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MIT THINK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Our 2024-2025 application are now open! Fill in this form to express interest in a THINK info session.
Rather than requiring students to have completed a research project before applying, THINK caters to students who have done extensive research on the background of a potential research project, but lack the resources to complete the project themselves and are looking for additional guidance in the early stages of their project. The program is organized by a group of undergraduates at MIT.
the PREMISE
Selected finalists have weekly mentorship meetings with THINK team members for technical guidance, helpful resources, and updates on the projects progress and are given up to $1,000 in funding for their project. Additionally, if permitting, finalists are invited to a four-day all-expenses paid trip to MIT's campus , where they tour labs, present their research to MIT students and faculty, and hang out with members of the THINK team.
THINK project proposals are science, technology, and engineering ideas that span many fields, from green technologies and practical devices to software applications. As long as it can be completed in one semester with a $1,000 budget, almost anything is fair game! A good proposal has an insightful idea , clearly defined goals , and a well thought-out procedure for implementation .
For complete information on how to apply and an example finalist proposal, please download and read the full guidelines.
Nov ember . 1, 2024.
Applications to the MIT THINK Scholars Program open online at think.mit.edu. High school students generate exciting STEM research ideas to submit to the competition.
Jan uary . 1, 2025
Applications are due. Students finish submitting project proposals to be evaluated by the MIT THINK committee and professors.
Jan uary . 30, 2025
Semifinalists are announced and interviewed.
Feb uary . 5, 2025
Finalists are announced and notified of mentorship from MIT professors and researchers in their field and project funding!
Feb ruary . 2025
Finalists virtually get guidance on projects, engage in thought-provoking conversations with mentoring professors, learn about research in MIT labs, tour MIT and Boston, bond with fellow finalists and the THINK team, and receive loads of THINK swag.
Jun e . 2025
Finalists complete their projects. Upon completion of their projects, finalists present their final results to the THINK team, their fellow finalists, and other MIT students.
See a full list of THINK winners from 2023 , 2020 , 2019 , 2018 , 2017 , 2016 , and 2015 .
Julia casey (co-director), class of 2026 | chemical engineering.
Julia is a junior from a cornfield in southern Indiana studying chemical engineering with focuses on polymers and sustainability. On campus, Julia is passionate about opening up higher education opportunities to under-resourced students, but is also involved in ChemE competition team, AiChE, and makerspaces. In her free time Julia enjoys biking, hiking, spending time in nature, and exploring Boston.
Caitlin Ogoe (Advisor)
Class of 2025 | computer science and brain/cognitive science.
Caitlin is a Senior from Western Colorado, studying Computer Science and Brain and Cognitive Science. Caitlin is super excited to get to help extend an opportunity for students from rural schools to gain research experience and to learn a ton from the super talented students who pass through this program every year. She loves picking new color palates for her Google Calendars, eating food that comes in bowls, and petting her cat, Pickles.
Andrew Yuan (Co-Director)
Class of 2027 | mathematics, computer science and engineering.
Andrew is a sophomore from Maryland studying math (course 18) and computer science (course 6-3). Having participated in research programs in high school, he is excited to give back through THINK and help younger students pursue their passions. In his free time, Andrew likes to play chess, volleyball, and various video games.
Katherine Xie
Class of 2026 | computer science and neuroscience.
Katherine is a junior from New Jersey. She is studying computer science and neuroscience. In her free time, she can be found listening to music, playing squash, or hanging out with friends. As a part of THINK, Katherine is excited to create STEM research opportunities for high schoolers and give back to the community as a mentor.
Abena Kyereme-Tuah
Class of 2026 | computer science and engineering.
Abena is a junior from Northern Virginia. She is interested in the intersection between computer science and medicine, as well as the process behind business management. In her free time, Abena enjoys dancing, baking, and reading books. She is very excited to be a part of THINK and be able to help students gain access to resources to further their passions.
Julianna Lian
Class of 2026 | chemistry.
Julianna is a junior from South Florida majoring in chemistry (Course 5). In her free time, she likes to run around, find good eats, and explore the city. Julianna has really enjoyed mentoring high school students through THINK and looks forward to providing support for these students and the projects they are excited about!
Class of 2026 | Computer Science and Molecular Biology
Hi! I'm a current junior at MIT majoring in 6-7 (Computer Science and Molecular Biology) from Shoreline, Washington! I'm interested in solving computational problems in medicine, innovative ideas for patient and personalized care, and more! I also love beading, music, running, and Zelda!
William Gvozdjak
Class of 2028 | mathematics, computer science and engineering.
William is a freshman from Washington state's Seattle area who is planning on studying computer science and mathematics. Apart from academics, you can find him watching and following sports (Seattle Seahawks and Tottenham Hotspur, somewhat unfortunately), going for runs, or playing the occasional game of Tetris. In THINK, William is excited to help make research more accessible and approachable for high schoolers!
Larissa is a junior from south Florida studying computer science and molecular biology (Course 6-7). She is interested in engineering new tools to study the immune system and infectious disease. She is excited to mentor students on research projects and read about new ideas. Outside of THINK, Larissa works on the campus ambulance and teaches ESOL classes.
Norina Zhang
Class of 2028 | mathematics, finance.
Norina is a freshman from New York and is planning on majoring in math and finance. Outside of school, she loves late-night walks, coffee, and traveling. She is excited to mentor students and provide them with as much support as possible!
Class of 2028 | Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence
Hello! I am Aaron, and I am a freshman! I am currently studying pure mathematics and artificial intelligence. I did some research during high school, and I am currently doing research at MIT! I want to help more people conduct research and flourish their ideas to their full potential. In my free time, I love to cook, watch sports, and listen to music!
Class of 2028 | Computer Science and Neuroscience
Sara is a freshman from Northern Kentucky. She’s planning to study computer science and neuroscience, and is interested in medical devices, clinical AI, and healthcare accessibility. In her free time, Sara enjoys reading, writing, making art, and spending time with friends and family.
The THINK team has also created a resources document to help applicants write a clear, effective proposal and succeed in their research project. We encourage applicants, especially those with less previous research experience, to read this document.
How do I apply?
Can my proposal be longer than ten pages, do references/cover pages/figures count in the ten page limit, i am in a team of two. how do we create an account for two people, i am an international student. can i still apply, who judges these applications, how will i know if i won, where can i send my other questions.
Interested in sponsoring THINK? Please contact us at think-cr [at] mit [dot] edu.
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Participating in a science research competition as a high schooler can not only allow you to explore one of your passions, but also make you a more competitive candidate during the college admissions process.
The SRC Grand Finals are the culmination of a year-long competition that involved more than 323 computer science students presenting research projects at 21 major ACM conferences. Students can gain many tangible and intangible rewards from participating in one of ACM’s Student Research Competitions.
The Undergraduate Research Project Competition (USRESP) is a competition for research projects conducted by undergraduate statistics and data science students. The USRESP Submission Form can be found HERE.
Regeneron STS is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school students. Started in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, Regeneron STS recognizes and empowers our nation’s most promising young scientists who are developing ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.
Here are 15 Research Competitions for High School Students: 1. Regeneron Science Talent Search. This talent hunt, which began in 1942 as a program of the Society for Science & the Public (the Society), is widely regarded as the nation's most renowned high school science research competition.
Undergraduate Statistics Research Project Competition (USRESP): This competition is for undergraduate students who conduct research projects related to statistics or data science, either methodological or applied.
1, 2024. Applications to the MIT THINK Scholars Program open online at think.mit.edu. High school students generate exciting STEM research ideas to submit to the competition. Jan uary. 1, 2025. Applications are due. Students finish submitting project proposals to be evaluated by the MIT THINK committee and professors. Jan uary. 30, 2025.
Research competitions offer high school students a stage to demonstrate their talents and pursue academic excellence. These events challenge participants to think critically, innovate, and present their findings to peers and professionals alike. Let’s focus on the premier contests and their benefits.
The class project competition is for undergraduate students who conduct projects as part of an introductory or intermediate level statistics or data science course. Most projects submitted to the USCLAP competition involve analyzing real data using existing statistical techniques.
Research project competitions are valuable teamwork exercises that help develop students’ scientific and creative mindsets – in addition to the encouragement they will glean from being merited and recognised.