10 Engineering Programs for High School Students in NYC
If you're a high school student in New York City interested in pursuing an engineering program, consider joining an engineering program in the city! These internships allow you to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios, develop practical skills, and network with professionals.
Whether your interest lies in electrical, software, mechanical, civil, biomedical, chemical, aerospace, or environmental engineering, these programs can help enhance your college applications and kickstart your journey in your chosen field. Engaging in engineering programs during high school helps you develop essential skills, acquire real-world experience, and explore different career paths within engineering—qualities highly valued by college admissions committees.
"We have curated a list of 10 engineering programs specially tailored for high school students in NYC!"
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note. students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Program Dates: Summer cohort runs from June to August, Fall cohort from September to December, Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June \
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! You note that Horizon is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research! Once you select a particular subject track as well as the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar from reputed universities who act as mentors throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024 for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024 for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Internships at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BSI) are conducted alongside Cornell University and the USDA. This 7-week internship offers both lab experimentations and fieldwork in a variety of projects spanning plant science, plant molecular biology, plant biotic interactions, bioinformatics, and biological engineering of plant systems.
As an intern, you will be paired with a research mentor (typically a graduate student or a postdoctoral researcher) and a faculty mentor. You will work alongside your mentors on a predetermined project. Apart from conducting research, you can join undergraduate researchers for professional development lectures and discussions. Additionally, Boyce Institute organizes local field trips and training sessions that you will be required to participate in as an intern!
Location: Cornell University Campus, Ithaca, New York
Dates: June 25, 2024 - August 9, 2024 (Tentative dates)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; High school researchers receive a stipend of $4,000, paid bi-weekly.
Eligibility: Applicants must:- Be a current high school student who is regional to Ithaca, NY year-round.- Be 16 years of age before the first day of the program.- Not be graduated by the first day of the program, June 25, 2024.
Deadline: March 31, 2024
The internship program at Genspace, a community-based biotech laboratory in New York City, provides an opportunity for students to explore biotechnology and genetic engineering. Throughout the program, you will engage in research spanning DNA sequencing, genetic modification, and bioinformatics.
Guided by experienced scientists and specialists at the lab, you will deepen your knowledge of life science concepts. You will also be able to refine your lab techniques and analytical abilities, by utilizing state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and technology. Emphasizing hands-on learning, the program helps students carry out genuine experiments within a fully equipped biotech lab. Through this internship, you will develop a better understanding of the foundations of biotechnology while understanding the importance of ethical and conscientious biotech applications.
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Dates: Spring Session: February 28 to May 23, 2024 | Summer Session: July 1 to August 16, 2024
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a $2,000 stipend is provided.
Eligibility: Applicants must:- Be 16 years of age or older by orientation date.- Live OR attend a NYC Public or Charter School within 45 minutes of Genspace.
Deadline: Applications typically open in the fall and close in January.
This summer program offers high school and community college students the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research remotely, guided by Stanford's distinguished faculty and industry experts. Participants will explore a wide range of topics in engineering and beyond, committing 30-40 hours per week to research and regular communication with mentors and peers. Themes include information science, communication, engineering, arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design. The program aims to develop students' technical skills and a success-oriented mindset.
Location: Virtual
Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Cost/Stipend: None
Eligibility: Applicants must:- Be current high school juniors or seniors in the 2023-2024 school year (i.e. 11th or 12th grade at the time of application) OR full-time CC students (within first three years of CC)- Be at least 14 by June 17 (if you are a high school junior or senior). - Be between the age of 17 and 21 (inclusive) by June 17 (if you are a full-time CC student).
Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
NASA's Office of STEM Engagement offers high school students paid internships. Participants receive mentoring, training, and career development guidance throughout their internship experience.
At NASA's centers, students engage in hands-on research using cutting-edge facilities and technology. Their research areas span across space exploration, aerospace engineering, robotics, satellites, and related fields, providing them with valuable practical experience in STEM disciplines.
Location: These internships are offered across NASA facilities. Depending on the project, interns will work either remotely or on-site at any of NASA’s 10 field centers across the country. Opportunities are available in New York at CUNY New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn.
Dates: Typically May-August, but check specific dates for postings.
Cost/Stipend: A stipend is paid based on academic level and session duration.
Eligibility: Any high school student with a 3.0 GPA.
U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years old at the time of the application.
Deadline:
Spring 2025: Aug. 23, 2024
Summer 2025: Early Decision: Oct. 25, 2024; Final, Feb. 28, 2025;
Fall 2025: May 16, 2025
The SCA Summer Internship Program (“SIP”) recruits talented NYC public high school students for a six-week paid internship with various SCA departments and business partner companies throughout New York City. SIP is designed to expose students to careers in various industries including architecture, engineering, construction management, information technology, business, and public administration. The program provides interns with a diverse internship experience in civil engineering along with career mentoring.
During the program, you’ll spend four days a week with your intern host and the remaining day attending educational programming. Assignments will vary depending on the company or department and the student’s skill set. You’ll also get to participate in various workshops, a design challenge, and panel discussions. The internship is an in-person position and the standard hours for the program are 9:00 am-4:00 pm Monday through Friday. A 10-hour OSHA construction safety course will be provided for students based on assignment needs before the program start date. You will be required to submit a signed parent consent form before participating in construction site visits.
Location: New York City, NY
Dates: Vary depending on the placement and assignment of the intern (6 weeks between June and August 2024)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students are paid $16 an hour for 30 hours a week during the six-week internship.
Eligibility: New York City public high school students who are eligible to work in the United States and can work for the program's six-week duration. School G.P.A. will be considered.
Deadline: March 8, 2024
The HK Maker Program, conducted in collaboration with Columbia University, is a great opportunity for students interested in biomedical sciences, innovation, and design. You will learn the principles of engineering, get hands-on practice in innovation and design tools, and work on collaborative projects involving digital media. This is an interdisciplinary learning experience that will equip you with skills integral to college and career preparation. The first three weeks of the program will be led by Columbia University faculty in your area of choice (biomedical engineering or innovation and design). On completing the course, you will form groups to use digital media, such as apps, to address a global health disparity in a novel and creative way. This program also allows you to obtain paid internships in research labs or healthcare institutions upon completion.
Location: Columbia University, NY
Dates: 4 weeks (July 8 - August 13, 2024) with a mandatory orientation during the last week of June
Cost/Stipend: No Information Available.
Eligibility: Students who are in grades 10-11, attend a NYCDOE public or charter high school, and are interested in pursuing STEAM fields, can apply.
Deadline: Applications for 2024 are closed. Their application for the 2025 cohort will most likely open in November 2024
This program offers a comprehensive summer experience and is ideal for students interested in engineering and its various subsets. ARISE is structured with an interdisciplinary curriculum, covering subjects and courses across chemical engineering, robotics, computer science, bio- and molecular engineering, machine learning, anthropology, biology, aerospace engineering, and AI.
During this program, you can expect to develop skills in various STEM disciplines through hands-on work in research labs. You will also attend classroom learning sessions, workshops (on ethics, lab safety, and data collection), and college admissions prep sessions. A standout feature of this program is the mentorship opportunities – students will be guided by NYU’s research faculty, learning in a collaborative environment, and working on innovative research projects that contribute to advancements in their chosen STEM fields. At the end of the program, you will present your findings at a colloquium. The 2024 cohort will accept 76-80 students.
Location: NYU campus, New York City, NY
Dates: June 3, 2024 - August 9, 2024 (10 weeks). The first 4 weeks will be remote after-school workshops, and the next 6 weeks will have in-person labs on weekdays.
Cost/Stipend: Students will receive a stipend of at least $750.
Eligibility: Students residing in New York City, who will complete 10th or 11th grade in June 2024, are eligible to apply.
Deadline: March 1, 2024
Project SEED is a paid summer fellowship for high school students, focusing on chemistry and chemical engineering. Participants commute daily to a research lab for 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday, over 8 to 10 weeks. They gain hands-on experience in real labs, including those at universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The program supports over 350 students from underrepresented communities, offering internships and summer camps to assist with university applications. Interns work on independent projects at the nearest Project SEED location, with a variety of project options. Depending on the site, students might go on field trips, campus tours, and attend career panels.
Additionally, coordinators can register students for the American Chemical Society National Meeting, where they can present their work.
Location: Varies based on lab choice. Opportunities are available in New York City. Check here.
Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4000 is awarded to the interns.
Eligibility: Applicants must:- Be current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (and recent graduates).- Have completed one course in high school chemistry.
Preference is given to students whose maximum family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.
Note: Project SEED has multiple methods of documenting eligibility that you can access here!
Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: Boyce Thompson Institute logo