12 Biology Programs for High School Students in New Jersey
If you are interested in biology and want to explore it beyond your regular classes, structured programs can give you deeper academic exposure. Through these programs, you can learn laboratory techniques, analyze data, and engage with scientific questions across healthcare, biotechnology, environmental science, and biomedical research. You can also begin building research experience, professional connections, and subject-specific skills that support your future college and career goals.
Why should you attend a program in New Jersey?
New Jersey is home to several universities, research institutes, and science organizations that offer biology and life science programs for high school students. In these programs, you may participate in laboratory research, biotechnology training, biomedical investigations, environmental or molecular biology projects, scientific seminars, and research presentations under faculty supervision. Whether you already live in the state or are considering traveling, you can find programs in New Jersey that align with your interests in biology and related fields.
To help with your search, we’ve narrowed our list to 12 biology programs for high school students in New Jersey.
If you are looking for free programs in New Jersey, check out our blog here.
1. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Multiple US States with students placed within a 45-minute commute from their homes
Stipend: $3,000 as stipend
Application Deadline: November 21 – January 25
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer with flexible start and end dates
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; 16 years old by internship start date
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid internship for students interested in fisheries and aquatic science. As a participant, you are paired with a local professional mentor and may be involved in fieldwork, laboratory research, data analysis, or community-based projects. Activities may include electrofishing, water quality monitoring, or habitat restoration. Throughout the program, you develop hands-on skills while learning about careers related to aquatic and environmental sciences.
2. Veritas AI's AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Multiple rolling deadlines. You can apply to the program here.
Dates: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience.
Veritas AI is an artificial intelligence program designed for high school students and led by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine track, you explore how AI and machine learning are applied within healthcare settings. The program includes project-based learning focused on medical diagnostics and clinical applications. You work with AI models to analyze medical images, enhance scan quality, and interpret results. These projects emphasize how AI tools can support decision-making for healthcare professionals and patients.
3. Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES)
Location: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Application Deadline: November 4 - March 8
Dates: 4th week of June - August 25
Eligibility: Rising high school junior/senior attending a school in New Jersey
The Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES) program focuses on introducing students to cancer research and healthcare pathways. You participate in mentored laboratory research under faculty supervision. The program includes two consecutive summers of research, each lasting ten weeks at approximately 35 hours per week. You receive hands-on training in modern cancer research methods. Academic components include seminars focused on cancer biology and research literature. You are preparing a research poster and a 10-minute presentation for an annual research event.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Biology Track
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies as per program
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply here
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4). No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
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. 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.
5. Liberty Science Center’s Partners in Science
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Stipend: Participants receive a stipend
Application Deadline: January 18
Dates: June 30 - August 22
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Liberty Science Center’s Partners in Science is an eight-week summer research program for rising high school juniors and seniors. You are paired with a mentor in a science, health, or technical field. The program places you in college or university research environments. You participate in authentic scientific research that extends beyond classroom-based laboratory work. Learning focuses on scientific inquiry and current research questions. Students who successfully complete the program receive a stipend.
6. Coriell Summer Experience for High School Students
Location: Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 15
Dates: 4 weeks from mid-July to mid-August
Eligibility: Students who are at least 17 years old by July 1
The Coriell Summer Experience for High School Students provides a four-week introduction to biotechnology operations. You work alongside professionals in production laboratories and biobanking environments. The program includes hands-on exposure to sample processing techniques. You may learn about induced pluripotent stem cells and observe karyotyping procedures. Molecular biology lab activities introduce DNA extraction methods. Weekly research seminars and career preparation sessions are included.
7. The Waksman Institute Summer Experience (WISE)
Location: Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, NJ / Virtual
Cost: $2,200 (in-person) | $600 (virtual)
Application Deadline: First come first serve basis
Dates: June 22 - July 2 | July 27 - August 7 (In-person program), August 10 - August 21 (virtual program)
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12 who have completed a high school-level biology course
The Waksman Institute Summer Experience is a two-week in-person program for high school students. You conduct research that combines molecular biology techniques with bioinformatics analysis. Daily seminars introduce scientific concepts related to gene structure and function. Laboratory sessions involve purifying and analyzing DNA fragments, using professional bioinformatics platforms to analyze gene sequences. Completed analyses are prepared for submission to the GenBank database.
8. Toxicology, Health & Environmental Disease (THED) High School Summer Program
Location: Environmental & Occupational Health Science Institute, Rutgers University, NJ
Cost: $975
Application Deadline: January 5 - March 2
Dates: Session 1: July 20 - July 24, Session 2: July 27 - July 31
Eligibility: Students entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in the fall who have completed at least one high school biology course before attending
The Toxicology, Health & Environmental Disease (THED) High School Summer Program is an intensive training-based experience. You participate in structured sessions covering laboratory ethics and experimental design. The program introduces concepts in genetics, pharmacogenetics, and drug disposition. Instruction also includes clinical toxicology topics. Career discussions explore fields such as medicine, pharmacy, environmental science, and biomedical research. The program focuses on foundational laboratory techniques rather than independent research.
9. Kean University Group Summer Scholars Research Program
Location: Kean University, NJ
Cost: $1,500 - $5,000 (depends on duration of the program and time of application)
Application Deadline: March 6
Dates: 4 Week Session: July 6 – July 30, 2 Week Session: July 20 – July 30
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Kean University Group Summer Scholars Research Program offers an immersive research experience for students interested in STEM fields. You work collaboratively with faculty and research staff on projects in areas such as scientific computation, cancer biology, machine learning, and drug discovery. The program emphasizes hands-on research conducted within team-based settings. You develop technical and analytical skills through active participation in research activities. Professional development components include skills workshops and instrumentation demonstrations. Guidance on college preparation and STEM career pathways is integrated into the program.
10. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) - Virtual Program
Location: Virtual/ in-person/ hybrid
Cost/Stipend: $1,299 + $25 application fee
Dates: June 18 - August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old at the start of the internship
ASSIP’s virtual program provides structured research exposure across multiple STEM disciplines. You collaborate individually with faculty mentors on research projects. The experience emphasizes hands-on learning through modern research tools and technologies. You develop scientific communication and writing skills throughout the program. You can explore fields such as biology, bioengineering, and disease diagnostics, among others. The program offers the opportunity to earn three college credits from George Mason University.
11. Stanford EXPLORE (Virtual Program)
Location: Virtual/ in-person
Cost: $600/week
Dates: July 6 – July 31
Application Deadline: Registrations open on March 1
Eligibility: Students currently in 9th-12th grade
Stanford EXPLORE is a lecture-based program focused on research areas within the Stanford School of Medicine. You attend academic-style lectures on topics including immunology, neuroscience, cancer biology, and bioengineering. Sessions are taught by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and select faculty members. The program emphasizes exposure to college-level instruction formats. You learn both foundational concepts and current research applications. The series also introduces educational pathways in graduate and medical training.
12. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) - Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 + $45 application fee
Dates: Session A: June 15 - June 26 | Session B: July 6 -July 17
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Students entering 9-12 grade in the fall, over the age of 14 by the start of the program
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program that explores artificial intelligence in healthcare. You participate in introductory and technical lectures covering AI fundamentals in medical applications. The program includes mentored research project work conducted in group settings. You engage with Stanford student leads and researchers throughout the internship. Scheduled sessions feature expert talks from professionals across academia, industry, government, and the nonprofit sector. Participants who complete the full program receive a Certificate of Completion.
Image source - Lumiere Education