10 WEEK INTENSIVE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Summit Research Discovery
- Tuition: $2,999
- Location: Remote
- Best Suited For: High school students ready to experience advanced research in a collaborative small-group setting
- Research Team: 4 students
- Duration: 10 Weeks (8 Weeks Research Mentoring + 1 Week Editing Support + 1 Week Submission Support)
Overview:
Summit Research Discovery is a collaborative research program that brings together small teams of up to four students to conduct AP-level to early college-level research under the guidance of an expert research mentor. Students select from focused research topics in fields such as biology, chemistry, psychology, economics, and other academic disciplines and work together to develop a shared scholarly paper.
Through structured research mentorship, writing and editing support, and guided submission preparation, students learn how academic research is developed collaboratively and work toward a submission-ready manuscript for a high school research journal. Students who demonstrate consistent participation, complete assigned work, and make meaningful contributions throughout the research and writing process are eligible to earn co-first authorship on the completed paper.
Program Breakdown
8 Weeks of Collaborative Research Mentoring
- Work in a small research team of up to four students
- Select from a range of preset, focused research topics
- Conduct literature review, research development, analysis, and academic writing
- Receive structured weekly guidance from an expert research mentor
- Complete a full collaborative research paper draft by the end of the mentoring period
- Receive individual responsibilities and writing assignments as part of the research team
1 Week of Research Editing Support
- Receive detailed mentor feedback and editing recommendations
- Revise assigned sections based on feedback
- Strengthen clarity, organization, analysis, argumentation, and academic writing
- Complete multiple rounds of revision as needed
- Prepare a polished final manuscript for submission
1 Week of Submission Support
- Transition the completed manuscript to Summit’s submission support team
- Identify an appropriate high school research journal or publication outlet
- Format the manuscript according to submission requirements
- Prepare necessary submission materials
- Receive guidance through the submission process
Curriculum Highlights:
- AP-level to early college-level research
- Collaborative research in teams of up to four students
- Focused research topics across multiple academic disciplines
- Literature review and scholarly source analysis
- Research methodology and analytical reasoning
- Collaborative academic writing
- Citation and academic formatting
- Structured mentor feedback and revision
- Academic authorship and research responsibility
- Journal submission preparation
Program Benefits:
- Completion of a collaborative, submission-ready research paper
- Opportunity to earn co-first authorship
- Opportunity to submit to a high school research journal
- Experience conducting advanced research as part of a small academic team
- Expert research mentorship
- Structured writing and editing support
- Exposure to the academic publication process
- Certificate of Completion
- Meaningful academic experience to highlight in college applications
Co-First Authorship
Co-first authorship is earned, not automatically granted.
Students who meet the program’s standards for attendance, timely completion of assignments, collaboration, and meaningful contribution to the research and writing process are eligible to earn co-first authorship on the team’s completed paper.
Because collaborative research depends on every member of the team, students are expected to remain actively engaged throughout the program. Failure to meet participation or contribution requirements may affect authorship designation or eligibility for authorship.
Group Research Topics: *
- Can Cancer Be Detected Before Symptoms Appear?
Academic areas: Biology, medicine, genetics, and biomedical engineering
Good for: Students interested in pre-med, cancer biology, genetics, medical technology, or healthcare.
No laboratory experience is required. - The Next Antibiotic Crisis: Can Science Defeat Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Academic areas: Biology, microbiology, chemistry, medicine, and public health
Good for: Students interested in pre-med, biology, chemistry, infectious disease, drug development, or global health. - Always Connected, Increasingly Alone? Social Media and Adolescent Mental Health
Academic areas: Psychology, behavioral science, sociology, and public health
Good for: Students interested in psychology, mental health, human behavior, social media, or adolescent development. - Will Artificial Intelligence Replace Workers—or Create Better Jobs
Academic areas: Economics, labor studies, public policy, and technology
Good for: Students interested in economics, public policy, AI, inequality, or the changing future of work. - Why Do We Buy What We Buy? The Science of Consumer Decision-Making
Academic areas: Business, marketing, behavioral economics, and consumer psychology
Good for: Students interested in business, entrepreneurship, marketing, branding, psychology, or social-media influence. - Can Data Predict Which Communities Face the Greatest Health Risks
Academic areas: Data science, statistics, public health, and social science
Good for: Students interested in working with real-world data, identifying social patterns, healthcare disparities, or learning basic statistical analysis.
Some comfort with numbers is helpful. - Can Machines Detect Misinformation Better Than Humans?
Academic areas: Computer science, machine learning, data science, media studies, and AI ethics
Good for: Students interested in AI, programming, online misinformation, digital media, or technology ethics.
Basic coding experience is helpful but may not be required, depending on the project design. - How Does the Past Get Rewritten? History, Memory, and National Identity
Academic areas: History, political science, cultural studies, and media studies
Good for: Students interested in history, politics, international relations, culture, film, museums, or how different societies interpret the past.
Strong reading and writing interests are especially helpful. - What Is Really in Our Water? Microplastics, “Forever Chemicals,” and Human Health
Academic areas: Environmental science, chemistry, biology, public health, and environmental policy
Good for: Students interested in environmental science, sustainability, chemistry, public health, pollution, or protecting natural resources.
No laboratory experience is required.
Students could divide the project into microplastics, PFAS, sources of contamination, human-health effects, water-treatment methods, and government regulation. - Can Engineers Build a Better Prosthetic? The Future of Assistive Technology
Academic areas: Biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, robotics, materials science, and human-centered design
Good for: Students interested in engineering, pre-med, robotics, product design, biomechanics, or developing technology that improves people’s lives.
Prior engineering or coding experience is not required
* These are recommended research topics to help you find a direction that excites you. When you apply, you’ll choose a field of research rather than a fixed title, and once your group is formed, your mentor will work with the team to shape the specific paper topic. If you have a particular topic in mind, you’re welcome to pursue it as a solo research project, developed one-on-one with your mentor and guided by Summit’s research framework to keep it rigorous and on track.
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- Email: contact@summitinst.com
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- Weekly virtual information sessions (TBA)
- Program-specific Q&A sessions
testimonial
What Our Students Say
Summit professors go above and beyond to create a dynamic learning environment. They challenge students to think critically and foster a genuine love for knowledge. One aspect that sets Summit apart is its commitment to experiential learning. Through my research project, I gained practical insights that complemented my theoretical knowledge. These hands-on experiences not only enhanced my resume but also provided me with a deeper understanding of my chosen field. The mentorship I received every week has been invaluable, shaping my academic pursuits and inspiring me to push the boundaries of my intellectual curiosity. Summit deserves recognition for its dedication and expertise.
My experience at Summit was transformative. Working one-on-one with my mentor not only deepened my understanding of molecular biology but also gave me the confidence to publish my first research paper. Presenting at the Summit Symposium was one of the proudest moments of my academic journey.
Summit Research paired me up with the perfect mentor for my research interests, which included a combination of economics and statistics. With the support of my mentor, I was able to conduct a research project of my choice, learn how to write an academic research abstract, and present my work at an international conference. This experience was academically enriching and a great addition to my resume. Now as a student at Wharton, I plan to continue using my learned research skills to conduct further research on labor markets and economics.
At Summit Institute, I worked closely with a professor of linguistics to analyze conceptual metaphors in the lyrics of popular songs. This was an amazing opportunity to develop my critical thinking, analytical, and academic writing skills, all while focusing on a particular and very specific area of interest. My mentor was incredibly enthusiastic about the subject matter and encouraged me to continue this research at the University level. As a first-year student at Cornell University, I am prepared to conduct meaningful research in the social sciences and I am excited to apply these new skills.
At Summit, I was able to research metabolomics and exposomics, two emerging fields in bioinformatics that aim to identify products of both secondary and primary metabolism that are linked to disease. My mentor provided amazing guidance and support, teaching me various research techniques, helping me to improve my analytical reading skills, as well as showing me the foundations of academic writing. Looking back on this experience, I believe that it will definitely help me in my college classes as well as prepare me for a career in bioinformatics.
My project with Summit allowed me the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in statistics. My mentor was very knowledgeable about the subject and helped me to come up with a relevant research project. Together, we delved into various statistical methods, working to hone my analytical skills. The project not only broadened my understanding of statistics but also provided valuable insights into its practical applications. I am excited to conduct more research next year!
