14 Chemistry Programs for High School Students in New Jersey
If you are a high school student interested in exploring chemistry beyond the classroom, structured programs in the field can be a great next step. Chemistry programs offer exposure to the field, often through projects and laboratory work, allowing you to learn techniques such as synthesis and analysis used in real scientific settings. You will also gain exposure to industry practices through site visits or collaborations with professionals in fields like pharmaceuticals or environmental science.
Why should you attend a program in New Jersey?
New Jersey is home to universities and organizations, such as Princeton, NJIT, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Rutgers, which offer STEM learning opportunities to high school students. Here, you will find programs focused on medicinal chemistry, forensic science, and molecular biology, where you can explore projects such as synthesizing molecules, analyzing DNA sequences, or conducting forensic investigations. Whether you are a local or out-of-state student, these New Jersey programs can be accessible and practical ways to build chemistry skills
To help you find suitable options, we have narrowed down 14 chemistry programs for high school students in New Jersey.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Five to six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old, who are enrolled in a local NJ high school, are U.S. citizens, and are able to provide proof of local housing and transportation
This is a full-time, in-person research experience at Princeton University, where you get to work with faculty and research staff on active projects in the natural sciences, including chemistry. Projects may involve investigating chiral protein microenvironments, computational modeling of copper-binding proteins, or photoredox-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, allowing you to engage in ongoing laboratory work. You will follow a customized schedule set by the department, complete safety training before starting experiments, and adhere to university policies. At the program’s end, you will submit a two-page research summary detailing your findings.
2. Veritas AI: AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Vary by cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students passionate about AI with a supportive environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI Scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Liberty Science Center Partners in Science
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ + labs in NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free + $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application deadline: January 18
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Partners in Science pairs high schoolers with mentors in science, health, or technical fields for an intensive lab-based summer program at Liberty Science Center. You will work closely with your mentor in their lab and contribute to ongoing research and independent projects in areas like physics or chemistry. The experience exposes you to current scientific questions and methods. You will work on your project for 25 to 40 hours over seven to eight weeks, and present your work at the end of the program. You will also attend professional development sessions at the Liberty Science Center during the program.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Chemistry Track
Location: Virtual!
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions, including summer, spring, fall, and winter cohorts, are scheduled each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
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 chemistry, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. Project SEED @ Rider University
Location: Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJStipend: $2,500Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specifiedDates: Six to eight weeks during the summerApplication deadline: Typically, April (dates vary by year)Eligibility: Economically disadvantaged high school juniors and seniors who have excelled in at least one chemistry course; applicant’s family income must be at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
Project SEED, a paid internship run by the American Chemical Society, allows high schoolers to conduct guided chemistry research in an academic laboratory. Rider University is one of the universities that hosts this program for economically disadvantaged students. You will work for 6 to 8 weeks on a scholarly project alongside professors and undergraduate researchers. You will tour chemical and pharmaceutical companies, including Bristol-Myers Squibb and the New Jersey State Forensic Laboratory. You will also present your research at local and national levels. The program offers college counseling and emphasizes career development in the natural sciences.
6. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various labs across the country, including the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in NJ
Stipend: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Cohort size: Around 300/year across the U.S. (NJ-specific numbers not available)
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Application deadline: November 1; applications open on August 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9 and are 16 years old or older; labs may have additional requirements
SEAP is a paid apprenticeship that places high school students in naval research labs. Over 8 to 10 weeks, you will explore naval science and engineering under expert mentorship in an advanced lab. You will contribute to research projects spanning STEM disciplines, including chemistry, and learn about potential careers in naval research and technology. The program also offers professional development opportunities, including shadowing and connecting with researchers and other professionals. At the New Jersey site, you will work with the lab staff on Naval projects, tests, experiments, evaluations, and tool development.
7. New Jersey Governor’s School in the Sciences @ Drew University
Location: Drew University, Madison, NJ
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 12 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are New Jersey residents with primarily "A" grades in honors math and science and 90th+ percentile standardized test scores
This free program allows you to immerse yourself in college-level research and live on campus at Drew University, while exploring various sciences, including chemistry. You will collaborate with peers on projects and attend seminars to broaden your knowledge. The program is designed to introduce you to scientific inquiry. You will attend events like Career Day to connect with alumni and professionals who will share insights into research and STEM careers. You will also present your projects to peers and faculty.
8. Stevens Institute Medicinal Chemistry Pre-College Program
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $3,350; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 11
Application deadline: Priority: March 16; Final: June 1
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This one-week pre-college program allows you to explore the discovery and design of medicinal drugs while living on campus at Stevens Institute of Technology. You will learn basic organic chemistry techniques, conduct literature searches, and use molecular modeling tools, thereby developing an understanding of medicinal chemistry research. You will apply green chemistry methods to synthesize compounds like aspirin and present your results. The program includes hands-on lab work in a college environment, along with college prep workshops and campus activities.
9. NJIT JumpAhead in Chemistry
Location: NJIT Newark campus, Newark, NJ
Cost: $50 registration + $1,000 tuition; some financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 30
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors preparing for high school or college chemistry
NJIT’s JumpAhead in Chemistry program allows you to enroll in a non-credit summer course that focuses on fundamental chemistry principles through a thematic curriculum addressing real-world problems. The program aligns with Next Generation Science Standards and NJIT's freshman chemistry syllabus, incorporating hands-on lab work. You will participate in daily sessions that include lunch, recreation, and field research related to the topics you are studying. A dedicated NJIT chemistry professor will lead the instruction. This structure helps you prepare for high school or college chemistry coursework.
10. TCNJ Camp Innovate and Investigate
Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Cost: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – July 24
Application deadline: Priority: March 15; rolling admissions thereafter till spots are full.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 – 12 with one year of high school math and science completed; application requires a 250-word statement and a teacher recommendation
During this pre-college summer camp at The College of New Jersey, you participate in hands-on experiments at the intersection of math, physics, computer science, biology, and chemistry. You will engage in interactive lab sessions and collaborative projects to explore various STEM topics. The program includes college prep workshops on applications, personal statements, and career skills. You will work on sustainability projects, such as designing initiatives with a bioPharmaceutical partner company or exploring urban heat effects. Faculty and students from TCNJ will guide you through real-world research activities.
11. Rutgers LEEDAR Summer Research Program
Location: Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Six to eight weeks (typically, end of June – mid-August); dates are set based on the supervising professor’s availability.
Application deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors interested in chemistry and scientific research
This summer program allows you to engage in a hands-on research experience in the chemistry department at Rutgers University, working one-on-one with a college professor on a specific project. As a participant, you will gain insight into scientific research processes while engaging in laboratory work over several weeks. The experience can help you gain lab experience and a preview of college-level chemistry. You will also see how chemistry research can help solve real problems.
12. New Jersey City University STEAM Academy
Location: New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: $600 for new participants | $400 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots for new students
Dates: June 29 – July 30
Application deadline: April 3
Eligibility: High-achieving 7th – 11th graders; high school students are eligible for college credit.
The NJCU STEAM Academy is a five-week summer program for middle and high schoolers who want to explore STEAM fields beyond the standard school curriculum. You will engage in labs, projects, and pre-college-level coursework to dive into biology, chemistry, physics, algebra, calculus, computer science, and the humanities. NJCU students and alumni will work closely with you as teachers and teaching assistants, offering mentorship and guidance throughout the program. As a participant, you can also choose to earn college credit for general education courses in the NJCU Undergraduate Academic Catalogue. The program ends with a capstone presentation where you will showcase your projects.
13. NJIT Forensic Science Initiative (FSI)
Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Newark, NJ
Cost: $1,550 tuition + $50 registration fee; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – August 6
Application deadline: Not specified; registration opens in February.
Eligibility: Rising seniors who will take either NJIT FRSC 201 Introduction to Forensic Science for dual credit or high school forensics courses in their senior year
This program allows you to explore forensic science through hands-on activities in biology, chemistry, law, and crime scene investigation at NJIT. You will work in labs, engage in collaborative and independent exercises, and conduct field research, building technical skills in DNA analysis, processing biological evidence, drug analysis, toxicology, chemical evidence examination, evidence collection, documentation, and preservation techniques. The program is designed to prepare you for STEM careers by linking forensics to college-level work.
14. Rutgers Prep’s Summer School Chemistry with Lab Course
Location: Rutgers Preparatory School campus, Somerset, NJ
Cost: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 24 – July 26
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 – 12 with at least one year of high school science and a B or higher grade in science class
In this summer course at Rutgers Preparatory School, you will study basic principles of chemistry, focusing on applications and problem-solving rather than memorization. You will explore topics such as atomic structure, gas laws, chemical equilibrium, and stoichiometry, and engage in lab experiences to reinforce concepts. You will complete two to three hours of homework every day and take multiple tests weekly to test your progress. The five-week session equals a full year of high school coursework.
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