The Governor’s STEM Scholars is a unique public-private partnership that connects New Jersey’s next generation of STEM leaders with the state’s thriving STEM economy. Supported by the Research & Development Council of New Jersey in partnership with the New Jersey Office of the Governor, the Department of Education, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and top research institutions, the program offers hands-on learning through conferences, field trips, master classes, and collaborative research and engineering design projects.

The Governor’s STEM Scholars hosts four Saturday conferences throughout the academic year, typically in September/October, December/January, February/March, and May. Exact dates and times are shared with Scholars as soon as they are confirmed.

Conferences take place at colleges and universities across New Jersey. Past locations have included Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Rowan University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Stevens Institute of Technology, Kean University, Princeton University, Montclair State University, and others.

Each conference features a unique agenda but consistently offers Scholars the chance to learn from and interact with top STEM professionals in New Jersey. Sessions may include keynote speakers, panel discussions, hands-on activities, and networking opportunities. For an example, you can explore a past STEM in Industry Conference.

Throughout the year, Scholars can participate in optional activities such as field trips to research institutions, site visits, master classes, and fireside chats with STEM professionals, offering additional opportunities for hands-on learning and career exploration.

To graduate from the Governor’s STEM Scholars, Scholars must attend all four conferences and actively participate in the research and engineering design project as either a team lead or team member.

The Governor’s STEM Scholars program is completely free for participants. It is fully funded through the generous support of the State of New Jersey, private industry sponsors and in-kind contributions from academic and government partners.

The Governor’s STEM Scholars program has a strict attendance policy. To graduate, Scholars must attend all four conferences in full and actively participate in the research and engineering design project.

No, research teams are assigned based on various factors, including project needs, geography, and experience level. While we strive to create balanced teams, we are unable to accommodate specific requests for group assignments.

No, transportation is not provided. However, we encourage carpooling among Scholars. If transportation is a concern, please contact us at info@govstemscholars.com before the program begins, and we will do our best to assist with travel arrangements.

The Governor’s STEM Scholars will host open sessions for those interested in learning more about the program—please check the calendar on this page for upcoming dates. For any additional questions, you can reach out to us at info@govstemscholars.com.

To be considered for the Governor's STEM Scholars program, applicants must: Be a high school sophomore through a doctoral-level student as of Fall 2025. Be enrolled in a high school, college, or university in New Jersey, or be a certified homeschooled student in the state. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher (weighted or unweighted). Demonstrate a strong commitment to STEM in New Jersey.

No, residency in New Jersey is not required. However, applicants must be enrolled in a New Jersey high school, college, or university, or be certified as a homeschooled student in the state to be eligible.

The application process for the Governor’s STEM Scholars program requires applicants to: Complete an online application form, which includes essay questions. Submit a 60-second personal video explaining their passion for STEM. Provide a current school transcript. Optionally, include a letter of recommendation. Click here to view the application questions.

Applicants must submit: A 60-second personal video explaining their passion for STEM. A current school transcript to verify academic performance. If you need assistance submitting your 60-second personal video, you can review the step-by-step guides here: [Google Drive Submission Guide] [YouTube Submission Guide]

Both official and unofficial transcripts are accepted. If your 2024-2025 school year transcript is not finalized by the June 13th deadline, you may submit: Your previous year’s transcript along with a report card showing your grades through Quarter 3 of the current year. Freshman applicants (Sophomores as of Fall 2025) may submit a current year report card as an alternative. Please combine all required documents into one PDF file before uploading them to your application.

Blind letters of recommendation should be emailed to info@govstemscholars.com with the student’s name and school in the subject line. All letters must be submitted by 11:59 PM on June 13th to be included in the application materials.

Yes! The Governor’s STEM Scholars values perseverance and encourages past applicants who were not accepted to apply again for the 2025-2026 class.

The Governor’s STEM Scholars Advisory Council serves as the program’s selection committee. You can learn more about the Advisory Council here.

The Advisory Council reviews each application and evaluates candidates based on the following criteria: Demonstrated passion for STEM Leadership experience and qualities Potential programmatic impact on the Scholars The candidate’s background and experiences that contribute to a dynamic and inclusive cohort

A strong application includes: Thoughtful and complete responses to the essay questions. (Example essay questions can be found here. Please note that these examples may not reflect the current application prompts.) A 60-second video that demonstrates a genuine passion for STEM. (Sample videos can be found here: [Video Example 1], [Video Example 2], [Video Example 3].)

How should I record and upload the 60-second video as part of the application? Your video can be recorded on a phone or computer and should: Be framed from your shoulders up Have good lighting for clear visibility Suggested upload methods include: YouTube (set to unlisted or public) Google Drive (ensure sharing settings allow anyone with the link to view) Make sure the video does not expire before August 31, 2025 and that the privacy settings allow access to reviewers. If you need help submitting your video, you can review the step-by-step guides here: [Google Drive Submission Guide] [YouTube Submission Guide]

The Governor’s STEM Scholars is committed to ensuring all applicants can complete the application, regardless of access to video recording equipment. If you need assistance, please reach out to info@govstemscholars.com to discuss alternative accommodations.

The application for the 2025-2026 class will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025. All applicants will be notified of their status by September 2, 2025.

All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than September 2, 2025.

Yes, the application must be completed in one session. Before starting, we recommend reviewing the questions and upload requirements. To avoid losing progress due to an internet issue, consider drafting your responses in a separate document and copying them into the application when ready. If a letter of recommendation needs to be submitted separately, it can be emailed to info@govstemscholars.com with your name and school in the subject line. Letters of recommendation will only be considered if they are received by the application deadline.

If you experience any technical issues while completing your application, please reach out to info@govstemscholars.com for assistance.

College students—ranging from freshmen to doctoral candidates—serve as team leads for the research and engineering design projects. They mentor and guide teams of high school students throughout the programmatic year, helping them design and implement their projects while developing leadership and collaboration skills.

In addition to the overall benefits of the Governor’s STEM Scholars program, college students serving as Team Leads gain valuable research leadership experience beyond the classroom. They develop mentorship, project management, and collaboration skills while guiding high school students through the research and engineering design process. Additionally, Team Leads who successfully complete all program and project requirements will receive a $1,000 stipend as compensation for their contributions.

College-level Team Leads are responsible for guiding and managing their research/engineering design teams. Their key responsibilities include: Attending all four in-person Governor’s STEM Scholars conferences and additional virtual Team Lead meetings. Leading and mentoring a team of high school students in designing and implementing the research/engineering design project. Motivating team members to stay engaged and complete project tasks. Managing team workflow, including scheduling meetings, assigning duties, and ensuring progress. Communicating regularly with team members and Governor’s STEM Scholars staff. Supporting project deliverables, such as writing a research report, developing a prototype, and presenting at the Governor’s STEM Scholars Commencement. Managing the project budget, if applicable.

Yes, college-level Scholars serving as Team Leads will receive a $1,000 stipend upon successfully completing all required aspects of the Governor’s STEM Scholars program and project. Team Leads are responsible for guiding and mentoring their team through project strategies, deadlines, and deliverables.