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 at least 16 years of age by the end of May. SEAP is currently the only program NPS uses to bring high school students onto campus for paid internships.

The deadline for SEAP applications is November 1 for the following summer. For more information, including all application details, please visit the SEAP website.

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: 

1. The Student Volunteer must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment. 

2. 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. 

3. The Student Volunteer’s school/college/institution must provide permission for the Student Volunteer's participation in the NPS Student Volunteer program. 

4. 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.

We collected applications for summer 2026 internships through April 1, 2026. We will solicit applications for fall internships starting in late summer. Please check back then for a list of project descriptions and the application form. To get a sense of the kinds of projects we have available, please peruse the list of summer 2026 project descriptions. 

STEM Over the Years