15 Physics Research Programs for High School Students in New York State

Physics research programs can be a strong option for you if you are a high school student interested in understanding how theoretical concepts translate into scientific inquiry. Hosted by universities and research institutions, physics research programs can offer you early exposure to academic and professional research environments, advanced research tools, and experience in investigating scientific questions and communicating your findings. These programs often emphasize mentorship, allowing you to work closely with faculty, graduate students, or researchers on focused projects. 

Why should you attend a program in New York State?

New York State is home to a range of universities, national laboratories, and research organizations that offer research opportunities in physics and closely related fields. Institutions across the state support research in areas such as astrophysics, condensed matter physics, applied physics, and computational science, making the region especially attractive for students seeking depth and rigor. New York’s concentration of research universities also means increased opportunities for collaboration, site visits, and exposure to interdisciplinary work, making the programs here solid options for local and out-of-state students.

To help you identify strong options, we have narrowed down 15 physics research programs for high school students in New York State. 

If you're looking for STEM programs in New York State, check our blog here.

1. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 stipend

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified

Dates: June 1 – August 14

Application deadline: February 21

Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC public schools

The ARISE program is a research-focused summer opportunity that allows you to engage in hands-on scientific and engineering research at NYU Tandon. During the first four weeks, you complete foundational training in lab safety, research methods, and college-level scientific writing to prepare for advanced work. You will then spend six weeks embedded in an NYU research lab, working with faculty and graduate researchers on ongoing projects in fields that often include applied physics, engineering, and related STEM disciplines. Throughout the program, you will gain extensive lab experience, develop communication and public speaking skills, and contribute to real research outcomes. You will present your work to the NYU community during a research colloquium and end the program by showcasing your findings at the American Museum of Natural History Poster Symposium. 

2. Veritas AI's AI Fellowship

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective

Dates: Several cohorts year-round

Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.

Eligibility: High school students who have a basic understanding of Python or have completed the AI Scholars program

Veritas AI’s AI Fellowship is a selective mentorship opportunity that helps high school students develop and execute an original project in the field of artificial intelligence, led by STEM professionals or researchers. You will be paired with mentors who are AI experts from top universities and work on creating a novel AI solution in your field of interest. While centered on AI, your project can focus on the intersection of AI and a variety of scientific domains, including physics. The program offers an in-depth research opportunity, culminating in a finished project, along with support for submitting your work to a research journal or a science competition. 

3. 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, residing within 25 miles of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, either in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut

Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Summer Student Program is an eight-week mentored research opportunity for high schoolers. Here, you will join a Memorial Sloan Kettering lab to work on a mentor-guided research project. The program’s research areas span various STEM fields; you can indicate your preference for a physics-focused track like optics. The program is designed to help you build research skills and learn from expertsthrough professional development events, lab meetings, and exposure to translational medicine. At the end of the program, you will present your research findings at a poster session.

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Physics Track

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; full financial aid available

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective

Dates: Varies by cohort (summer, fall, winter, or spring; 12 weeks to 1 year)

Application deadline: Varies by cohort

Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students with strong academic achievement

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous, mentorship-driven research experience that allows you to conduct independent research in physics or closely related fields. You will work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor who will guide you through the full research process, from refining a research question to conducting analysis and synthesizing findings. Depending on your interests, you may explore topics such as theoretical and applied physics, computational modeling, or interdisciplinary areas combining physics with data science or engineering. The program emphasizes academic research skills while offering exposure to literature review, experimental or computational methods, and scientific writing. By the end of the core program, you will produce a polished independent research paper that reflects original inquiry. 

5. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)

Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; 32 students/year

Dates: June 22 – August 6

Application deadline: January 2

Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old at program start and can commit full-time (~35 hours/week)

SSRP is a selective, team-based research experience hosted by The Rockefeller University and designed for high school students interested in intensive scientific inquiry. You will be placed within a mentored research team led by scientific trainees from the Tri-Institutions, such as Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Weill Cornell Medicine, mirroring the structure of a professional research lab. Over the course of seven weeks, you will work collaboratively to develop a research question, learn laboratory techniques, collect and analyze data, and synthesize findings. Elective courses, guest lectures, workshops, and networking opportunities with researchers and peers supplement the experience. You will conclude the program by designing and presenting a scientific poster at a symposium. 

6. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free to attend (for residential participants, optional housing costs are applicable); a stipend is awarded upon program completion.

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: ~5% applicants selected/year

Dates: June 29 – August 7

Application deadline: February 5

Eligibility: Current high school juniors (Grade 11) who are at least 16 years old and permanent U.S. residents/citizens

The Simons Summer Research Program is a fully funded residential research experience that allows you to work closely with faculty mentors at Stony Brook University. You will be placed on a research team and contribute to an original project in physics or related fields such as astronomy and engineering, depending on your lab placement. Throughout the program, you will engage in hands-on research, attend weekly research seminars, and participate in workshops and campus events designed to support scientific development. You will gain experience in academic research practices, including data analysis, literature review, and scientific communication. The program ends with the submission of a written research abstract and the presentation of a research poster at a formal symposium. 

7. CUNY STEM Research Academy (STEM RA) 

Location: CUNY campuses across New York City; summer exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History

Cost/Stipend: Free; competitive stipend and MTA MetroCard provided upon completion (amount varies by campus)

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; small cohorts across campuses

Dates: Spring semester (pre-college research course) + six-week summer research experience (dates vary by site)

Application deadline: Varies by year

Eligibility: NYC Public School students in grades 10 and 11; highly motivated 9th graders are considered on a case-by-case basis.

CUNY’s STEM RA is a two-semester research-focused program that allows you to explore STEM fields while gaining early exposure to academic research. During the spring semester, you enroll in a pre-college course that introduces you to the foundations of scientific research, including research design, data analysis, and scientific communication. You will then participate in a six-week summer research experience, where you will work in a CUNY research laboratory under the guidance of faculty mentors. Throughout the program, you build scientific literacy while contributing to ongoing research projects. The program culminates in a formal research presentation at a summer exhibition hosted at the American Museum of Natural History alongside peers from the NYC Science Research and Mentoring Consortium.

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 series of free programs that offer students a structured introduction to advanced STEAM coursework. Among the various courses in science, math, business, and arts, you will also engage in physics coursework and learn through real-world problem-solving. Additionally, you will work on research projects during the program. At the end of the program, you will present your research work at a poster symposium. College and career skills development and test prep are also key parts of the experience.

9. University of Rochester CMAP Research Experience for High School Students (REH)

Location: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; nomination-based cohort

Dates: One month/five weeks in the summer

Application deadline: Varies by year; teacher nomination required

Eligibility: High school students nominated by teachers/schools; open to students from all school districts

REH is a summer internship that introduces you to hands-on physics research in a university laboratory setting. You will explore topics such as high-energy-density physics and planetary science while working on real research projects alongside graduate students at the University of Rochester. The program includes experimental demonstrations and guided lab work that help you connect theoretical physics concepts to practical applications. You also gain exposure to computational tools such as Python and learn how data is analyzed in active research environments. In addition to research, you will participate in campus tours and visit the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, gaining insight into large-scale physics facilities. 

10. Simons–NYU Science Explorations Program

Location: New York University campus, New York, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free; all housing, meals, transportation, and tuition covered

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; ~80 students/year

Dates: July 5 – 25

Application deadline: March 13

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, rising seniors, and recent high school graduates, ages 16 and up, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents residing in the U.S.

The Simons–NYU Science Explorations Program is a three-week residential summer program designed to introduce you to college-level STEM study and research. You will engage in introductory coursework and laboratory research within physics, biology, chemistry, neural science, and psychology, learning core concepts in all five disciplines directly from NYU faculty and researchers. The program blends lectures, hands-on lab sessions, and workshops that expose you to the foundations of scientific inquiry and research methods. You also benefit from guest speaker-led sessions and structured academic programming that mirrors the expectations of undergraduate STEM study. Outside of academic sessions, you will participate in social and cultural activities throughout New York City while living in NYU residence halls. 

11. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships 

Location: Multiple U.S. universities and labs, including sites in NY

Stipend: Available (exact amount not specified)

Acceptance rate/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 runs Army-sponsored research-focused internships designed for 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. A few sites engage in physics-focused research. During the program, you will have access to webinars, workshops, and learning materials to prepare for future physics academics.

12. GSTEM @ NYU

Location: NYU, New York/Brooklyn, NY

Cost: $5,750 (program fee) + 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

GSTEM is a six-week research experience for high schoolers interested in STEM. As a participant, you will work with a professor or researcher on an applied research project at NYU. You can choose a research track in physics. Throughout the program, you will build research skills while gaining exposure to study design, data collection and analysis, scientific writing, and Python and MATLAB. The program also offers mentorship and exposure to women leaders in STEM while helping you gain college-level research experience. 

13. Brookhaven National Laboratory High School Research Program

Location: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY

Cost: Not specified

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: July 6 – August 14

Application deadline: March 20

Eligibility: High school students in grades 11 and 12 who are at least 16 years old by the program start date; the program is best suited for rising 12th graders.

This six-week program conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory is an opportunity to work alongside scientists on real STEM research projects. You will be matched with a mentor based on your interests and conduct hands-on research in fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, environmental science, or engineering. Your work will involve using professional laboratory equipment and techniques while attending weekly meetings and contributing to ongoing scientific investigations. You will conclude your experience by presenting your research findings in both written and oral formats to laboratory staff and fellow students.

14. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; small-group cohort

Dates: July 7 – 25

Application deadline: TBA in the spring

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 11; no prior physics or coding experience required

SPINWIP is a three-week virtual summer outreach program designed to introduce you to modern physics research in an accessible and supportive environment. You will explore topics such as quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics, and cosmology through interactive lectures led by Stanford faculty and researchers. The program also introduces you to Python programming, with guided projects for which you will apply coding skills to physics-based problems. You will work in small groups led by Stanford undergraduates, accessing close mentorship and collaborative learning opportunities. In addition to academic content, SPINWIP runs college planning and career development workshops to help you understand pathways into physics and related STEM fields.

15. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location: Virtual internships available for NYC students

Cost: $25 application fee + $1,299 tuition for three course credits; fee waivers available

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 remote research internships in various fields, including astronomy and physics. You can choose a mentor who is planning to engage in physical science research and is looking for remote interns. Over eight weeks, you will assist your mentor, learn about lab practices, examine scientific literature, and build scientific writing and communication skills. During the program, you will also learn about career paths while participating in discussions with researchers and STEM professionals. The summer program ends with a symposium, where you will learn about all the research that was conducted at ASSIP over eight weeks.

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