2026 RISER Summer Program

The 2026 RISER (Research Immersion in biomedical Science and Engineering at Rowan) Summer Program is a volunteer, non-residential program that provides hands-on research opportunities for qualified high school rising seniors. While the program primarily serves students from South Jersey (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem counties), non-South Jersey applicants are welcome to apply, provided they reside within a 30-minute driving distance to their host lab and are able to regularly participate in in-person laboratory activities. RISER Scholars will be placed in a Rowan University Biomedical Engineering (Glassboro) or Biomedical Sciences (Glassboro, Camden or Stratford) laboratory, where they will spend six weeks conducting guided and independent cutting-edge research.

2026 RISER Summer Program will run from June 29 to August 7.  The last day of the program will include a culminating Symposium, which will give RISER Scholars the opportunity to present their work in front of their host labs, family/friends, and nominating high school teachers. Some highlights from our 2025 RISER Summer Program Symposium can be seen here.

To be considered for our program, applicants must: (i) reside in or attend high school in South Jersey, (ii) start their senior year in Fall 2026, (iii) conduct volunteer in-person research for at least 20 hours per week for 6 weeks, and (iv) attend and present their work at the culminating Symposium on Friday August 7, 2026.

The application process involves 3 steps:

1. A completed Nomination Form from a nominating high school teacher. Nominations are due before Friday, May 15.
2. Once the nomination is received, the nominating high school teacher and nominee will receive an Application Packet which is due within 3 weeks upon receiving.

For questions about the application process or the program, please contact the RISER Program Director, Dr. Sebastián L. Vega (vegas@rowan.edu).