Research Mentorship Program

Turn Your Curiosity Into an Independent Research Project

Work one-on-one with an experienced faculty advisor to develop, investigate, and communicate a research question in an area that genuinely interests you.

The Research Mentorship Program is a structured research experience for motivated high school students who want to go beyond the classroom and learn how real research is conducted.

Over the course of the program you receive ten individual, one-hour sessions with a faculty research advisor, along with structured milestones and feedback that carry you from an initial idea to a completed research project.

Apply to the ProgramWhat you will do
Faculty sessions
10
One-hour, one-to-one, with your research advisor
Individual project
1:1
Built around your interests, not a set curriculum
Structured reports
3
Plan, mid-program evaluation, final evaluation
Grades eligible
9–12
Online, worldwide, at a pace you set

The work

What you will do

Each student works individually with a faculty advisor throughout the program.

Research is an essential component of developing critical thinking skills. But it can feel overwhelming at first, which is why the process gives you increasing independence as the project develops rather than all of it on day one.

Students learn how to

  1. 01Identify meaningful problems worth investigating
  2. 02Turn an area of interest into a focused research question
  3. 03Search and critically evaluate scientific literature
  4. 04Develop a hypothesis or research objective
  5. 05Select an appropriate research methodology
  6. 06Analyze and interpret evidence or data
  7. 07Think critically about limitations and uncertainty
  8. 08Communicate scientific ideas clearly
  9. 09Write a structured academic research paper
  10. 10Present and defend your work
The goal is not simply to complete a paper. You learn how researchers think, question, investigate, and communicate.

What you leave with

A portfolio of tangible research outcomes

Every successful participant finishes the program holding work they made, can explain, and can point to.

Independent Research Project

A substantial project developed around your individual interests, taken from an initial area of curiosity through to a defensible result.

Research Paper or Scholarly Deliverable

Depending on the discipline and the methodology, the final product takes whichever of these forms fits the work — decided with your advisor, not assigned in advance.

  • Research manuscript
  • Scientific review
  • Computational analysis
  • Engineering research project
  • Another faculty-approved scholarly product

Where a project can go

Possible research pathways

Projects are developed around your interests, academic preparation, available resources, and faculty expertise. The areas below are where projects tend to live — they are examples of the room available, not a menu to choose from.

Biomedical Science

  • Cancer biology
  • Genetics
  • Regenerative medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Infectious disease

Biomedical Engineering

  • Biomaterials
  • Tissue engineering
  • Medical devices
  • Biomedical imaging
  • Biosensors
  • Rehabilitation engineering

Biotechnology

  • Synthetic biology
  • Bioinformatics
  • Biomanufacturing
  • Drug development
  • Cell and gene therapy

Engineering & Technology

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Computational modelling
  • Robotics
  • Engineering design
  • Sustainability

Interdisciplinary projects combining multiple areas are encouraged.

Admissions

Who the program is for

This program is designed for students who are ready to take ownership of an independent academic project. Applicants should currently be enrolled in Grades 9–12 and demonstrate genuine interest in exploring a subject beyond their regular school curriculum.

The Research Interest Proposal

As part of the application you submit a short Research Interest Proposal, which is what lets us match you with the right faculty advisor. In it, describe the topic or general research area you would like to explore.

The proposal does not need to contain a finalized research question or methodology. Developing those is part of the mentorship.

Describe

  • The topic, problem, or field you are interested in exploring
  • Why the topic interests you
  • Questions you would like to investigate
  • Why you believe the topic is worth studying

One paragraph is enough to start

A minimum one-paragraph research statement is accepted from students who are only beginning to explore research. You are not expected to arrive with a fully developed research project. The proposal lets us assess your curiosity, motivation, readiness, and potential fit with an appropriate faculty advisor.

Start an application

How decisions are made

Admission is based on your application, your proposed area of research, demonstrated motivation, and the availability of an appropriate faculty mentor.

How it works

Individual faculty mentorship

Each student receives ten hours of one-on-one mentorship from a faculty research advisor.

Rather than following a predetermined project, you work with your advisor to transform your initial area of interest into a focused and feasible research project.

Your advisor guides you on

  • Research direction
  • Methodology
  • Literature
  • Analysis
  • Scientific reasoning
  • Academic writing
  • Communication

What is expected of you

You are expected to complete substantial independent work between meetings. The advisor's role is to mentor, challenge, question, and provide expert feedback — not to complete the research for you.

For families

Structured updates at three points

Parents and guardians are not left to infer how the project is going from how their student describes it. The faculty advisor reports formally, three times.

  1. After the early sessions

    Initial Research Plan

    Following the early stage of mentorship, families receive an update outlining:

    • Refined research topic or question
    • Proposed project direction
    • Major research milestones
    • Expected student responsibilities
    • The advisor's initial assessment of the student's preparedness

    This establishes clear expectations for the project.

  2. Approximately the midpoint

    Mid-Program Evaluation Report

    At roughly the halfway mark, the faculty advisor provides a progress report addressing:

    • Progress toward research milestones
    • Quality of independent work
    • Engagement and preparation
    • Responsiveness to feedback
    • Research and critical-thinking development
    • Areas requiring additional attention
    • Priorities for the remainder of the program

    This gives families meaningful information about the student's development — not simply whether assignments have been completed.

  3. At the conclusion

    Final Research Evaluation

    At the end of the program, you and your family receive a final evaluation addressing:

    • Research skills demonstrated
    • Intellectual independence
    • Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills
    • Academic communication
    • Quality of the completed research
    • Growth throughout the mentorship
    • The advisor's recommendations for continued development

    The final evaluation provides a record of the student's research experience and accomplishments.

After the program

Faculty recommendation letters

Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible to request a personalized letter from their faculty advisor.

Any such letter is based on the advisor's independent professional assessment of the student's work throughout the mentorship.

Completing the program does not guarantee a positive recommendation. You must demonstrate sufficient engagement, professionalism, independent effort, and research progress for the advisor to write something meaningful.

What to expect

Two things worth being clear about

Research is more than publication

The purpose of this program is to develop authentic research skills rather than to deliver a particular publication outcome.

Exceptional projects may be suitable for further development toward:

  • Student research journals
  • Research conferences
  • Poster presentations
  • Science fairs
  • Research competitions
  • Extended independent research
  • Future laboratory experiences

Publication, conference acceptance, competition results, and other external outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Mentorship, not ghostwriting

Academic integrity is central to the program. You remain the author and intellectual owner of your work throughout.

Faculty advisors provide mentorship, feedback, methodological guidance, and academic support.

They do not write papers or complete research assignments on your behalf. By the end of the program you should be able to confidently explain and defend your research.

Questions

Common questions

Do I need to know my research question before applying?

No. The application asks for a Research Interest Proposal, not a research plan. It does not need a finalized research question or methodology — developing those is part of the mentorship. A one-paragraph statement about the topic you want to explore, why it interests you, and what you would want to investigate is enough to apply.

Who is eligible?

Students currently enrolled in Grades 9 through 12 who show genuine interest in exploring a subject beyond their regular school curriculum. Admission is based on the application, the proposed area of research, demonstrated motivation, and whether an appropriate faculty mentor is available.

How long is the program and how are sessions scheduled?

You receive ten individual one-hour sessions with a faculty research advisor. Sessions run online on a flexible schedule set at your pace, alongside structured milestones and feedback between meetings.

How much work happens outside the sessions?

A substantial amount. You are expected to complete independent work between meetings. The advisor's role is to mentor, challenge, question, and provide expert feedback — not to complete the research for you.

Who writes the paper?

You do. Academic integrity is central to the program and you remain the author and intellectual owner of your work. Faculty advisors provide mentorship, feedback, methodological guidance, and academic support, but they do not write papers or complete research assignments on a student's behalf. By the end you should be able to explain and defend the research yourself.

Will my research be published?

That cannot be promised. The purpose of the program is to develop authentic research skills rather than to deliver a particular publication outcome. Exceptional projects may be suitable for further development toward student research journals, conferences, poster presentations, science fairs, or research competitions, and your advisor can help you evaluate which are appropriate — but publication, conference acceptance, and competition results are outside anyone's control.

Will I get a recommendation letter?

Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible to request a personalized letter from their faculty advisor. It is based on the advisor's independent professional assessment, and completing the program does not guarantee a positive one. It depends on demonstrated engagement, professionalism, independent effort, and research progress.

What do parents receive during the program?

Three structured reports from the faculty advisor: an Initial Research Plan after the early sessions, a Mid-Program Evaluation at approximately the midpoint, and a Final Research Evaluation at the conclusion. They cover progress against milestones, quality of independent work, engagement, responsiveness to feedback, and development as a researcher.

What subject areas can I work in?

Projects are commonly developed in biomedical science, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, and engineering and technology. The specific direction depends on your interests, academic preparation, available resources, and faculty expertise, and interdisciplinary projects combining multiple areas are encouraged.

Apply

Ready to explore your research question?

You do not need to know exactly what your final research question will be. Start by telling us what you are curious about.

Your application begins with a Research Interest Proposal describing the problem, question, or field you would like to explore.

First name is enough. If you are a parent, say so in the proposal box.

Where we will reply. No mailing list.

The program is for Grades 9–12.

Areas you are curious about

Tap any that interest you. This only helps us look for the right advisor — it does not commit you to anything.

Describe the topic, problem, or field you would like to explore, why it interests you, and what you would want to investigate. A finished research question is not expected.

200 more characters — about a paragraph in total.

We read every application. If an appropriate faculty advisor is available for your area, we will follow up to arrange the match.