Chemistry programs for high school students open the door to exploring science in ways that go far beyond the classroom. Instead of just learning from textbooks, you get to dive into lectures, laboratory experiments, and even research projects to help you understand how chemistry shapes the world around you.
In many programs, you’ll work with laboratory tools and techniques such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and chemical analysis, just like scientists do. You might also explore interdisciplinary areas such as biomedical chemistry, materials science, environmental chemistry, and chemical engineering, discovering how chemistry connects with other areas of science and technology. If you join a research-focused program, you may get to collaborate with faculty mentors or graduate researchers to design experiments, analyze data, and present your findings through reports or research presentations.
Beyond laboratory work, these programs often include scientific writing workshops, guest lectures from researchers, and college preparation sessions. Some programs culminate in a symposium where you’ll present your research work, building valuable skills in communicating scientific ideas for future careers in STEM.
Why should you choose a program in New York?
New York offers a unique environment for high school chemistry programs because it is home to many world-class research universities, medical centers, and national laboratories. Institutions such as Columbia University, New York University, and Brookhaven National Laboratory provide students with access to cutting-edge research facilities and mentorship from leading scientists.
By participating in a program in New York, you can explore a wide range of fields such as biomedical research, pharmaceutical chemistry, environmental science, and chemical engineering. Many programs also collaborate with hospitals, research institutes, and technology companies, helping you see how chemistry is applied in real scientific and medical settings.
Beyond the lab, New York adds another layer to your experience. You can attend public science talks, explore museums, and connect with peers from different backgrounds who share an interest in STEM.
For students considering future studies or careers in chemistry, participating in a New York program can provide both valuable research experience and a deeper understanding of how the scientific community works in the real world.
15 Chemistry Programs for High School Students in New York
1. ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $2,000 stipend upon completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools
ARISE is a 10-week STEM research program where you spend the summer learning research skills and working directly in an NYU lab. The first four weeks focus on remote workshops covering lab safety, research methods, and college-level writing, which helps you prepare before entering the lab. During the final six weeks, you’ll work in person in one of dozens of NYU research labs alongside faculty mentors and researchers. Over the course of the program, you’ll contribute to ongoing research projects, develop technical and communication skills, and complete around 150 hours of lab work.
At the end of the summer, you’ll present your work at a colloquium and take part in a research poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History. Along the way, the program also includes public speaking workshops and college application support, which can be useful if you plan to apply to STEM programs in college.
2. Project SEED
Location: Various universities and research institutions across the United States, including sites in New York
Cost/Stipend: Free; students receive a stipend (amount varies by site)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 350+ students nationwide each year
Program Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: February – April
Eligibility: High school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds (specific requirements vary by local site)
Project SEED is a summer research program where you work with a scientist on a chemistry-related research project at a university, government lab, or industry site. Over 8–10 weeks, you’ll spend your time in a real lab environment learning techniques, collecting data, and assisting with ongoing research alongside a mentor. Your days are centered around hands-on research, viz. learning lab techniques, collecting and analyzing data, and discussing your findings with your mentor.
In addition to lab work, the program often includes workshops on college readiness, scientific communication, and career pathways in chemistry. Project SEED also provides a stipend, which helps make the experience accessible for students who might otherwise need a summer job. Because the program operates at multiple locations across the U.S., the specific research area and experience can vary by placement.
3. Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,200 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors who live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Manhattan campus; must have at least a 3.5 GPA in science and be authorized to work in the U.S.
The Summer Student Program gives you the opportunity to work inside a biomedical research lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering for eight weeks. During the tenure, you’ll join a research project and work closely with a scientist mentor. Your time is split between conducting experiments, attending lab meetings, and learning techniques used in areas such as cancer biology, chemical biology, pharmacology, and genomics. You’ll also take on a self-directed project that contributes to the larger research goals of the lab while developing practical laboratory skills.
The program also includes professional development sessions that introduce you to careers in biomedical research and translational medicine. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your work in a poster session and thereby gain valuable experience in explaining your research to scientists and peers. This program works well if you’re interested in biomedical science or chemistry-related research and want exposure to a real research environment in a major cancer research institute.
4. GSTEM (Girls in STEM)
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $5,500 tuition; optional housing with meal plan, $3,840
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 40 students
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school juniors with a strong academic record and demonstrated interest in STEM
GSTEM is a six-week research program where you work closely with a faculty mentor or researcher on an independent STEM project. You can choose a field that interests you, such as biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, or physics, and spend much of the program developing a project inside a real research lab. Throughout the program, you’ll work one-on-one with your mentor while building practical research skills such as lab techniques, scientific writing, and presenting your findings.
Beyond the lab, the program includes workshops focused on communication and college readiness, along with weekly field trips where you can meet professionals working in STEM careers. If you’re living on campus, the experience includes social events and opportunities to explore New York City. The program ends with a symposium where you present your research project to peers, mentors, and family members, giving you a chance to share everything you’ve learned.
5. Intensive Modern Chemistry Laboratory
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Tuition not specified; approximately $175 lab equipment fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 29 – July 17 or July 21 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who have completed Algebra I, Algebra II, and one year of high school chemistry
Intensive Modern Chemistry Laboratory is a pre-college summer course at Columbia University, where you spend most of your day working in a chemistry lab. Classes run Monday through Friday with both morning lectures and afternoon lab sessions, so the schedule is closer to a full academic course than a casual summer class. You’ll spend much of your time in the lab, learning to use research tools such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and computer simulations.
The program also includes collaborative projects, discussions about current research topics, and guest lectures from scientists working in academia and industry, helping you understand how chemistry is applied beyond the classroom. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a small research project and present your results through a scientific paper and group presentation.
6. Simons–NYU Science Explorations Program
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free (tuition, housing, meals, and transportation covered)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 80 students
Program Dates: July 5 – 25
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 16 years old and rising high school juniors, seniors, or recent high school graduates
The Simons–NYU Science Explorations Program is a three-week residential summer program where you explore several areas of science through college-style lectures and laboratory sessions. Instead of focusing on just one subject, the program will introduce you to fields such as biology, chemistry, neural science, physics, and psychology through a mix of lectures and hands-on lab work. Your days are structured around lab activities and lectures led by NYU faculty, which gives you a clear sense of how introductory college science courses are taught.
Outside the classroom, evenings and weekends may include social or cultural activities around New York City. Because all costs are covered, including housing and meals, the program is designed to make a residential STEM experience accessible to students from across the United States. The program works well if you want broad exposure to several scientific fields before deciding what you might want to study in college.
7. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided (amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records and interest in science, math, or engineering
The Simons Summer Research Program gives you the chance to spend your summer in a research lab at Stony Brook University, where you’ll work on a scientific project alongside faculty mentors and research teams. During the program, you’ll learn laboratory techniques, analyze data, and contribute to ongoing research in fields such as chemistry, biology, mathematics, or engineering. Much of your time will be spent conducting experiments and discussing results with your mentor.
The experience is structured to give you a sense of what life at a research university looks like. By the end of the program, you’ll present your findings, which will help you gain experience in explaining scientific ideas and communicating your work clearly. This program works well if you want an in-depth research experience and exposure to university-level scientific work before starting college.
8. High School Research Program (HSRP)
Location: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students who have completed 11th grade, are at least 16 years old, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The High School Research Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory is a six-week summer program where you work alongside scientists and engineers on ongoing research projects. Instead of working alone, you’ll collaborate with laboratory staff and contribute to projects related to energy, environmental science, physics, and computing. Your day-to-day experience will focus on hands-on tasks such as assisting with experiments, data analysis, and supporting technical tasks within the lab.
The program runs full-time on weekdays and includes weekly meetings where you’ll learn about research initiatives across the laboratory. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work through a poster session or oral presentation, giving you experience in communicating scientific research clearly. Because the program takes place at a national laboratory, it helps you to see how large-scale government research facilities function and collaborate on scientific projects.
9. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 32 students
Program Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application Deadline: January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old and able to attend the full program
The Summer Science Research Program at Rockefeller University is a seven-week team-based research experience where you work on scientific projects in areas connected with biology, chemistry, and biomedical science. You’ll be placed in small research teams led by scientists from the Tri-Institutions: Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Weill Cornell Medicine. Your project will focus on areas related to biology, chemistry, or biomedical science, with many teams exploring topics such as chemical biology, molecular interactions, and lab techniques commonly used in modern biomedical chemistry research.
The program begins with training in laboratory methods, after which you and your team will help develop a research question and begin experiments with guidance from your mentors. Throughout the summer, you’ll spend about 35 hours per week running experiments, analyzing data, and discussing results with your research team. The program ends with a research symposium where you’ll present your findings through a scientific poster.
10. SHAPE (Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Tuition required (amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 6 – 24 or July 27 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school students interested in engineering and STEM fields
SHAPE is a three-week pre-college program that lets you experience what it’s like to take up a college-level engineering course at Columbia. You’ll choose one course for the entire session, including options such as biomedical engineering or chemical engineering, and explore how these fields are used in real-world research and innovation. Courses such as Biomedical Engineering: Where Biology, Medicine & Design Meet show you how scientific principles are used to create medical technologies and healthcare devices.
The program combines lectures, lab work, and project-based learning, with time set aside each day for hands-on experimentation and building prototypes. You might work on projects related to medical technologies, which exposes you to how chemistry, biology, and engineering interact in biomedical research. In addition to academics, SHAPE includes workshops on college preparation and professional skills. This program works well if you want early exposure to biomedical or chemical engineering concepts in a university classroom setting.
11. Chem-E Camp
Location: University at Buffalo, Amherst, NY
Cost/Stipend: $400 tuition (need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Students entering 11th or 12th grade who have completed or will take Regents Chemistry
Chem-E Camp is a one-week summer program at the University of Buffalo that introduces you to chemical engineering through hands-on activities and lab experiences. During the camp, you’ll work with faculty and university students to learn how chemical engineering principles are applied in areas such as materials, energy, and biotechnology. You’ll take part in laboratory activities and simulations that demonstrate how chemistry is used to design and improve industrial and biomedical processes.
One of the highlights of the program is the opportunity to tour industry facilities such as Linde, DuPont, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and SAMCO, where you can see how chemical technologies are used in professional research and manufacturing environments. You’ll also work in laboratories within UB’s chemical and biological engineering department. The program ends with a certificate of completion and is designed to help you understand how chemistry connects to engineering careers and future college studies.
12. Garcia Center Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 laboratory usage fee (housing not included)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 24 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 4
Eligibility: High school students age 16 or older with a minimum 3.8 GPA and strong preparation in subjects such as chemistry, mathematics, physics, or biology
The Garcia Center Summer Research Program is a seven-week research experience where you’ll take the lead on your own research project in materials science and polymer chemistry. You’ll work with faculty mentors and research teams to develop a research question, run experiments, and analyze results using laboratory techniques used in modern materials and chemical research. A major focus of the program is on polymers and engineered materials, helping you understand how chemical structures influence the properties of materials used in technology and biomedical applications.
Alongside lab work, you’ll attend formal instruction sessions that introduce research methods and scientific concepts relevant to your projects. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at a research symposium, similar to how scientists share work at academic conferences. You may choose to continue working with mentors through the program’s academic-year mentorship option to further develop and expand your research.
13. Secondary School Field Research Program (SSFRP)
Location: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Six weeks in summer (exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school or college students who are at least 16 years old
The Secondary School Field Research Program at Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is a six-week research experience that takes your learning beyond the lab and into real-world environments. You’ll work in teams to study wetlands, spending much of your time at Piermont Marsh collecting samples and investigating ecological and chemical processes affecting the ecosystem. Through field sampling and laboratory analysis, you’ll study topics such as nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and chemical processes that shape wetland environments.
You’ll be supported by a tiered mentoring structure, working with undergraduate mentors and a Lamont researcher who guides you through each stage of the research process. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings through a research poster and presentation at a final summer symposium. The program is designed for students interested in environmental science and research that connects chemistry, ecology, and earth science.
14. Summer Science Program
Location: The Beekman School, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Six weeks during July – August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students seeking to complete or accelerate science coursework
The Beekman School’s Summer Science Program gives high school students the opportunity to complete a full high school course in subjects such as chemistry and biology over eight weeks. Classes run Monday through Thursday and last for about two hours per session, with multiple periods scheduled throughout the day. You’ll learn through a mix of classroom instructions and lab-based activities. Students join for different reasons: some to retake a course, others to move ahead in their science curriculum. Because the credits earned through the program are transferable to other schools, you can apply them toward your regular academic requirements.
15. State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP)
Location: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates:
- Summer Session: July (Monday–Friday, 10am–2pm)
- Academic Year Session: October – May (Saturdays)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12 interested in medicine, biomedical science, or health-related STEM fields
The State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) is a free academic enrichment program that helps you prepare for college studies and careers in medicine and science. During the summer session, you’ll take enrichment courses such as Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Brain & Cognitive Science. These courses help build a strong foundation for students interested in biomedical research, medicine, and other health-related STEM careers.
In addition to academics, the program offers college preparation workshops, standardized test preparation (PSAT/SAT), academic advising, and guidance on career pathways in the medical and scientific fields. One of the key advantages of S-PREP is the opportunity to continue beyond the classroom. You may become eligible for additional research opportunities, including programs at Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in chemistry, organic compounds, biochemistry, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here! (edited)
Image source: