2,893 Inspirational Passion Project Ideas
Turn inspirations into your passion project.
This collection of project ideas, shared by Polygence mentors, is meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
- AI/ML
- Animation
- Arts
- Biology
- Biotech
- Business
- Cancer
- Chemistry
- Cognitive
- Computer Science
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Dentistry
- Economics
- Engineering
- Entomology
- Environmental Science
- Ethics
- Fashion
- Finance
- Game Design
- Healthcare
- History
- Illustration
- Languages
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Math
- Medicine
- Music
- Neuroscience
- Nutrition
- Organizational Leadership
- Philanthropy
- Philosophy
- Photography
- Physics
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Quantitative
- Social
- Social Science
- Sports Analytics
- Statistics
- Surgery
Decision-Making in the Wild
One example of a project would be exploring decision-making in the wild. This would be diving deep into an interesting behavioral science phenomenon (e.g., hot hand fallacy) and pairing it with academic articles and real world world data. An example could be exploring the hot-hand fallacy, the notion where people believe that after a string of successes, an individual or entity is more likely to have continued success, and how often it has been discussed in media. From this data, you could explore whether the dissemination of this effect to the public has had any affect on people's beliefs around the concept. One way you could look at this is through NBA data and how often people have taken consecutive shots since before and after the fallacy was defined. The final outcome would be a paper and presentation showing how this concept can be seen in the real world. I'm happy to work on a variety of different project outcomes such as scientific research papers, discussion papers, and multimedia project and presentations.
Social, Business
Financial markets, stocks, and options
How do the public markets work? When I buy a stock, who am I really buying it from? Can I make money without having to predict the future? As it turns out, the answers to all three questions are not what you'd first expect! We'll explore these questions together, and begin to explore the foundational mathematics behind quantitative trading firms.
Physics, Engineering, Math, Business, Finance
Measuring the income inequality and social mobility using Gini coefficient and intergenerational elasticity
This project aims to use data from the World Bank, the OECD, and other sources to calculate the Gini coefficient and the intergenerational elasticity of income for different countries and regions over time. The project will also explore the factors that influence these measures and their implications for economic development and social justice. The project will require skills in data collection, analysis, and visualization. The project will be relevant for students who are interested in comparative economics, development economics, or public policy.
Economics, Math, Business, Statistics
Impact of LLMs on enterprise data and processes.
The advent of LLMs such as chatGPT and ClaudeAI create massive opportunities to replace data synthesis processes in common business activities. Rather than rely on people to apply business knowledge and organizational context, AI systems are increasingly able to take in a wide context of data beyond the capabilities and narrow scope of reinforcement learning technologies to improve the flow of information.
Engineering, Business
DEI in the Workplace
Diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforces drive better business outcomes for organizations. While many organizations have aspired to these goals, progress has been slow. Many are now working to make the necessary changes that create safe and inclusive spaces. Create a strategy that meaningfully builds a workforce that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
Business, Organizational Leadership
Becoming a data detective
Choose a factual from a news article, website, or report and investigate it. The fact should not be based on original information (i.e. it should be reused or cited). Trace the fact back to its original source. Demonstrate how it was estimated/measured/created and evaluate the appropriateness of the fact for its present use. Show the steps taken to reconfigure the fact for its current use and comment on the appropriateness of these changes. Conclude with an evaluation of any discrepancies between the final factual claim and the original fact. In this process you will develop the skills to investigate statements that are often assumed as fact. This project will arm you with valuable critical thinking and researching skills.
Arts, Languages, Business
Jumpstart Your Entrepreneurial Journey in Ten Steps
Jumpstart Your Entrepreneurial Journey in Ten Steps Ever dreamed of spearheading your startup? Whether you have a concrete business concept or are still seeking that lightbulb moment, our program is tailored to escort you through the entrepreneurial pathway. Leveraging my diverse startup experiences and in-depth knowledge about entrepreneurship, my objective is to help you validate your startup idea and turn it into reality through ten interactive sessions. Together, we will explore the various types of startups, brainstorm viable business ideas, define your target market, and develop a robust business plan. In the proceeding sessions, we will venture into the nuances of marketing, financial management, team dynamics, product development, scaling tactics, and more. By the end of these sessions, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the entrepreneurial process, primed to kickstart your startup journey. Let's do it!
Business, Organizational Leadership
Intensive Study: The Scenes of a Neighborhood
How do you get to know a neighborhood? What is local knowledge vs. expert knowledge? From an urban design point of view, how do we perceive our environment? How does the local connect to a greater network? How does the past and present inform the future? By starting small and working from the most concrete details of one's surroundings, the student will gradually build up to a greater understanding of a particular place and one's role in relation to it. The project will be structured around a series of modules with deliverables that will combine to form a final report on the neighborhood.
Economics, Business
Investing in technology startups
People often talk about the latest market opportunity, new groundbreaking technologies, and bringing a great team together. If you're an investor, how do you choose between multiple exciting opportunities? Together we'll explore the kinds of discussions that happen behind closed doors, and explore a few investment opportunities ourselves!
Physics, Engineering, Math, Business, Finance
A web/mobile application for helping students learn through better Q&A in the classroom
Learning something new is already challenging on its own, and the trend toward larger and larger classes makes this even more difficult. Students can raise their hand to ask a question but this often doesn’t work well. For example, students may 1) not know what they should even be asking, 2) hold up lecture by asking a question that has already been answered, or even 3) be too shy to ask a question in the first place – a feeling we have all felt before. How might we improve the asking and answering of questions in the classroom, to better support learning? In this project, we introduce a web/mobile application that makes peer-to-peer and peer-to-mentor asking and answering as frictionless as possible. In the app, users can 1) see all questions and answers ranked by upvotes, 2) quickly search through all past posts, and 3) post anonymously if desired. We design and evaluate the system through user task analysis, heuristic evaluation, and user interviews and surveys. This study finds that, overall, users greatly prefer our application over traditional classroom methods because it helps them learn more easily, and that user preferences for interfaces depend heavily on the learning context. Technologies: Figma design, HTML/CSS, Javascript, Angular, Firebase, Google Domains Skills/methods learned: Web development, UX research, UI design, Qualitative analysis
Arts, Computer Science, Business
Designing, prototyping, and developing a product idea
I can help you understand how to go about starting to develop your next big product idea.
Computer Science, Business
Regression model to predict house sale price
Using regression model leveraging house characteristics (bedrooms, garage, fireplace, pool, porch, etc.), location (neighborhood), lot information (zoning, shape, size, etc.), ratings of condition and quality to predict the house sale price.
Business
Examining Social Stressors Among Students
Social stressors among students, such as a lack of friends, being in different classes, interpersonal conflicts, and peer pressure, can adversely affect their mental health. Exploring the impact of these stressors and potential factors that amplify or mitigate their effects could form the basis of a research paper, slide deck, or podcast. Quantitative or qualitative data analysis could be utilized depending on the student's interest area. In addition to examining the impact of social stressors among students, there are other avenues of research that can be explored. For example, a student could delve into the coping mechanisms employed by students to deal with social stressors, and how these strategies affect their overall well-being. Another research direction could involve examining the role of social support networks in mitigating the negative effects of social stressors on students' mental health. Furthermore, exploring the long-term consequences of experiencing social stressors during the student years and its potential implications for adulthood could be another intriguing research area to explore.
Literature, Creative Writing, Business, Finance
Personal Finance with An Introduction to Cryptocurrency
Traditional finance is becoming more and more obsolete as more efficient and higher yield strategies emerge in Decentralized Finance (DeFi). Because DeFi leverages blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, it is cheaper, faster, and actually safer than traditional finance. Cryptocurrencies have a long way to go before one or a handful get accepted into the mainstream, but, as students growing up in a world dictated by technological innovation, it is wise to understand how this technology works, and how you can leverage it to save your money more effectively than in a traditional savings account. In this project, you will be introduced to the world of DeFi, learn why you should care about it, and understand why the younger you are, the more advantages you have. You will learn about: - how to set up your personal finance goals and plan - how DeFi technology works so you know what is actually happening with your money - the risks and dangers of DeFi and how to avoid them - the different blockchains competing for dominance in DeFi - cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, but also stablecoins like USDC and DAI - crypto savings accounts with high yields to take advantage of daily compounding interest - Centralized and Decentralized Exchanges to buy, sell, or swap cryptocurrencies - and how to store your assets safely I know emerging technologies seem daunting, but that is because, at first, they are disruptive and difficult to understand. However, if their value outweighs that of the existing system, they will always succeed in replacing the old with a new system. This is why it is important for the younger generations to understand and take advantage of the opportunities presented by DeFi before it becomes the dominant system of finance and you're left in the dark, not knowing how it works. I look forward to being your guide and helping you make your assets work for you.
Business, Finance
Business and Personal Finance
I would like to explore the relationship personal finance (financial literacy) and a person's desire to work in the business field, whether as an entrepreneur or business related career field. This could be a presentation/lecture on the importance of financial literacy or could be written as an essay.
Biology, Psychology, Healthcare, Business
Identifying gender and race/ethnicity biases in sentiment analysis
Sentiment analysis is a popular form of text analysis that uses machine learning to predict the specific emotion that the writer of the text was feeling. There are several popular machine learning models that can take a chunk of text and "assign" scores on various emotions to it. However, we know from prior research in linguistics that there are differences between gender and racial subgroups on how language is used. Thus, these popular sentiment analysis tools, which do not differentiate between gender and race, might lead to biased scores that have important future consequences. This project investigates the degree to which popular sentiment analysis models exhibit gender and racial-ethnic biases.
Psychology, Business, Statistics, Organizational Leadership
Development of Pharma Supply Chain through Data Analytics
Scope: The project aims to leverage data analytics techniques to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and reliability of the pharmaceutical supply chain. By applying data-driven approaches, the project seeks to optimize inventory management, improve demand forecasting, and mitigate supply chain risks in the pharmaceutical industry. The project can involve the following key components: Data Collection: Collecting relevant data from various sources in the pharmaceutical supply chain, including suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. This data may include inventory levels, sales data, production data, delivery times, and other relevant metrics. Data Analysis and Visualization: Applying data analytics techniques, such as descriptive and predictive analytics, to analyze the collected data. This analysis can involve identifying patterns, trends, and anomalies in the supply chain, as well as creating meaningful visualizations to aid in decision-making. Demand Forecasting: Developing and implementing models that utilize historical data to forecast demand accurately. These models can employ statistical techniques, machine learning algorithms, or a combination of both to predict future demand patterns and improve inventory planning. Inventory Optimization: Using data analytics to optimize inventory management practices, ensuring the right levels of stock are maintained at different stages of the supply chain. This can involve implementing techniques like demand-driven replenishment, just-in-time inventory, and inventory visibility tools to reduce waste, minimize stock outs, and streamline operations. Supply Chain Risk Management: Identifying and assessing potential risks within the pharmaceutical supply chain, such as supply disruptions, regulatory changes, or quality issues. Applying data analytics to develop risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans, enhancing the resilience of the supply chain. Performance Evaluation: Conducting rigorous testing and evaluation of the developed data analytics solutions to assess their effectiveness in improving supply chain performance metrics, such as on-time deliveries, inventory turnover, and overall cost efficiency. By undertaking this project, students can gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the pharmaceutical supply chain and explore the potential of data analytics in addressing industry-specific challenges. They will have the opportunity to apply statistical and machine learning techniques to real-world data, develop insights, and propose data-driven strategies to optimize the supply chain, ultimately contributing to the efficiency and reliability of the pharmaceutical industry.
Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, Business
Å Guide to Discussing Wellness and Mental Health With Your Family
Mental health begins with family. Families are often the first detectors of mental illness and are instrumental for successful mental healthcare for most patients. However, the dynamics of mental health within a family are extremely complicated, especially when factoring cultural and generational backgrounds. For some, conversations within family about wellness and mental illness may come natural and easy - for many others, this is a topic to avoid with a 50-foot pole. Join me on an adventure to investigate how we can work at destigmatizing mental health within some of our most intimate interpersonal connections. The outcome of this project is variable - I could see this produced as an opinion paper backed with primary research to being a small study supported by creating a survey and sampling classmates.
Psychiatry, Biology, Neuroscience, Business
Start Your Business!
Have an idea? Looking to grow this into an actual business? As an entrepreneur and Harvard teaching fellow in management, I'll help you (1) create a business plan using relevant frameworks, (2) find a market willing to pay for your product or service, (3) respond to customer feedback to grow a strong, successful company.
Literature, Healthcare, Business
Designing and Building a Water Rocket
Field of Expertise: This project allows students to delve into the exciting field of aerospace engineering, particularly focusing on the design and launch of rockets. It's an exploration of principles such as aerodynamics, propulsion, and physics involved in rocketry, demonstrated through a simple and safe model: a water rocket. Knowledge and Skills Gained: Through this project, students will gain a basic understanding of aerospace engineering concepts, such as thrust, gravity, drag, and stability. They'll also acquire practical skills like experimental design, prototyping, and data analysis. Students will also develop problem-solving skills, teamwork, and the ability to present and explain their work effectively. Information Gathering Process: 1. Start with a study of basic physics concepts, such as gravity, air resistance, and Newton's laws of motion. 2. Dive into the fundamentals of rocketry, including propulsion, aerodynamics, and stability. 3. Research about water rockets specifically: how they work, what factors can influence their performance, and safety considerations. 4. Look at case studies of real-life rocket launches to understand the challenges faced in rocket engineering and how these principles apply in practice. Potential Student Outcomes: The culmination of this project will be a water rocket designed and built by the students themselves. The students will also conduct a series of test launches to experiment with variables such as water volume, launch angles, and pressure levels, aiming to achieve the highest possible altitude. The recorded data from these tests will then be analyzed and presented in a research paper, explaining the design process, test methodology, data analysis, and conclusions about the rocket's performance. Furthermore, students can create a digital portfolio or blog about their project. They can document the whole process of their project from the design phase to the launch and the outcomes, thus involving some basic skills of website design. This digital portfolio or blog can be shared with peers, teachers, or anyone interested in learning about their project. In the end, students will not only have gained theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the field of rocket engineering, but they'll also have a physical model of a rocket that they designed and launched, along with a comprehensive record of their scientific process.
Engineering, Computer Science, Business
