If you are a high school student in New Jersey interested in exploring research, consider participating in a research program! New Jersey is home to many universities and organizations that offer high schoolers research experiences through programs, camps, and immersions.
A research program typically allows you to work on an individual or group project under the guidance of experts. Throughout the program, you can expect to learn how to investigate new and existing theories, conduct experiments and surveys, analyze data, derive results, and present your findings. In the process, you will also develop investigation, communication, critical thinking, collaboration, data collection, analysis, and problem-solving skills.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, here are 13 summer research programs for high school students in New Jersey.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Subject areas: Computational Neuroscience, Machine Learning, Fluid Dynamics, Mathematics, International Relations, and more
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
HARP is a trimester-long research program that offers you a chance to come up with a college-level research project. You can choose from a wide range of subject areas and topics, including data science, machine learning, cybersecurity, psychology, neuroscience, international relations, political theory, and more! HARP offers you the chance to choose between quantitative and qualitative research—something not many other high school programs do.
Once you choose a topic and type of research, you will be paired with a mentor, who will be a professor or PhD scholar from a reputable university. Following this, you will work on your research project, drafting a 20-page university-level research paper that may be sent to journals for publication. This is a good opportunity to explore a niche subject under the guidance of an expert. At the end of the session, you will get a letter of recommendation along with project feedback, which you can use for future assignments and college applications. You can find out more about the research experience here!
2. The College of New Jersey’s Camp Innovate and Investigate
Subject areas: Mathematics, Computer Science, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry
Location: Science Complex at The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Cost: None
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application deadline: April 19
Program dates: July 15 – 19
Camp Innovate and Investigate is a free week-long program held at the TCNJ campus. You will learn about STEM fields and related research from industry experts, camp activities, and field trips. You will also get to engage with ongoing research and explore the real-world impact of research and experiments in solving problems. Throughout the program, you will work in laboratories and conduct hands-on experiments. You will also learn about research at the frontier of math, biology, chemistry, computer science, and physics.
3. Veritas AI: AI Scholars & AI Fellowship programs
Subject areas: AI, Programming, Machine Learning, Data Science, Medicine, Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI offers multiple programs, from small-group AI learning experiences to personalized project pathways with a 1-on-1 mentorship component. The programs have been developed by Harvard graduate students and alumni. If you are applying to the AI Scholars program, you will get to work with PhD students from top institutions. During the program, you will learn how to use Python while exploring fundamentals of machine learning, AI, and data science, such as neural networks, natural language processing, as well as regression. This experience will help you understand the basics of AI while working on real-world projects.
The AI Fellowship program also has a mentorship component, which can help you create a unique project. In the past, students have worked on interdisciplinary projects that use AI and sports, finance, medicine, environmental science, mental health, and more. You can check out past years’ projects here.
4. High School Biomedical Scholars Program at Rowan University
Subject areas: Biomedical Sciences, Molecular and Cancer Biology, Neuroscience
Location: Rowan University, Stratford, NJ
Cost: $1,500
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum GPA of 3.2
Application deadline: April 1
Program dates:
- Phase I (molecular biology and cancer biology): July 29 – August 9
- Phase II (neuroscience) runs from August 12 – 23
Rowan University’s High School Biomedical Scholars Program is a two-week opportunity to learn about the techniques and experiments used to conduct biomedical research. There are two phases to the program: Phase I focuses on molecular and cancer biology, and Phase II focuses on neuroscience. To participate in Phase II, you must have completed Phase I, either in the past year or the current year.
The program offers an opportunity to participate in the Human Gross Anatomy Lab, which can help you develop a three-dimensional understanding of the human body. During the program, you will work alongside university faculty and graduate students in laboratories, learn about biomedical disciplines and career paths in medicine and research, and get college admission advice.
5. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
Subject areas: Engineering, including Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Computer, Civil, and Environmental, Genomics, Chemistry, Geoscience, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16 and 18 who live in New Jersey or Pennsylvania (within a 50-mile radius of Princeton University) | Check the detailed eligibility criteria here before applying
Application deadline: March 15
Program dates: 5-6 weeks in the summer, exact dates vary by research project
The Laboratory Learning Program is structured like a research internship. During the program, you will work in laboratories under the supervision and guidance of Princeton faculty and research staff. While applying, you can mention two areas of interest in the broad fields of engineering and natural sciences. Each project or research opportunity assigns its own student responsibilities and has unique requirements. For example, if you choose the topic Novel Proteins with Novel Functions project, you should have completed basic courses in chemistry and biology in school.
You will engage in experiments and help with an ongoing investigation, performing tasks like collecting and analyzing data, conducting a literature review, recording results/experiments, and imaging samples using a microscope. At the end of the program, you are required to submit a two-page research summary of your summer project.
6. Governor’s School of New Jersey in Engineering & Technology at Rutgers University
Subject areas: Engineering, Technology
Location: Rutgers University School of Engineering, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: None
Eligibility: New Jersey high school juniors who have taken honors math and science classes. Students need to be nominated by their schools
Application deadline: January 12
Program dates: July 1 – 25
The Governor’s School of New Jersey in Engineering & Technology is a free program in which you get to take four academic courses and engage in research. The program is selective, as high schools can nominate only one student for every 325 members of their junior class. Of the nominated applicants, less than 100 are admitted. If selected, you will attend core classes like robotics and physics and choose elective courses like material science, game design, micro- and nanofabrication, introductory electronics for robotics, and more.
You will also work in groups of three or four on a small research project under the mentorship of experts in academia or industry. You will come up with a conference-style research paper and present its results along with your group members. Previously, students have worked on research topics like the Creation and Analysis of a Hybrid Wind Turbine and the Fabrication and Characterization of Polymeric Sutures and Brain Stents. The program includes field trips to corporations, college preparatory Q&A sessions, and guest speaker sessions.
7. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Subject areas: Plasma Physics, Fusion Energy
Location: Remote and in-person Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ (commuter)
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A stipend is offered, but details regarding the amount are not available
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are at least 16 years old and preferably have some experience working on a plasma physics project and are familiar with coding/computer languages and/or computer-aided design
Application deadline: March 1
Program dates: The program usually runs for 8–10 weeks in the summer after high school graduation. Dates depend on your school schedule; some internships may run during school semesters
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s internship program offers graduating high schoolers the chance to work on a project alongside a member of the laboratory’s research or engineering staff. If selected, you will work on an experimental or computational plasma physics project and learn about key aspects of plasma physics, fusion energy, and related fields, helping you explore these complex subjects. You will be expected to work 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday. This experience is a good opportunity to get hands-on experience in research and lab work before beginning your undergraduate studies.
8. Rutgers University’s Waksman Institute Summer Experience (WISE)
Subject areas: Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics
Location: Waksman Institute on the Busch campus of Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ and online
Cost: $2,200 for in-person, $750 for virtual
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a biology course
Application deadline: Rolling admissions, applications open on January 1
Program dates: Multiple two-week sessions in June, July, and August
WISE, offered by Rutgers University, is a commuter program that allows high schoolers to engage in research projects in the fields of bioinformatics and molecular biology. During the program, you will participate in seminars conducted by university faculty, attend laboratory sessions, work on assignments, and share your findings. You will analyze gene fragments using bioinformatic tools and submit your DNA sequence analyses for publication on GenBank, an international repository of DNA sequences. Alternatively, you can opt for for the online version of the program, called virtual Waksman Institute Summer Experience (or vWISE). This format does not come with laboratory training and experiments.
9. Hackensack Meridian’s Medical Internship Navigating Diversity and Science (M.I.N.D.S)
Subject areas: Medicine, Healthcare, Public Health
Location: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Students receive a stipend
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and belong to backgrounds that are underrepresented in medicine or financially disadvantaged
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: TBA, 6 weeks in the summer
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine’s M.I.N.D.S. program is a six-week research internship for students interested in exploring healthcare and medical fields. During the program, you will learn about career paths in medicine and social determinants of health. You will work on a hands-on research project about health disparities in New Jersey. You will receive a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)/BLS (basic life support) certification, SAT prep guidance, and opportunities to attend medical simulations and visit hospitals and healthcare centers. This paid internship is a chance to learn from medical professionals and hone the basic skills required for pursuing a career in healthcare or medicine.
10. Kean University’s Group Summer Scholars Research Program
Subject areas: Cancer Biology, Scientific Computation, Developmental Biology, Machine Learning
Location: Kean University, Union, NJ
Cost: $950 for the two-week session, $1,950 for the four-week session. Financial aid is available, you can check the eligibility criteria here
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application deadline: March 8
Program dates:
- Two-week session: July 22 – August 1
- Four-week session: July 8 – August 1
The Group Summer Scholars Research Program offers high schoolers a chance to engage in research in STEM fields alongside professional researchers and Kean University faculty. Over two or four weeks (depending on the duration you choose), you will get to explore fields like cancer biology, developmental biology, machine learning, scientific computation, and modern drug discovery. You will work on a research project along with other program participants and under the supervision of university faculty and graduate student mentors. You can explore the research streams to know what to expect from future sessions. Additionally, professional skills workshops, instrumentation demos, and guidance regarding college and career paths are included in the program.
11. Seton Hall University’s Giant Leap STEM Program
Subject areas: Robotics, Environmental Sciences, Mechanics, and Electronics
Location: Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
Cost: $1,200. Financial aid is available
Eligibility: High school students
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Program dates: July 8 – 12
Seton Hall University’s Giant Leap is a workshop-based STEM program for high school students interested in learning about scientific research. You will be placed in a small group of participants and will work alongside university faculty, researchers, and graduate students on research projects. While the project might be assigned based on your interests, the program focuses on three topics: weather and climate sustainability, robotics and electronics, and mechanics. Through workshops on these topics, you will learn about weather predictions, changes in the atmosphere, types of severe weather conditions, the role of DNA technology in forensic science, 3D printing basics, and fundamental physics, among other topics.
12. Rutgers Health’s Toxicology, Health & Environmental Disease (THED) High School Summer Program
Subject areas: Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, Toxicology, Environmental Sciences
Location: Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute at Rutgers Busch Campus, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: $900. Some need-based aid may be available
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have preferably completed at least one biology course
Application deadline: March 15
Program dates: July 15 – 19 | July 22 – 26
The THED High School Summer Program is an opportunity for high schoolers interested in environmental and biomedical sciences. During the program, you will learn about laboratory ethics, genetics, pharmacogenetics, experimental design, drug disposition, and forensic toxicology through various activities. You will also explore career paths in the fields of biomedical research, medicine, toxicology, pharmacy, and environmental science. To apply, you have to submit your high school transcript and an essay on why you’re interested in biomedicine research.
13. New Jersey Scholars Program
Subject areas: History, Music, Art, Architecture, Literature, and Theater
Location: The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ
Cost: None
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in New Jersey who claim residency in the state, schools submit applications on behalf of students
Application deadline: January 8
Program dates: June 23 – July 26
The New Jersey Scholars Program is a five-week learning opportunity for high school students to engage in college-level studies. Here, you will learn from the faculty of universities such as Johns Hopkins, MIT, Harvard, and more. You will attend lectures and seminars across disciplines, write essays, and engage in research during the program. You will work with a faculty member to come up with a 10- to 15-page interdisciplinary research paper. The program focuses on the art, music, writing, drama, and public speaking abilities of students, so you will get to contribute to an Arts Festival related to the program topic. The program’s theme changes every two years. Previously, the topic was Wartime Cultures: Knowledge and Art in Conflict and the Aftermath. You can check out past topics here.
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