15 Science Programs for High School Students in New Jersey
If you are a high school student interested in science, a structured program can give you an early look at how ideas from the classroom turn into real work in labs, clinics, and research settings. Enrolling in a science program allows you to run experiments, analyze data, or work through problems that might not have a single correct answer. Many programs also bring in faculty, researchers, or industry professionals, so you get to see how people actually build careers in science. You will additionally work alongside other students who take academics seriously, which influences the pace and depth of discussions.
Why should you attend a science program in New Jersey?
New Jersey offers access to a dense network of universities, research centers, and healthcare institutions that regularly host high school programs. Schools like Princeton University, Rutgers University, and New Jersey Institute of Technology offer programs that connect you directly with labs, faculty, and ongoing research. You will also have access to major research hubs and cities through programs that offer site visits, guest lectures, or industry exposure, which are harder to find in other regions. If you live in New Jersey, these programs are accessible without long travel or housing costs. If you’re coming from outside the state, you get to work in well-equipped facilities and meet students from across the country.
In this blog, we have narrowed down 15 science programs for high school students in New Jersey.
If you’re looking for AI programs in New Jersey, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These programs span biomedical and cancer research (Rutgers RUYES, RITMS, Coriell Summer Experience), molecular biology (Waksman Institute WISE), forensic science (NJIT FSI), biomedical engineering (TCNJ Biomedical Engineering Camp, RISER, Rowan-Virtua Scholars), and broad science research (Princeton Laboratory Learning, Liberty Science Center, Governor's School).
Several programs are free or include stipends, including Liberty Science Center Partners in Science ($1,200 stipend), Rutgers RUYES (stipend provided), Princeton Laboratory Learning Program, RITMS, RISER, and Governor's School of New Jersey in the Sciences.
Many programs are geographically restricted to New Jersey residents or students, including Governor's School (NJ residents only), RISER (South Jersey counties or within 30 minutes of the assigned lab), and Princeton Laboratory Learning (local NJ students with proof of housing).
Most programs culminate in a research symposium, poster presentation, or formal presentation to faculty and peers, giving students experience communicating scientific findings in a professional setting.
Application deadlines are concentrated between January and May, with the earliest being Governor's School (January 8) and Liberty Science Center (January 18), so students should prepare materials during the fall semester.
1. 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 24 – August 22
Application deadline: January 18
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th gradersPartners in Science is an eight-week summer research program for rising high school juniors and seniors, hosted in partnership with Liberty Science Center. You will be matched with a mentor in a field like biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, or physics, and spend most of your time working on a research project at their lab or workplace. The program runs on a full-time schedule, with 35 to 40 hours each week dedicated to research, meetings, and related work. Alongside your lab placement, you will attend professional development sessions at Liberty Science Center and connect with other students in the program. You will also participate in orientation sessions and structured check-ins throughout the summer. The experience ends with a final symposium where you will present your research to mentors, peers, and your school community.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (spring, summer, fall, winter), typically running for 12 – 15 weeks
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment; deadlines vary by cohort: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase accepts previous AI Scholars participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers a range of online programs for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. If you are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science, you can choose the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will learn about data science and AI fundamentals and work on real-world projects. Another track for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. During this program, you will get a chance to work 1-on-1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A key feature of this program is that it offers you access to the in-house publication team to help you get your work published in high school research journals. You can check out examples of a few past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None; some labs may offer a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1–2 students/lab selected out of ~3,500 applications
Dates: Five to six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16, enrolled in a high school, U.S. citizens, and able to provide proof of local housing and transportation in New Jersey
The Laboratory Learning Program is a full-time, in-person summer research program at Princeton University for high school students from local New Jersey schools. You will work on an ongoing research project under the guidance of faculty and research staff. Projects can span areas like biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, and computational modeling. You will contribute to experiments and engage in analysis, following a schedule similar to a working lab. At the end of the program, you will submit a two-page research summary based on your work, getting a clear introduction to how university-level research and scientific writing work.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Science Track
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, spring, fall, and winter. Options range from 12 weeks to a year.
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Students enrolled in high school who demonstrate strong academic performanceThe Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive one-on-one research opportunities across a broad range of subjects that you can explore as a high schooler. The program will pair you with Ph.D. mentors to work one-on-one on a research project. At the end, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose from areas such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, data science, psychology, physics, international relations, economics, and more. You can learn more about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES)
Location: Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Brunswick, NJ
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 4th week – August 25
Application deadline: March 8 (based on previous years)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors who are 16 or older, attend school in New Jersey, and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; undergraduate students can also apply.
RUYES at Rutgers University is a multi-year research program for high school students interested in cancer research and healthcare. You will work in a mentor-led lab for 10 weeks each summer over two years, spending about 35 hours a week on research. During the school year, you will stay involved through monthly sessions focused on professional skills and community work. Seminars will introduce key ideas in cancer research and help you read and understand scientific studies. Each summer will conclude with a research presentation, where you will share your work through a poster and a short talk.
6. Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science (RITMS) Summer Research Program
Location: Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Third week of June – second week of August (8 weeks)
Application deadline: February 1; January 1 for Foreign Nationals
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old at the start date and have a GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or all A’s and B’s in math and science classes
The RITMS Summer Research Program at Rutgers University is an eight-week research experience for high school students interested in science or medicine. You will join a research lab and work within a team, planning experiments and analyzing results. Faculty, scientists, and student mentors will guide you throughout. You will have the opportunity to build communication skills while presenting your work through written reports and presentations. The program will also offer insights to help you choose the right college after high school.
7. Research Immersion in Biomedical Science and Engineering at Rowan (RISER)
Location: Rowan University labs, Glassboro, Stratford, and Camden, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: Nomination form deadline: May 15; Application Packet due within three weeks of receipt
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who live in or attend school in South Jersey (Camden, Cape May, Atlantic, Burlington, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, or Salem counties); non-South Jersey applicants can apply, provided they reside within a 30-minute driving distance to the assigned lab and can regularly participate in in-person lab activities.
The RISER program is a six-week, non-residential research experience that places rising high school seniors at Rowan University labs. Within the assigned biomedical engineering or biomedical sciences lab, you will spend at least 20 hours each week working on guided and independent research. You will have the chance to contribute to experiments under the guidance of laboratory mentors and learn the research methods used in the field. The program culminates in a symposium where you will present your work to faculty and peers.
8. Governor’s School of New Jersey Program in the Sciences
Location: Drew University, Madison, NJ
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~60 scholars annually
Dates: July 12 – August 1
Application deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who live in New Jersey
The Governor’s School of New Jersey in the Sciences is a three-week residential program at Drew University for rising high school seniors nominated by their schools. As a participant, you will engage in college-level coursework across subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and anthropology, selecting multiple core classes that go beyond typical high school material. You will also join a lab course and work in small teams on guided research projects. Additionally, you will attend guest talks by scientists who explain how research connects to real-world careers. The program ends in a conference-style formal presentation where you will share your team’s findings with peers and faculty.
9. Kean University’s Integrative Science and Technology (IST) Group Summer Scholars Research Program (GSSRP)
Location: Kean University, Union, NJ
Cost: $5,000 (four-week session) | $3,000 (two-week session); discounts available on applying before May 1
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 30
Application deadline: May 22 (final payment deadline)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 – 12 with an interest in STEM fields
GSSRP is a two- or four-week program for high school students interested in STEM, hosted by the Integrative Science and Technology department at Kean University. You will work with faculty on research projects in cancer biology, machine learning, bioinformatics, and scientific visualization. You will contribute to lab work, learn computational and molecular techniques, and build technical skills through practical tasks. You will also collaborate with other students, gaining experience in working as part of a research team. This setup can offer you a short but focused introduction to interdisciplinary research across science and technology fields.
10. Waksman Institute Summer Experience (WISE)
Location: Virtual or Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: $2,200 (in-person WISE) | $600 (virtual vWISE)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 2 or July 27 – August 7 (in-person) | August 10 – August 21 (virtual)
Application deadline: Rolling; first-come, first-served enrollment
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one high school–level biology course
WISE is a two-week, non-residential research program at Rutgers University for high school students interested in molecular biology and bioinformatics. As a participant, you will work on a focused research project studying DNA sequences from the aquatic plant Landoltia punctata and compare them with genes from other species. You will also engage in faculty-led seminars during the program. Throughout the two weeks, you will complete assignments and document your findings. Selected DNA sequences will be submitted to GenBank, where published entries will credit you by name, offering you experience contributing to a real scientific database.
11. TCNJ’s Camp Innovate and Investigate
Location: The College of New Jersey campus, Ewing, NJ
Cost: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application deadline: March 31 (priority); rolling admissions thereafter based on available space
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 – 12; applicants must have completed at least one year of high school math and science.
Camp Innovate and Investigate is a one-week pre-college summer program at TCNJ for high school students interested in STEM. You will spend the week participating in hands-on labs and projects across subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, math, and computer science, guided by TCNJ faculty and current students. You will conduct experiments on urban heat and sustainability, attend workshops on hydroponics and environmental impact, and participate in collaborative projects that integrate multiple fields. Site visits and sessions with professionals, along with college prep workshops, are also part of the experience. You will work in teams, present ideas, and engage in discussions that mirror the way interdisciplinary science is approached in real-world settings.
12. Coriell Summer Experience for High School Students
Location: Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Mid-July – mid-August
Application deadline: May 15 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: U.S. residents at least 17 years old with a strong interest in science; applicants must be able to commute to Coriell's facility in Camden.
The Coriell Summer Experience is a four-week, in-person program at Coriell Institute for Medical Research for a small group of high school students interested in biotechnology. You will work in production and research laboratories, under the mentorship of scientists, observing and assisting with processes used in biobanking. You will learn how biological samples are generated, stored, and distributed, and explore techniques in molecular biology and stem cell research. You will rotate through labs focused on DNA extraction, chromosome analysis, and induced pluripotent stem cells. The program also includes weekly scientific seminars led by researchers, along with small-group sessions on resume building and career planning. This setup gives you a close look at how research and lab operations function in a professional biotech environment.
13. Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences: High School Biomedical Scholars Program
Location: Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Stratford, NJ
Cost: $1,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: August 3 – 14
Application deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.2 GPA
The High School Biomedical Scholars Program places you in biomedical labs with faculty and graduate student mentors from the Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences and the School of Osteopathic Medicine. You will learn and practice lab techniques used in biomedical research while working within your mentor’s area of specialization. The program also offers the option to participate in a Human Gross Anatomy Lab or a related alternative activity. Beyond this, you will attend sessions focused on careers in medicine and research, and receive guidance for graduate/medical school prep. The experience will conclude with a closing event where you will connect with faculty and staff across Rowan’s biomedical programs.
14. 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 officially disclosed; typically small cohorts
Dates: July 6 – August 6
Application deadline: Not specified; registration opens in February.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are pre-enrolled in a forensic science course for their senior year, preferably NJIT FRSC 201 for dual credit, and have at least a C in biology, chemistry, and trigonometry
FSI at NJIT is a five-week summer program for rising high school seniors interested in forensic science and STEM careers. You will spend your time on campus working through hands-on modules in forensic biology, forensic chemistry, crime scene investigation, and forensic law. You will engage in various lab-based activities, including exploring simulated crime-scene spaces, as well as engaging in field research across sites in the surrounding metropolitan area. The program also includes college prep sessions, where you will meet with faculty, work on college applications, and prepare for dual enrollment in an introductory forensic science course.
15. The College of New Jersey’s Engineering in Health and Medicine Camp: Biomedical Engineering
Location: The College of New Jersey campus, Ewing, NJ
Cost: $2,000 + $39 non-refundable application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 19 – 24
Application deadline: Rolling; applications open on February 9.
Eligibility: High school students in the top 30% of their class who have completed one year of high school math and scienceThe Biomedical Engineering Summer Camp at TCNJ is a one-week residential program for high school students interested in medical technology and engineering. You stay on campus and work in the college’s biomedical engineering labs and design spaces, guided by faculty and current BME students. You will learn medical imaging, drug delivery, device design, and neural engineering through projects. You will test materials, explore diffusion in biological systems, or design medical devices using CAD tools. Additionally, you will engage in project presentations and connect with biomedical engineers.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best science programs for high school students in New Jersey?
Strong options depend on a student's interests. Students interested in cancer research might consider Rutgers RUYES or RITMS, those drawn to molecular biology might look at Waksman Institute WISE, those interested in forensic science might consider NJIT FSI, and those seeking broad research experience might look at Princeton's Laboratory Learning Program or Liberty Science Center Partners in Science.
Are there free science programs for high school students in New Jersey?
Yes, several programs are free, including Princeton Laboratory Learning Program, RITMS, RISER, and Governor's School of New Jersey in the Sciences. Liberty Science Center Partners in Science is free and also provides a $1,200 stipend, and Rutgers RUYES includes a stipend as well.
Which New Jersey science programs involve genuine lab research rather than classroom instruction?
Princeton's Laboratory Learning Program, Rutgers RUYES, RITMS, RISER, Coriell Summer Experience, and Liberty Science Center Partners in Science all place students in active research labs working alongside faculty and scientists on real ongoing projects.
Are there science programs in New Jersey that focus specifically on biomedical or medical research?
Yes, RITMS, RISER, Rowan-Virtua High School Biomedical Scholars Program, and the TCNJ Biomedical Engineering Camp all focus specifically on biomedical science and engineering, while Rutgers RUYES and Coriell Summer Experience focus on cancer biology and biotechnology respectively.
Do any New Jersey science programs offer college credit or publication opportunities?
Waksman Institute WISE offers the chance to have DNA sequences submitted to GenBank with students credited by name, and NJIT FSI includes preparation for dual enrollment in an introductory forensic science course, while Veritas AI's Fellowship supports students in publishing research in high school journals.
When should I apply to science programs for high school students in New Jersey?
Deadlines vary widely. The earliest include Governor's School (January 8) and Liberty Science Center Partners in Science (January 18), while others like RISER (May 15) and Kean GSSRP (May 22) fall later in the spring.