Polygence Research Program | Next Deadline May 20th

89%

of Polygence alumni were accepted to R1 universities in 2024

84%

reported that work with their mentor made them feel more optimistic about their academic future

88%

of our alumni said their independent projects will help or have already helped them succeed in college

80%

say Polygence influenced what they intended to pursue as majors in college or careers

Just 4% of high school students say they routinely get opportunities to explore their true interests at school.

Polygence is where you finally get to focus on what matters to you, not just what’s assigned. It’s learning on your terms. And the results are amazing.

What is Polygence?

Polygence is an online research program that puts you in control of your learning.

You’ll work one-on-one with a PhD-level expert who will help you dive into what excites you and create a meaningful project—whether it's a research paper, podcast, video essay, or something else.

From STEM to the Arts, and even if you're still figuring it out, we’re here to help you build the skills and confidence to succeed and shape your future. At Polygence, it’s not about grades—it’s about following your curiosity and making your own path to success.

“Compared to school it was more in-depth, and a lot more focused on me. At school it’s more ‘you check the box, you turn in the assignment, you study the material to take the quiz’. With Polygence it was more working toward actually learning, yes— the goal was eventually to submit a research paper, but I felt more like I was doing it for myself.”

-Sophia, Polygence alum & freshman at Yale

“I really liked the flexibility & the balance between support & independence. It requires some intrinsic motivation, but I also had the guidance of my mentor. Having the freedom to choose a topic that you’re passionate about was something that was kind of new, & really helped me grow & understand what I want to pursue in college.”

-Madeline, Alum & freshman at Cornell

Why Research Projects?

Work on what moves you

With a research project, you're in control—choosing what excites you, how to explore it, and making a real-world impact. You have the freedom to focus on a topic that feels relevant and connected to your life.

Get inspired by past projects

Build skills for the future

Research projects help you develop essential skills for future leaders—like critical thinking, writing, project management, and the confidence to tackle big challenges.

Benefits of mentorship

Turn passion into progress

Research projects are a great opportunity to test your interests and develop your own ideas. Working toward an outcome that matters to you makes every step forward more rewarding.

How research becomes action

Mentorship That Prepares You for What's Next

Feeling ready for college, your career, and the future isn’t just about academics. Mentored research builds problem-solving, confidence, and real-world skills—so you’ll step into what’s next with certainty and energy.

Discover Our Programs

Find the right program for you

Core Program

For High School students who want to turn their passion into a tangible outcome with the guidance of an expert mentor. You’ll dive deep into a research topic of your choice over 10 one-on-one sessions.

Learn more about Core

Launchpad

For students who are unsure about what to study or weighing multiple options, this 3-session add-on to our Core program helps you find a topic that you’ll love.

Learn more about Launchpad

Premium Showcasing Support

For students who are excited to publish, compete or otherwise spotlight their work, this 3-session add-on provides expert showcasing guidance.

Learn more about Showcasing

Compare our programs

Not ready for a full research project yet?

Check out our shorter programs to find your passion!

Pods short-term group research program
Personality Quiz to find your academic persona

Projects Beyond Research Papers

The most flexible mentored research program that lets YOU choose the output to work towards - from published research papers, to podcasts, to prototypes of inventions and anything in between.

Explore Past Projects

Core Program Alumni

Chloe

"The idea that you can do anything, or you can have an effect on a really big problem…that’s something I developed through Polygence and with my mentor."

See Chloe's project

Your Ideal Match

Polygence has the most extensive network of PhD-level mentors from top universities. We will find your ideal match in any field or topic of interest.

Meet Our Mentors

Kimi

PhD candidate at Carnegie Mellon University

See Kimi's mentor profile

Human-Computer Interaction

Tech & AI ethics

Computer Science

Privacy

Social Psychology

”She was an absolute gem of a research mentor! Her guidance was like a compass in the world of academia. Kimi made the research journey feel less like a maze and more like a scenic route.”

Polygence student