Queensborough Community College Now STEM Research Academy

The Queensborough Community College Now STEM Research Academy is a free, two-part research program for New York City public high school students run by College Now at Queensborough Community College in Queens. It starts with a spring college research course and continues with a summer lab internship. In the 2025 cycle, the spring course was a Saturday-morning physics research class worth three college credits that met for 15 weeks. The course covered lab techniques, research ethics, literature review, data analysis, and presenting results. Students who finished the course could apply for a six-week summer research internship. Interns were paired with a faculty research mentor and lab team based on their interests. They worked in the lab four days a week, attended a weekly seminar, and completed a project and presentation. Interns who completed the summer project received a stipend. College Now covered tuition, books, and supplies.

Based on the most recent (2025) application: NYC public high school juniors (sophomores also considered). Overall high school average of 80 or higher. ELA Regents 75+ (or equivalent SAT/PSAT reading score), 80+ on any Math Regents, and 75+ on the Living Environment Regents, with all other required Regents passed. Apply with the application form, a one-page typed essay, most recent transcript, one teacher reference, and parent and guidance counselor signatures. The 2025 application was due in mid-December, followed by interviews in January.