10 Engineering Programs for High School Students in NYC
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 19, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 9
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 programs allow you to apply classroom knowledge to 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 enhance your college applications and begin your journey in your chosen field. Engaging in engineering programs during high school helps you develop essential skills, acquire experience, and explore different career paths within engineering.
We have curated a list of 10 engineering programs 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 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!
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the 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, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor 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. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
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 (BTI) are conducted in collaboration with Cornell University and the USDA. This 7-week internship offers lab experiments and fieldwork spanning plant science, plant molecular biology, plant biotic interactions, bioinformatics, and biological engineering of plant systems. 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, the Boyce Institute organizes local field trips and training sessions! To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Cornell University Campus, Ithaca, New York
Dates: June 25 - August 9
Cost/Stipend: No cost; High schoolers receive a stipend of $4,000, paid bi-weekly.
Eligibility: Current high school students who live in Ithaca, NY, year-round and will be 16 years of age but will not have graduated by the first day of the program.
Deadline: March 31
The internship program at Genspace, a community-based biotech laboratory in New York City, offers students the opportunity to explore biotechnology and genetic engineering. You will engage in research spanning DNA sequencing, genetic modification, and bioinformatics. Guided by scientists and specialists at the lab, you will deepen your knowledge of life science concepts. You will also refine your lab techniques and analytical abilities by utilizing state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and technology. Through this internship, you will develop a deeper understanding of the foundations of biotechnology while gaining insight into the importance of ethical biotech applications. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Dates: Spring Session: February 28 to May 23 | Summer Session: July 1 to August 16
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a $2,000 stipend is provided.
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 years of age or older by the orientation date and 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 students the opportunity to engage in research remotely, guided by Stanford's faculty and industry experts. You will explore a wide range of topics in engineering and beyond, committing 30-40 hours per week to research and communication with mentors and peers. Subjects covered include information science, communication, engineering, arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design. The program aims to develop your technical skills. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Virtual
Dates: June 17 - August 9
Cost/Stipend: None
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who will be at least 14 by June 17
Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
NASA's Office of STEM Engagement offers high school students paid internships. You will receive mentoring, training, and career development guidance throughout your internship experience. At NASA's centers, you will engage in research using cutting-edge facilities and technology. Research areas span across space exploration, aerospace engineering, robotics, satellites, and related fields, providing valuable experience in STEM disciplines. For tips on getting an internship at NASA, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Depending on the project, interns work remotely or 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: High school students with a 3.0 GPA who are U.S. citizens and will be at least 16 years old at the time of the application.
Deadline: Spring: August 23; Summer: February 28; Fall: May 16
The SCA Summer Internship Program (“SIP”) recruits 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 you to careers in various industries, including architecture, engineering, construction management, information technology, business, and public administration. The program offers an internship experience in civil engineering, complemented by career mentoring. You’ll spend four days a week with your intern host and the remaining day attending educational programming. You’ll also participate in workshops, a design challenge, and panel discussions.
Location: New York City, NY
Dates: Vary depending on the placement (6 weeks between June and August)
Cost/Stipend: Students are paid $16 an hour for 30 hours a week
Eligibility: New York City public high school students who are eligible to work in the United States. School G.P.A. will be considered.
Deadline: March 8
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, practice using design tools, and work on collaborative projects involving digital media. 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). You will form groups to use digital media, such as apps, to address a global health disparity in a creative way. This program also allows you to obtain paid internships in research labs or healthcare institutions. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Columbia University, NY
Dates: July 8 - August 13 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.
Deadline: Applications open in November
This program offers a comprehensive summer experience, ideal for students interested in engineering and its subfields. ARISE has an interdisciplinary curriculum, with courses across chemical engineering, robotics, computer science, bio- and molecular engineering, machine learning, anthropology, biology, aerospace engineering, and AI. You will develop skills in various STEM disciplines through work in research labs. You will attend classroom learning sessions, workshops (on ethics, lab safety, and data collection), and college admissions prep sessions. You will be guided by NYU’s research faculty and work on research projects that contribute to advancements in your chosen field. At the end of the program, you will present your findings at a colloquium. The 2024 cohort accepted 76-80 students. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: NYU campus, New York City, NY
Dates: June 3 - August 9. The first 4 weeks will be remote after-school, and the next 6 weeks will be 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.
Deadline: March 1
Project SEED is a paid summer fellowship for high school students focused on chemistry and chemical engineering. You will commute daily to a research lab Monday through Friday, for over 8 to 10 weeks. You will gain experience in 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. You will work on independent projects at the nearest Project SEED location, with a variety of project options. Depending on the site, you may participate in 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 include New York City. Check here.
Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4,000 is awarded to the interns.
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (and recent graduates) who 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.
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