Research Program for High School Students

Motivated student during a Polygence session with her mentor

The Core Program

One-on-one mentorship for students with an idea of what they want to study and research

The Polygence Core Program pairs students with an expert mentor to explore their unique research interest over a structured project with 10 one-on-one sessions, deepening the student’s research skills and building a student-driven research outcome they can proudly showcase.

The Pathfinders Bundle

For students exploring their interests and learning about a variety of career paths

The Pathfinders Bundle is a two-part research program that pairs students with expert mentors to explore areas of research and refine a unique project idea. Students then partner with an expert to complete that research over the course of a 13-session project.

Female student at science fair showcasing her research

Premium Showcasing Bundle

For the students who want to showcase their work

The Premium Showcasing Bundle is a two-part research and publication project experience that pairs students with a set of expert mentors to both support their research and design a structured plan for sharing their research work creatively in a publication or showcasing opportunity.

Polygence and UCI x Gifted and Talented Institute (GATI) college credit program

We are proud to partner with the pre-collegiate Gifted and Talented Institute at University of California Irvine, one of the top US research universities, to award 3 college credits for research papers written in our mentorships.

Learn more about earning college credits

Polygence Program Modules

Pathfinders Program

Polygence Core Program

Premium Showcasing Support

The Core Polygence Program

The Polygence core program consists of 10 one-on-one sessions between the student and mentor. The program is structured around 3 Milestones in addition to regular assignments to ensure students make steady progress on their project. Given the diversity of projects, these milestones are designed to be as flexible as possible to accommodate any and all types of projects.

Would you like to get a clear sense of your academic interests and explore career paths? Are you ready to get professional support for showcasing you work? Check out our program add-ons through the interactive toggles below!

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The Application Process

Initial Application

At Polygence, students define their own interests and projects. In the application students provide their background and interests, and what they would like to explore.

Admissions Advisor on a call with a student

Consultative Call

If necessary, we work with the student to help them develop a subject, topic, or issue that they are truly passionate about exploring.

Student accepted to the Polygence Program

Accepted + Matched

If the student is a good fit for the program, then their application will be sent to our cohort of available mentors for review. It is ultimately up to a mentor to accept a student’s project.

What is the Core Program?

The Polygence core program is a 10-session research project where students are matched with an expert mentor to explore a specific and unique research topic selected by the student. The program is designed to be structured, but flexible, and is a great way for students of all experience levels to begin or deepen their research skills, but excited to explore their unique passions. Our students walk away from the program with a deeper understanding of their chosen research area, a strong foundation in how to conduct academic research, and a unique project outcome that they can choose to share with the world.

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What do I get with Core

10 one-on-one sessions with a mentor selected for their expertise in the project subject matter.
The program has 3 flexibly designed Project Milestones meant to keep students on track.
Regular assignments from an expert mentor to create structure and guidance for students towards their expressed goals.
2 rounds of Writing Feedback support for any written materials
Access to the Polygence High School Showcasing Database
Access to submit to the pre-print research archive, Research Archive of Rising Scholars and rank as a Google Scholar.
An opportunity to present their work at the bi-annual Symposium of Rising Scholars.

What is the Pathfinders Bundle?

Pathfinders is a 13-session exploration and research project experience that builds up to the Core Program. Students begin with 3 distinct mentor careers or academic subjects to explore their broad interests. This initial phase ends with a diagnostic call with a trained educator, to identify a specific research interest and project idea. Students will then begin the 10-session Core research project matched with a mentor whose expertise can support this deeper research. Our students walk away from the program with a clearer sense of their career and academic interests, research training in their particular area of interest, and a unique project outcome that they can share with the world.

Apply to Pathfinders

What do I get with Pathfinders

Everything in the Core Program, plus
3 discovery sessions beforehand, each with a different mentor.
A customized diagnostic report from a trained educator that outlines opportunities for what types of work or projects the student should complete next.

What is the Premium Showcasing Bundle?

Premium Showcasing Bundle is a 13-session research and publication project experience that builds off of the Core Program. Students will begin the 10-session Core research project matched with a mentor whose expertise can support this deeper research, and follow it with an additional 3-session phase designed to help students build a specific and structured plan for how best to share their work creatively and effectively. In this phase, students are matched with a Showcasing Specialist who is trained to help them identify relevant showcasing opportunities for their research, format their work for submission, and even support them in framing their research for college applications. Students can use these sessions to prepare to publish in a journal, present at a conference, compete in a science fair, create a podcast, get an app live in the App Store, or any number of other endless opportunities.

Apply for Premium Showcasing

What do I get with Premium Showcasing:

Everything in Core, plus
3 one-on-one sessions with a Showcasing Specialist
A customized and structured showcasing plan built with a Showcasing Specialist.
Submission support to up to 3 appropriate showcasing opportunities. (Note: Showcasing to more than one opportunity is only allowed if a prior showcasing outlet did not accept the work).
Support in framing the project on college applications for students who are in their final year of high school.

What is the UCIxGATI college credit program?

The Gifted and Talented Institute (GATI) at the University of California, Irvine identifies and develops the gifts and talents of academically advanced and hardworking pre-college students from all around the world, regardless of background. The GATI program empowers pre-college students to engage innovative research and jumpstart their careers. This is an exclusive 3-credit program available only to current Polygence students and alumni. It is partially self-paced and fully remote, and does require the student to exercise strong time management as they get early exposure to the rigor of college level coursework.

Learn more about earning college credits

What do I get with UCIxGATI:

Access to the UCI library and research archives
An opportunity to submit your research to the GATI journal
The potential to receive 3 credits towards your college transcript

Project Spotlight

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Arya's Project

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How do age and biological sex influence vaccine responses and public health guidelines?

Samiya's Project

with Kim-Marie

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Interested in starting
your own project?
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