If you’re a high school student in New Jersey looking to explore STEM beyond the classroom, consider doing a research program. These programs give you hands-on experience in labs, introduce you to research methods, and let you explore fields like biomedical science, computer science, environmental studies, and engineering.
Many of these programs are hosted by top universities, research institutes, and STEM organizations across New Jersey. Whether you want to build robots, study genetics, or tackle climate science, these programs can help you develop skills, make connections, and figure out if a STEM career is right for you.
To help you find the right opportunity, we’ve compiled a list of 15 STEM research programs in New Jersey for high school students!
15 STEM Research Programs in New Jersey (NJ) for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16-20 weeks). Need-based financial aid is available.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Summer Cohort I application deadline is April 13!
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a GPA above 3.6.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs
Cost: $5950 (Financial aid offered).
Location: Virtual
Application Deadlines: Priority: March 23; Regular I: April 20; Regular II: May 18
Program Dates: The cohort starts June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least four weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
3. New Jersey Institute of Technology’s High School Summer Research Internship
Cost: Free
Location: Newark, NJ
Program Dates: June 23 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Open to 10th and 11th graders with a GPA of 3.75+ who are New Jersey students and residents
At the NJIT Provost Summer Research Enterprise, you’ll work on a STEM research project with the guidance of a faculty mentor. You’ll take part in formulating hypotheses, designing experiments, collecting data, and analyzing results. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings on an electronic poster at the Summer Research Symposium, where faculty and researchers will review your work.
You’ll also work alongside undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, giving you a chance to learn how research teams collaborate. The program focuses on practical research skills like data analysis, lab techniques, and technical writing. Whether you’re interested in engineering, data science, or biotechnology, this experience can help you build a strong foundation in research methods and scientific problem-solving.
4. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory High School Summer Internship
Cost: Free
Location: Princeton, NJ
Program Dates: TBD; Please check the website for updates.
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to high school seniors
If you’re interested in plasma physics and fusion energy, the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) internship gives you hands-on research experience. It runs during the school year and summer and connects you with scientists and engineers working in the field.
You’ll take part in experiments, computer simulations, and data analysis, learning how research is done. You’ll also work with PPPL research and engineering teams to see how plasma physics is used in new technology.
5. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
Cost: Free
Location: Princeton, NJ
Program Dates: 5-6 weeks in the Summer.
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Open to students over sixteen enrolled in a US high school with citizenship or permanent resident status
Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program lets you work with faculty and research teams on ongoing projects in biotechnology, environmental science, robotics, and computational modeling. You will get hands-on experience in data analysis, lab techniques, coding, and scientific problem-solving.
Research topics include machine learning for power systems, antibiotic discovery, coral reef conservation, and sustainable chemistry. You will take part in experiments, simulations, and technical research, learning practical skills used in STEM fields. This program is free but highly competitive, with over 700 students applying each year.
6. Liberty Science Center – Partners in Science
Cost: A stipend is offered upon successful completion of the program
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Program Dates: June 25 – August 16
Application Deadline: February 23
Eligibility: Open to rising 11th and 12th graders who will be 16 by July 1.
In the Partners in Science program, you will spend 8 to 10 weeks in a professional research lab, working with a mentor on projects in engineering, biology, chemistry, and environmental science. You will learn how to collect and analyze data, use lab equipment, and apply research methods to real scientific problems.
Throughout the program, you will get hands-on experience with lab techniques and see how research is done in a professional setting. At the end of the program, you will present your findings at a symposium, where you will share your work and get feedback from a professional judge.
7. Rowan University – STEAM Academy Pathfinders
Cost: $4200
Location: Glassboro, NJ
Program Dates: July 6 – 18
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a GPA of 3.5+
Rowan University’s STEAM Academy provides a multidisciplinary experience by combining arts and sciences, which allows you to explore engineering, psychology, education, computer programming, and more. In the mornings, you’ll be taking an accredited Rowan University course while in the afternoons you’ll spend time developing your leadership skills. If you decide to focus on psychology, for example, you will study topics like perception, memory, intelligence, and social behavior. You will be doing research in a track of your choice with a Rowan faculty member through the Pathfinders track. Your analytical skills will sharpen during this experience while you earn college credit. Whether it’s investigating new processes in the brain or coding new software programs, you’ll establish a solid foundation through hands-on opportunities.
8. New Jersey Governor’s School in the Sciences
Cost: Free
Location: Madison, NJ
Program Dates: July 6 – 26
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors residing in New Jersey who are nominated by their school
The New Jersey Governor’s School in the Sciences is a highly selective, residential program for high school students that focuses on STEM. At Drew University, this summer program involves advanced classes in physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. In addition to the coursework, you’ll take part in research projects with teams. While engaging in the experience, you will be able to listen to lectures by scientists and other people involved in STEM careers about discoveries in science. You’ll finish with a symposium where you and your peers will present your research. This helps in readiness. We also sharpen skills in the professional world.
9. Group Summer Scholars Research Program – Kean University
Cost: (4-week session) $2500; (2-week session) $1250
Location: Union, NJ
Program Dates: (4-week session) July 7 – 31; (2-week session) July 21 – 31
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Through Kean University’s Group Summer Scholars Program, you will be able to work on research with faculty mentorship. Whether you take part in the two-week program or the four-week session, you will work on hands-on projects, collaborate with peers, and hone your problem-solving skills through interactive workshops. Research areas include cancer biology, developmental biology, machine learning, scientific computation, and modern drug discovery. Your lab work, seminars, and skills-building activities will create the necessary tools for any future scientist. You will build both your technical skills and critical thinking skills.
10. Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Cost: None. A stipend of $4000 for new participants and $4500 for returning participants.
Location: Lakehurst, NJ
Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have completed grade 9 and will be 16 years old by the start date with US citizenship
The Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) could be a great fit if you are interested in naval science, engineering, or cutting-edge technology. For up to eight weeks, you will work alongside scientists and engineers at the Department of Navy laboratories, with a chance to extend for two more weeks.
You might get placed in labs that focus on oceanography, robotics, behavioral science, astronomy, or applied mathematics. You will help with research projects, learn lab techniques, and see how science is used to solve real-world problems.
11. High School Biomedical Scholars Program at Rowan University
Cost: $1500
Location: Glassboro, NJ
Program Dates: August 4 – 15
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students with a GPA of 3.2+
Rowan University’s High School Biomedical Scholars Program gives you hands-on experience in biomedical research and experimental techniques. The program is divided into two phases. Phase I focuses on molecular and cancer biology, while Phase II covers neuroscience.
You must complete Phase I before moving to the next stage, whether in the same year or a later one. Over two weeks, you will work in university labs alongside faculty and graduate researchers, gaining experience in lab techniques and scientific methods. One of the highlights is working in the Human Gross Anatomy Lab, where you will develop a spatial understanding of human anatomy.
12. Rutgers University’s Waksman Institute Summer Experience (WISE)
Cost: $2200 (in-person); $600 (virtual)
Location: Piscataway, NJ
Program Dates: June 23 – July 3 and July 28 – August 8 (in-person); August 11 – 24 (virtual)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spots fill up
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have completed a biology course
WISE at Rutgers University gives you hands-on experience in bioinformatics and molecular biology research. This commuter program includes lab work, faculty-led seminars, and research assignments. You will use bioinformatics tools to analyze gene fragments and submit DNA sequence data to GenBank.
If you prefer an online format, you can join vWISE, the virtual version of the program. vWISE does not include lab-based training, but you will still work on research-oriented coursework and develop skills in bioinformatics analysis.
13. Seton Hall University’s Giant Leap STEM Program
Cost: $1200
Location: South Orange, NJ
Program Dates: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students in all grades
Seton Hall University’s Giant Leap lets you explore climate science, robotics, and mechanics through hands-on research. You will work with faculty, researchers, and graduate students on projects in areas like weather prediction, electronics, and DNA technologies.
You will see how meteorologists track storms, how forensic scientists analyze DNA, and how engineers use 3D printing. Through experiments and problem-solving, you will develop research skills and get a closer look at how science is applied in real-world settings.
14. Rutgers Health’s Toxicology, Health & Environment Disease (THED) High School Summer Program
Cost: $925
Location: Piscataway, NJ
Program Dates: July 21 – 25; July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors
THED High School Summer Program is for students interested in biomedical research, toxicology, and environmental science. You will study genetics, forensic toxicology, pharmacogenetics, drug disposition, and laboratory ethics while working on experiments and case studies.
You will also explore careers in medicine, pharmacy, and environmental science through discussions with researchers and professionals. To apply, you need to submit your high school transcript and an essay about your interest in biomedical research.
15. The College of New Jersey’s Camp Innovate and Investigate
Cost: $475
Location: Ewing, NJ
Program Dates: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have completed one year of high school math and science
Camp Innovate and Investigate is a free week-long program at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) for high school students interested in biology, physics, chemistry, math, and computer science. You will work with experts to learn microscopy, data analysis, coding, chemical testing, and engineering design through hands-on experiments.
Through lab work and field trips, you will apply statistical modeling, programming for simulations, circuit building, and environmental sampling to real-world problems. You will also visit active research projects, observe trials, and see how scientists use data interpretation, experimental controls, and lab techniques to test ideas and develop solutions.
Image source: Princeton University
