdoor conditions.
Start Building Your Career
You do not need to have your entire career figured out. You just need to be ready to learn, work hard, and take advantage of the opportunity in front of you.
Join Chicago Testing Laboratory, Inc. and gain experience that can lead to a long-term career in materials testing, construction, quality control, or engineering!
Laboratory Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Laboratory Internship Search
Apply earlier than the semester cycle suggests
Large employers in pharmaceutical, biotech, and government research recruit their summer laboratory cohorts the preceding fall. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check listings consistently from September onward rather than waiting until spring semester begins.
Build documented proof before you apply
Laboratory hiring teams evaluate candidates on what they can actually do at the bench or in the data pipeline. Prioritize completing two or three projects you can document fully, experimental write-ups, published analyses, or instrument-specific protocols, so recruiters have something concrete to assess beyond your coursework list.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller laboratory cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and catches openings that never appear at fairs.
Practice your technical screen out loud before interviewing
Laboratory intern screens typically include a technical component, analytical problem-solving, instrument troubleshooting scenarios, or data interpretation exercises depending on the specialty. Practice explaining your reasoning as you work through problems, not just arriving at the answer, because interviewers weigh how you think as much as what you conclude.
Target structured laboratory internship programs first
Larger employers in pharmaceutical, environmental, and government research run cohort or rotational programs built to train people new to the field. These programs offer structured mentorship and defined project tracks, but they recruit early and fill fast, identify the ones that fit your specialty and submit in the first application wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 100% of the laboratory internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before you start sorting through listings, then filter by location and work type so you are not reviewing roles you cannot accept.
Laboratory Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a laboratory internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For laboratory candidates, a documented lab notebook, published experimental results, or a portfolio of completed analyses gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a laboratory internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For laboratory interns, what actually drives it is performance on real bench or analytical work, available headcount on the team, and how early you signal interest before the return-offer window closes. Treat every project as evidence of what you can do without counting on a guaranteed outcome.
When should I apply for laboratory internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers at pharmaceutical, biotech, and research firms recruit their summer laboratory cohorts the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to actual start dates, so openings appear year-round and monitoring listings consistently pays off rather than applying in a single sprint.
Are laboratory internships paid?
Most professional laboratory internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer discloses it. Stipend-only or unpaid arrangements do exist at some nonprofit research institutions, so read each listing carefully before applying.
What should a laboratory internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. List two or three complete, documented projects that name the instruments, software, or methods used and where to see the work, for laboratory candidates, that means linked experimental reports, published analyses, or a research poster. Add relevant coursework in chemistry, biology, or instrumentation, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote laboratory internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the laboratory internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get laboratory internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
See All 8 Laboratory Internship Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Laboratory Internships