York College STEP Summer Research Program

The York College Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) is a critical pipeline for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged youth in Southeast Queens. The Summer 2026 Research Program runs for seven weeks and places high school students (grades 10-12) in hands-on laboratory research under faculty mentorship. Participants earn a $1,000 stipend for completing the program, which includes lab work, faculty seminars, and a scholarly presentation. Younger students (grades 7-9) participate in a parallel robotics track. STEP effectively competes with low-skill summer jobs by compensating students for their intellectual labor.