10 Computer Science Summer Research Programs for High School Students in New York

If you’re a high school student curious about computer science, research programs are a viable way to move beyond classroom assignments and learn how projects get built. These opportunities give you experience in writing code, working with datasets, building prototypes, or running experiments while also teaching research habits like literature review and problem formulation. 

Many top colleges and organisations across New York run research programs or labs that welcome high-school participants. If you’re interested in subfields such as machine learning, cybersecurity, robotics, or data science, these local programs are a good way to test those areas in depth. They also connect you with faculty, graduate students, and peers, which can lead to mentorship and collaborators beyond the program itself.

We’ve narrowed this guide to 10 Computer Science Summer Research Programs for high schoolers in New York and include a strong computer-science (or closely related) research component. 

10 Computer Science Summer Research Programs for High School Students in New York

1. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) at Rockefeller University

Acceptance Rate: 32 students selected each year

Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free; travel expenses are covered, and need-based stipends may be available.

Dates: June 23 – August 7

Application Deadline: January 3

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (must be at least 16 at the start of the program)

You’ll work inside Rockefeller’s research labs alongside faculty, postdocs, and graduate mentors on a hands-on biomedical or computational project. You’ll gain lab and/or bioinformatics skills, wet-lab techniques, experimental design, data analysis, and tools like BLAST and Galaxy, depending on the track you choose. You’ll own a research question, run experiments or code pipelines, and iterate your approach with direct mentor feedback. You’ll attend seminars and guest lectures that deepen your subject knowledge and strengthen scientific writing and critical thinking. At the end, you’ll turn your results into a polished poster or presentation and share your work at a research symposium, practising how to communicate findings to scientists and peers.

2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies based on program type 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive 

Dates: Various, according to the cohort. Multiple 15-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)

Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python

Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. You are expected to have a basic understanding of Python, or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow you to pursue independent AI research projects. You will work on your research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. You can find examples of previous projects here. 

3. STEM Research Academy – College Now @ City Tech

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Hybrid (on-campus at City Tech, Brooklyn + remote sessions)
Cost/Stipend: Free; Summer internship includes a $1575 stipend, plus a MetroCard, supplies, and free lunch on Mondays

Dates: Spring Course: February 8 – May 31 and Summer Internship: June 26 – August 15

Application Deadline: December 13

Eligibility: NYC public high school sophomores or juniors from partner schools; preference given to students with an overall average of 80+ and strong science/math performance

You’ll begin with a free, 15-week research course each spring, where you’ll build core scientific skills like crafting research questions, designing experiments, navigating scientific literature, and conducting lab and fieldwork around Brooklyn, all through a hybrid mix of in-person and remote sessions. If you complete the spring component, you can apply for the Summer Research Internship (June 26–August 15), during which you'll work on a small independent research project within a City Tech faculty's lab team. You'll attend weekly seminars, gather data, write up your findings, and then present them at the prestigious Summer Science Symposium held at the American Museum of Natural History.

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Virtual

Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).

Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school; Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement 

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.  The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.

5. NYU Tandon Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY

Cost/Stipend: None. Students also receive a $1000 stipend upon successfully completing the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; limited cohort

Dates: June 2 – August 8

Application Deadline: February 21

Eligibility: Must be a New York City resident; Must be completing 10th or 11th grade in June

The ARISE program offers a rigorous research experience that goes beyond typical classroom learning. You'll receive foundational knowledge in STEM through virtual evening workshops before diving into full-time, in-person lab work. You'll be matched with a mentor and work on a research project, which could involve anything from robotics to artificial intelligence. This experience culminates in a final presentation, where you'll showcase your research to peers and faculty, which can be a valuable addition to your academic portfolio.

6. CISA Cyber and IT Internship Program

Location: Multiple locations across the U.S., including remote and in-person options, depending on placement

Stipend: Paid internship under the U.S. federal pay structure (exact pay varies)

Acceptance/cohort size: Depends on federal hiring needs and specific roles

Dates: Varies by assignment; openings posted continuously on USAJOBS

Application deadline: Varies per opening. Check individual announcements on USAJOBS.

Eligibility: Open to high school students and college freshmen (first year) and above; U.S. citizenship required

You'll spend several weeks (often full- or part-time depending on the placement) contributing to federal cybersecurity projects under the guidance of CISA professionals. Your work might include threat analysis, forensic investigations, penetration testing, security automation, and development of tools or solutions for network and control systems. The experience emphasises mission-oriented research tasks, combined with exposure to federal cybersecurity frameworks and infrastructure security practices. You’ll have access to networking and professional growth opportunities, including lab tours, security conferences, and interactions with experts from government and industry. Overall, the program integrates practical cybersecurity work, mentorship, and exposure to federal initiatives without formal coursework or grading.

7. Tech Scholars Programs – New-York Historical Society

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective

Location: Tech Commons, New-York Historical Society, New York, NY

Cost: Free

Dates: Tech Scholars: Podcasting – Cohort 1: July 7–11; Tech Scholars: Podcasting – Cohort 2: August 18–22; Tech Scholars: Web Design – Summer: July 21–25

Application Deadlines: Tech Scholars: Podcasting – May 19 and Tech Scholars: Web Design (Summer) – May 26

Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9–12 who live in and attend school in the NYC metro area (including NYC’s five boroughs, as well as parts of NY, NJ, and CT)

You’ll spend a week in the museum’s Tech Commons, crafting digital humanities projects that blend technology with history and storytelling. In one session, you’ll produce your own podcast learning narrative structure, scripting, audio editing, and voice techniques, exploring historical topics that resonate today. In another, you'll design and build a website using HTML and CSS to spotlight compelling stories, often with a focus on underrepresented figures or social justice themes. Throughout the week, you’ll not only deepen your coding and storytelling skills but also connect with museum educators and media professionals who share insights into digital media careers. You'll conduct research on historical content, collaborate with peers to form creative concepts, and learn about how museums use technology to engage audiences. Each session runs for one week, whether it’s the podcasting track or the web design track, and offers a supportive, hands-on environment for building a digital portfolio while exploring your passion for history and tech.

8. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) – NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Cost/Stipend: Free; funded by National Grid

Location: In-person at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY

Dates: July 1 - August 2

Application Deadline: April 14

Eligibility: Open to NYC students currently in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade with a strong academic record and interest in STEM

You’ll spend five weeks learning at NYU Tandon’s School of Engineering, where you'll blend technology, entrepreneurship, and urban innovation through hands-on projects. You’ll master the basics of circuitry, coding, microcontrollers, sensors, and cloud computing using these tools to ideate and prototype smart city solutions like environmental sensors or data-driven systems. Alongside building technical skills, you’ll explore entrepreneurial essentials such as economics, project management, pitching, and intellectual property, which will empower you to envision real-world impact. Team collaboration is central to this program; you'll work with peers to develop your smart-city prototype and refine your ideas. Your communication skills will get a boost through theatre-based workshops in partnership with Irondale Theatre, helping you craft compelling presentations. The program culminates in a public showcase and an expo-style presentation where you’ll unveil your project to urban planners, engineers, STEM professionals, and fellow students.

9. SPARC – Summer Program in Automation, Robotics, and Coding

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,300
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – June 27, Session 2: July 7 – July 18, Session 3:July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students aged 15+ (rising 10th–12th graders); U.S. and international students

You’ll spend two intensive weeks at NYU Tandon’s Brooklyn campus exploring robotics, automation, and coding through project-based learning. You’ll work with microcontrollers, sensors, actuators, and circuitry, often using a take-home robotics kit so you can continue building even after the program ends. Your daily lab sessions and workshops will guide you through core concepts like loops, conditionals, circuit configurations, and component interfacing, culminating in a robot competition or mobile manipulator challenge that tests your problem-solving and teamwork. You’ll be mentored by NYU Tandon faculty and staff, gaining exposure to college-level engineering tools and environments while collaborating with peers in a dynamic, inclusive setting.

10. Girls Who Code Summer Programs

Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Open enrollment with high acceptance; cohort size varies by program type
Location: Virtual (open to students worldwide)

Cost / Stipend: Free; no tuition or fees; needs-based grants ($300) available for U.S.–based SIP participants

Dates: Summer Immersion Program (SIP): 2-week live virtual sessions, exact dates vary by session; Pathways Program: June 30 – August 8, self-paced over six weeks

Application Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Current 9th–12th graders (SIP: grades 9–11; Pathways: grades 9–12)

You’ll choose between two free, virtual CS programs designed for high school students everywhere. In the Summer Immersion Program (SIP), you attend live daily (2–3 hours) with interactive classes on game design using p5.js, UX basics, and collaborative coding, culminating in a “GameJam” week and a project showcase. Alternatively, in the Pathways Program, you dive into flexible, self-paced coursework over six weeks, exploring tracks like web development, cybersecurity, data science + AI, and a new Responsible AI module, earning certificates as you complete each course, with optional live discussions and community support. You’ll collaborate with peers, connect with mentors during optional live “Student Hours,” and complete real coding projects addressing challenges like climate change or cyberbullying.