14 STEM Summer Internships for High School Students in New York
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
If you’re a high school student in New York (NY) thinking about exploring STEM, doing a summer internship in the state is a smart way to get started. You’ll learn how to work with lab tools, test samples, code simple programs, and collect data that matters, without moving states for a summer program.
As an intern, you’ll also meet other students who are into the same things and get feedback from mentors who’ve been through it. It’s a good way to work on your skills and strengthen your college applications or future STEM projects and internships.
To help you get started, here are 14 STEM summer internships for high school students in New York! If you're looking for other STEM programs, internships, or more for high schoolers, check out this set of blogs!
14 STEM Summer Internships for High School Students in New York
Cost: None; A stipend of $1,200 will be provided.
Location: Main Campus of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, NY
Dates: June 30–August 22
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Must be 14 or older, have completed 9th grade by June, hold a 3.5 GPA in science, and live within 25 miles of MSK’s Main Campus in NYC
In this free eight-week summer program, you will work with research staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on original projects in cancer biology, immuno-oncology, pharmacology, genomics, or bioengineering. You will be matched with a mentor such as a postdoc, technician, or graduate student, and spend most of your time in a lab setting.
You will learn how to use research tools, record experimental results, and follow biomedical protocols. The program includes weekly seminars, skills training, and tours of different departments in the cancer center. At the end of the program, you will present a research poster based on your project.
Cost: Starts at $2490 (financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. The Summer Cohort application deadline is June 23!
Eligibility: All high school students who can work for 5-15 hours/week for 8-12 weeks can apply.
Ladder Internships is an eight-week virtual program where you work with startups or nonprofits in fields like AI, biotech, healthcare, and technology. You take on a project based on your interest, such as building a tool for a healthcare startup or analyzing biotech data.
You are matched with both a mentor from the host company and a coach from Ladder. You also attend group sessions focused on professional skills like time management, communication, and presentation. Apply here.
Cost: No cost; High school researchers receive a stipend, paid bi-weekly, totaling $4,200 for 7 weeks
Location: Cornell University Campus, Ithaca, NY
Dates: June 30–August 7 (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 7 (tentative)
Eligibility: Must be 16 or older, a current high school student living year-round in Ithaca, NY, and not graduated before the program starts.
Boyce Thompson Institute offers a seven-week summer internship in partnership with Cornell University and the USDA. You will join a research team working on projects in plant molecular biology, bioinformatics, biotic interactions, or biological engineering.
You will be paired with a mentor and a faculty advisor who will help guide your research process. Along with lab work, you will attend seminars focused on research skills and career development. The program also includes local field visits related to plant science. If you want to know more about this program, you can check out our deep dive!
Cost: Free; stipends available for students with financial need who meet attendance and research requirements.
Location: RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory, The Rockefeller University, NY
Dates: June 23–August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled as a junior or senior in high school and must be at least 16 years old at the start of the program.
The Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) is a seven-week in-person internship where you work in a research team focused on biomedical science or bioinformatics. You are matched to a specific track based on your interests, such as RNA virus discovery, coronavirus immune response, or ant social biology.
You work up to 35 hours a week under the guidance of scientists from Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Weill Cornell Medicine. Each team includes 8 students and 1 to 3 scientific mentors. You conduct your research in RockEDU labs and also join technical workshops, guest lectures, and elective classes.
Cost: None. A stipend is provided to students.
Location: Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University, New York, NY
Dates: 5 weeks during the summer between June and August.
Application Deadline: October 29
Eligibility: NYC students in grades 10–11 nominated by the program’s partner programs and schools can apply. Preference will be given to students in upper Manhattan and the South Bronx.
The Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC) offers a selective summer research program in neuroscience for high school students. You will be paired with a Columbia University neuroscientist who will guide you through hands-on lab work on a focused research project.
Past projects have included studying how neurons transmit sensory information and other neuroscience topics. The program is open only to students nominated by partner groups such as S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical Program, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, and BioBus.
Cost: None. A stipend will be awarded based on academic level and session duration.
Location: NASA centers across the country. Depending on the project, interns will work either remotely or on-site at any of NASA’s 10 field centers across the country. Opportunities in New York are available.
Dates: Summer session (Late May to August)
Application Deadline: April/May (Summer session)
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old, have a 3.0 GPA, and be a full-time student (high school to graduate) or part-time college student with 6+ semester hours.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for high school students at various NASA centers and through virtual placements. You work alongside NASA scientists, engineers, and professionals on projects in fields like space science, aerospace engineering, AI, robotics, space microbiology, climate science, and planetary geology.
Your tasks might include analyzing satellite data, designing experiments, or contributing to space technologies used in missions. Each year, over 2,000 interns are selected. These internships are competitive and suited for students who want hands-on experience with advanced scientific research and technology. You can check out a complete list of positions here.
Cost: None; $4000 is awarded to the interns.
Location: Varies based on lab choice. Opportunities are available in New York City. Check here.
Dates: 8-10 weeks, June–August
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Must be current high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates, with one completed high school chemistry course. (Preference is given to students whose maximum family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.)
Project SEED gives you the chance to work full-time in a real chemistry lab during the summer. It’s a paid program designed to support students from low-income or underrepresented backgrounds. For 8 to 10 weeks, you’ll do your chemistry research project at places like universities, companies, or government labs. You’ll get guidance from experienced scientists while you learn hands-on skills.
You’ll also get to join field trips, career talks, and campus visits. At the end, you might even present your work at a big chemistry conference, which can help you with college applications or future jobs. This program picks over 350 students every year, so it’s competitive but worth applying for.
Cost: None; Upon successful completion of the internship, interns receive $3,000.
Location: SUNY Oneonta campus, Buffalo, NY
Dates: Late May to August (9 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 26
Eligibility: All New York State resident high school students with an academic background in environmental or natural sciences can apply.
SUNY Oneonta offers a 9-week summer internship for New York State high school students. Only a few spots open each year, including one reserved for an Otsego County resident. As an intern, you’ll help faculty and staff at the Biological Field Station with research or work on your project.
You’ll get hands-on experience doing fieldwork and lab tasks like fisheries and plant surveys, water testing, zooplankton identification, and fish dissection. At the end, you’ll create and present a research poster to faculty, mentors, and other students. You can view previous publications here!
Cost: None. An application fee of $50; financial aid is available.
Location: Virtual
Dates: June 17–August 9
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January
Eligibility: The applicants must be current high school juniors or seniors at the time of application and at least 14 years old by June 17
Stanford’s SHTEM program is an 8-week virtual internship for high school and community college students, including those outside the US. You’ll do research from home, and if your project needs hardware, they’ll send the materials to you. Expect to spend 30 to 40 hours a week on the work.
You’ll work with other students and mentors on projects that combine areas like computer science, AI, neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, communication, engineering, and design. Stanford faculty and industry experts will guide you throughout. At the end, you’ll present your team’s project.
Cost: None. A stipend is provided to undergraduate and graduate students.
Location: NYSCF Research Institute, New York City, NY
Dates: June–August (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: Partner high schools of the NYSCF Summer Internship Program are eligible to nominate students for this internship. You can find out more here.
The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Summer Internship Program is a 10-week opportunity for you to learn lab skills like cell culture, microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. You’ll work with stem cells and gain experience handling lab equipment, preparing samples, and analyzing data.
You need to be nominated by partner organizations such as Prep for Prep to apply. If selected, you’ll work onsite in NYSCF’s labs, receive mentorship from researchers, and join seminars on scientific methods and career skills like research communication and lab safety.
Cost: $150 acceptance fee to participate in the internship (financial aid available). This is an unpaid internship opportunity.
Location: Alley Pond Environmental Center, NY
Dates: July 3–August 7 (Summer semester)
Application Deadline: Summer semester - May 1
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 14 years old and currently enrolled in high school.
The Field Biology Internship (FBI) at Alley Pond Environmental Center is for high school students interested in urban biology and environmental science. You will learn research methods and experimental design, skills that will help you in college and science careers.
You’ll do fieldwork in Alley Pond Park and other spots in Queens, NYC. This includes biodiversity surveys, bird watching, testing water and soil quality, identifying macroinvertebrates, coastal seining, and native plant restoration. You’ll collect and analyze data with support from environmental educators and field biologists.
Cost: No stipend. A certificate of completion will be given.
Location: Virtual
Dates: July - August (5 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications typically close by March 1 every year.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented populations anywhere in the United States can participate in the 5-week virtual summer research experience.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a five-week virtual summer program for high school juniors and seniors in the U.S. interested in biology, neuroscience, and medical research. It is hosted by the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology.
During the program, you’ll take part in educational presentations, practice basic lab experiments and techniques, attend professional development workshops, and meet with mentors.
You’ll work with other interns on research projects, learn from experts in neuroscience and healthcare, and present your work at the end. Completing the program earns you a certificate. You can check out the past projects here.
Cost: None. A $2,000 stipend is provided.
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Dates: Summer Session: July 1–August 16
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Eligibility: Must be 16 or older by orientation and live or attend a NYC Public or Charter School within 45 minutes of Genspace.
The Biorocket Research Internship at Genspace in New York City gives high school students hands-on experience in biotechnology and genetic engineering. You’ll work on DNA sequencing, genetic modification, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.
You’ll use professional lab equipment to run experiments and analyze data while working with scientists and educators. This program helps you build lab skills, critical thinking, and data analysis. It also focuses on ethics and responsible research, showing you the importance of working carefully in biotech.
Cost: There is a $25 application fee, which can be waived based on financial need.
Location: Remote options are available
Dates: June 18–August 8
Application Deadline: The applications typically close at the beginning of February
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old by June 18 can apply. Interns for “wet lab” or hybrid internships should be at least 16 years old.
George Mason University’s ASSIP is an eight-week research internship for high school and undergrad students. You’ll work closely with faculty mentors on original STEM projects.
You can do research in areas like bioengineering, molecular medicine, neuroscience, chemistry, physics, environmental science, forensic science, biomedical diagnostics, nanoscience, math modeling, earth sciences, cybersecurity, machine learning, robotics, and computer science.
Along the way, you’ll build skills in scientific writing, data analysis, and professional communication. This program suits you if you want to work in science, engineering, or medical research and want hands-on experience with real projects.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also, check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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.
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