13 Free Research Programs for High School Students in New York
If you are a high school student in New York who is interested in learning more about research, then you could consider pursuing research programs from top universities and organisations. Such programs can introduce you to college-level academics, providing a head start in the subject of your interest. Research programs typically emphasize lab training, lab work, and the development of practical skills. By participating in such programs, you can gain industry exposure and network with academics as well as industry professionals.
New York has numerous reputable universities, research centers and organisations who offer research programs. These programs cover a range of subjects, from computer science to history. Attending such local programs ensures you can avoid the cost for long-distance travel. Many of these local programs are also free of cost or offer financial assistance, which make them affordable and accessible for interested students.
We have compiled a list of 13 free research programs for high schoolers in New York.
1. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program
Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 32
Application Deadline: January 3
Program Dates: June 23 – August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the program’s start
The SSRP is a summer research program for high school students. Working in a research team, you will be supervised by scientific trainees from Rockefeller, MSK, and WCMC. Each research team will have 1 – 3 team leads and additional scientists, as well as a dedicated workspace and resources in RockEDU laboratories. These teams conduct research on topics that team leads are experts in, and you will be matched to a team based on your interests. Throughout the program, you will be trained in laboratory research, explore research questions, and analyze data. You will also participate in relevant elective courses, guest lectures, workshops, networking opportunities, and social events. By the end of the program, you will produce a poster covering your research findings, which will be presented at the poster symposium.
2. Veritas AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to program. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who want to develop a unique, independent AI project may consider pursuing the AI Fellowship program. Through this 12 – 15-week program, students develop a novel AI model in a field of their interest and receive a personalized mentor evaluation. During the program, you will engage with the key concepts in the field of your choice, analyze data, and work with the mentor to evaluate the feasibility of your project. As you work on the project, you can troubleshoot and clarify queries with your mentor. At the end of the program, you may get the opportunity to present your project to your peers.
3. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: None. Stipend of $1,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: February 21
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who live and attend school in NYC
ARISE is a 10-week, fully funded program for high school students in New York. The first 4 weeks of the program involve foundational training. You will complete safety training, college writing workshops, and research skills development to build soft skills. For the remaining 6 weeks, you will work in an NYU research lab, assisting faculty and researchers on real-world projects. You will have the opportunity to network with scholars and professionals and receive personalized support for college applications. After completing the research, you will present it at the Colloquium to the NYU community. The program ends with you showcasing your work at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Poster Symposium.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and 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.
5. Simons-NYU Science Explorations Program
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 80
Application Deadline: March 15
Program Dates: July 6 – 26
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates, with a demonstrated interest in any of the following subjects: biology, chemistry, neural science, physics, and psychology; who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program; and are U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents
If you’re interested in studying biology, chemistry, neural science, physics, and psychology at the introductory college level, you may consider participating in the Simons-NYU Science Explorations Program. Before the program, you will attend two orientation sessions and receive training in lab safety and hazardous waste management. You will engage with college-level coursework, learn from NYU faculty and guest speakers, and conduct laboratory research. You will also participate in workshops on the basic principles of the five subjects. The program also provides the opportunity to participate in social and cultural events in NYC.
6. STEM Research Academy
Location: Various CUNY campuses in New York, NY
Cost: None. Stipend is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 25 (tentative)
Application Deadline: Varies by campus
Program Dates: February 11 – May 22 (spring), followed by June 30 – August 7 (summer)
Eligibility: 10th and 11th-grade NYCPS students; see all eligibility criteria here
The STEM Research Academy by CUNY allows high school students to explore STEM subjects. The program will connect you to mentoring and research opportunities as well as avenues for networking. In the spring semester, you will complete a pre-college course that introduces you to research practices. In the summer, you will conduct hands-on research in a CUNY academic research lab, thereby developing scientific literacy and numeracy skills. The program ends with a summer exhibition where you will present your research alongside peers from the NYC Science Research and Mentoring Consortium at the American Museum of Natural History. Upon completing the program, you will earn college credit and become alumni of the New York City Science Research Consortium, which allows you to become student mentors and access further research opportunities.
7. Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: None. Stipend is available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Applications open in October
Program Dates: June – August (8 weeks)
Eligibility: 10th- and 11th-grade students currently enrolled in a partner program: S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, and BioBus. Applicants must reside in New York City. Preference is given to students in upper Manhattan and the South Bronx.
The BRAINYAC program connects high school students to scientists. The program begins in the spring with training on microscope techniques, pipetting, computer code for controlling experiments and handling data, dissection, reading scientific papers, and more. In the summer, you will conduct research in a Columbia laboratory. PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, principal investigators, or other full-time researchers doing neuroscience-focused research act as mentors who will guide you on your research. The program aims to teach you how laboratory research facilitates discovery. It provides you with exposure to a professional academic environment as well as a career in science and research. The program ends with a poster symposium where you’ll present your research.
8. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, New York, NY
Cost: None. Stipend of $1,200
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 20 (2%)
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 30 – August 22
Eligibility: High school juniors living in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of Main Campus of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on the Upper East Side in Manhattan; who are 14 years or older by June; have a 3.5 GPA in science subjects; and are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The Summer Student Program is for students aiming to pursue careers in the biomedical sciences. The program focuses on 2 components: independent research and personal and professional development. For the first component, you will undertake a biomedical or computational lab-based internship in a Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) research lab for 8 weeks. You will be mentored by a supervisor who will help you develop research skills and techniques. You will participate in lab meetings and program sessions and complete a self-directed project that supports the Principal Investigator’s research objectives. The research areas range from Cancer biology to Engineering/Optics—you can check the website for the entire list! For the second component, you will participate in events that delve into translational medicine and research.
9. BioBus Junior Scientist Internship
Location: Harlem and the Lower East Side, New York, NY
Cost: None. Stipend of $16.50 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: March 24
Program Dates: July 7 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 11 who live and attend school in NYC. Applicants for the Lower East Side Junior Scientist Internship must live or go to school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan or Chinatown
The BioBus Juniors Scientist Internship enables high school students to develop their research and teaching skills. During the internship, you will conduct original research and co-teach BioBus programs for younger students. Research scientists will mentor and train you to conduct research. In the past, students have completed research projects in sustainability, marine life, animal behavior, and more. You will develop skills in research, lab work, leadership, and scientific communication. You will present your research findings at the academic poster session.
10. Biorocket Research Internship Program
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Cost: None. Stipend of $2,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 13
Application Deadline: January 8
Program Dates: June 30 – August 15
Eligibility: New York City public and charter high school students aged 16 and older, who live or go to an NYC public or charter school within 45 minutes of Genspace (some exceptions possible), and are available to participate in the program from February to August; students from historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply
The Biorocket Research Internship Program will provide opportunities for you to discover the latest advances in genetic engineering. During the internship, you will learn how to work in the lab using biology and genetic engineering techniques and develop scientific communication skills. You will design a summer project, be mentored by a scientist, and meet people who are working in science, technology, and design. In addition to research, you will participate in behind-the-scenes lab tours and field trips. At the end of the internship, you will present your research to family and friends.
11. SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Internships
Location: Cooperstown, NY
Cost: None up to one college credit
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 1 – 3
Application Deadline: March 26
Program Dates: 9 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school students who are New York State residents aged 16 or older as of June 20th
This internship at a biological field station in New York invites high school students to conduct hands-on research. The typical tasks depend on the project’s requirements, but you can expect to experience a mix of field work (fisheries surveys, plant surveys, water sampling, etc.), laboratory analyses (e.g., water chemistry, zooplankton ID, fish dissection), data analysis, writing, and so on. Seminars, including presentations by BFS faculty and staff, are held every week. At these seminars, you will also present your research work. By the end of the program, you will complete a technical report on your original research and a large poster displaying your findings. One hour of free college credit is available.
12. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cost: None. Stipend of $3,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: January 19
Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or rising college freshmen in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Islands who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a paid internship for high school students to explore their interests in fisheries and aquatic science. Internships are available in all states, and the program aims to place you with mentors within a 45-minute commute. You may work in various locations, such as in the field, on a boat, in a laboratory, and in an office. During the internship, you will be involved with taking fish population surveys, establishing aquatic vegetation and fish habitat, electrofishing, snorkeling, examining specimens under a microscope, water quality testing, data processing, and assisting with children’s educational programs. Field work may be rigorous and involve overnight trips. The program culminates with a Scholar’s Summit.
13. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No tuition fee; Additional costs for residence/commute detailed on website/ Stipend offered upon completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. residents and/or permanent residents and at least 16 years old by the start of the program. Schools can nominate 2 students
The Simons Summer Research Program by Stony Brook University offers students the opportunity to conduct research in science, math, or engineering. As a Simons Fellow, you will be matched with a faculty mentor, be placed in a research group, and take up the responsibility of a research project. You will not only learn how to conduct research but also experience what college life is like. Besides conducting research, you will attend weekly faculty research talks and participate in special workshops, tours, and events. By the end of the program, you will write a research abstract and complete a poster to be presented at the concluding poster symposium.