11 Data Science Summer Research Programs for High School Students in New York
If you are a high school student, summer research programs provide an opportunity to acquire practical skills and establish valuable connections. If you are interested in data science and related fields, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), participating in a data science summer research program can provide exposure to advanced technologies and methodologies.
These programs, often hosted by top colleges and organizations in New York, allow you to engage in research projects, learn from mentors, and collaborate with peers who share your interests. We’ve carefully selected 11 data science summer research programs for high school students in New York that emphasize data-driven problem-solving.
1. Columbia DBMI Summer Research Program
Location: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Rising or graduating high school seniors and undergraduate college students; must be 16+ years old and located in the NYC metro area during the program
The Columbia Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) Summer Research Program offers rising and graduating high school seniors, as well as undergraduate students, research experience in biomedical informatics and health data science. You will collaborate closely with DBMI faculty and graduate students on innovative projects related to artificial intelligence, machine learning, electronic health records, and ethical considerations in healthcare data science. The program offers a mini-course, weekly lab meetings, journal clubs, and the chance to design your own research using large clinical datasets. Some former students have received notable research awards and presented their work at major conferences.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. 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, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. ARISE – Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free; includes $1,000 stipend upon successful completion
Dates: June 2 – August 8 (first 4 weeks remote after school, next 6 weeks in-person on weekdays)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors attending NYC schools; full-time NYC residents only
ARISE is a competitive, free 10-week summer research program funded by the Pinkerton Foundation, designed to provide high school students with STEM research experience. The first four weeks include foundational training such as lab safety, college writing workshops, and research skills development. The remaining six weeks involve working in NYU research labs alongside faculty and researchers on cutting-edge projects. The program culminates in a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History, where you will showcase your research on your topic of choice. Additional benefits include one-on-one college application support, continued research mentorship, and access to an extensive alumni network.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid is available
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: 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. Machine Learning Summer Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York, NY
Cost: $3,050 tuition; optional housing $308/week; meal packages $192 per 10 meals + $30 dining bucks
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – 27 (Orientation June 13) | Session 2: July 7 – 18 (Orientation July 1) | Session 3: July 28 – August 8 (Orientation July 25)
Application Deadline: April 21
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 who have completed Algebra 2 (or equivalent) and have some programming experience
NYU Tandon's Summer Program for Machine Learning introduces students to core concepts in computer science, data analysis, mathematical methods, and logic that underpin machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). This two-week, full-day program covers the fundamental principles behind technologies like video and image recognition, autonomous vehicles, voice control systems, and medical diagnostics. The curriculum covers model development methods such as cross-validation, linear regression, and neural networks, emphasizing engineering problem-solving and its application to societal issues. Conducted in person at NYU’s campus, students have the option to stay in residence halls or commute. The program features daily lessons, practical projects, and social events, including field trips to NYC attractions.
6. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors; must be 16+ years old by program start
The Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) is a competitive, full-time, seven-week summer research opportunity for high school juniors and seniors. Accepted participants join small research teams mentored by scientific trainees from the Tri-Institutions. The program simulates a real research lab, offering biomedical research experience along with elective courses, workshops, guest lectures, and social events. During the program, students choose a research question, perform experiments, analyze results, and create a research poster for the SSRP Symposium. While not solely focused on data science, this program provides valuable research experience in biomedical science, which may include data-driven components depending on lab placement.
7. GSTEM – Girls in STEM Summer Research Program
Location: NYU campus, New York, NY
Cost: $5,500; optional housing with meal plan $3,840
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising 11th-grade students with a strong STEM background; highly selective cohort limited to 40 students
GSTEM is a six-week summer research program designed to empower high school girls interested in pursuing STEM academic and career paths. You will be matched with a STEM professor or researcher to work on personalized projects in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, or physics. The program includes weekly field trips where you'll meet women in various STEM careers, broadening your understanding of potential paths. During GSTEM, you can develop laboratory and programming skills, strengthen your scientific writing and presentation abilities, and forge lasting peer connections. Housing and NYC activities are available for residential students, culminating in a Symposium Day where you present your research to family and friends.
8. GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: June 2 – August 29
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors entering grade 11 or 12; have taken at least one high school biology course; Minimum (unweighted) GPA of 3.0
GL4HS is a free, 12-week, self-paced summer program that offers high school students the opportunity to learn about NASA’s space biology research through omics-based bioinformatics and computational biology. You’ll explore innovative methods for analyzing large biological datasets and utilize these skills to tackle NASA’s space science challenges. The course offers on-demand lectures, exercises, quizzes, and optional weekly live office hours for support. Upon completing the core program, participants can engage in a Capstone Project, collaborating in teams to propose original research. The best teams may be invited to present their proposals at the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research conference.
9. Python Data Science & AI Machine Learning Program
Location: Virtual or in-person in New York City
Cost: $2,195 (early bird discount applied; regular price $2,495); Self-paced option available for $1,699
Dates: Summer sessions; schedules vary with options from full-day to half-day blocks
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students interested in coding; no prior programming experience required
This two-week summer program introduces high school students to Python, the leading and versatile programming language in data science and AI. You’ll start by learning Python fundamentals before advancing to data analysis and visualization using libraries like Pandas, Matplotlib, and Sci-Kit Learn. The course focuses on project-based learning, allowing you to input, analyze, and graph real-world data. While not a traditional research program, the NYC program introduces core data science and machine learning concepts through project-based learning. You’ll gain from expert instructors, small class sizes, software access, and personalized bonus training, resulting in a verified digital certificate.
10. Computer Science Summer Program – NYC (High School)
Location: Virtual or in-person in New York City
Cost: $3,999 (early bird discount applied; regular price $4,499); self-paced option available
Dates: 4 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students interested in coding; no prior programming experience required
This comprehensive four-week summer program offers 95 hours of project-based training in two of the most popular programming languages: Java and Python. In the first half, you’ll learn Java programming concepts like object-oriented programming and recursion to prepare for the AP Computer Science exam. The second half shifts focus to Python basics and data science skills, including data manipulation with Pandas and NumPy, data visualization with Matplotlib, and machine learning methods such as linear regression and classification. The curriculum culminates in a capstone project where you’ll apply your knowledge to analyze and present data insights. While not exclusively focused on data science or research, this program incorporates key data science skills into its broader computer science curriculum.
11. National High School Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: 5-week program: $3,995; Self-study component: $1,000; Eligible students receive a $750 stipend
Dates: Data Science Track: July 7 – August 8 | Quantum Computing Track: June 23 – July 25 | Artificial Intelligence Track: June 23 – July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Incoming 9th–12th graders and rising college freshmen
The National High School Research Program provides an immersive, five-week online summer research experience in advanced areas like Quantum Computing, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence. Participants will receive mentorship from distinguished experts affiliated with leading universities such as Columbia University, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, the University of Maryland, and UC Berkeley. Throughout the program, you’ll gain experience conducting original research projects using real-world datasets and technology, with opportunities to showcase your work at the TCS Summer Research Symposium. The curriculum focuses on building technical skills, research methods, and presentation abilities, with personalized mentorship support.