Participating in research programs for high school students in NYC is an excellent way to dive into a subject that interests you, allowing you to discover and learn new concepts that you wouldn’t normally encounter in a standard classroom. You don the hat of a real-world researcher for a brief period, trying to find answers to difficult questions and test out fresh ideas. As a result, you end up gaining hands-on experience using advanced tools, lab techniques, and sophisticated research methods.

Another significant benefit of these opportunities is the chance to learn directly from experts, as they enable you to collaborate with university professors, scientists, and industry researchers. You receive invaluable mentorship while developing critical thinking, data analysis, and scientific communication skills. This high-level exposure does more than just build a resume; it significantly boosts your confidence in your academic abilities before you even set foot on a college campus.

Why attend a research program in New York City?

Your research experience can be more fruitful when it takes place in a global hub like New York City. NYC has some of the world’s best universities, research institutes, museums, and laboratories that open their doors for high school students like you to conduct research in environments where actual discoveries are being made. You get an insight into what it is like to conduct research in a professional setting and how academics collaborate to solve complex problems. 

Research programs held in a global hub like NYC also help you make an informed decision regarding college majors and clarify your career interests. You will also get to know what it’s like to conduct research at the university level in some of the world’s top institutions, such as the Rockefeller University, New York University, Columbia University, and more. 

To help you get started, below are 15 research programs in NYC for high school students. They’ve been selected for their academic mentorship opportunities, rigor, and global prestige.

To apply your skills in professional settings, you can consider engineering internships in NYC. Alternatively, you can participate in online research programs.

15 Research Programs in NYC for High School Students

1. Immerse Education’s New York Summer School

Location: Barnard College, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: An average of 7 participants per class
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus and study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from eminent top universities in New York City. 

Participants can explore a wide range of subjects, spanning over 20 options, including Architecture, AI, Business Management, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, and more. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies.

By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: Given the small cohort size of the program, Immerse Education is able to schedule one-on-one sessions where you can receive feedback and help with your career plan. 

2. Engineering the Next Generation (ENG): Foundation of Research Track

Location: Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York City, NY
Stipend: $17/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 28 students
Dates: July 6th – August 13th
Application Deadline: January 16th
Eligibility: Rising NYC 12th graders who are legally allowed to work in NYC and have prior work or volunteer experience

In this six-week program, you will be working closely with the students and faculty at Columbia Engineering, gaining research experience and enhancing your academic and professional skills. Depending on your assigned lab, you will explore advanced topics like biomedical engineering, computer science, environmental engineering, or artificial intelligence.

Your primary activities will include conducting hands-on lab experiments, attending college preparation seminars, practicing science communication, and presenting your research at a final poster symposium.

Why it stands out: Columbia Engineering ensures that you gain full advantage of the program by providing you with multi-level mentorship and a stipend.

3. College Now STEM Research Academy

Location: New York City College of Technology, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,575 stipend for the Summer Research Internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 25 students
Dates: Introduction To Science Research Course: February 14th – May 16th; STEM Summer Research Internship: July 6-26
Application Deadline: December 12th
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders studying in a NYC public high school

Catered towards students enrolled in NYCPS’s partner schools, this academy engages you in scientific activities that enhance your research skills. If selected for the program, you will start by participating in the pre-college research course, held in the spring.

Following the training, you will enroll in the STEM Summer Research Internship, where you will be paired with a research professor and their team working on research in a subject area, like biology or chemistry. You will also get to work on a short independent research project.

Why it stands out: The unique two-semester program allows you to learn essential research skills, such as designing experiments, referring to scientific literature, conducting experiments in a lab setting, and more, and apply them through the internship, specifically targeting NYC public school students who lack access to robust STEM programs.

4. Cornell AAP City Visionaries

Location: Cornell University Gensler Family AAP NYC Center, New York City, NY
Cost: $13,000 + $45 non-refundable application fee; application fee can be waivered upon request, and there is a limited number of scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 6th – August 7th
Application Deadline: April 17th
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders aged 16-18 who have a GPA of 3.3 or above

If you are curious about urban planning, this initiative stands out among the various research programs for high school students in NYC. During the five-week course, you gain an in-depth understanding of urban development using the city itself as a living laboratory to explore architectural strategies.

You learn about the different factors that influence city planning, such as finance, social capital, the population, and more. You use your newly acquired knowledge to research ways you can improve a particular city by initially recognizing drawbacks in the original plan. 

Why it stands out: You receive a Cornell AAP Certificate of Completion at the end and a portfolio demonstrating your research, analytical, and creative skills in urban development.

5. Bronx Zoo Project TRUE Internship

Location: Bronx Zoo, New York City, NY
Stipend: Summer: $750 OR NYC hourly minimum wage through SYEP if eligible to work with WCS’s authorized provider; Fall: $350
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 20 high school students
Dates: Summer: Late June – January; Fall: September – December
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders residing in the Bronx who are eligible to work in the U.S.

In this internship program, you will take the role of a research assistant and have the opportunity to conduct field research at the Bronx Zoo. You will be contributing to the zoo’s ongoing research on understanding the NYC wildlife and green spaces better.

You will also be expected to conduct original research and share your findings with the scientific community and other people. Additionally, the program will allow you to collaborate closely with instructors and scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society and Fordham University. 

Why it stands out: Longitudinal, team-based approach to urban ecology, where high school students are paired with both undergraduate and graduate mentors from Fordham University to conduct original field research within the zoo’s diverse ecosystems.

6. The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)

Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / need-based travel stipends are given
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; 32 students per summer
Dates: June 22nd – August 6th
Application Deadline: January 2nd
Eligibility: 11th and 12th graders who will be at least 16 years old by the program start date

The Rockefeller University’s SSRP allows you to work in a research team led by scientists from Rockefeller, MSK, and WCMC. As part of the team, you will be conducting research in a laboratory, with the aim of answering a scientific question.

With the research topic being decided by the lead in advance, you can join the team working on the research area that interests you the most. It will also be quite rigorous, with students required to work 35 hours per week. You need to design a poster demonstrating your findings in the research. 

Why it stands out: SSRP is supplemented with other enriching activities such as elective courses, guest lectures, workshops, networking opportunities, and social events.

7. Applied Research In Science and Engineering (ARISE)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~60 students  
Dates: Remote Workshops: June 1-25; In-person lab sessions: July 6th – August 14th
Application Deadline: February 27th
Eligibility: 10th and 11th-graders who live in New York City and are enrolled in a high school in the city

As a participant in the ARISE program, you will join an NYU lab, conducting experiments with the team’s research objectives in mind. You will have professors and graduate researchers from the university there to mentor you through the process.

The program offers research opportunities across STEM fields like biomedical engineering, civil and urban engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and more. In addition to the research mentorship, ARISE also focuses on enhancing your presentation and public speaking skills that are necessary when working on future projects. 

Why it stands out: ARISE schedules lab tours, allowing students to make an informed decision about which lab they would like to work in out of the many labs. 

8. NYU’s GSTEM 

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: $5,750 (need-based scholarships are available); meal cost: $3,840
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; up to 40 students
Dates: June 29th – August 7th
Application Deadline: March 1st
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade high school students (rising seniors) in the U.S.

Designed for students curious about becoming a STEM major or having a career in the field, this six-week program allows you to work on a project centered around a STEM discipline that interests you.

The program will connect you with a researcher or professor who will guide you through the research experience, ensuring you develop laboratory, programming, scientific writing, and presentation skills. You will feel more confident in attending college and have formed valuable connections with peers who share your interest in STEM and professionals.

Why it stands out: GSTEM focuses on girls and other underrepresented groups, pairing you with a professional STEM mentor for an individual research project in a real-world lab or field site.

9. American Museum of Natural History Science Research Mentoring Program

Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York City, NY
Stipend: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; about 40 students
Dates: August – June
Application Deadline: March 1st
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who live and attend school in New York City and have passed the last three or more semesters; students should also be enrolled or have completed one of the courses listed here, or attend one of the partner schools or programs listed here

This is a year-long internship program where you will be working alongside the scientists from the museum. With each student expected to commit four hours a week, you will get to work on research projects while also learning in the process.

Some of the topics that you can expect to have learned by the end of the program include working with DNA in the lab, analyzing data from space-based telescopes, reading scientific articles, and learning to code and analyze data in Python, R, and other programming languages.

Why it stands out: You will also be able to earn 1 CUNY Lehman College credit without any additional costs.

10. BEYOND ALBERT High School Research Program

Location: Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY
Stipend: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 15 students
Dates: 8-week summer session (Late June – August) + Academic year after-school program (September – May)
Application Deadline: January 12th
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors; at least 16 years old; must reside and attend high school in the Bronx

The BEYOND ALBERT High School Research Program introduces you to the real-world environment of biomedical and cancer research. Throughout the program, you will explore specific topics like cancer biology, stem cells, and the search for new medical treatments.

You will spend your time conducting hands-on laboratory experiments, attending career development workshops, listening to seminars by working scientists, and creating a formal presentation of your own research. By the time you finish, you will learn practical lab techniques like cell culturing, as well as how to write scientific papers and communicate your ideas clearly.

Why it stands out: The program combines an intensive eight-week summer session with a year-long after-school program to keep you continually engaged.

11. NYSCF Summer Internship Program

Location: NYSCF Research Institute, New York City, NY
Stipend: Paid, amount not publicly disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 20 interns
Dates: 10 weeks starting from June 2nd
Application Deadline: Typically, early January
Eligibility: High school students who will be 18 years old by the program start date; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents

This program introduces you to stem cell research and allows you to experience the field over the ten-week duration of the program. Among the four internship tracks offered is the Laboratory Research Track, where you work on a research project with an NYSCF representative to mentor you through it.

The program will be sure to look at the available projects and match you with a mentor working on a topic of your interest or something closely related to it. The other tracks offered in the program include data science, automation/software engineering, and program administration.

Why it stands out: The program is unique for its team science approach, exposing students to the interdisciplinary intersection of laboratory research, data science, software engineering, and even the legal and business aspects of biotechnology.

12. ACS Project SEED Program

Location: Varies by placement; opportunities available in New York City
Stipend: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 2-5 students per site
Dates: 8-10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 14th
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders and recent graduates who have completed at least one chemistry course and belong to low-income households (those with an annual income of ≤300% based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines)

Aimed at high school students from underserved backgrounds, Project SEED was started as an initiative to give them access to conducting research in chemical sciences. If you participate in the program, you will get to work in a university, industrial, or government lab setting while professional chemists mentor you.

In this program, you will also learn how to develop your hypothesis and present its results. You will also be scheduled with other enriching activities such as career panels, field trips, and college prep support. 

Why it stands out: Students enrolled in the Project Seed Program also have the benefit of being invited to conferences held at the American Chemical Society. 

13. Simons-NYU Science Explorations Program

Location: New York University, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely competitive; approximately 80 students
Dates: July 5-25
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders plus recent graduates who are at least 16 years old, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents 

The NYU-Simons Science Exploration Program is specifically designed for those seeking research programs for high school students in NYC with a focus on physical and life sciences. The curriculum covers diverse topics such as biology, chemistry, neural science, physics, and psychology through expert-led lectures.

The program focuses on teaching you various concepts from these subjects through lectures, workshops, and lab activities. You will be working closely with NYU scientists and will also have the opportunity to network and learn directly from researchers. The daily schedule will typically consist of two lectures in the mornings and two lab sessions in the afternoons. 

Why it stands out: Given that the three-week program covers topics across various disciplines, it is a premier choice for motivated students from underrepresented backgrounds to find their specific scientific calling before applying to college. 

14. Biorocket Research Internship Program

Location: Genspace, New York City, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 15 students
Dates: Spring Session: February 25th – May 21st; Summer Session: July 6th – August 14th (Tentative)
Application Deadline: January 8th
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 and above and enrolled in a New York City public or charter high school within a 45-minute commute to Genspace

In this six-month program, you will be spending a significant amount of your time completing your summer project, becoming familiar with various biology labs and genetic engineering techniques in the process. As a participant, you will also acquire scientific communication skills, which you will exercise while presenting the outcomes of your research.

Your schedule in the program will also include field trips to biotech companies, visiting research labs, meeting with scientists, and receiving career guidance. This internship program is your chance to explore the latest developments in biotechnology. 

Why it stands out: It allows you to engage in community-driven biotech experimentation, helping you understand how real biological systems are used in creative research.

15. BioBus Junior Scientist Internship

Location: BioBase Harlem, New York City, NY
Stipend: $17/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 15-25 students per location
Dates: Summer: July – August; School Year: October 1st – June 15th
Application Deadline: March 15th
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders who live and attend a high school in New York City

In this 14-month internship, you will discover what it is like to work in a laboratory setting, which can include mobile and community labs. Your role will primarily consist of working on an independent science research project.

With research scientists there to train and mentor you through the program, you will ultimately gain lab and scientific communication skills. During your time in the program, you will also teach BioBus programs to students in lower grades, thus cultivating leadership and teaching skills.

Why it stands out: The program gives you access to research-grade microscopes and equipment, thus giving you practice in using advanced lab tools.

Scaling Your NYC Research into a Career

NYC’s professional landscape moves at a relentless pace, demanding that young innovators swap standard academic safety for the high-pressure environment found inside urban research laboratories.

Securing a spot in premier research programs for high school students in NYC transforms your resume from a simple list into a verified professional portfolio.

This advanced technical foundation naturally leads you away from classroom theory toward the strategic planning required to build a thriving, high-impact and global career path.

Check out our Career Exploration blogs to discover expert advice on building a future-proof professional roadmap and turning your academic passions into a lucrative career!