Are you a high school student in New Jersey who wants to conduct research? Applying for research programs, internships, or learning experiences early on can give you a significant academic advantage. Not only do these opportunities help you explore your academic interests, but they also allow you to develop critical skills like problem-solving and independent thinking. Besides building research skills, these opportunities can benefit your college applications. Getting into a selective research program can help you stand out from other college applicants. 

In this blog post, we'll explore 10 research opportunities for high school students in New Jersey.

1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program 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. November 24, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort

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 

2. Veritas AI—AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase

Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are interested in the field of AI an environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni, and you can expect a fulfilling educational experience. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or to have completed the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. 

The AI Fellowship program allows students to pursue an independent AI research project. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the fields of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more! You can find examples of previous projects here. 

Location: Virtual

Cost: 

• $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program

• $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase

• $6,900 for both

• Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here. 

Application deadline: Winter cohort deadline: December 1, 2024

Program dates: Varies according to the cohort

Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.

3. Ladder Internships

Ladder Internships is a selective virtual internship program that connects students with startups and nonprofits from around the globe, offering hands-on experience across various industries. Each intern works on a real-world project tailored to the specific needs of their assigned startup and presents their final work at the end of the program. The Research Internship Program allows students to work with a research mentor on a subject of their choice in STEM, social sciences, or the humanities. The program also provides one-on-one sessions with a writing coach and a publications specialist, helping students submit their research for publication.    

Location: Virtual

Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

Cost: $5,900. Financial assistance available

Application Deadline: Winter cohort deadline: November 24, 2024

Dates: 12-16 weeks starting December 16, 2024

4. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)

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 of 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: February 9, 2025 for the upcoming spring cohort

Program Dates: 

• Spring seminar: March 3, 2025 onwards

• 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 couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.

5. Partners In Science—Liberty Science Center

The Partners in Science program offers high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to collaborate with experienced scientists in real lab settings. Over 8-10 weeks, you'll engage in research, gain proficiency in advanced lab techniques, and develop skills in data collection and analysis. The program spans environmental science, biology, engineering, and chemistry, providing access to professional-grade equipment. You’ll conclude by presenting your work at a symposium, refining your communication skills and receiving constructive feedback from experts in the field.

Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ

Cost: N/A. Students can reach out to partnersinscience@lsc.org for more information

Program dates: June 25 – August 16, 2025

Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025 program will open in January 2025

Eligibility: 11th or 12th-grade students who will be 16 years of age as of July 1, 2025

6. Kean University’s Group Summer Scholars Research Program

Kean University offers a STEM-focused research program for students who want to conduct research with faculty. You will get to work on advanced research projects in areas like Scientific Visualization, Cancer Biology, Machine Learning, Developmental Biology, and Modern Drug Discovery. This is a great opportunity to gain technical skills, learn teamwork in a lab setting, and contribute to scientific discoveries. The program also includes professional development workshops, equipment demonstrations, and guidance on college and career pathways in STEM fields.

Location: Kean University, Union, NJ

Cost: 

• 4 Week Session: $1,950

• 2 Week Session: $950

Program dates: Usually between July and August

Application Deadline: Typically in early March 

Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors

7. New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Provost High School Summer Research Internship

If you’re interested in STEM and want to gain hands-on research experience, the NJIT Provost High School Summer Research Internship is an excellent opportunity. Over six weeks, you will collaborate with faculty as well as undergraduate and graduate mentors to conduct research in science and engineering. The program begins with lab safety training and concludes with a research symposium, where you’ll practice scientific communication and presentation. 

Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ

Cost: $500 

Program dates: June 24 – August 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program) 

Application Deadline: February 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)

Eligibility: Applicants must have completed 10th or 11th grade in June 2024, have a 3.75 GPA, and be residents of or studying in New Jersey

8. The Governor’s School of New Jersey in Engineering & Technology

The Governor's School of New Jersey in Engineering & Technology is a highly selective summer program where driven high school students can study at the Rutgers University School of Engineering. You'll collaborate with peers on a unique research project and present your findings at a research symposium. The program includes workshops, site visits to local companies, and opportunities to connect with professors, professionals, and fellow students from across New Jersey. You'll also take four academic courses, complete a small research and design project, and visit local corporations to explore future career paths.

Location: Rutgers School of Engineering, Piscataway, NJ

Cost: Free

Program dates: July 5 – 25, 2025

Application Deadline: January 10, 2025

Eligibility: New Jersey residents who are high school juniors during the current school year

9. Army Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (REAP)

The Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (REAP) at Stockton University gives high school juniors and seniors the chance to work closely with university faculty on STEM research projects, including chemistry, environmental science, and engineering. Sponsored by the Army Educational Outreach Program, this paid apprenticeship runs for 6-8 weeks and immerses you in lab work, advanced techniques, and hands-on experience with modern lab equipment. The program concludes with a symposium where you will present your research findings, building skills in scientific communication.

Location: Stockton University, Galloway, NJ

Cost: Students will be paid a stipend of $10/hr

Program dates: June 22 – August 7, 2025 (tentative, based on previous years)

Application Deadline: Usually between April – March

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors from groups that are underserved and underrepresented in the STEM community

10. Laboratory Learning Program at Princeton University

This is a highly selective program for high schoolers to work with faculty and researchers at Princeton on ongoing research in engineering and the natural sciences. There are 25 Princeton laboratories which accept 40 interns annually. At the end of the program, you will produce a 2-page research summary report. Research opportunities vary depending on the laboratories participating. Some of the research projects that interns have participated in the past include machine learning methods for power magnetics modeling, heteroresistance to antibiotics, and biofuel oxidation at supercritical pressure. You can see the entire list of past research opportunities here. 

Cost/Stipend: None

Program dates: 5-6 weeks in the summer, depending on the research project and the schedule of the researchers. Interns work full-time, Monday to Friday, with no weekend activities.

Application deadline: March 14, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)

Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

Eligibility: Students who

• are enrolled in a U.S. high school and are at least 16 years old

• are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

• Are New Jersey or Pennsylvania residents who live within 50 miles of campus

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.