New Jersey Academy of Science Celebrates 70th Anniversary, Announces Statewide Student Research Winners

UNION, N.J. — October 2025 — The New Jersey Academy of Science (NJAS) proudly commemorated its 70th Annual Meeting on May 10, 2025, at Kean University, drawing over 400 students, educators, researchers, and industry professionals from across the state. This turnout represents a remarkable milestone, more than double the attendance of the first in-person meeting hosted by the current executive board in 2019.

This year’s theme, “Innovating Health: The Synergy of AI, Life Sciences, and Health Science,” highlighted the integration of cutting-edge technology and scientific discovery. The meeting provided a platform for students to present original research, compete for publication eligibility, and earn selection to represent New Jersey at the 2026 National Association of Academies of Science (NAAS) and American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) Annual Meeting, scheduled for February 11–14, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona.

“This meeting is more than a conference — it’s our village,” said the NJAS Executive Board. “One day each year, we gather New Jersey’s brightest scientific minds to exchange ideas, collaborate, and celebrate innovation.”

The NJAS Board extends heartfelt congratulations to all participants for their dedication and commitment to advancing science. We thank every student who presented their research and proudly represented their academic institutions. We are pleased to announce the winners of the 70th NJ Academy of Science Annual Meeting:

Senior Academy Winners

Health, Medicine & AI
3 — Nahal Ahmed, Marina Boros — Caldwell University — Caldwell, NJ 07006
2 — Paula Perez Portero — Bloomfield College of Montclair State University — Bloomfield, NJ 07003
1 — Mags Kelleher — Stockton University — Galloway, NJ 08205

Chemistry/Biochemistry
3 — Michael Eckel Santos — Seton Hall University — South Orange, NJ 07079
2 — Monika Chhetri, Umma Roksana Rumi, Joy Guirguis — Caldwell University — Caldwell, NJ 07006
1 — Michael Eckel Santos — Seton Hall University — South Orange, NJ 07079

Cell or Molecular Biology
3 — Zoey Smith — Stockton University — Galloway, NJ 08205
2 — Federica Raco, Haleigh Fisher — Caldwell University — Caldwell, NJ 07006
1 — Amalie Werner — Stockton University — Galloway, NJ 08205

Junior Academy Winners

Animal and Plant Science
3 — Gauri Balasubramanian, Suhani Jerath, Jenica Benneaser — Rutgers Preparatory School — Somerset, NJ 08873
3 — Amani Sukkarieh — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
2 — Talin Sharma — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
1 — Neel Ahuja — Millburn High School — Millburn, NJ 07041
1 — Edward Wang — Tenafly High School — Tenafly, NJ 07670

Cell and Molecular
3 — Joowan Byun — Tenafly High School — Tenafly, NJ 07670
3 — Seung-Hoon Joo — Tenafly High School — Tenafly, NJ 07670
2 — Josephine Serrano — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
1 — Divyam Dave — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738

Chemistry/Biochemistry
3 — Alexander Choi — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
3 — Zachary Ciappa — Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science — Stafford Township, NJ 08050
3 — Christian Lee — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
3 — Kelly Yuan — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
2 — Sana Kashyap — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
2 — Jin Hong Kim — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
2 — Nikhil Palempalle — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
1 — Navya Shah — Biotechnology High School — Freehold, NJ 07728
1 — Leila Zhou — Bridgewater-Raritan High School — Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Earth Science, Geology, Meteorology
3 — Raneesh Adulla — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
3 — Sriyan Yarlagadda — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
2 — Adrit Sikdar — Manalapan High School — Manalapan, NJ 07726
1 — John Chang — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738

Ecology/Environmental
3 — Zayan Keezhana — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
3 — Gary Leschinsky — Davidson Academy Online — Mahwah, NJ 07430
2 — Abhinav De — Tenafly High School — Tenafly, NJ 07670
2 — Ashwin Kolli — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
1 — Ishaan Bharadwaj — Millburn High School — Millburn, NJ 07041
1 — Ritwik Singh — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738

Engineering
3 — Morireoluwa Alao — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
3 — Allison Kim, Mia Subrahmanyam — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
2 — Isabella Gonzalez, Sophia Rodriguez, Margaryta Gomozova — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
2 — Michael Xu — Delbarton School — Morristown, NJ 07922
1 — Anabelle Ahteck — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
1 — Suvit Asnani — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
1 — Henry Cantor — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738

Health and Medicine
3 — Lorelei Gaus — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
3 — Smruti Jadhav — Union County Magnet High School — Union, NJ 07083
3 — Mahika Jawa — Holmdel High School — Holmdel, NJ 07733
3 — Claire Jiang — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
3 — Jonah Ladetsky — Millburn High School — Millburn, NJ 07041
2 — Sunkalp Chandra — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
2 — Emily Kim — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
2 — Dhairya Mathur — West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South — Princeton Junction, NJ 08550
2 — Shreya Sibal — Tenafly High School — Tenafly, NJ 07670
2 — Isabella Zelaya Alves — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
1 — Ayane Hiwatari — Jose Marti STEM Academy — Union City, NJ 07087
1 — Jayita Iyengar — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
1 — Siddharth Kedharnath — Manalapan High School — Manalapan Township, NJ 07726
1 — Paridhi Tyagi — Millburn High School — Millburn, NJ 07041
1 — Qianheng Xu — Millburn High School — Millburn, NJ 07041

Marine Science
3 — Cassara Yannarelli — The Marine Academy of Science and Technology — Highlands, NJ 07732
2 — Lillian Boyd — Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science — Stafford Township, NJ 08050
1 — Kayla Peng — Kent Place School — Summit, NJ 07902

Math/Computational
3 — Abhiansh Pathak — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
2 — Maya Baireddy — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
2 — Vasudevan Govardhanen — Manalapan High School — Manalapan Township, NJ 07726
2 — Samay Prabhu — Manalapan High School — Manalapan Township, NJ 07726
1 — Daniel Han — Millburn High School — Millburn, NJ 07041
1 — Aditya Khurana — Moorestown High School — Moorestown, NJ 08057
1 — Raunak Singh — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601

Microbiology
3 — Jody Laura Gan — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
3 — Mischa Jain — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
2 — Melanie Cantor — Monmouth County Academy of Allied Health and Science — Neptune City, NJ 07753
2 — Isabella Morgan — Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science — Stafford Township, NJ 08050
1 — Julia Mason — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738

Physics
2 — Santiago Franco de la Matta — Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, NJ 07601
1 — Alex Oh — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738

Psychology/Behavior
3 — Joel Dsouza — Manalapan High School — Englishtown, NJ 07726
3 — Saketh Satti — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
2 — Lucas Brinster — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
1 — Ayon Hajra — High Technology High School — Lincroft, NJ 07738
1 — Ahisha Ravi — Millburn High School — Millburn, NJ 07041

NJAS Expands STEM Access Through Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School Partnership

NJAS is proud to announce a new partnership with Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School and its Scientific Research Training Institute, granting Kushner students eligibility to compete in NJAS STEM competitions and participate in national delegate selection. In its first year of participation, Kushner students have already earned multiple awards, demonstrating the success of this collaborative initiative.

Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School Winners

Animal and Plant Science
3 — Naomi Rosenbluth, Melanie Huppert — Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School — Livingston, NJ 07039

Ecology/Environmental
2 — Jonah Klein, Aidan Korish — Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School — Livingston, NJ 07039

Engineering
1 — Mati Fischer, Lila Levinson — Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School — Livingston, NJ 07039

NAAS–AJAS 2026 Conference: Call to Action

All delegates planning to attend the NAAS–AJAS 2026 Conference must register as soon as possible:

• Confirm attendance with NJAS: https://forms.gle/A94ktFsgWuR7RNMk8
• Complete official conference registration: https://www.academiesofscience.org/2026_ajas_conference_registrat.php
• Apply for NJAS Student Scholarship (If needed): https://forms.gle/eszAk1iChwEt...

NJAS remains committed to supporting every delegate on their journey to Phoenix and showcasing New Jersey’s brightest young scientists on the national stage.

Save the Date: 71st NJAS Annual Meeting

🗓 April 11, 2026 — Join us for the next annual gathering to continue advancing research, mentorship, and STEM excellence throughout New Jersey. Location to be announced.

Media Contact

New Jersey Academy of Science - Press release committee
Email: njacademyofscience@gmail.com
Phone: 973-618-3269
Website: www.njas.org