Governor’s STEM Scholars Selects 101 Future Innovators for its 2025–2026 Class

Program Connects New Jersey Students with the State’s Innovation Ecosystem

The Governor’s STEM Scholars has selected 101 outstanding New Jersey high school and college students to join its 2025–2026 class, representing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators advancing the state’s research and development economy.

A public–private partnership between the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, the Office of the Governor, the New Jersey Department of Education, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and the state’s leading research institutions, the Governor’s STEM Scholars works to strengthen New Jersey’s STEM talent pipeline by connecting students directly with the people and places powering innovation across the Garden State.

“New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem thrives because of the incredible talent being developed right here in our state,” said Kim Case, Executive Director of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey. “Through the Governor’s STEM Scholars, we’re giving students the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to imagine what’s next—and to lead the discoveries and technologies that will define the future.”

Throughout the year, Scholars will immerse themselves in the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) through hands-on learning and professional engagement. The program’s four conferences, which are hosted at Rutgers University, Princeton University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Kean University, introduce Scholars on how STEM drives industry, academia, and government. Scholars will also visit leading New Jersey companies including Siemens, Panasonic, and Bristol Myers Squibb. They will participate in professional workshops and STEM master classes, gaining practical skills, mentorship, and career insights from experts across the state’s innovation ecosystem.

As part of the program, Scholars collaborate on team-based research and engineering design projects. Whether advancing clean energy, improving public health, or supporting resilient communities, each project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and empowers Scholars to apply their STEM skills to create measurable impact in local New Jersey communities.

This year’s class reflects the diversity and excellence that define New Jersey’s STEM community. Scholars hail from 19 New Jersey counties, with 59% identifying as female and 88% as students of color. Upon graduating in May 2026, they will join a growing alumni network of over 1,000 Governor’s STEM Scholars pursuing STEM degrees and careers.

“The Governor’s STEM Scholars gives students an early and authentic connection to New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem,” said Alise Roderer, Director of the Governor’s STEM Scholars. “Our goal is to help Scholars see themselves in STEM by learning from leaders, collaborating with peers, and understanding how their ideas can create real impact. These students are not only the future of STEM in New Jersey, they are already helping shape it.”

To qualify for the program, applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, be enrolled as a New Jersey-based high school sophomore through doctoral-level student, and demonstrate a strong passion for STEM and community engagement.

The 2025-2026 Governor’s STEM Scholars are: 

Gabriela Acosta, Middlesex County

Jailyn Agard, Bergen County*

Karen Agbolou, Essex County

Petros Antonoglou, Middlesex County*

Ishani Bakshi, Middlesex County

Armaan Balani, Mercer County

Pranati Bankupalli, Middlesex County

Prerna Bankupalli, Middlesex County

Francesca Baptiste, Essex County

Antonio Batistini, Hudson County

Elena Beepat, Hudson County

Prisha Bhattacharjee, Middlesex County

Pranav Bhuvanesh, Middlesex County

Laura Bowen, Hudson County

Trexlor Boyer, Gloucester County

Marc Carames, Morris County

Kaylee Carranza, Hudson County

Rohit Challa, Middlesex County

Tiffany Chan, Middlesex County*

Johan Claros, Hudson County

Ananya Datta, Monmouth County

Victoria Diaz, Middlesex County

Lauren Doggett, Camden County

Dev Doshi, Essex County*

Owen DuHaime, Union County

Maximus Elmorry, Hudson County

Chidera Emeaso, Hunterdon County

Violet Fischer, Ocean County

Yohan Gil, Hudson County

Jaden Glogg, Morris County

Santiago Gonzalez, Passaic County

Bhumija Grandhe, Somerset County

Anfisa Gubareva, Hudson County

Sydney Guillaume, Essex County

Nathaly Guillen, Hudson County

Jo Anastasia Harkins, Monmouth County*

Sophia Hou, Essex County

Ayaan Jain, Hunterdon County

Zara Jain, Monmouth County

Arnav Janeesh, Mercer County

Pranayaa Jeyaraman, Middlesex County

Sarah Ji, Hudson County

Hassanah Kalimah, Essex County

Caitlin Kang, Morris County

Helena Kuchmek, Camden County

Molay Kumar, Middlesex County

Yuri Lee, Bergen County

Sonia Leo, Burlington County

Jophy Lin, Monmouth County

Jason Lu, Somerset County

Roshan Matrubai, Morris County

Charlotte McLaughlin, Somerset County

Isabella Merlino, Ocean County

Anish Mhaskar, Middlesex County

Muzen Mohamedsaeed, Hudson County

Zaira Nadeem, Union County

Iona Nandy, Union County

Tze Chang Justin Ng, Middlesex County*

Eliana Nunez, Hudson County

Oyinoluwa Obakeye, Middlesex County

Tenioluwa Obakeye, Middlesex County

Bryan Oko, Essex County

Siddhi Omesh, Monmouth County

John Palacios, Essex County*

Hannah Park, Bergen County

Henna Patel, Mercer County

Manntram Patel, Cumberland County

Carlos Pina, Middlesex County

Razan Rabayah, Atlantic County

Ujjwal Rameshwaram, Middlesex County*

Manya Rana, Passaic County

Amisha Rastogi, Monmouth County*

Rhea Rawat, Middlesex County

Angela Rodriguez, Hudson County

Anshuman Roy, Somerset County

Lucy Sandor, Essex County

Ravi Sangani, Middlesex County*

Reindy Sanon, Middlesex County

Catharina Santana, Bergen County

Graysen Shaffer, Monmouth County

Aum Shah, Morris County

Jainam Shah, Bergen County*

Zhekai Shen, Sussex County

Lailah Siabei, Middlesex County

Aidan Smeglin, Camden County

Thomas Solitro, Burlington County

Carlos Sorto, Union County

Joshitha Sripada, Hudson County

Owen Steed-Bordner, Union County

Alina Sultan, Warren County

Kavi Sutaria, Hudson County

Leo Toake, Bergen County

Essence Toone, Essex County*

Hannah Truitt, Gloucester County

Daisy Valerio Bautista, Middlesex County

Amy Vazquez-Castillo, Passaic County

Vinaya Vittal, Hudson County

Aaron Weinstein, Union County

Ally Yim, Camden County

Kaylee Zhang, Morris County*

Andres Zuniga, Mercer County

*denotes college-level Scholar