My Streetscape Summer Research Institute

New York

Overview | Program Goals | Program Details | Eligibility | Student Stories

Overview

The My Streetscape Summer Research Institute is an interdisciplinary research program on urban technology and trust organized by the the Center for Smart Streetscapes (CS3). This program is designed for 11th-grade high-school students (rising seniors) from New York City to hone their interests in engineering and the social sciences, regardless of their level of experience or knowledge.

High school students from New York City can apply for this program through the CS3 track of the E.N.G. program at Columbia University.

Students are paid $17.00 per hour for their participation.

The summer 2027 application will open on November 16, 2026. If you are interested in applying for the summer 2027 cohort, please check back on this page or sign up for our newsletter to get notifications on application deadlines.

KEY DATES

Application Opens:
November 16, 2026

Application Closes:
January 15, 2027

Interviews Begin:
February 2, 2027

Decisions Released:
April 30, 2027

Program Dates:
July 7 - August 12, 2027

Conducting cutting-edge engineering research: Students explore projects related to transportation engineering and urban mobility.

Connecting the social sciences with engineering: Our program trains students for "field work" in Harlem, where they conduct interviews with residents and gather data.

Success: Students present their research and findings at the conclusion of six weeks of learning at Columbia University.

Program Goals

Conduct engineering and social science research with faculty, staff, and students, practice new skills, and take part in multi-level mentorship.

Investigate how technology can shape urban life with a focus on trust, safety, privacy, and community needs.

Develop AI tools, improve your coding and data science skills, learn about computer vision and Internet of Things (IoT), explore transportation engineering and urban mobility applications.

Participate in professional development workshops, faculty speaker series, and field trips.

Program Details

Program Dates: July 7 - August 12, 2027
- Week 1: Wednesday - Friday
- Weeks 2 - 6: Monday - Thursday
In-person engineering and social science sessions at Columbia University
Students are paid $17.00 per hour
Student Responsibilities:
- Attend all summer program activities in-person
- Complete assigned research project, final presentation, and report
- Attend a community-facing event that presents students’ research findings and project contributions to the public
- Complete program assessment surveys

Eligibility

Rising high school senior (current 11th graders)
U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents
Interest in engineering and social science research
Must attend a high school located in New York City (strong preference for students at Harlem schools or Harlem residents)

Student Stories

“This program helped me expand on certain aspects of engineering that I didn’t know much about, especially research. Now I know that speaking directly to the community and finding out their perspectives are methods I’d need to use as an engineer.”
— Christopher Grullon

Read article on Columbia Neighbors