Empowering Tomorrow’s Minds: High School Research

High School Research

LifeLaunchr’s Groundbreaking Research Program for High School Students

Overview

Empowering Tomorrow’s Minds is LifeLaunchr’s innovative two-phase research program designed to give high school students a competitive edge in college admissions and develop crucial academic skills. This program offers a unique pathway to conducting and publishing peer-reviewed research, which is particularly valuable for students interested in STEM fields.

Program Structure

Phase 1: Literature Review and Question Definition

Key Objectives:

  • Select a topic area
  • Find relevant literature
  • Draft a literature review
  • Refine the research question
  • Apply for Phase 2

Duration: 12 weeks

Cost: $4,500

Phase 2: Pathway to Publication

Key Objectives:

  • Refine the research question
  • Develop a review protocol
  • Write a manuscript following PRISMA guidelines
  • Present findings to an academic panel
  • Submit work to a peer-reviewed journal

Duration: 19 weeks

Cost: $9,950

Key Features

  1. Mentorship: Students work closely with LifeLaunchr coaches and research mentors throughout the program.
  2. Publication Focus: The program is designed to lead students towards publishing peer-reviewed research.
  3. Skill Development: Cultivates essential academic skills such as attention to detail, depth of knowledge, creativity, and intellectual curiosity.
  4. Presentation Opportunities: Students give pitch presentations and a final 20-minute formal presentation open to the public.
  5. PRISMA Guidelines: Students learn to use tools like the PRISMA 2020 checklist to meet journal standards.
  6. Selective Admission: Applications for both phases are selective, including an application on the LifeLaunchr website and an interview with a faculty member.

Why Research Matters

  • Research experience significantly enhances a student’s college application:
    • Demonstrates “unusual academic promise” for institutions like Harvard.
  • Nearly one-third of admitted students at UPenn have research experience.
  • Yale, Columbia, and Brown actively encourage research participation.

Program Leadership

  • Venkates Swaminathan: Founder and CEO of LifeLaunchr, M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois
  • Prof. Robert Malkin, Ph.D.: Professor of the Practice, Emeritus, Duke University; Founder and Academic Director of the International Research Institute of NC

Application Process

  1. Fill out an application on the LifeLaunchr website.
  2. Interview with a faculty member
  3. For Phase 2, review of work completed in Phase 1

Deadlines (for Phase 1 Applicants)

  • Priority Deadline: February 1
  • Regular Deadline: April 30

Benefits

  • Valuable research experience
  • Enhanced college application profiles
  • Development of critical academic skills
  • Potential for published research in peer-reviewed journals

Empowering Tomorrow’s Minds offers a structured, mentored pathway for high school students to engage in meaningful research, setting them apart in the competitive landscape of college admissions and beyond. With its comprehensive approach and focus on publication, this program provides a unique opportunity for students to develop their academic prowess and contribute to their chosen fields of study.

Application Form