10 Summer Research Programs for High School Students in New Jersey
Participating in a summer research program can be a valuable experience for high schoolers. These programs provide an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, collaborate with experts, and explore fields such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences. Besides enriching your understanding of a specific subject, these experiences are also strong additions to college applications, CVs, or personal statements, showcasing a commitment to academic growth and intellectual curiosity! Additionally, they offer exposure to potential career paths and research methodologies that are crucial for success in higher education and beyond.
Here’s our curated list of 10 summer research programs for high school students in New Jersey.
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 PhD 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.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
Students must 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!
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June
The Rutgers Summer Scholars Program provides high school students with a chance to experience college-level coursework and research. With access to over 20 fields of study, you can dive into areas such as psychology, engineering, biomedical sciences, or even digital filmmaking. The program is structured to give you insight into what university life is like while also honing research and analytical skills that will be essential in college and beyond. You can earn up to six transferable college credits during the program, giving you an academic advantage before starting your undergraduate journey!
You will attend lectures, participate in hands-on lab work, and work closely with Rutgers faculty to understand the practical applications of theoretical knowledge. The program encourages critical thinking and allows you to take on research topics of interest, culminating in a final project that showcases your findings.
Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Program Dates: Typically from May to August
Cost: Varies by course ($441 – $505 per credit) + $162 student fee
Application Deadline: May 17, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or have a valid visa with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Partners in Science program offers students the opportunity to work directly alongside professional scientists and researchers in authentic lab environments. After being matched with a mentor, you’ll spend 8-10 weeks conducting research, learning advanced lab techniques and research protocols. Each week includes laboratory work, data collection, and analysis. The symposium presentation at the end will help sharpen public speaking skills and offer exposure to professional critique.
Research projects span across various fields, from environmental science and biology to engineering and chemistry. You will have access to sophisticated lab equipment and conduct research that could impact real-world scientific questions.
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Program Dates: June 27 – August 24, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: Participants receive a $1,000 stipend (a valid Social Security Number is required)
Application Deadline: February 25, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th grade students who will be 16 years old by July 1
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, 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 and the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar from a reputed university 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.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2025 for the summer cohort (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates:
Summer seminar: June 24 – September 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 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 few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Rowan University’s STEAM Academy brings together the arts and sciences in an innovative, interdisciplinary program designed for students with diverse academic interests. The Pathfinders program for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors is an intensive research program. You can choose to focus on areas such as psychology, computer programming, education, or engineering. You will receive college credit for participating.
Pathfinders gives you the chance to conduct research in a field that interests you with the mentorship of a Rowan faculty member. In the mornings, you will take an accredited Rowan University course, and in the afternoons, you’ll participate in leadership development sessions. The psychology course will introduce you to topics such as memory, perception, intelligence, and social psychology. ‘Engineers of the Future’ allows you to work on multidisciplinary engineering projects while learning about sustainability in the field.
Location: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Program Dates: July 6 – 18, 2025
Cost: $4,200
Application Deadline: Applications for 2025 will open in December 2024
Eligibility: Students entering 10th through 12th grades
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. In the research internship program, you’ll work one-on-one with a research mentor, a writing coach, and a publication specialist to prepare a research paper that you can submit for publication.
Interns are also offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: $2,490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) High School Summer Internship offers high school students a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research in plasma physics and fusion energy. The program includes hands-on research projects under the guidance of PPPL scientists and engineers. This program is for graduating high school seniors who want to get some physics laboratory experience before starting college. It is recommended that applicants have experience in experimental or computational plasma physics projects, coding languages, and computer-aided design.
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates: Usually 8-10 weeks in the summer
Cost: No information available. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the lab
The New Jersey Governor’s School in the Sciences is a prestigious residential summer program aimed at high-achieving high school students with a passion for STEM. Held at Drew University, it gives you the opportunity to take advanced classes in subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science. You will also engage in team research projects, attend lectures from scientists and experts, and explore STEM career pathways. The program concludes with a symposium where you’ll present your research findings.
Location: Drew University, Madison, NJ
Program Dates: July 7 – 27, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: Free (tuition covered by the state)
Application Deadline: Typically in January
Eligibility: High school juniors resident in New Jersey who are nominated by their high school
Designed for high school students passionate about STEM, the Group Summer Scholars Program offers an opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research alongside esteemed Kean faculty. Whether you choose the comprehensive 4-week session or the focused 2-week experience, you'll participate in hands-on projects, collaborative research initiatives, and interactive workshops that foster critical thinking and innovation.
You can choose from projects in Scientific Computation, Cancer Biology, Machine Learning, Developmental Biology, and Modern Drug Discovery.
You’ll work closely with Kean University faculty and graduate students, gaining practical experience and developing critical skills in your chosen field. The program includes a combination of laboratory work, interactive seminars, and specialized workshops designed to enhance both technical and soft skills.
Location: Kean University, Union, NJ
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12
Application Deadline: March 8, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were offered in 2024:
4 Week Session: July 8 – August 1, 2024
2 Week Session: July 22 – August 1, 2024
Cost:
2 Week Session: $950
4 Week Session: $1,950
The Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a prestigious summer internship program for high school students interested in STEM. The program allows you to participate in real Navy research alongside scientists and engineers at Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories across the country. You will gain experience in cutting-edge aviation technologies.
The SEAP program is eight weeks long, with the possibility of extending for up to two additional weeks. Students are selected based on their academic achievements, personal statements, teacher recommendations, and career and research interests. Lab specialties include behavioral science, statistics and probability, astronomy, oceanography, calculus, robotics, and more. To learn more about this selective program, check out our full guide here.
Location: Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, NJ
Program Dates: Eight weeks in summer (specific dates have not been released)
Cost: Free with stipend of $4,000 for new participants and $4,500 for returning participants
Application Deadline: November 1, 2024
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9, will be at least 16 years old by the start date, and are solely U.S. citizens. Specific labs may have additional requirements
The Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (REAP) at Stockton University offers high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to participate in hands-on scientific research. Sponsored by the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), REAP provides a paid research apprenticeship where you will work closely with Stockton University faculty on STEM-related projects, such as chemistry, environmental science, and engineering.
You’ll spend 6-8 weeks working in labs on research projects under the guidance of mentors from Stockton University's Chemistry department. The program is designed to give you real-world experience in STEM fields by teaching you advanced techniques using state-of-the-art lab equipment. At the end of the program, you will present your research findings at a symposium, practicing scientific communication.
Location: Stockton University, Galloway, NJ
Program Dates: Typically runs from late June to early August
Cost: Paid apprenticeship ($10/hour)
Application Deadline: March 15, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from underrepresented groups in STEM within commuting distance of Stockton University. See detailed eligibility requirements here
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.