10 Medical Research Opportunities for High School Students in NJ (New Jersey)

For high school students in New Jersey interested in science or medicine, research internships provide an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience and explore potential career paths. These programs, hosted by top institutions such as Rutgers, Princeton, and NJIT, allow you to work alongside scientists, contribute to real projects, and even present your findings, providing a valuable glimpse into the world of medical research.

Beyond building technical knowledge, these opportunities help you develop essential skills in confidence, communication, and teamwork that are crucial for future academic and professional success. Many programs are free or offer stipends, making them both accessible and rewarding.

In this blog, we’ve rounded up 10 medical research internships for high school students in New Jersey!

1. Rutgers New Jersey Medical School - High School Internships

Location: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
Dates: Varies; determined by the specific research schedule of the faculty mentor
Application Deadline: Rolling; students should initiate contact well in advance
Eligibility: Students must be at least sixteen years of age; Must have a commitment from a Rutgers, RBHS-NJMS Faculty Member (as host)
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid

In this program, you’ll collaborate directly with Rutgers researchers in labs focused on disease mechanisms and drug development. You can expect lab tasks such as pipetting, cell culture, data collection, and literature review. You will work under the supervision of graduate students and faculty mentors, gaining valuable insights into research pathways and opportunities. By the conclusion of the program, you will present your findings at a local symposium, which will improve your communication skills. This experience also helps you assess whether medical research aligns with your future ambitions.

2. Ladder Internships

Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). 
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Cost: Varies depending on program type

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 on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

3. Biomedical Research Institute of New Jersey (BRInj) Summer Program

Location: Biomedical Research Institute of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in New Jersey
Cost: Free

At BRInj, you’ll be part of teams involved in regenerative medicine, cellular signaling, or bioengineering projects, performing lab tasks such as microscopy and molecular assays. The mentors include Ph.D.-level scientists who guide your technical skills and assist with understanding data analysis. The program aims to expose you to cutting-edge research, foster an appreciation for scientific and medical careers, and provide opportunities to learn fundamental laboratory and research skills.

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June-August), Fall (September-December), Winter (December-February), and Spring (March-June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).

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!

Cost: Varies depending on program type

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 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. Waksman Student Scholars Program

Location: Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
Dates: Begins with a 2-week summer institute; continues during the school year
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: New Jersey high school students
Cost: Fully funded

The Waksman Student Scholars Program (WSSP) immerses participants in fields such as molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry, with a focus on yeast or bacterial models in advanced genetics research. You will learn about experimental design, analyzing results, and interpreting data. This year-long initiative kicks off with a summer institute for educators and a select group of students. Afterward, the research proceeds in participating high schools throughout the academic year, enabling more students to join the project.

6. Partners in Science

Location: Liberty Science Centre, New Jersey, NJ
Dates: June 25 – August 16
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, age 16 or older by July 1
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend

Partners in Science is an intensive, eight-week summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors that pairs students with mentors in science, health, and technical fields. You will perform research in areas such as biology, environmental science, or physics under the guidance of BNL scientists. This experience can help you build your skills in scientific investigation and research, improve your ability to communicate science both orally and in writing, and establish a network of mentors and lasting professional relationships. You will also receive a stipend upon successful completion of the program.

7. Summer Research Scholar Program – Center for Discovery and Innovation

Location: Center for Discovery & Innovation, Nutley, NJ
Dates: June 2 or July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students above the age of 16
Stipend: Unpaid

CDI places students into labs focused on drug delivery, imaging, and personalized medicine. Over the course of eight weeks, participants work alongside scientists and lab staff in areas such as infectious diseases, cancer, immunology, and neurocognitive health. Scholars gain hands-on experience with laboratory techniques, data analysis, and research documentation while attending weekly “Lunch & Learn” sessions for professional development. The program concludes with a presentation of research posters and a lab tour.

8. Laboratory Learning Program 

Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Dates: Varies by lab; typically runs 5–6 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older by June 15; enrolled in a U.S. high school; U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Cost: Free

The Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) is a full-time, no-cost research opportunity available to high school students residing near Princeton University. Designed as an outreach initiative, the program places you in active research labs within science or engineering departments, where you work under the guidance of Princeton faculty and research staff. By the end of the program, you will need to submit a two-page research summary. This report should include your research question, methodology, data, and key findings from your summer project.

9. CURE (Continuing Umbrella for Research Experience)

Location: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), New Brunswick, NJ
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Underrepresented high school or early college students with demonstrated academic achievement (e.g., GPA ≥3.4 for some tracks)
Cost: Free

The CURE program at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey offers long-term research training and enrichment opportunities for driven high school students. Each year, the program accepts a total of seven students, three from ODASIS and four from New Brunswick Technical High School. You are expected to commit at least 4 hours per week during the school year and 40 hours per week over the summer. The program spans a minimum of two years and includes both hands-on research and academic development activities.

10. Coriell Summer Experience for High School Students

Location: Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ
Dates: 4 weeks typically from mid-July to mid-August
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students at least 17 years of age by July 1; Have a strong interest in science (advanced science classes are preferred)
Cost: Free

The Coriell Summer Experience offers high school students the chance to collaborate with professional scientists and technicians, gaining valuable insights and exploring careers in science and biotechnology. You will have the opportunity to participate in day-to-day production activities in dynamic production and biobanking environments, as the program offers the chance to experience biobank operations firsthand. In Coriell's Production Laboratories, you will focus on learning and supporting the fundamental techniques of generating, freezing, and distributing the samples that support the Coriell Biobank.