High School
SEAP
The Office of Naval Research’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) provides an opportunity for high school students to participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory during the summer.
The goals of SEAP are to encourage participating students to pursue science and engineering careers, to further their education via mentoring by laboratory personnel and their participation in research, and to make them aware of DoN research and technology efforts, which can lead to employment within the DoN.
All NPS internships, including SEAP, are 100% in person, on site at the Monterey campus. Students must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years of age by the end of May. NPS does not offer interns any housing assistance or support.
SEAP is currently the only program NPS uses to bring high school students onto campus for paid internships.
For 2027, the SEAP internship dates are June 14 - August 6. All students will present their work in a poster session on August 6.
The applications are now open. The deadline is November 30, 2026, for summer of 2027. For more information and to apply, please visit the SEAP website.
Also, please save the date for a virtual Meet and Greet with NPS faculty mentors on Wednesday, December 2, at 4PM PT. NPS faculty mentors will give brief presentations on their research projects, and participants will have a chance to ask them questions. All SEAP applicants will be invited.
Student Volunteer Program
The purpose of the Student Volunteer Program (SVP) is to provide educational experiences for selected students and to provide NPS with student interns who contribute to the mission of NPS.
Eligibility in the NPS SVP requires the following:
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The Student Volunteer must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment.
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The Student Volunteer must be enrolled and attending, at least half-time, a high school, trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university or other accredited educational institution.
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The Student Volunteer’s school/college/institution must provide permission for the Student Volunteer's participation in the NPS Student Volunteer program.
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The Student Volunteer must be a U.S. citizen and must be able to successfully complete a security investigation conducted by the NPS Security Office.
Please note that, under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 3111 and 5 C.F.R. Part 308, a student volunteer is not a Federal employee for any purposes other than injury compensation and law related to the Tort Claims Act. Student participation in the program is on a voluntary basis, and there is no remuneration, housing assistance or support, or other employee benefits provided. Volunteer service is not creditable for leave or any other employee benefits or monetary compensation and does not entitle a participant to noncompetitive permanent employment with NPS or with any other Federal entity.
Student Volunteers agree to work a minimum of 50 hours over an academic term (fall, spring, or summer). All NPS internships, including the SVP, are 100% in person, on site at the Monterey campus.
There are no SVP internships available for the fall of 2026. We will post a list of projects and open the application form for 2027 internships on November 4. Applications are due on November 15 and 24 for spring and summer internships, respectively. To get a sense of the kinds of projects we have had in the past, please peruse the list of summer 2026 project descriptions.
