Waksman Institute Summer Experience (WISE)

# Waksman Institute Summer Experience (WISE) The Waksman Institute Summer Experience is the student summer institute of the Waksman Student Scholars Program at Rutgers University's Waksman Institute of Microbiology. Over two intensive weeks, high school students join an authentic, ongoing research project in molecular biology and bioinformatics: analyzing DNA sequences of genes from the duckweed Landoltia punctata using the same tools professional scientists use. ## What You'll Do - Conduct wet-lab molecular biology experiments at the Waksman Institute in Piscataway (in-person WISE sessions) - Analyze DNA sequence data with professional bioinformatic tools and complete daily assignments and quizzes - Work through lectures, videos, and seminars on genetics, molecular biology, and genomics - Submit approved gene analyses to GenBank, the National Institutes of Health DNA sequence database, as a published contribution ## Who Should Apply Students entering grades 10-12 who have completed at least one high school biology course and can commit to every day of the two-week institute. In 2026 two in-person sessions ran June 22-July 2 and July 27-August 7 ($2,200, covering seminars, lab supplies, and reagents), plus a virtual vWISE session August 10-21 ($600). Applications typically open in winter and 2026 sessions filled - apply early. ## Outcomes WISE students finish with genuine research output - gene annotations submitted to GenBank with their names attached - plus lab and bioinformatics skills that feed directly into the year-long Waksman Student Scholars research program many schools run, science fair projects, and future research applications.