Research Programs in New York 2026 | Columbia, Cornell & NYC Labs

Research experience is one of the strongest signals a high school student can show selective colleges. Working on a real project — in a university lab, a structured mentorship, or an independent study — demonstrates intellectual initiative that grades and test scores cannot. New York pairs Ivy League pre-college programs at Columbia and Cornell with New York City's finance, media, and research ecosystem.

Well-known options include the Research Science Institute (RSI), Stanford's SIMR, the Summer Science Program (SSP), Pioneer Academics, and Polygence, alongside hundreds of university and hospital lab placements.

Admissions officers value research because it shows you can ask a question, stay with a hard problem for months, and clearly communicate what you found.

How to get started with research programs

Pick a field you'd happily read about on a Saturday — biology, economics, machine learning — and narrow it to one specific question.
Build a shortlist: structured mentorships (Polygence, Pioneer), free selective programs (RSI, SSP), and 8–10 professors whose recent papers you actually skimmed.
Email professors a short, specific note — what you read, one question it raised, and how you'd help — rather than a generic 'can I join your lab.'
Apply to 2–3 structured programs as a backup and track every deadline in the free Application Manager.
Once you have results, share them: submit to a journal like JEI, present at a science fair (ISEF), or turn your project into a Common App essay.

Featured programs

Browse 25+ curated programs for high school students:

Simons Summer Research Program — Stony Brook University: Explore STEM fields in the fully funded Simons Summer Research Program. Conduct hands-on research, gain mentorship, and boost college applications. Pe
Brookhaven National Lab Science Associates Program — Brookhaven National Laboratory: Summer research internship at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory. Work with scientists on physics, chemistry, and biology research.
Garcia Summer Scholars Program — Stony Brook University: Residential research program at Stony Brook University.
AMNH Science Research Mentoring Program — American Museum of Natural History: Explore hands-on biology research through a free, year-long high school mentorship program at AMNH. Build STEM skills and boost your college applicati
Garcia Research Scholars Program — Stony Brook University: Hands-on summer program for high school juniors and seniors to conduct STEM research with university professors. Gain skills, boost college applicatio
Garcia SUMMER at Stony Brook — Stony Brook: Explore materials science in a hands-on summer program for high school juniors and seniors. Conduct research in nanotechnology and boost your college
NYU ARISE Summer Research Program — NYU Tandon School of Engineering: Gain hands-on STEM experience in a free 7-week summer research program for high school juniors and seniors. Build skills for college and explore engin
The Junior Academy — New York Academy of Sciences: Join global R&D teams solving real-world challenges in this free virtual high school STEM program. Gain mentorship, research skills, and boost your co
Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) — American Museum of Natural History: Explore astrophysics, biology, and earth science in this free hybrid high school research program. Gain hands-on experience and boost your college app
Partners for the Future — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Gain hands-on research experience in molecular biology, neuroscience, or genetics with this free high school lab placement. Boost college applications
Laboratory for Laser Energetics HS Summer Program — University of Rochester - LLE: Dive into cutting-edge physics research with this free summer program for high school juniors and seniors. Gain hands-on experience with lasers and bo
Computer Science and Informatics Summer Research Experience (CSIRE) — Stony Brook University: Six-week summer research program (June 29-August 7, 2026) placing ~50 high school students in Stony Brook University labs for mentored projects in mac
High School Summer Research Experience in Cancer (SURE-CAN) — Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center: Six-week, full-time summer immersion at Roswell Park in Buffalo for Western New York juniors: lectures, discussions, and hands-on wet- or dry-lab canc
Student Urban Nature (SUN) High School Internship — Natural Areas Conservancy: Paid summer urban-ecology internship for NYC rising juniors and seniors in Queens and Staten Island: field data collection, forest and wetland ecology
Secondary School Field Research Program (SSFRP) — Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory: Free six-week summer program with stipends at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory: NYC-area high school students join tiered research teams do
Hudson Data Jam Competition — Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies: Cary Institute's annual competition challenging middle and high schoolers to analyze real Hudson River watershed datasets and tell the science story c
Boyce Thompson Institute High School Research Experience — Boyce Thompson Institute: Six-week paid summer research internship (~$4,200 stipend) in plant science and computational biology at the Boyce Thompson Institute on Cornell's cam
Student Historian Internship Program — The New York Historical: School-year history internship at The New York Historical for students entering grades 10-12 in the NYC metro area; interns research museum collection
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center High School Research Program — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Prestigious cancer research program for exceptional high schoolers.
Mount Sinai High School Research Program — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Competitive summer research program at top NYC medical school. Students work in biomedical labs on real research projects. Strong pathway for medical/
International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) Debate — The Brewer Foundation & New York University: Compete in a global public policy debate for high schoolers, blending research, writing, and speaking skills. Win $25,000 and boost college applicatio
NYU GSTEM Summer Program — New York University (Courant Institute): Gain hands-on STEM research experience in NYU’s prestigious summer program. Perfect for high school juniors seeking mentorship, data science skills, a
MSK HOPP Summer Student Program — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Explore cancer biology in a free, in-person summer program for high school students. Gain hands-on research experience, mentorship, and boost your col
Urban Barcode Research Program (UBRP) — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center: Conduct DNA barcoding research in this free hybrid STEM program for high school students. Gain hands-on experience, build your resume, and impress col
BRAINYAC Youth Science Council — Columbia University Zuckerman Institute: Gain hands-on neuroscience research experience in a paid NYC apprenticeship for high school students. Build skills, work with mentors, and boost your

Frequently asked questions

Are these research programs only in New York?

These programs are based in or strongly tied to New York, but many also accept students from out of state and some offer virtual participation. Always check eligibility on each listing.

Do I need prior experience to join a research program?

Most beginner-friendly options (Polygence, Pioneer, and many university labs) look for curiosity and commitment rather than published work. Start by emailing professors or applying to a structured mentorship.

Are high school research programs free?

Some are fully funded or paid (RSI, SSP, and many NIH and university labs), while mentorship platforms charge tuition. Filter by cost on the list below and look for need-based aid.

Can I publish my research as a high schooler?

Yes. Students publish in journals such as JEI and present at fairs like ISEF and the Regeneron Science Talent Search. See our guide on publishing research as a high schooler.