If you are a high school student in New York City looking to gain research experience, summer can be a great time to explore local programs offering research opportunities across various subjects.
Summer research programs designed for high school students can help you develop advanced technical skills, learn experimental methods, and work under the guidance of faculty and professional researchers. Research programs often go beyond classroom theory, giving you in-depth exposure to scientific inquiry, data analysis, and research communication through project work and laboratory exposure.
NYC is home to a wide range of universities, hospitals, and cultural institutions that host structured research opportunities every year. Choosing a local program can also be a financially smart move, as it allows you to access world-class labs and mentors without the added cost of travel or housing.
Here’s a curated list of 15 summer research programs for high school students in NYC. Whether you’re interested in STEM, medicine, or interdisciplinary projects, you will find an opportunity here that aligns with your future academic and career paths.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Cost: Varies by program format
Dates: June – August for summer cohorts; multiple cohorts in a year
Application deadline: May/June for summer cohorts
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research program tailored for high school students looking to explore a field of choice in detail. You can choose from various research areas, including economics, engineering, chemistry, psychology, international relations, and computer science. The program will pair you with a Ph.D. mentor to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you will have completed a research paper! You can find more details about the application, format options, and available research areas here.
2. NYU Tandon’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Stipend: $1,000 upon successful completion
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: February 21
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools
ARISE is a 10-week research program hosted by NYU Tandon School of Engineering that integrates safety training, academic writing, and hands-on STEM research. During the first four weeks, you will find opportunities to build core lab and research skills, which will be followed by six weeks of research work in one of over 80 NYU labs. You will gain ~120 hours of practical lab work, present your research at the American Museum of Natural History Poster Symposium, and build experience with scientific communication and data analysis. You will also receive college application support and access to an alumni research network.
3. Veritas AI’s AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Cost: Varies
Dates: Multiple 15-week cohorts throughout the year, including in summer; dates vary
Application deadline: May/June for summer session
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students who have some experience with AI/Python or have completed the AI Scholars program
Veritas AI offers high school students a suitable environment to explore their interests in artificial intelligence through collaborative learning, project work, and expert mentorship. During the AI Fellowship program, you will learn about advanced AI topics and work on an independent project, which can be a research report. Throughout the program, you will have access to one-on-one mentorship. The project can be interdisciplinary, focusing on the applications of AI in different areas. You can find examples of previous program projects here. The program also offers publication support if you are interested in building upon your project and submitting it to competitions and/or journals.
4. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Cost/Stipend: No tuition fee; stipend awarded at the end of the program (amount not specified)
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Location: Stony Brook University campus, Stony Brook, NY (~1.5–2 hours from NYC by train/car)
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old by the program’s start date and U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Simons Summer Research Program places you in active university research teams, working alongside distinguished faculty in disciplines spanning physics, molecular biology, engineering, and applied mathematics. You will learn laboratory protocols, data collection techniques, and gain experience with specialized research tools. You will also have access to mentorship throughout the research process, including designing experiments, analyzing results, and presenting findings in a university-level research environment. This program emphasizes both technical skill development and exposure to the collaborative nature of academic research, providing an early foundation for future STEM study.
5. Columbia University’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Stipend: Paid
Dates: July–early August
Application deadline: TBA; applications will open in October
Location: Columbia University Zuckerman Institute, New York, NY
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders currently enrolled in one of BRAINYAC’s partner programs (S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, or BioBus) and residing in New York City; preference is given to students in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx
The BRAINYAC program offers high school students interested in neuroscience research full-time summer lab internships at the Zuckerman Institute. You will work with a Columbia neuroscientist who will serve as a mentor, guiding you through an original research project from concept to presentation. You will gain practical experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis while learning laboratory techniques used in cutting-edge neuroscience. Beyond technical training, BRAINYAC fosters connections with scientists, helps you develop a clearer understanding of the scientific process, and integrates you into the professional academic environment of Columbia University.
6. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) – Rockefeller University
Cost/Stipend: No cost; need-based financial assistance offered
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application deadline: January 3
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 by program start
SSRP is a seven-week, full-time research program where you will join a mentored team modeled after an actual lab group. You will learn core research techniques, design a research question, collect and analyze data, and present your findings in a final symposium. The program includes elective courses, scientific workshops, and networking opportunities with researchers from the Tri-Institutions (Rockefeller, MSK, WCMC). With a selective cohort of 32 students divided into small research teams, SSRP offers lab-based experience and mentorship in a collaborative research environment.
7. GSTEM @ NYU
Cost: $5,500 (tuition); optional housing + meal plan fee: $3,840
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: March 2
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Eligibility: Current high school juniors with strong academic performance and interest in STEM
GSTEM is a six-week research mentorship program where you work one-on-one with an NYU STEM professor or researcher on an independent project. You will gain first-hand lab experience while developing scientific writing, programming, and presentation skills. Weekly field trips to NYC STEM institutions and guest lectures by industry professionals will complement the research experience. The program concludes with a symposium where you present your work and gain early exposure to scientific communication.
8. Hofstra University Summer Science Research Program (HUSSRP)
Cost: $2,000
Dates: July 7 – July 31
Application deadline: March (based on previous cycles)
Location: Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY (~1.5–2 hours from NYC by train/car)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and at least 15 by the start date
HUSSRP offers a month-long research experience where you will work with Hofstra faculty in science and mathematics labs. You will gain experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis while contributing to ongoing research projects. The program emphasizes scientific communication, culminating in a poster session in the fall where you present your summer work to peers, teachers, and families. Many participants later submit their projects to competitions like Regeneron Science Talent Search, making the program an early pathway into academic research.
9. Baruch College Now STEM Research Academy
Stipend: $1,575 (paid after summer research experience)
Dates: Spring course: End of January – mid-May + Summer research: Mid-July – mid-August (5–6 weeks, Mon–Thu)
Application deadline: December 2; applications open mid-October
Location: Baruch College, Manhattan, NY
Eligibility: NYC public high school students in grades 10 and 11 with an overall 80+ average GPA; priority consideration for underrepresented groups in STEM
The STEM Research Academy is a two-semester program that combines a research methods course in the spring with a faculty-mentored summer research internship. In the spring, you earn college credit while learning how to design experiments, analyze scientific literature, and develop testable research questions. The spring classes are conducted in a hybrid format, with some sessions held in person and others remotely. On successfully completing the prep course, you will join a six-week applied research experience in biology or environmental science labs under CUNY faculty. The program emphasizes authentic scientific inquiry, culminating in presentations at the CUNY STEM Exhibition and the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium Summer Symposium.
10. New York Bioforce
Stipend: Paid summer internship (exact amount not specified)
Dates: Phase I: Spring Saturday training sessions from April to July, Phase II: Six-week summer internship from July to August
Application deadline: Applications for 2025 are closed
Location: Training at Columbia University, internships at various NYC academic, industry, and healthcare labs
Eligibility: 11th and 12th grade students from low-resource backgrounds attending NYC DOE public or charter schools with an Economic Need Index of 0.8/80% or higher
New York Bioforce offers a two-phase pathway into STEAM research and careers to NYC high school students from low-resource backgrounds. Phase I offers 100 hours of Saturday science research and professional skills training at Columbia University, paired with virtual weeknight seminars on lab techniques, data analysis, and science communication. Phase II places you in six-week paid internships at partner institutions such as Columbia Engineering, Weill Cornell Medicine, the New York Proton Center, and life science companies. Under the mentorship of working scientists, you will gain lab experience in areas like molecular biology, microscopy, and cell culture. The program ends with a public poster session at the American Museum of Natural History, where you will showcase your research to peers, mentors, and the broader community.
11. Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center’s BEYOND ALBERT High School Research Program
Stipend: $2,500 + daily meal voucher + Metro card
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application deadline: January 12; applications open on November 1
Location: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Eligibility: Bronx high school students who are entering 11th or 12th grade and are at least 16 by the program start date
BEYOND ALBERT is an eight-week full-time biomedical research program designed to help Bronx high school students develop laboratory skills and scientific thinking. You will work in cancer research labs alongside faculty mentors, gaining experience in experimental design, data analysis, and research presentation. The program includes seminars, career development workshops, and opportunities to present your work to Einstein scientists. Once the program ends, you can also continue engaging in research through a year-round after-school research program.
12. Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP) @ Rockefeller University
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: August 4 – 15
Application deadline: March
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a NYC public high school who are at least 16 years old when the program begins
SNP is a two-week intensive that introduces you to modern neuroscience through lab work and faculty mentorship. You will dissect brains, design an original neuroscience experiment, and present findings while learning to read and analyze scientific literature. During the program, you will attend lectures that cover brain function and its connection to behavior, which will be complemented by lab tours and meetings with Rockefeller scientists. The program emphasizes both experimental design and scientific communication, offering an opportunity to build an early foundation in research methodology.
13. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Summer Student Program (SSP)
Stipend: $1,200
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application deadline: February 7
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Eligibility: High school juniors living within 25 miles of MSK’s Manhattan campus; minimum 3.5 GPA in science; U.S. work authorization; age 14+ by program start
SSP is a selective program typically accepting 2% of high school applicants and offering them eight-week mentored research internships in biomedical and computational sciences at MSK’s research labs. You will work on a self-directed project aligned with ongoing cancer biology, genomics, immunology, or drug development research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The program focuses on helping build both technical and professional skills. It also offers exposure to translational medicine through seminars and clinical department interactions. You will present your work in a poster session, gaining early experience in scientific communication and research methodology.
14. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Stipend: An educational stipend is offered; exact details not specified
Dates: 6–10 weeks in the May–August period; dates vary based on the opportunity
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Location: Multiple U.S. universities and labs, including in NYC
Eligibility: High school students; additional requirements vary for each opportunity
AEOP’s Internships are Army-sponsored research opportunities for high school students interested in STEM. You will work in research labs under the guidance of a university researcher or a Department of Defence scientist. You will gain exposure to ongoing research that focuses on addressing national challenges. You may assist researchers with tasks like data collection, analysis, experimentation, and comparison of data sets. During the program, you will also engage in webinars, workshops, and online tutorials to develop professional skills and become better equipped for future STEM academics.
15. RISE – Environmentor
Stipend: Up to $1,200 for research work and participation
Dates: June – mid-August
Application deadline: TBA
Location: RISE, Far Rockaway, NY
Eligibility: 9th–11th grade students who live in New York City and attend school in or near the Rockaway Peninsula; priority is given to students who have participated in Shore Corps during the fall and spring.
Environmentor is a science research mentorship program focused on environmental studies of Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway shoreline. Over six weeks, you will work with scientists from local universities and research institutions to design and conduct individual research projects in marine biology, ecology, and coastal science. You will gain fieldwork experience while engaging in water quality testing, flood monitoring, and species surveys. You will also undergo water safety, CPR, kayaking, biking, and surfing training. The program includes orientations, weekly workshops, and community service events, as well as opportunities to present research findings in a final poster session.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in an area of your choice, 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!
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