If you’re a high school student in New York City interested in STEM, joining a local program can be one of the most effective (and affordable!) ways to build practical skills and explore new interests. These programs help you understand how subjects like biology, engineering, computer science, and math are applied in research labs and professional settings.
Being an NYC local gives you an added advantage. The city is home to leading universities, hospitals, and tech organizations that regularly open their labs and workspaces to high school students. Without interfering with your school year, they let you take part in experiments, projects, and workshops guided by experienced mentors.
Joining a STEM program also makes your resume and college applications stronger by showing that you’ve taken the initiative to explore your field early. You’ll gain experience that can guide your future studies or career path in STEM.
With that, here are 13 STEM programs for high school students in New York City! You can also check out our blog on summer research programs for high school students in NYC.
13 STEM Programs for High School Students in NYC
1. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipends available for eligible students
Program Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors aged 16+
The SSRP is a seven-week, full-time internship that places students in active biomedical and computational biology labs at Rockefeller University. You’ll design experiments, collect data using lab instrumentation, and analyze results through bioinformatics tools such as R or Python. The program also includes technical workshops, seminars with faculty, and elective sessions focused on research communication and ethics. Stipends are available for students demonstrating financial need, supporting equitable participation in advanced scientific research.
2. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 stipend provided
Program Dates: June 1–Aug 14
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools
ARISE is a 10-week summer research experience combining STEM training with hands-on work in NYU research labs. You’ll begin with a four-week curriculum covering lab safety, technical writing, and experimental design before joining a research group for six weeks of mentored lab work. Projects span molecular biology, robotics, computer science, and environmental engineering, with about 120 hours of direct research engagement. The program also includes seminars, mentorship meetings, and a capstone research presentation hosted at the American Museum of Natural History.
3. Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: July 14 – August 8 (tentative, based on previous year dates)
Application Deadline: May 15 (tentative, based on previous year dates)
Eligibility: 8th–11th graders living in NYC or nearby cities
Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS) is hosted by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s Center for K12 STEM Education. It is a full-day, in-person program held on the Brooklyn campus and is open to high school students, with a focus on increasing gender, racial, and socioeconomic diversity in cybersecurity and computer science. You participate in computing and security labs that cover topics such as ethical hacking, cryptography, digital forensics, social engineering, and human–computer interaction. You use real-world tools to analyze network vulnerabilities and explore how cybersecurity systems function across technical and human dimensions.
4. STEM Research Academy
Location: City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend up to $1,575 for eligible summer participants
Program Dates: February 11 – May 22 (Spring course); June 30 – August 7 (Summer internship)
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: NYC public high school sophomores and juniors with strong academic performance in Regents exams (minimum GPA 80)
The CCNY STEM Research Academy is a free program for high school students that includes a spring research course and a summer internship with CUNY or CCNY faculty. You begin in the spring with a 45-hour research science course focused on experimental design, data collection, and analysis. If you complete the course successfully, you may be selected for a five-week summer research internship. During the internship, you work with faculty mentors on research projects in fields such as chemistry, environmental science, or physics. At the end of the program, you present your research at the New York City Science Research Mentoring Consortium (NYSCRM) symposium, held at the American Museum of Natural History.
5. BEYOND ALBERT Research Program
Location: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 stipend; meals and MetroCards provided
Program Dates: Summer: June 30 – August 22; After-school program: September – May
Application Deadline: Early spring
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (age 16+) enrolled in Bronx high schools
BEYOND ALBERT is a two-phase biomedical research program focused on cancer biology and translational science. Over the eight-week summer session, you’ll conduct experiments in active research labs, developing technical skills in cell culture, microscopy, and molecular assays. During the academic year, the after-school component extends your experience with seminars, research discussions, and career development workshops. You will receive mentorship from faculty and postdoctoral researchers, culminating in a presentation of your findings to the Einstein research community.
6. Tech Scholars Programs
Location: Tech Commons, New-York Historical Society, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: Podcasting – Cohort 1: July 7–11 | Web Design – July 21–25 | Podcasting – Cohort 2: August 18–22
Application Deadlines: Podcasting – May 19 | Web Design – May 26
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 living and studying in the NYC metro area (NYC’s five boroughs and parts of NY, NJ, and CT)
The Tech Scholars Programs combine technology training with historical inquiry and creative media production. You can select between the Podcasting or Web Design tracks to learn core skills in audio editing, HTML/CSS coding, and digital storytelling. Each cohort develops a civic or cultural project grounded in historical research and supported by museum mentors. Sessions take place in the New-York Historical Society’s Tech Commons, integrating digital design tools with humanities-focused content creation.
7. Biorocket Research Internship Program
Location: Genspace Community Biology Lab, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 stipend
Program Dates: Spring: February 27 – May 22 | Summer: June 30 – August 15
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: NYC public or charter high school students (age 16+) who live or study within ~45 minutes of Genspace
Biorocket is a six-month research and mentorship program focused on biotechnology, genetics, and public science communication. You’ll begin with a spring training module covering lab safety, molecular biology techniques, and experimental design before advancing to a summer research project designed with your peers. The program emphasizes open science and interdisciplinary collaboration, offering improv-based communication workshops, lab tours, and mentorship from working scientists. You will complete the program with a research presentation and a citywide network of student researchers.
8. Baruch College Now STEM Research Academy
Location: Baruch College, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,575 stipend for summer interns
Program Dates: Spring: Late January – Mid-May | Summer: Mid-July – Mid-August
Application Deadline: October – December
Eligibility: NYC public high school sophomores and juniors (GPA 80+); preference for juniors and underrepresented students in STEM
The Baruch College Now STEM Research Academy integrates academic preparation with mentored research experience. You’ll begin with a 60-hour spring course covering scientific literacy, hypothesis testing, and experimental methods, earning one college credit upon completion. High-performing students advance to a six-week summer internship, where you will conduct supervised research in fields such as biology, psychology, or environmental science. The program includes faculty mentorship, career development workshops, and research presentations at citywide STEM symposia.
9. BioBus Junior Scientist Internships
Location: Harlem (open to NYC students) and Lower East Side (for LES/Chinatown students only), New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $16.50/hour
Program Dates: Summer: July 7 – August 15 | School Year: October – June (weekly sessions)
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students in NYC; Lower East Side program limited to LES/Chinatown students
The BioBus Junior Scientist Internship is a paid research and outreach program for high school students in New York City, combining lab training with science teaching aboard mobile labs. You’ll receive mentorship from professional scientists while designing and conducting your own independent research project. At the same time, you’ll co-teach hands-on science activities for younger students aboard BioBus mobile laboratories and at community sites. The program includes training in microscopy, experimental design, and science communication.
10. BRAINYAC: Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Program Dates: June – August (full-time)
Application Deadline: Opens in October
Eligibility: NYC residents in grades 10–11 enrolled in partner programs (S-PREP, BioBus, Lang Youth Medical, Columbia Secondary School, or Double Discovery Center); preference for students from Upper Manhattan and the Bronx
BRAINYAC places high school students in neuroscience research labs at Columbia University for full-time summer apprenticeships. You’ll collaborate with a mentor on experiments involving neuroanatomy, microscopy, or electrophysiology, gaining direct exposure to the methods used in modern brain research. The program includes seminars, professional development workshops, and ongoing mentorship focused on preparing students for academic and research careers in neuroscience. Participation is limited to students from select NYC-based partner programs.
11. HK Maker Lab Summer Engineering Design Program
Location: Columbia University, Morningside Campus, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; post-program paid internship opportunities available
Program Dates: July 8 – August 13 (mandatory orientation in late June)
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: NYC public or charter high school students in grades 10–11 interested in STEAM fields
The HK Maker Lab is hosted by Columbia Engineering in partnership with Harlem Biospace and Teachers College. The program teaches biomedical engineering fundamentals through university-level coursework in design thinking, rapid prototyping, and applied research. You work in teams to develop solutions to healthcare problems, using design software and lab equipment to build and test biomedical devices. At the end of the program, you present your final project in a pitch session to biomedical professionals. Students who complete the program may be eligible for paid internships in research labs or healthcare institutions the following summer.
12. Environmentor Program – Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE)
Location: RISE, Far Rockaway, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipends up to $1,200
Program Dates: July – August (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Opens in March; closes in May
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors living in or attending school near the Rockaway peninsula
The Environmentor Program connects NYC students with environmental scientists for six weeks of hands-on research focused on the Rockaway shoreline. You’ll collect and analyze field data on topics such as marine biodiversity, wetland restoration, and air quality, while developing technical skills in sampling, mapping, and environmental monitoring. Mentorship from conservation professionals supports project design and presentation development. The program integrates outdoor activities like surfing and ecology hikes, emphasizing both environmental science and community-based sustainability.
13. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: NYC students currently in grades 8–10
ieSoSC is a five-week summer program exploring the relationship between urban systems, engineering, and digital innovation. You’ll learn about computer science, electrical engineering, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies while applying these concepts to city-scale challenges. The program integrates design thinking and entrepreneurship, guiding you through prototype development and a final smart city pitch. Workshops led by the Irondale Theater team strengthen communication and presentation skills, complementing the program’s technical and creative components.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Rockefeller University