14 Physics Research Programs for High School Students in New York City (NYC)
If you are a high school student with an interest in physics, then enrolling in a research program can help you explore the field. These programs allow you to work in research settings, build practical lab and data analysis skills, and form valuable connections with peers and researchers. As a participant, you will learn how to run experiments, record data, engage with scientific literature, and share your work with a wider audience.
Why should you attend a program in New York City?
New York City is home to universities, labs, and research institutions that host specialized programs for high school students each year. You can work on experiments, simulations, or independent research projects that explore topics such as quantum mechanics, astronomy, or materials science under the guidance of experts. Whether you live in NYC or are visiting the city, the range of programs offered here helps you deepen your scientific interests and connect with a vibrant community of learners.
To make your search easier, here we have listed 14 physics research programs for high school students in New York City (NYC).
If you are looking for free summer programs in NYC, check out our blog here.
1. NYU’s Applied Research In Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free program; $1,000 stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who live in NYC and attend NYC schools
ARISE is a 10-week summer program for high school students interested in diving into research. As a participant, you will work in one of 80 NYU labs and obtain hands-on research experience in physics. During the initial weeks of the program, you will engage in safety training, skill development, and college writing workshops. The next few weeks will be focused on laboratory work, where you will assist faculty professors and researchers on real-world projects. ARISE also offers one-on-one college application support, continued research opportunities, and access to a broad peer and professional network. At the end of the program, you will present your work at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) poster symposium.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts (fall, winter, spring, and summer) in a year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have experience with Python or core AI concepts
Veritas AI runs multiple programs that allow high school students to dive into artificial intelligence. The AI Fellowship is a fully virtual AI exploration program that allows you to learn through project development and 1-on-1 mentorship. Over 12 to 15 weeks, you will explore key AI and data science concepts and develop your own research project on an AI-based focus area. You can focus on the intersection of AI with physics for your project. The program also offers support to refine your work for future publication.
3. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) @ Rockefeller University
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NYC
Cost/Stipend: Free; need-based stipends available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students
Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application Deadline: January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old
SSRP is a team-based mentored research program for high school students. Here, you will join a team of 8–10 peers led by members from the Tri-Institutions (Rockefeller, MSK, and WCMC) and engage in work that mirrors the daily routine of a professional lab team. You will learn how to formulate a research question, collect data, and run experiments. During the program, you will also have access to elective courses, guest lectures, workshops, and networking events. The summer experience will end with a formal poster presentation, where you will share your experience with peers and faculty.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Physics Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic performance (preferably with an unweighted GPA around 3.3/4); no prior research experience required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a fully virtual mentored 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 a research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from various subjects, including physics and astrophysics. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. CUNY’s STEM Research Academy
Location: Various City University of New York campuses across NYC
Stipend: Varies by campus; typically, ~$1,500 offered to summer research participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by campus
Application deadline: Varies by campus
Dates: Spring courses + summer research; dates vary by campus
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11
CUNY’s STEM Research Academy is a two-semester research-focused program for high school students. In the spring, you will learn about scientific research through a pre-college course, followed by a six-week research experience. In the summer, you will engage in a six-week research experience in a CUNY laboratory, where you will run experiments, collect and analyze data, and document your findings. You can highlight your preference for physics-focused placements. At the end of the internship, you will present your project at the American Museum of Natural History.
6. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Location: Various NASA centers in the U.S. + remote opportunities
Stipend: Paid; exact amount is not specified.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple internship periods throughout the year, including Summer, Fall, and Spring sessions.
Application deadline: Summer: February 27 | Fall: May 22 | Spring: TBA
Eligibility: High school students, ages 16 and up, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
NASA runs various internships for high school students looking for hands-on STEM experiences. As an intern, you will work with NASA professionals on projects that support NASA’s mission in physics and tech. Your tasks can vary based on your role, but you will typically engage in research, data analysis, or testing technologies to support NASA staff. This experience can help you build practical skills, enhance your resume, and prepare for a career in STEM. You can look for research opportunities here.
7. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: Multiple U.S. universities and labs, including sites in NYC
Stipend: Available; exact amount not specified
Cohort size: Varies by opportunity
Dates: May – August (6 to 10 weeks); dates vary based on the opportunity
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students; additional requirements may be applicable based on the opportunity.
AEOP offers Army-sponsored research-focused opportunities to high schoolers interested in STEM. As a participant, you will contribute to active research under the guidance of a university researcher or a Department of Defence scientist. You may run experiments, read scientific literature, collect data, and/or compare datasets. The sites also engage in physics-focused research. During the program, you will have access to workshops, webinars, and learning materials to prepare for future STEM academics.
8. City College of New York STEM Institute
Location: The City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – August 7; spring and fall programs are also available.
Application deadline: May 25
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 12
CCNY’s STEM Institute is a free program that offers middle and high school students a structured introduction to advanced STEAM coursework. Among the various courses in science, math, business, and arts, you will also gain exposure to physics coursework and learn through real-world problem-solving. You will also work on research projects during the program. College and career skills development and test prep are key parts of the experience. At the end of the program, you will present your research work at a poster symposium.
9. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center labs, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2%; 20 interns/year
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application deadline: February 6; applications open on December 1.
Eligibility: High school juniors, ages 14 and up, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in science; applicants must live within 25 miles of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, either in NY, NJ, or CT
Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Summer Student Program is an eight-week mentored research experience for high schoolers. During the program, you will join a Memorial Sloan Kettering research lab to work on a mentor-guided project. The program’s research areas span STEM fields; you can indicate your preference for a physics-focused track like optics. The program is designed to help you develop research skills and learn from experts through professional development events, lab meetings, and exposure to translational medicine. At the end of the program, you will present your summer research findings at a poster session.
10. Simons–NYU Science Explorations Program
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 80 students
Dates: July 5 – 25
Application deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Simons–NYU Science Explorations is a three-week residential program for high school students interested in exploring physics, biology, chemistry, neural science, and psychology. During the program, you will work on introductory college-level chemistry coursework and engage in laboratory research. Additionally, you will attend lab sessions and workshops designed to cover the fundamentals of all five disciplines. The free program also offers opportunities to engage in social activities in NYC.
11. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY (less than 1.5 hours away from NYC)
Cost/Stipend: No tuition; a $2,450 housing fee applies to residential participants. Stipends are available.
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University is an opportunity for high schoolers to engage in hands-on research in math, science, or engineering. You can indicate your preference for a physics-focused placement. As a participant, you will work with faculty mentors and join active research teams to engage in research and learn how to work with laboratory tools. This in-person program also allows you to experience life on a college campus, attend weekly research talks led by faculty, and participate in events, tours, and workshops. At the end of the program, you will present a research poster and a written research abstract.
12. NYU’s GSTEM
Location: NYU, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $5,750 (tuition) + optional $3,840 (housing and meal expenses); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 students/year
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Students in grade 11
NYU’s GSTEM is a six-week research experience for high schoolers interested in STEM. As a participant, you will work alongside a professor or researcher on an applied research project. You can choose a research track in physics. Throughout the program, you will build skills in experimental design, data collection and analysis, scientific writing, and coding using tools such as Python and MATLAB. The program also offers mentorship and exposure to women leaders in STEM while helping you build college-level research experience.
13. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: 9th-11th-grade students; applicants from underresourced backgrounds are encouraged to apply
SPINWIP is a free three-week fully virtual program for high school students interested in physics. While not a typical research program, SPINWIP offers exposure to research and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in physics-based project work. Here, you will learn about the latest research in various physics fields, including quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics, and cosmology, through virtual sessions led by Stanford professors and researchers. You will also gain experience in Python coding and apply your coding skills to physics-based projects while working in a small group led by Stanford students. Workshops on career development and college planning are also part of the experience.
14. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual internships available for NYC students
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers available; no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP offers fully remote research internships in various fields, including astronomy and physics. You can choose a mentor offering a remote internship format to engage in physical science research. Over eight weeks, you will assist your mentor, learn about lab practices, read scientific literature, and build scientific writing and communication skills over remote sessions. During the program, you will also learn about career paths while engaging in discussions with researchers and STEM professionals. The program ends with a symposium, where you will learn about all the research that was conducted at ASSIP over the summer.
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