15 Summer Research Programs for High School Students in New York
Are you a high school student looking for ways to explore a field in depth this summer? Then a research program is worth considering!
Whether you are exploring career paths or trying to get some experience beyond the classroom, summer research programs for high school students can offer a great head start. These programs let you work alongside scientists, use professional tools, and explore college-level topics. Some programs also come with stipends, offer college credit, and connect you with mentors and peers who share your interests. Many of these programs don’t have specific academic requirements either, just a willingness to learn.
New York is home to many universities and organizations offering research experiences, allowing you to engage in scientific investigation and lab work without relocating for the summer. Here is a list of 15 summer research programs for high school students in New York that you can consider!
1. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program
Location: New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact numbers aren’t available
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who live and attend schools in New York City
At ARISE, you will split your time between foundational workshops and hands-on STEM research in NYU labs. The first month focuses on helping you develop core skills, learning lab safety protocols, exploring academic writing, and navigating scientific inquiry. After that, you will join one of 80+ labs, contributing to research under the guidance of faculty and mentors. You will gain roughly 120 hours of lab experience, collaborate with peers, and sharpen soft skills like public speaking. You will also present your work at both NYU and the American Museum of Natural History.
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: 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. Students 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 students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their 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. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free to participate with a stipend (amount unspecified) provided; residential costs (optional): $2,360.25
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Simons Summer Research Program is a summer research experience for high school students in New York. Here, you will be paired with a faculty mentor and take on a research project as part of a professional lab team. You will contribute to the research by designing experiments, analyzing data, and preparing findings for presentation. Throughout the summer, along with labwork, you will also engage in faculty lectures and workshops that expand your exposure to scientific topics and techniques. The program wraps up with a poster symposium where you present your work alongside other participants.
4. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program
Location: Rockefeller University, Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; need-based stipends may be provided
Cohort size: 32
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old
This summer research program for high school students in New York places you on a student research team based at Rockefeller University, where you will work on a project shaped by mentors from Rockefeller, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Weill Cornell. Each team runs like a small research lab, with lead scientists guiding your progress and providing lab-specific training. After the first week of orientation and foundational instruction, you will choose a research question to investigate for the remainder of the program. You can expect your days to mirror a real lab workflow, consisting of planning, experimentation, data analysis, and peer collaboration. By the end, you will design a research poster and present your findings in a formal symposium.
5. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10 weeks; June – September
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (typically >3.67/4.0 GPA)
HARP is a remote research experience where you work one-on-one or in small seminars with university scholars to produce a 20-page academic paper. The program supports a range of disciplines, from economics and biology to computer science and public policy, offering guidance on topic selection, research methodology, and academic writing. The approach is tailored to your background and interests, whether you prefer to build an argumentative essay, conduct a meta-analysis, or explore open-source datasets. Horizon’s format emphasizes writing rigor and in-depth investigation, and for some students, the research experience can also lead to external publication.
6. Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Stipend: Provided; amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application deadline: Applications typically open in October
Eligibility: 11th and 12th grade students who live in New York City and are enrolled in BRAINYAC’s partner programs (S-PREP, BioBus, Lang Youth Medical, Columbia Secondary School, or Double Discovery Center)
If you are interested in neuroscience and looking for summer research programs for high school students in New York, BRAINYAC offers a deep dive into the field as well as lab culture. You will spend your summer working directly with a Columbia University neuroscientist on a lab-based research project. This one-on-one mentorship gives you direct exposure to the research process, from understanding a project’s scientific background to contributing hands-on in a lab setting. You will learn the practical skills needed to work in a professional research environment, while gaining insights into how neuroscience research is conducted at an academic level.
7. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering research labs in New York
Stipend: $1,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2%; 20 interns are accepted
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 14 years old, have a minimum 3.5 GPA, and are authorized to work in the U.S.; applicants must live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s main campus on the Upper East Side in Manhattan
In this eight-week internship, you will join a research lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering and contribute to a project aligned with ongoing biomedical or computational work. You will take on a focused, self-directed project under the supervision of a research mentor, while taking part in lab meetings, program events, and cross-departmental sessions. The work spans areas like cancer biology, genomics, pharmacology, and immunology, giving you a clearer understanding of how lab discoveries connect to patient care. You will also have opportunities to develop professional skills that go beyond technical training.
8. CUNY’s STEM Research Academy
Location: Various CUNY campuses across New York City
Stipend: $1,575
Cohort size: 25 students in the Spring component; 10 students (out of the original 25) in the summer research component
Dates: Spring Research Course: February 18 – May 31 | Summer Internship: June 26 – August 15
Application deadline: Typically in December/January
Eligibility: 10th- and 11th-grade students attending New York City public schools with an interest in STEM; highly motivated 9th graders may be considered on an individual basis.
This two-part summer research program for high school students in New York begins in the spring with a research skills course taught at CUNY campuses, followed by a six-week summer research placement in a university lab. You will learn how to frame scientific questions, collect and analyze data, and prepare your findings for presentation while working alongside CUNY faculty and peers from across the city. The summer component of the program focuses on hands-on lab experience and helps strengthen your scientific literacy and quantitative reasoning. Your research concludes with a presentation at a citywide exhibition hosted at the American Museum of Natural History.
9. BioBus Junior Scientist Internship
Location: Harlem and the Lower East Side of New York City, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer dates: July 7 – August 15 | School year dates: October 1 – June 15
Application deadline: March 24
Eligibility: Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 attending a New York City public high school
This year-long program combines research, science communication, and teaching. You will begin over the summer by gaining lab experience through designing experiments, using high-grade microscopes, and exploring questions in biology, engineering, or environmental science. As the year continues, you will develop an independent research project and share your knowledge by co-teaching science programs to younger students across NYC. You will work closely with professional scientists and participate in public outreach events, making this a hybrid experience of both lab work and education. Research topics in past years have ranged from mutant worms and fruit fly behavior to custom-built microscopes.
10. Biorocket Research Internship Program
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Cohort size: ~12 students
Dates: Spring session: February 27 – May 22 | Summer session: June 30 – August 15
Application deadline: January 8
Eligibility: New York City public and charter high school students who are at least 16 years old
This summer research program for high school students in New York allows you to gain hands-on experience in biology and genetic engineering through lab work, mentorship, and collaborative research. The program centers on helping you build technical and communication skills while working with scientists, designing the research project, and practicing explaining scientific concepts to non-expert audiences. Outside the lab, you will participate in field trips to research facilities and biotech companies to get a broader look at science in action. Improv-based training sessions are part of the experience, helping you develop clear science communication abilities.
11. Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE) Environmentor Program
Location: RISE, Far Rockaway, NY
Stipend: Up to $1,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12–15 students are accepted
Dates: June – mid-August
Application deadline: Typically in May
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders who live in New York and attend school in or near the Rockaway peninsula; students who attended Shore Corps in the fall and spring will be prioritized
The RISE Environmentor program is a mentorship-based opportunity to engage in environmental field research along the Rockaway shoreline and Jamaica Bay. Over six weeks, you will work closely with scientists to design and conduct an individual research project on topics like algae blooms, dune restoration, or microplastic pollution. You will spend a lot of time out of the lab, collecting samples, kayaking to research sites, and learning practical safety skills like CPR and water navigation. You will also get exposure to both environmental science and public engagement through weekly workshops and community events. You will prepare a poster to share your research findings with others.
12. NYU GSTEM
Location: NYU or other academic institutions in New York City, NY
Cost: $5,500 (tuition) + optional $3,840 (housing and meal expenses); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 students accepted
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: March 2
Eligibility: 11th graders with a demonstrated interest in STEM
Hosted by the NYU Courant Institute, GSTEM is an immersive summer research program for high school students in New York. Over six weeks, you will work with a STEM mentor and contribute to an original research project in their lab or workspace. The program starts with the orientation week, following which you engage in research work. Additionally, you will participate in weekly field trips, attend guest lectures from women in STEM, and engage in skill-building workshops in scientific writing and presentation. On Fridays, the cohort meets at NYU to connect and explore NYC’s science and tech landscape.
13. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: $850 + a $40 application fee; no stipend; fee waivers available
Cohort size: ~25
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 or older and U.S. citizens
This virtual program is designed for high school students interested in learning about AI in the context of healthcare innovation. As an intern, you will explore how AI is used to address challenges in medicine and healthcare and work on addressing a real medical problem with the assistance of AI tools. You will work with a team on research projects and engage in social activities, virtual group work sessions, and career-oriented sessions led by guest speakers from diverse professional backgrounds. Throughout the program, you will have access to mentorship offered by researchers and Stanford Student Leads. You may also be able to access an extended research opportunity once the program ends.
14. Wave Hill’s Woodland Ecology Research Mentorship (WERM)
Location: Wave Hill, Bronx, NY
Stipend: $3,900 for the full program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact numbers not available
Dates: 14 months from June of one year to August of the following year; full commitment during the two summers and just a weekly commitment during the academic year is required
Application deadline: March 8 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old by May 1, reside in New York, are eligible to work in the U.S., and have a strong interest in science research and the urban environment; the work may involve handling heavy tools and physical activity
This program introduces you to urban ecology through coursework, fieldwork, and mentored research. You will start by learning restoration techniques and GIS mapping, applying those concepts in the field at Wave Hill and other NYC green spaces. Weekly “WERMshops” during the school year include lab activities, field trips, and environmental science workshops designed to deepen your research literacy. In the final summer phase, you will collaborate with a mentor and peers on a small-group project, then present your findings at a formal research symposium.
15. Urban Barcode Research Program (UBRP)
Location: New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~36 students accepted
Dates: Lab training: August 25 – 29 + additional sessions and workshops scheduled during the academic year
Application deadline: May 27
Eligibility: High school students in New York City who are at least 13 years old
UBRP trains you to use DNA barcoding to explore biodiversity in an urban environment. After a multi-day training course in Brooklyn, you will work with a small team and a scientist mentor to design and carry out a research project, starting with sample collection and ending with a public poster presentation. Projects here typically examine how human activity affects local ecosystems using genetic sequencing as the core tool. The program spans the academic year, requiring at least 55 hours of lab work and analysis. You will also have access to guidance throughout the program to help you plan, troubleshoot, and communicate your findings.
Image source - NYU University