Rider's STEM Summer Institute provides free academic experience for community college students

Community college students who want to pursue a STEM-related major at a four-year institution can preview the experience and gain firsthand knowledge of what to expect during Rider University’s STEM Summer Institute from July 25 to 28.

There is no cost to attend the three-day residential program, and all meals are covered as part of the experience. Additionally, all participants who complete the STEM Summer Institute will receive an additional $2,000 scholarship to Rider, renewable for up to three years, as long as the student maintains a 3.0 GPA before and while he or she is enrolled.

"Rider's hands-on laboratory and field experiences and research opportunities make it an ideal place for STEM majors," says Associate Professor of Chemistry Danielle Jacobs, Ph.D. "Our small class sizes also make it an attractive option for transfer students to receive personal attention as they pursue their dreams."

During the program, participants will live in a residence hall on Rider's campus in Lawrenceville, N.J., alongside current Rider STEM (which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students who will serve as their mentors. They will also have the opportunity to interact with Rider faculty directly during on-campus sessions and field trips.

The STEM Summer Institute is limited to 20 potential community college transfers from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The final deadline to apply is June 30.

Rider’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers more than 10 STEM-related programs for undergraduates. Faculty and students are currently benefitting from about $1 million in active research grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation in the areas of immunology, developmental biology and neuroscience, among many others. Each summer, about 20 students work full-time in the University’s research facilities, earning a salary and valuable experience. Recent graduates in Rider’s STEM programs have gone on to pursue their doctorate at top colleges and universities across the U.S., including Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and Purdue University.

For more information about the STEM Summer Institute, including how to apply, please visit rider.edu/scienceinstitute. Questions may also be directed to Associate Professor of Chemistry Danielle Jacobs, Ph.D., at [email protected] or 609-895-5667.