core-program

pods

pathfinders

programs

about-us

program

team

careers

projects

mentors

project-ideas

blog

mentor-faq

scholars

reviews

symposium

research-archive

research-opportunities-for-high-school-students

Our next winter deadline is December 15, 2023 11:59pm PT. Apply today to lock in your spot!

10-session deep dive into a research topic of your choice

6-week research project with an expert and peers who share your passion

A career discovery experience with 3 expert mentors in your chosen fields

research-ideas-for-high-school-students

research-opportunity-guides

showcasing-opportunities

student-faq

for-mentors

for-educators

for-parents

resources

about

outcomes

Kashish's topic is creating her first animatic using a song from the musical as the backing track. As someone with over three years of art and multimedia experience, she will be combining all her separate skills into one project. She will be going through all phases of the animation process from pre-production to post-production. Pre-production will focus on project planning, brainstorming, and storyboarding. Production will involve drawing, coloring, and video editing. Post-production will involve generating a YouTube thumbnail and description and sharing her work online.

HCI, Computer Science, Software Eng, Arts

How does a student with multimedia experience create their first animatic?

The Mind the Skin podcast addresses skin disorders and mental health. Audrey is a high school senior and aspiring global health professional, interested in the connection between mind and skin.


The goal is to create 3, 8-minute podcasts. Current titles:
-Acne and Stress
-Social phobias and Excessive Sweating
-Eczema and Anxiety

Psychology, Neuroscience, Pre-Medical Studies, Health & Medicine

Mind the Skin

It has long been known that viral infections have the possibility to predispose patients to develop autoimmune disorders, however, the exact mechanism of how they do so is unclear. Clinical evidence suggests that Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection can significantly raise the risk of autoimmune conditions, especially in illnesses such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and Multiple Sclerosis. EBV is a viral pathogen that, despite its relative obscurity in the public eye, affects upwards of 95% of the population. EBV is a member of the Herpes Virus family and is also known as Herpesvirus 4. An Epstein-Barr Infection usually does not present any symptoms however researchers have yet to determine a concise percentage of patients who are asymptomatic. That being said, a sizable portion of Epstein-Barr patients find themselves developing autoimmune disorders after their EBV infection. One common example is Rheumatoid Arthritis, an extremely common autoimmune disorder that causes severe inflammation in joints across the body and severely limits mobility. Furthermore, Multiple Sclerosis, a devastating disorder that can cause paralysis and death, has also been shown to have an association with EBV, along with Sjogren’s Syndrome, which causes dry mouth and eyes, and Lupus, which causes general inflammation across the body. Despite the prevalence of EBV, there are still many questions regarding its relation to autoimmune disorders. Particularly, there are questions regarding the impact that the severity of EBV infections has on autoimmune prognosis, the reasons why only some patients express EBV symptoms and autoimmune disease development, and the explanation as to why certain EBV infections result in certain immune disorders. Case reports regarding patients with both EBV infections and autoimmune disorders were examined in order to obtain data. Patient adaptive immune responses to EBV correlated with the progression of autoimmunity and subsequently compared to various autoimmune disorders. Along with this, looking at the pathology of an asymptomatic or healthy individual with an EBV infection may provide relevant data to be used as a control specimen. While other studies were able to detect the interrelation between EBV and specific autoimmune disorders, this study examines the greater connection between EBV and autoimmune disorders in general. The findings of this study not only shed light on EBV and autoimmune disorders in general but prompt questioning on why EBV has such a widespread impact on autoimmunity.

Immunology, microbiology, viruses, bacteria, cellular biology, genetics, epigenetics, molecular biology

Does the severity of a patient’s adaptive immune response to an EBV infection correlate to the development of autoimmunity?

Down Syndrome is a special condition that arises when a person inherits one extra chromosome more than usual, leading to them having three copies of chromosome 21 rather than two. This extra copy results in both physical and cognitive symptoms, as well as an increased risk of developing illnesses like hearing loss and heart defects. There is also a marked increased risk of getting Alzheimer’s, one of the most common types of dementia, which typically begins with memory loss and progresses to impair a person’s ability to do the simplest of tasks. Though the quality of life of people with mental disabilities has improved over the years, it is important to investigate further. This paper aims to evaluate studies that have been done on the effect of art therapy on the quality of life of people with Down Syndrome. Studies done on people with Alzheimer’s relating to art therapy have also been mentioned in this paper as the condition has additional symptoms that may add to previous ailments already being experienced by those with Down Syndrome. Art therapy is “the use of artistic methods to treat psychological disorders and enhance mental health” (Cherry, 2021). There has also been research done that suggests that engaging in creative activities, such as art, can improve mental health as well as delay dementia in some cases, which is a symptom of Alzheimer’s. However it must be considered that to truly test the effect of Art Therapy on people with Down Syndrome, studies must be conducted with appropriate participant samples.

nursing, healthcare, education at college level, psychology, biology, medicine, behavioral health, mental health, leadership, addiction

Analyzing the Effect of Art Therapy on Enhancing the Quality of Life in People With Down Syndrome

This review paper will discuss the effects of pharmacological and physiological treatments on the cellular mechanisms responsible for Multiple Sclerosis. Notably, the demyelination of axons. This topic will be greatly explored and thoroughly explained throughout the paper as well as the purpose of the treatments to hinder these mechanisms.
In this comprehensive review, several treatments for Multiple Sclerosis, both physiological and pharmacological, will be analyzed compared in terms of effectiveness. Demyelination of the axon caused by the immune system is the main factor causing Multiple Sclerosis and most physiological treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and physiotherapy have little to no effect on such mechanisms. Corticosteroids and plasmapheresis, however, have a more direct impact on the demyelinating mechanism and are therefore more effective in slowing the progression of Multiple Sclerosis.  

Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurodegenerative Disease, Genetics

Pharmacological and Physiological Treatment and their Effects on Axon Demyelination of Multiple Sclerosis

The student is working on a very important area  of Artificial Intelligence. He is reviewing traditional machine learning approaches. He also recognizes its limitations. He is exploring the area of meta-learning. In meta-learning the focus on algorithms learning from experience and improving themselves. 

Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Arabic Linguistics

Students submitted an abstract but with no title 

The project included creating a website with information on how people can invest and increase their profit. The blogs on the website include information on basic investments, low-risk investments, and investments that are best to start for teens and young adults. The main targets of the website are teens and young adults so they can start thinking about what they are going to do with their money. The aim of the research and blog is to provide people with knowledge and options to decide where they will be putting their money. The project started off with getting a general understanding of certain types of investments and learning about some ratios. Some investments that can vary in risk are cryptocurrency, buying stocks, and traditional 401k—some calculations like the P/E ratio, compound interest, and EPS. The next step was creating a website to put blog posts about the prior research. The website is called Invest In Your Finances. The website would then be created with Wix and the blog post made along with it. The website includes over 2 pages, including the about page and the home page. The about page is general information on the aim of the website and the home page includes blogs. The starting blog post was the intro which included information on compound interest and why one should invest. There are so many ways to save and invest your money and one should continue to seek ways to further their knowledge on increasing their finances.

Entrepreneurship, Business creation, Corporate leadership, Stocks, Financial literacy, Historical topics on business, Investing, Evolution of nutrition,

How can we improve financial literacy for teens and young adults?

There are many new tools for genetic engineering. While none are perfect, our capacities have greatly expanded. However, with great power comes great responsibility. What are the regulations we should put in place for genetic engineering? How can we use it to make a better world?

cancer biology, immunology, bioengineering, synthetic biology, virology

The Ethics of Genetic Engineering in the Modern Era

Neuroscience, Science and Technology Studies, Infectious Disease, Health Economics, Health Services Research, Medical Ethics

Sleep quality plays a critical role in the well-being and cognitive functioning of individuals. In the high-stress medical field, healthcare professionals and medical students experience problems with sleeping an adequate amount. This research paper summarizes the literature on the profound effect of poor sleep quality on medical students and healthcare professionals, shedding light on sleep levels’ multifaceted consequences on their physical and mental health, job performance, and overall quality of life. Specifically, this paper analyzes the relationship between duration and quality of sleep and the quality of various aspects of the life of medical students and healthcare professionals, including social relationships, mental health, and academic performance. First, the paper will explore sleep’s effect on the social relationships of those in the medical field; specifically, the paper will analyze findings on familial and romantic relationships. This review will then highlight the effect of sleep deprivation on mental health, including the impact of poor sleep on depression and anxiety rates in healthcare professionals and medical students. Last, the paper will target the correlation between poor sleep quality and the academic performance levels of medical students. In summary, this paper will review and summarize the available research on the relationship between sleep quality and duration and life factors such as social relationships, depression and anxiety levels, and academic performance. Since research has found that the hours an individual spends sleeping have countless effects on his or her quality of life, it is vital that research is conducted to explore the importance of sleep further to better understand the correlation between sleep and various aspects of life.

Alcohol neuroscience, science of sleep, pharmacology, psychiatry/neurobiology of psychiatric disease, the relationship between brain and behavior, genetics

How does sleep time affect academic performance, relationships, mental health, and other aspects of life in medical students and healthcare professionals?

This review examines the neuro-cognitive correlates of simultaneous language acquisition, primarily focusing on children under the age of 14. It will examine the associated linguistic and neurological processes including the following: discrimination and selection, prosodic classification, inhibitory control, and code switching. These processes employ cognitive systems unique from those of monolingual communication and even cause alterations in neuroanitomical structure. Analysis of these alterations will be presented in the forms of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Additionally, the review will also investigate the presence of a developmental disparity between monolinguals and bilinguals, considering several major hypotheses regarding causation and seeking to determine long-term impact.

Psychology, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Language education

Cognitive Correlates of Language Acquisition and Discrimination in Simultaneous-Bilingual Infants

This research project seeks to reveal how different pH environments affect the physical features of Atlantic Ribbed Mussels (*Geukensia demissa*). The Ribbed Mussel shells, emptied of soft tissue, were sampled from Lake Merritt in Oakland, California and were divided amongst four pH water groups (8.4, 8, 7.7, and 6 pH). The shell length and weight were recorded on a weekly basis over the course of three weeks. It was hypothesized that, if pH decreases and the water has a higher acidity, then the weight and length of the Ribbed Mussel shells would decrease. However, after three weeks, the research indicated that there was no strong correlation between decreasing the pH and shell weight and length.

Nature-based solutions, biological indicators, wetland ecology, fish biology

How does water quality affect mass and length of soft-shelled clam?

Abstract: Stem cells are believed to show much promise in treating human diseases by the scientific community even though there are no cures have been realized, no major disease mechanisms have been uncovered, and no new drugs have been developed. For at least now, human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can only be attained by destroying live human embryos. This leads to a fascinating question of considering allowing the destruction of live human embryos in the hope of finding a cure for many diseases for the existing human population and at what point of development of an embryo do we deem it human. However, a viable alternative to ESCs with equal therapeutic potential exists which is the Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). IPSCs offer a new approach to regenerative medicine because they can provide personalized-medicine therapies that other technologies cannot and avoid the ethical conundrum that surrounds ESCs.Recent work showed that the signaling pathways controlling pluripotency in IPSCs and ESCs are remarkably similar. Since embryonic stem cell research is very controversial and restricted,  It is widely believed in the medical community that Induced Pluripotent Stem cells will be able to act as a viable replacement since IPSCs provide a unique approach to disease modeling and other medicine-related therapies areas without having any ethic issues. Induced pluripotent stem cells are derived from adult somatic cells and are reprogrammed through inducing genes and factors for their pluripotency. IPSCs also have a high replicative capability and can potentially regenerate all the tissues in the human body

Stem cells, Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Cancer Metabolism, Microbiology, Pathogenesis, Metabolism, Microscopy

Induced pluripotent stem cells are a powerful therapeutic alternative to ESCs that do not overstep ethical boundaries

Neuroblastoma accounts for roughly 8% of all pediatric cancers. These tumors arise after oncogenic events in precursor cells in the neural crest during normal development. While a substantial number of patients spontaneously regress, median survival of Stage 4 disease is only 4 years. There are several known driver mutations including most commonly MYCN, ALK, and copy number variations. Additionally, studies have found a higher frequency of the disease in male patients. This paper will utilize the Genomic Data Commons Data Portal database to investigate frequency of various driver mutations and copy number alteration between genders in order to determine potential therapeutic targets. 

Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, Neurology, Medical Imaging

Differences in genetic drivers between genders in neuroblastoma patients

As weather patterns and events change across the planet, scientists increasingly look to nature for solutions on how we might slow down or reverse the effects of Climate Change. In this pod, students will learn the scientific fundamentals of what is changing in our atmosphere, explore the current carbon capture technologies and strategies, and create recommendations for the future of carbon sequestration. Each student will write a short article to be published in a pre-print archive and on a class website. 

This pod will take a one-week break the week of December 25, 2023.

Environmental Sciences (agriculture, plant biology, ecology, etc), Arts - dance or creative writing, Business Topics, and Sustainability of environmental, social, and economic topics. Solar energy development as well.

Environmental Sustainability: Using nature-based technologies to help sequester carbon and fight climate change

The purpose of this experiment is to study what happens when you split water molecules using electricity. The hydrogen gas produced can be used as renewable fuel and help slow down global warming, and conserve natural resources. During the process, an electric current from the battery will be transferred to a sodium sulfate solution and change the pH at each electrode. There will be three sub-experiments with 10 trials each to analyze the variables in the experiment including a 9-volt potential, 18-volt potential, and a sodium hydroxide solution. The pH will be measured two ways, through litmus testing paper and litmus indicator-(phenolphthalein). The independent variables will be the applied voltage and starting pH whilst the dependent variable is the pH and amount of gas produced. To ensure that there are no differences that can affect the results, the controlled variable(s) will include the sodium sulfate solution, electrodes such as nailsl, and the 9-volt battery. Considering that pH is the measure of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, the hypothesis is that during electrolysis, pH rises at the cathode, where hydroxyl ions are synthesized, and declines at the anode, where hydrogen ions are developed. Collectively, the 18-volt battery produces almost twice as much hydrogen gas as when you use a 9-volt and produces a faster reaction. Further on, if the starting solution is made basic by adding sodium hydroxide, then there was little change of the pH observed on the cathode due to the strong alkaline solution.

chemistry, physics, machine learning, computational modeling, programming, quantum chemistry

The Effect Of Electrochemical Cells On Sodium Sulfate Solutions

In his research paper, Alper will examine how the relationship between China and Taiwan evolved in the context of the Ukraine war.  Alper will measure a correlation between the drop in approval ratings of Vladimir Putin after the invasion of Ukraine and Xi Xinping’s actions relating to Chinese fighter plane sorties crossing into Taiwanese airspace. Beyond the statistical analysis of fighter plane incursions vis-a-vis the approval ratings of Russia, Alper will also explore the official statements by the Chinese government and newspaper stories to understand the Chinese and Taiwanese narratives regarding the Strait issue. 


Middle East, Russian history, Islam, colonialism, legal studies, law, world history, European history, digital humanities

Chinese-Taiwanese Relationship in the Context of post-Russian invasion of Ukraine

As income inequality widens in the United States, many pregnant women struggle to find affordable healthcare. Despite being a high-income country, the United States is one of the only developed countries worldwide not to provide universal healthcare. Although the United States allocates more money per capita, its infant and maternal mortality rates are higher than in some developed countries with universal healthcare. With a focus on maternal and natal care, this paper includes a comparative analysis of infant and maternal mortality rates in the United States, as opposed to those in other developed countries, including Norway, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. To evaluate the impact of socioeconomic status and healthcare structure roles in infant and maternal mortality rates, this paper discusses previous research studies that find pregnant women and mothers with less access to healthcare facing complications from pregnancy and childbirth at a higher rate, explains how socioeconomic status correlates with the quality of prenatal and postnatal healthcare, and examines how access to and type of insurance affects prenatal and postnatal healthcare through a literature review of countries’ healthcare policies, programs, histories, funds, and outcomes. In discussing the implications of this literature review, this paper offers suggestions that can be taken to improve prenatal and postnatal care and continue to decrease the maternal and infant mortality rates in the United States.

economics, political science, sociology, public policy, international development

The Impact of Socioeconomic Status and the Healthcare System on the Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates in the U.S.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are a group of three rare, life-threating conditions caused by bone marrow over proliferation. MPNs are clonal hematologic disorders that occur due to the excess accumulation of one or more myeloid cell lineages. The primary genes that have been shown to cause the neoplasms are referred to as MPN drivers. MPN drivers include the JAK2, MPL, and CALR genes. These genes have been implicated in three MPN subtypes: essential thrombocythemia,  polycythemia vera, and primary myelofibrosis. Primary myelofibrosis is the most aggressive subtype of the classical MPN, and it is characterized by megakaryocyte differentiation (myelodysplasia) which leads to the release of cytokines in the bone marrow.  Essential thrombocythemia is closely related to primary myelofibrosis as they can both be driven by and included in mutations in JAK2, MPL, and CALR. Polycythemia vera has only been shown to be caused by mutations in MPL and CALR. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the role that the JAK2, MPL, and CALR genes play in the development of myeloproliferative neoplasms.

The role of JAK2, MPL, and CALR genetic mutations in the development of myeloproliferative neoplasms

One area of increased attention for defense departments around the world is the area of cybersecurity. This paper takes two very different players in cybersecurity--the US and Iran--to outline their general approaches, find areas of potential conflict, and outline potential policy proposals to avoid confrontation in the future. In this sense, this paper makes a wider contribution to the many ways in which states are pursuing cyber goals today and also contributes to the discussion of how even non-allied states might work together in this sphere.

Cold War, History of Empire, Germany, Modern Europe, History of Technology

Cybersecurity Policies and International Relations: The Case of the US and Iran

A wearable haptic device that a blind user would wear on their arm. Using a camera situated on their wrist, it would sense and recognize real-life objects in front of the user. It would sense basic properties of the object and then direct the user’s arm in the direction of the object. An example would be picking up a water bottle right in front of the user. Through AI recognition, the device would direct the user’s arm in the direction of the bottle and through a vibration que, it would tell them to open their hand and grasp the bottle.

Soft robotics, mechanical engineering, mechanical design, prototyping, rapid fabrication & additive manufacturing, mechanics of materials, prosthetics, medical & assistive robotics, mechatronics, tunable materials, actuation & sensing

A wearable haptic device to assist the visually-impaired in object identification using computer vision

Fans experience sporting events using all of their senses, one of the most crucial being sight. Thus, visually-impaired individuals lose a significant amount of sensory info when experiencing a sporting event due to the lack of visual stimuli. In order to solve this problem, we are developing a haptic feedback system to provide visual cues from a basketball game to a visually-impaired user. This system will allow the user to track the location of the ball of a pre-recorded game using a custom-designed haptic board, which works in conjunction with vibratory elements and live TV/radio commentary to help the user monitor and follow the action. Such a design, as a result, will help improve and enrich the fan experience for a visually-impaired user.

Developing a Haptic Feedback System for Visually-Impaired Tracking of NBA games

Sruthi is planning to complete a review paper on the outcomes of fixed orthodontic appliances vs clear aligners. Clear aligner therapy and fixed orthodontic appliances are both effective treatments for misaligned teeth. However, there are some key differences between these two options including duration of treatment, patient satisfaction, and other factors. Sruthi will look at the literature and determine what outcomes she wants to focus on and complete a project doing so. 

Meet Polygence Scholars and explore their projects