Governor’s STEM Scholars Selects 101 Future Innovators for 2025–2026 Class

On Nov 26, 2025

The Governor’s STEM Scholars has selected 101 outstanding New Jersey high school and college students to join its 2025–2026 class, representing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators advancing the state’s research and development economy.

A public–private partnership between the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, the Office of the Governor, the New Jersey Department of Education, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and the state’s leading research institutions, the Governor’s STEM Scholars works to strengthen New Jersey’s STEM talent pipeline by connecting students directly with the people and places powering innovation across the Garden State.

“New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem thrives because of the incredible talent being developed right here in our state,” said Kim Case, executive director of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey. “Through the Governor’s STEM Scholars, we’re giving students the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to imagine what’s next—and to lead the discoveries and technologies that will define the future.”

Throughout the year, scholars will immerse themselves in the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) through hands-on learning and professional engagement. The program’s four conferences, which are hosted at Rutgers University, Princeton University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Kean University, introduce Scholars on how STEM drives industry, academia, and government. Scholars will also visit leading New Jersey companies including Siemens, Panasonic, and Bristol Myers Squibb. They will participate in professional workshops and STEM master classes, gaining practical skills, mentorship, and career insights from experts across the state’s innovation ecosystem.

As part of the program, Scholars collaborate on team-based research and engineering design projects. Whether advancing clean energy, improving public health, or supporting resilient communities, each project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and empowers Scholars to apply their STEM skills to create measurable impact in local New Jersey communities.

This year’s class reflects the diversity and excellence that define New Jersey’s STEM community. Scholars hail from 19 New Jersey counties, with 59% identifying as female and 88% as students of color. Upon graduating in May 2026, they will join a growing alumni network of over 1,000 Governor’s STEM Scholars pursuing STEM degrees and careers.

“The Governor’s STEM Scholars gives students an early and authentic connection to New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem,” said Alise Roderer, director of the Governor’s STEM Scholars. “Our goal is to help scholars see themselves in STEM by learning from leaders, collaborating with peers, and understanding how their ideas can create real impact. These students are not only the future of STEM in New Jersey, they are already helping shape it.”

To qualify for the program, applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, be enrolled as a New Jersey-based high school sophomore through doctoral-level student, and demonstrate a strong passion for STEM and community engagement.

The 2025-2026 Governor’s STEM Scholars are:

• Gabriela Acosta, Middlesex County
• Jailyn Agard, Bergen County*
• Karen Agbolou, Essex County
• Petros Antonoglou, Middlesex County*
• Ishani Bakshi, Middlesex County
• Armaan Balani, Mercer County
• Pranati Bankupalli, Middlesex County
• Prerna Bankupalli, Middlesex County
• Francesca Baptiste, Essex County
• Antonio Batistini, Hudson County
• Elena Beepat, Hudson County
• Prisha Bhattacharjee, Middlesex County
• Pranav Bhuvanesh, Middlesex County
• Laura Bowen, Hudson County
• Trexlor Boyer, Gloucester County
• Marc Carames, Morris County
• Kaylee Carranza, Hudson County
• Rohit Challa, Middlesex County
• Tiffany Chan, Middlesex County*
• Johan Claros, Hudson County
• Ananya Datta, Monmouth County
• Victoria Diaz, Middlesex County
• Lauren Doggett, Camden County
• Dev Doshi, Essex County*
• Owen DuHaime, Union County
• Maximus Elmorry, Hudson County
• Chidera Emeaso, Hunterdon County
• Violet Fischer, Ocean County
• Yohan Gil, Hudson County
• Jaden Glogg, Morris County
• Santiago Gonzalez, Passaic County
• Bhumija Grandhe, Somerset County
• Anfisa Gubareva, Hudson County
• Sydney Guillaume, Essex County
• Nathaly Guillen, Hudson County
• Jo Anastasia Harkins, Monmouth County*
• Sophia Hou, Essex County
• Ayaan Jain, Hunterdon County
• Zara Jain, Monmouth County
• Arnav Janeesh, Mercer County
• Pranayaa Jeyaraman, Middlesex County
• Sarah Ji, Hudson County
• Hassanah Kalimah, Essex County
• Caitlin Kang, Morris County
• Helena Kuchmek, Camden County
• Molay Kumar, Middlesex County
• Yuri Lee, Bergen County
• Sonia Leo, Burlington County
• Jophy Lin, Monmouth County
• Jason Lu, Somerset County
• Roshan Matrubai, Morris County
• Charlotte McLaughlin, Somerset County
• Isabella Merlino, Ocean County
• Anish Mhaskar, Middlesex County
• Muzen Mohamedsaeed, Hudson County
• Zaira Nadeem, Union County
• Iona Nandy, Union County
• Tze Chang Justin Ng, Middlesex County*
• Eliana Nunez, Hudson County
• Oyinoluwa Obakeye, Middlesex County
• Tenioluwa Obakeye, Middlesex County
• Bryan Oko, Essex County
• Siddhi Omesh, Monmouth County
• John Palacios, Essex County*
• Hannah Park, Bergen County
• Henna Patel, Mercer County
• Manntram Patel, Cumberland County
• Carlos Pina, Middlesex County
• Razan Rabayah, Atlantic County
• Ujjwal Rameshwaram, Middlesex County*
• Manya Rana, Passaic County
• Amisha Rastogi, Monmouth County*
• Rhea Rawat, Middlesex County
• Angela Rodriguez, Hudson County
• Anshuman Roy, Somerset County
• Lucy Sandor, Essex County
• Ravi Sangani, Middlesex County*
• Reindy Sanon, Middlesex County
• Catharina Santana, Bergen County
• Graysen Shaffer, Monmouth County
• Aum Shah, Morris County
• Jainam Shah, Bergen County*
• Zhekai Shen, Sussex County
• Lailah Siabei, Middlesex County
• Aidan Smeglin, Camden County
• Thomas Solitro, Burlington County
• Carlos Sorto, Union County
• Joshitha Sripada, Hudson County
• Owen Steed-Bordner, Union County
• Alina Sultan, Warren County
• Kavi Sutaria, Hudson County
• Leo Toake, Bergen County
• Essence Toone, Essex County*
• Hannah Truitt, Gloucester County
• Daisy Valerio Bautista, Middlesex County
• Amy Vazquez-Castillo, Passaic County
• Vinaya Vittal, Hudson County
• Aaron Weinstein, Union County
• Ally Yim, Camden County
• Kaylee Zhang, Morris County*
• Andres Zuniga, Mercer County

*denotes college-level Scholar 

Read more about the 2025-2026 Governor’s STEM Scholars at www.govstemscholars.com/scholars.

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