Jumpstart

Jumpstart students posing in the auditorium. There are several pictures compiled into a gif.

Applications for Jumpstart 2026 are OPEN. Applications are due on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 11:59pm Eastern Time. No exceptions will be made to accommodate late applications. Letters of Recommendation are due on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Jumpstart is a scientific research skills building program taking place across the spring and summer, and is designed for juniors and seniors attending high school in New York City.

Jumpstart 2026: Program at a Glance

 

  • Combined after-school and summer hands-on research program to take place on campus at The Rockefeller University
  • After-school portion meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30pm – 7pm; February 26 – June 11, 2026
    • The after-school portion includes building molecular biology laboratory skills, becoming acquainted with scientific research spaces, developing and nurturing scientific curiosities, and more.
  • Jumpstart students then move into the Summer Science Research Program (SSRP), which requires up to 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday, June 22 – August 6, 2026
    • The summer portion includes mentored hands-on laboratory research where the scientific questions are motivated by student interests
  • Must be a high school junior or senior (aged 16+ at program start) enrolled in a NYC High School, and must commit to participate in the entire program
  • Students who have had limited access to, or have been excluded from adequate STEM opportunities are strongly encouraged to apply

Program Overview

 

RockEDU’s Jumpstart program supports 16 high school students attending NYC schools in a combined after-school and summer hands-on laboratory research experience. The Jumpstart program takes place across two phases, spanning March through August. In the first phase students will work on campus after school (5 hours per week), and in the second phase students will work on campus full-time (~35 hours per week). The 2026 Jumpstart session will take place in person, and is designed to promote the development of scientific thinking and research skills through a variety of talks, workshops, and individual mentorship. The Jumpstart program is a unit within the New York City Science Research Mentoring Consortium (NYC SRMC), and is supported by the Pinkerton Foundation. 

Students without prior research experience and/or have been excluded from adequate STEM opportunities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional Program Details

 

Phase One (Spring Session): Our Spring after-school sessions meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30pm — 7pm, February 26 through June 11, 2026. Students will be encouraged to develop and ask questions pertaining to scientific research, gain exposure to research skills and primary literature, and connect with dedicated scientist-mentors at The Rockefeller University.

Jumpstart is facilitated by Rockefeller trainees, with support from RockEDU staff. Furthermore, each student is paired with a Jumpstart Advocate — a practicing scientist who can provide educational and professional support beyond the mentorship each student receives in the laboratory.

Phase Two (Summer Session / SSRP): During the summer session, Jumpstart students move into the SSRP, spending up to 35 hours per week, June 22 through August 6, 2026. Students will be assigned to an SSRP research team consisting of other Jumpstart students as well as new students (global). All students will learn the foundations and experimental techniques necessary to carry out a research project.

Learn more about the summer component of this program (SSRP).

Application Process

 

Step 1: Complete the online application. Applications are due on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 11:59pm Eastern Time. No exceptions will be made to accommodate late applications. Letters of Recommendation are due on Monday, January 5, 2026. The official Jumpstart application can be found here. 

Step 2: Selected Jumpstart applicants will be invited for an interview, to take place over Zoom. Students will be notified in February if they are accepted to Jumpstart.

Eligibility and Expectations

 

To be eligible for Jumpstart participation, students must be enrolled as a junior or senior in an NYC high school and be at least 16 years old at the start of the program.

Students accepted into the Jumpstart program must commit to participating for the entirety of the program — this includes both the spring after-school and summer portions. We cannot accommodate part time participation. Please be aware: students are prohibited from using any aspect of work performed during Jumpstart or SSRP for science competition submissions.