15 Biology Programs for High School Students in New York City
If you are a high school student interested in biology, consider exploring a structured program. These programs allow you to explore research, fieldwork, or lab-based study, and build analytical skills, learn scientific methods, and gain a sense of how biology shapes medicine, sustainability, and technology. They allow you to go beyond textbooks and explore higher-level biological concepts with guidance from experienced mentors.
Why should you attend a program in NYC?
New York City, with its universities, medical centers, and research institutes, offers a wide range of opportunities for aspiring young biologists. From genetics and neuroscience to marine ecology and microbiology, these programs give you the chance to work alongside scientists and explore biology through experiments and research. Whether you live in NYC or are visiting, these programs provide an engaging way to strengthen your scientific understanding and explore future academic interests.
To help you get started, here’s a curated list of 15 biology programs for high school students in New York City.
If you are looking for free summer programs in NYC, check out our blog here.
1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~2%; 20 students selected per year
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who must be 14 or older by June; must live in NY/NJ/CT within 25 miles of MSKCC
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student Program introduces high‐school students to biomedical science and translational cancer research. During the 8-week program, you will be paired with a mentor in a research lab focusing on areas such as cancer biology, immunology, chemical biology, computational biology, or imaging. You will work on independent research projects under supervision, attend lab meetings, and present your findings at a culminating poster session. Professional development sessions and tours of MSKCC supplement the hands-on lab experience, helping you deepen your understanding of how scientific research translates into medical advances.
2. Veritas AI's AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
The Veritas AI + Medicine Deep Dive immerses students in the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare innovation. Guided by mentors, you’ll work with medical datasets and apply machine learning to areas like diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient care. Projects may involve cleaning and analyzing real-world data or building AI models to address current health challenges. The program concludes with a final project and presentation, giving you practical experience in using AI to solve problems in medicine.
3. CCNY College Now STEM Research Academy
Location: City College of New York (CCNY) campus, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Up to $1,575 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students in spring course; ~10 selected for summer internship
Dates: Spring course: February 10 – May 23 | Summer internship: July 6 – August 6, subject to change
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: NYC Public High School 10th or 11th grade; meets specified Regents/GPA criteria
The CCNY College Now STEM Research Academy combines a preparatory spring course with a selective summer research internship. In the spring, you’ll take a 45-hour class on authentic scientific research methods, earning elective science credit while developing inquiry-based learning skills. Top-performing students are invited to continue into the five-week summer internship, where they work full-time with CCNY or CUNY faculty mentors. During the internship, you’ll conduct laboratory research, design an independent project, and present your findings both on campus and at the American Museum of Natural History. This program blends academic instruction and mentored research, giving you experience in university-level scientific exploration.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Biology Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records (3.3+ GPA recommended)
The Biology Track of the Lumiere Research Scholar Program enables high school students to conduct independent life science research under one-on-one mentorship from a Ph.D. scholar. Over 12 weeks, you’ll design and execute a project in fields such as genetics, molecular biology, ecology, or biomedical sciences. You’ll learn to develop a research question, perform data analysis, and write a formal academic paper. The program emphasizes personalized guidance and technical skill-building, resulting in a polished research paper.
5. BioRocket Internship @ Genspace
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer Internship: July – August; Spring After-School Program: February – May
Application Deadline: Early January
Eligibility: NYC public or charter high school students, at least 15 years old by July 1, attending school within 45 minutes of Genspace,
The BioRocket Research Internship immerses high school students in biotech by placing them in a real laboratory setting where they learn genetic engineering, microbiology, and science-communication techniques. You will collaborate with scientist mentors and peers to design and carry out a summer research project – from bench experiments to drafting a scientific paper or poster. The program includes behind-the-scenes lab tours, field trips to biotech companies, and improv-style sessions to sharpen your ability to explain your work to broad audiences. At the end, you earn a stipend and give a final presentation, helping boost your college application profile and professional confidence.
6. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Internships are available all over the country
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Eight-week program typically June – August
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who will be 16+ by the internship start
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a paid, eight-week summer internship that pairs high school students with professional fisheries scientists for research experience. You will participate in real field and lab projects in both freshwater and marine environments, engaging in activities such as fish population surveys, habitat restoration, electrofishing, snorkeling, data analysis, and public outreach. The program provides valuable exposure to aquatic science, helping you develop research, fieldwork, and teamwork skills while exploring career paths in environmental and fisheries biology.
7. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) at NYU
Location: New York University, New York City, NY (specific area depends on subject area/ lab choice)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: NYC high school students entering juniors or seniors (grades 10/11) in the upcoming year
ARISE is a rigorous summer research program that pairs New York City high school students with faculty-led research labs at NYU Tandon. The first phase involves workshops on safety, research skills, scientific writing, and college preparation. In the subsequent weeks, you will be placed in engineering or life-science labs working on authentic research alongside graduate mentors. You will analyze data, contribute to lab work in areas such as bioengineering, molecular biology, materials science, and computational modeling, and ultimately present your findings at a formal symposium.
8. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY (with commuter and residential options)
Cost/Stipend: No tuition fee; participants receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school juniors (11th grade) at the time of application, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and at least 16 years old by program start
The Simons Summer Research Program is a prestigious six-week residential opportunity that allows high school students to engage in advanced STEM research at the university level. You will be paired with faculty mentors and integrated into research teams working on projects in fields such as biochemistry, computer science, geoscience, pharmacology, and physics. The experience culminates in a formal research abstract and a poster presentation at the closing symposium. In addition to lab work, you will attend faculty lectures, skill-building workshops, and campus tours that broaden your scientific perspective.
9. DNA Learning Center Urban Barcode Research Program
Location: DNA Learning Center, City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: $500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 36 students
Dates: In-Person Interviews: July 7 – 11, Virtual Interviews: July 28 – August 1, Lab training: August 25 – 29
Application Deadline: May 27
Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in grades 9-12 at a public or private high school in New York City and must reside in New York City
The Urban Barcode Research Program offers high school students hands-on experience in biotechnology and environmental science through the study of DNA barcoding – a genetic technique used to analyze biodiversity in urban ecosystems. During the program, you will begin with lab training in genetics, biodiversity, and field sampling, then develop a research proposal under the mentorship of expert scientists. You’ll collect samples, extract and sequence DNA, and use bioinformatics tools to interpret your results. The program concludes with a research presentation, giving you both practical lab experience and a deeper understanding of how biotechnology can help address real-world ecological issues.
10. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~32 students each year
Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application Deadline: January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, age 16 or older at program start
The Summer Science Research Program at Rockefeller University allows high school students to conduct advanced biomedical research in one of the world’s leading laboratories. You will be paired with faculty mentors and work full-time on independent projects involving modern lab techniques and scientific inquiry. In addition to research, students attend elective seminars, guest lectures, and peer discussion sessions that deepen their understanding of life sciences. The program concludes with a formal symposium, where you will present your findings to faculty and fellow researchers. With only about 32 students selected each year, SSRP is an elite and immersive biology research experience for motivated high schoolers.
11. Alleypond’s Field Biology Internships (FBI)
Location: Alley Pond Environmental Center, Douglaston, NY
Cost/Stipend: $150 participation fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Fall: September 27 – November 1 | Spring: March 14 – May 2 | Summer: June 30 – August 4
Application Deadline: Fall session – August 1, Spring – January 2, Summer – May 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+
The Field Biology Internship (FBI) at the Alley Pond Environmental Center is designed for high school students passionate about urban ecology and environmental science. You will gain hands-on experience in research methods and experimental design – skills valuable for future college studies and science careers. Fieldwork takes place in Alley Pond Park and other locations across Queens, NYC, where participants conduct biodiversity surveys, monitor water and soil quality, observe birds, identify macroinvertebrates, perform coastal seining, and assist with native plant restoration. Throughout the program, interns collect and analyze ecological data under the guidance of experienced field biologists and environmental educators.
12. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Location: Multiple NASA centers across the United States + virtual options
Cost/Stipend: Paid internships; stipend varies by session and academic level
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Offered year-round (spring, summer, fall sessions)
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old, have a 3.0 GPA, and be a full-time student
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) provides paid internship opportunities for high school students at NASA centers nationwide and through virtual placements. You will collaborate with NASA scientists, engineers, and researchers on cutting-edge projects across aerospace engineering, space science, robotics, AI, planetary geology, space microbiology, and climate research. Tasks may involve analyzing satellite data, designing experiments, or contributing to technologies used in active space missions. With more than 2,000 interns selected each year, this highly competitive program offers an unparalleled chance to gain experience in advanced research and innovation.
13. Medicine Encompassed Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Medicine Encompassed provides high school students with specialized roles in medical research and educational resource development, especially in areas like biology and anatomy. As an intern, you’ll work across 18 different committees as a researcher, writer, and content creator. Your responsibilities include researching medical topics, writing clear and informative articles, and developing materials that support an inclusive and accessible medical curriculum. You may also participate in the Project Cultivation initiative, which focuses on expanding awareness and equity in medical education. By the end of the internship, you’ll have contributed to a substantial collection of student-created educational resources.
14. NASA’s GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2 – August 29
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents attending U.S.-based high schools; rising juniors or seniors; minimum unweighted GPA 3.0; must have taken at least one high-school biology course
GeneLab for High Schools lets high school students dive into real space-biology research from home, using NASA’s publicly available genomics and “omics” datasets. Over 12 weeks, you will attend on-demand lectures, complete computational biology exercises, and learn bioinformatics methods used in NASA space-biology. You will explore how organisms respond to spaceflight conditions – delving into gene expression, space-environment effects, and data analysis. Optionally, students can team up for a capstone project: they propose a hypothesis, analyze data from NASA’s open repository, and present their findings in a virtual symposium.
15. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Program fee $850 + application fee US $40; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S.-based high school students who are 14+
The AIMI Summer Research Internship is a virtual, intensive two-week program designed for high school students interested in the convergence of artificial intelligence, computing, and medicine. You will begin with foundational lectures on AI in healthcare, receive guidance from Stanford researchers and student mentors, and move into small-group research sessions where you will work on real datasets and model-building challenges pertinent to medical imaging and clinical applications. The program also includes guest speaker sessions featuring industry, academic, and policy professionals, group activities, and ends with student presentations.
Image source - Lumiere Education