The STEM Pathways High School Internship is a paid summer opportunity for Carteret County high school students built around two complementary experiences: scientific research and near-peer mentorship.

Interns work in small research teams with Duke University Marine Lab PhD mentors, gaining firsthand experience with the scientific process—from developing questions and collecting data to analyzing results and communicating their findings.

High school interns then bring their growing knowledge and confidence into the middle school camps, where they help facilitate activities and mentor younger students. This gives interns the opportunity to experience both sides of mentorship: learning from scientists while becoming role models for the next generation of students.