As part of an initiative to bolster New Jersey’s STEM education and career pipeline, the Governor’s STEM Scholars was created to identify and develop the state’s next science, technology, engineering and mathematics thought leaders.
The program is a public-private partnership among the governor’s office, Research & Development Council, New Jersey Department of Education, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, higher education institutions, and private industries.
Students are invited to apply to be Governor’s STEM Scholars for the 2020-2021 academic year on the program’s website now through June 20, 2020.
To qualify, students must:
- Attend school in New Jersey
- Be in any grades from 10th through the doctoral level
- Be enrolled in a program in the fields of STEM or show a demonstrated interest in STEM
- Have a 3.5 G.P.A. or higher
- Demonstrate leadership qualities either through participation in school programs or community activities (Leadership does not have to pertain to STEM, although this type of leadership would be helpful to a candidate.)
If selected, each scholar will complete a research project under the mentorship of an undergraduate or graduate scholar over the course of the 2020-2021 academic year. Scholars will also be required to attend four annual Governor’s STEM Scholars symposiums that introduce them to STEM opportunities in industry, academia, and government to help connect them to professionals in their fields of interest. Highlights of the program also include field trips, such as to Celgene’s facilities in Summit, NJ.