About

Computer Science and Informatics Research Experience (CSIRE) at Stony Brook University is a six-week summer research program that immerses high school students in original computational research under the guidance of university faculty and graduate-level mentors. Jointly offered by the Department of Biomedical Informatics (BMI) and the Department of Computer Science within Stony Brook’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, CSIRE is built around active, open-ended projects in fields such as machine learning, data science, biomedical informatics, natural language processing, computer vision, human–computer interaction, and cybersecurity.

Over the six-week session (June 29 – August 7, 2026), participants join active research groups, learning how to frame research questions, write and evaluate code, design and interpret experiments, and effectively communicate findings through technical reports and presentations. Students also attend research talks, career seminars, and lab visits, deepening their understanding of computational research culture and practice while gaining real experience on projects that contribute to ongoing faculty-led research.

CSIRE is open to rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in the United States who have strong programming or data analytics skills; selection is competitive and based on applicants’ preparation and demonstrated interest in research computing. The 2026 application cycle includes an early deadline of February 15 and a final deadline of March 15, 2026. The program fee is $3,300, and while participation does not include formal residential housing, students may choose commuter or virtual options depending on their circumstances and project requirements.

CSIRE provides an early, authentic research apprenticeship in computational science—students work on real, faculty-directed investigations rather than predefined exercises, gaining transferable research skills and experience that can inform subsequent advanced study in computer science and informatics. For students who want to explore computational and biomedical research CSIRE is a rare opportunity to do so at at a major research university.