Empowering Young Scientists: Caldwell University’s Biotechnology Research Fellowship Program

Caldwell, NJ - Caldwell University’s Biotechnology Research Fellowship Program completed its second year on Friday, August 14, 2026. This dynamic, three-week intensive placed high school fellows directly into the world of cutting-edge science—starting with a virtual week of rigorous lab safety training and literature review, followed by two immersive weeks of hands-on laboratory work, specialized research sessions and field trips.

The program is partnered with New Jersey Academy of Science (NJAS) and was created by Dr. Maria Agapito, President of NJAS and Assistant professor of Biology at Caldwell University. The track leaders and faculty members involved in creating the curriculum for the fellowship work directly with NJAS, many of them board members themselves. Notably, Caldwell University is the only academic partner of NJAS to offer a summer fellowship program of this kind.

This program has seen exponential growth in its second year, with the number of student fellows almost tripling. Students came from all over Central and North Jersey, and one student came all the way from Seattle, Washington to be a part of this fellowship program.

This is not a typical summer course, the students are engaging in team-based laboratory and computer research at the collegiate level. “This provides students, especially high achieving students, an opportunity to get into a lab on campus, work with undergraduate students, work with faculty in the hopes that they'll choose science as a career.” said Amy Hains, Program Manager. It also provides great opportunities for the undergraduate students to engage with the material in new and meaningful ways as lab assistants.

Throughout the program, students had numerous opportunities to engage with state of the art technology, including Caldwell University’s Dreamscape Learn Lab. Through the power of virtual reality, the students were able to inspect and dissect dinosaurs and diagnose them by identifying cancer cells. “It was cool, very pretty, I liked how the chair shook when I was in the car,” said a student in the Cancer Track.

Throughout the two weeks, the students’ schedules were full of time spent in the lab, special sessions on the college admissions process and practical skills for professional development, and Lunch & Learn sessions on various topics. Kishor Baniya, a Caldwell University Mathematics and Computer Science major with a minor in Physics, gave a presentation on Dark Matter. Meghan Forcellati, Ph.D. Candidate at the American Museum of Natural History, discussed natural history collection and analysis as well as the many roles available in a museum work environment.

The program culminated in a Closing Ceremony and Showcase on Friday, August 14, 2026. Each small group of students created a poster for their research project, using their science communications skills to interpret and explain their findings to a wide audience. The event began with opening remarks by Dr. Jeffrey Senese, Caldwell University President. He encouraged the students to pursue their interest in STEM, saying “Continue with your curiosity, with your dedication, with your passion for science. We need solid people in the sciences. We need people that are passionate about moving forward in the sciences.”

Students and guests then got to hear from a group of distinguished speakers, Anjali Agrawal, Ph.D.; Cynthia Inzano; Carmela Maffucci, Ph.D. and Rory Ulloque, MD MS. The members of the panel discussed what inspired them to pursue a career in science and the many different roles that exist in the science and health fields. The speakers also advised the students to pursue multiple paths in their lives and take advantage of the opportunities to expand their knowledge.

“University is a great environment to really explore. And that's why lots of colleges, they have art and Humanities coursework in there for that purpose, really help students explore beyond, beyond STEM,” said Anjali Agrawal, Ph.D., Executive Director of Drug Product at Novo Nordisk.

They also discussed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in their fields for accelerating drug creation and how it changes the way physicians treat their patients. “The patients are already using it, they’re coming in like ‘This is what I have, this is what Google told me’,” said Rory Ulloque, MD MS, Vice Chairman for the Department of Family Medicine at JFK Medical Center and Clinical Associate Professor at both Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rowan-Vitura School of Osteopathic Medicine.

The student fellows then had time to present their projects to their families and guests. The event finished with remarks from each of the track leaders, all of whom spoke on the dedication and enthusiasm of their fellows. The students then received certificates from Dr. Senese. By completing this program, the fellows receive membership to NJAS and are encouraged to present their research projects at the NJAS Annual Meeting in April.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, keep an eye on this page for updates.