Top 10 Research Programs for High School Students in NYC
If you are a New York City high schooler looking for research opportunities, then this list is for you! We’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best research opportunities for high school students in the New York City area. This list includes internships in STEM, Humanities, Medicine, and more!
Applying for a research program while still in high school comes with a lot of benefits. You’ll work with top-tier academics and professionals in your field of interest. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the subject area. You'll also craft valuable relationships with successful professionals and academics. Not only will you learn new skills, but you’ll also get to apply those skills to real-world problems.
Research experience is also great for your college application. The hands-on nature of research projects sets you apart from other students. This list includes prestigious and competitive opportunities. Selection for such a program adds great value to your CV and application profile. Competitive research projects open doors to similar opportunities.
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 psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
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 and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
This program, provided by NYU, is competitive. It is designed to expose students to studio art projects. During this program, you’ll research and create studio art projects and visit New York City’s art institutions. You'll take part in field trips to professional art studios to see where artists live and create. One of the main goals of this program is for students to produce a new body of work for their portfolios. The program emphasizes researching and utilizing new materials and technologies in your art. The program only admits 54 students each year. You'll also develop the skills necessary to succeed in the arts at a university level. You can find out more information about the program here.
Cost: The total cost for the program, including housing, tuition, and meal plan, is $7,272. Scholarships and financial aid are available.
Location: Manhattan, New York City, New York
Application deadline: Applications are due March 1st. The financial aid application is due February 15th.
Program dates: July 7-August 3
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18 going into their sophomore, junior, or senior year
3. Veritas AI
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
This program is designed to allow high school students to develop essential skills by engaging in research activities. You will be enrolled in a Spring course in an area of research science. Upon completion of the course, you’ll participate in a summer research internship where you’ll be paired with a CUNY or CCNY faculty member to pursue a topic of interest. The spring program is small and competitive; only 25 students are admitted. You’ll complete 45 hours of practical science research course material. You can receive high school elective credit upon successful completion. 10 of the original 25 are then able to participate in a 5-week structured internship program. You’ll complete a research project and presentation.
Cost: Free, $1,575 stipend
Location: New York City, New York
Application deadline: Applications are typically accepted from December 1st to January 15th or 16th
Program dates: The Research Academy takes place during the spring semester. The summer internship takes place over 5 weeks during the summer.
Eligibility:
New York City Public High School 10th or 11th grader during
75 or above on the ELA Regents or 480+ on SAT Verbal or PSAT Reading
HS average of at least 80
Participants must have passed the Regents Algebra, Geometry, Living Environment, Earth Science, and Global Studies exam with a 66 or better
The NYCSRM Consortium comprises over 20 partner programs supporting more than 500 scholars across New York City. You can expect around 70 hours of preparatory coursework and over 100 hours of mentored science research. You’ll be provided with academic and career guidance for science success and access to scientific journals and presentations to boost your fluency in science communication. You’ll also complete a culminating project based on your research and present it publicly. They offer internships across the spectrum of science-based research, including astrophysics and conservation biology opportunities.
Cost: Paid stipend
Location: New York City, NY
Application deadline: Applications are open on a rolling basis
Program dates: program dates vary by internship
Eligibility: Programs might have specific eligibility requirements, but all students must meet the following requirements as a baseline:
Completed preparatory coursework in science content, methodologies, and lab skills
NYC high school student
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is one of the leading cancer research organizations in the country. Their summer student program provides high school students with experience in laboratory techniques related to medicine. You’ll conduct independent research projects and attend training sessions and lectures. You’ll also participate in tours designed to support your interest in the clinical side of research. Finally, you’ll present your research at the end of the program. You’ll gain valuable research training and get to work with top-notch equipment. You’ll also receive a stipend and develop valuable interpersonal, leadership, and public speaking skills.
Cost: There is no cost for tuition, and you’ll receive a stipend upon completion
Location: New York City, New York
Application deadline: Applications typically open the first week of December and close the first week of February
Program dates: June 27-August 22.
Eligibility: Participants must complete 9th grade by June of the application year, be14 years old or older by the start of your program, have a 3.5 GPA or higher in science subjects, and submit two letters of recommendation
The New York Academy of Sciences was founded over two hundred years ago and is a non-profit organization. Their Junior Academy is a project-based learning program where students work with STEM experts on research projects through an online platform. You’ll work with other students to tackle innovative challenges under the guidance of STEM mentors. All challenges are real-world problems sponsored by industry-leading companies. You’ll participate in a kick-off week where you’ll build relevant skills in research methods, design thinking, and data analysis. You’ll end the program with advanced research skills.
Cost: None
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Applications for fall are currently open and will close on July 1st. You can check here for future application windows.
Program dates: The program runs for 8-10 weeks through the fall semester.
Eligibility: Ages 13-17 at the time of the program, able to participate in English.
This program allows highly motivated high school students to engage in research in STEM. You’ll work with faculty mentors to learn laboratory techniques, work with cutting-edge tools, experience life at a research university, and function as part of a research team. This six-week residential program runs from the beginning of July through mid-August. The program culminates in a written research abstract and research poster showcasing your work. On top of conducting research, you can expect to attend weekly faculty research lectures, participate in special workshops, take tours, and attend university events. You’ll also receive a stipend.
Cost: You can choose to live on campus or commute. The cost of room and board for residential students is $2,781.50. There are no tuition charges or fees, and a stipend is provided at the end of the program.
Location: Stony Brook, New York City, New York
Application deadline: February 7.
Program dates: The program typically runs from July through mid-August.
Eligibility: Rising high school senior at the time of the program, 16 years of age or older, U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Hofstra University is Long Island’s largest private university and has robust undergraduate and graduate programs. Their Summer Science Research Program offers high schoolers the chance to conduct STEM research under the guidance of professionals in science and mathematics. The program is highly selective and culminates in a science poster session where you will present your work. You will be matched with a faculty member for mentorship based on your research preference. You may conduct laboratory experiments, review data, discuss real-world applications of findings, and learn analysis and critical thinking skills.
Cost: $2,000 for tuition. Room and board are not provided by the program
Location: Long Island, New York
Application deadline: Applications are typically due the final Friday of March each year
Program dates: The program runs for six weeks from July through mid-August
Eligibility: Enrolled in 10th or 11th grade at the time the application is submitted, at least one year of a high school laboratory-based science course
The WSSP provides research opportunities for high school students and their teachers to complete projects in molecular biology and bioinformatics. The program is led by teachers from your high school with support from Rutgers University. You’ll use laboratory protocols to isolate and analyze DNA samples, sequence these samples, and determine if they are similar to genes from other organisms. The DNA sequences have never been determined before, so your research is of interest to real scientists worldwide. By the end of the program, your published sequence will bear your name in the international repository for all known DNA sequences. You can watch a video overview of the program here!
Cost: $2,000 for the in-person program, $500 for the virtual program
Location: This program is primarily conducted at your high school, but the summer part of the program can either be attended online or in person at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Application deadline: Unknown. Applications are currently closed, so check back regularly!
Program dates: Most of the program will take place over an entire academic year, but the summer dates are provided below:
In-person: June 23-July 3
In-person: July 28-August 8
Virtual: August 11-August 22
Eligibility: Completed a high school-level biology course, current high school student
Elise is a writer for Lumiere and a graduate of the University of Montana School of Law. She began writing for Lumiere to help connect high school students to research opportunities. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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