Office of the Secretary of Higher EducationThe New Jersey Big Data Alliance (NJBDA) is launching the NJ Research in Industry Student Experiences (NJ-RISE) Summer Program in 2026, a new summer undergraduate research program that brings together students, academic researchers, and industry partners to collaborate on data or AI-related research projects sponsored by industry and government organizations. Over 8-10 weeks this coming summer, interdisciplinary teams will work on sponsor-driven projects, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to New Jersey’s growing innovation ecosystem.
NJ-RISE is designed to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, support workforce development, and help organizations advance priority projects with fresh ideas and dedicated talent. Students receive guided mentorship, valuable professional exposure, and competitive summer stipends, while faculty mentors help ensure each project is academically rigorous and aligned with industry needs.
NJ-RISE will assist sponsors to formulate projects, match their project leads with academic researchers from NJBDA member institutions, recruit talented research students, and provide support for mentors and students for a successful collaboration. For more information, read the program outline . Additional details, including program structure, stipend information, and sponsorship guidelines, can be found in the provided flyer .
For more information on collaborating with NJ-RISE 2026, please contact Hieu Nguyen nguyen@rowan.edu.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey