
Research Intensive For High School Students
Work with scientists from a top research university. Earn college credit. Develop a college-level research project. Get published. Stand out in the competitive college admissions process.
Apply NowResearch Intensive For High School Students
Work with scientists from a top research university. Earn college credit. Develop a college-level research project. Get published. Stand out in the competitive college admissions process.
Apply Now
Rising Researchers is a research experience like no other. This research program offers college credit, a certificate of completion, and has clear deliverables that provide our students with an edge in college admissions.
- Work virtually, while still performing cutting edge research, under the guidance of a scientist at a top research university
- Earn 2 college credits
- Receive a certificate of completion – highlighting your participation in college-level research
- Work is showcased through a research report + poster presentation
- Publication in UMass’s research journal
- Weekly office hours for individualized support from both the scientist running the course + an experienced admissions counselor who will show you how to highlight this experience
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Summer 2022 - APPLICATION CLOSED
Microbiology & Bioinformatics Research Intensive – APPLICATION CLOSED
Course Overview
During the Summer Research Intensive Course students will explore microbiology and bioinformatics under the guidance of a scientist from UMass. This is a 4-week online summer research class with four learning units organized by themes. The course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the principles of the scientific method, microbiology and bioinformatics; the use of online computer resources to understand molecular biology information.
Through lectures, hands-on experiments at home, online databases, computer software, class and small group discussions, students will delve into the microbial world with emphasis on the interactions of microorganisms with humans and plants, and their impact on disease and agriculture. The hands-on experiments and bioinformatics analyses will emphasize the proper use of the scientific method to answer a research question, develop a hypothesis, safely carry out experiments at home, make observations, analyze, interpret and communicate results.
Course syllabus and learning objectives can be found here
Learning Units
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The scientific method and introduction to microbiology and bioinformatics to analyze molecular biology information.
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Host-microbe interactions including the human microbiome and bacteria-plant interactions.
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Microbial genetics and isolation of bacteria from host tissue.
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Bioinformatics tools to address a microbiology or molecular biology question by searching and analyzing DNA and protein sequences from online databases and computer software, and interpreting search results.
Program Details
Dates: July 5 – July 29, 2022
Schedule: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 3pm – 5pm ET (live lessons), office hours + Q&A on Friday 3pm – 4pm ET
Academic Credit: 2 College Credits + Certification of Completion issued by University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass)
Student Profile: Rising 9th – 12th grade. International students are welcome to apply.
Course Prerequisites: This course has no course prerequisites, but requires students to be committed to attend classes, learn, fully participate in the class experiments and discussions, and be respectful to each other.
Format: Online with live (synchronous) sessions + offline (asynchronous) assignments.
Cost: $4,900. Get a $200 discount if you apply before May 1.
Payment Details: A 50% deposit is required to secure a student’s spot, with the remaining balance due 60 days prior to the program start date. Non-refundable.
Application Deadline: June 1, 2022 or when all spots have been filled (rolling admissions). Space is limited.
Course syllabus and learning objectives can be found here
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Winter 2023
Machine Learning for Health Equity Research Intensive Camp
Course Overview
Welcome to our winter Research Intensives Course where we will explore the use of computing and statistical tools for health equity research. This is an 8-week online winter research class with four learning units organized by themes.
The course is designed to provide you with an introduction to statistical and machine learning techniques for understanding, finding, and explaining health equity gaps in electronic health records data. Through lectures, hands-on experiments, public electronic health records databases, basic machine learning algorithms, basic statistical skills and tools, class and small group discussions, and oral presentations, we will delve into the computational world with emphasis on human diseases like cardiovascular disease and health equity issues. The hands-on patient cohort selection and machine learning modeling will emphasize the proper use of the scientific method to answer a research question, develop a hypothesis, carry out computational tasks, make observations, analyze, interpret and communicate results.
Course syllabus and learning objectives can be found here
Learning Units
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Introduction to the scientific method of research; with emphasis on hypothesis
generation and testing, using statistical tests. -
Introduction to statistical sampling and patient selection criteria.
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Introduction to social determinants of health (SDoH) and their importance in
patient care and health outcomes. -
Introduction to machine learning modeling tools to detect and “explain” health
equity gaps and their association with social determinants of health.
Program Details
Dates: January 9 – March 23, 2023
Schedule: Mon/Wed 7pm – 8:30pm ET/4pm – 5:30pm PT (live lessons), office hours + Q&A on Friday 6:30pm – 7:30pm ET/3:30pm – 4:30pm PT
Academic Credit: 2 College Credits + Certification of Completion issued by University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass)
Student Profile: Rising 9th – 12th grade. International students are welcome to apply.
Course Prerequisites: This course has no course prerequisites, but requires students to be committed to attend classes, learn, fully participate in the class experiments and discussions, and be respectful to each other.
Format: Online with live (synchronous) sessions + offline (asynchronous) assignments.
Cost: $4,900. Apply by Nov 1 to get $200 off.
Payment Details: A 50% deposit is required to secure a student’s spot, with the remaining balance due 60 days prior to the program start date. Non-refundable.
Application Deadline: January 2, 2023 or when all spots have been filled (rolling admissions). Space is limited.
Course syllabus and learning objectives can be found here
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As seen in
- A Guide For Pursuing Independent Scientific Research Opportunities In High School
- A Blueprint For High School Students To Pursue Research And Get Published
- What An Extracurricular List For A BS/MD Candidate Should Look Like
- Online Opportunities For Premed Students During Covid-19
- 6 Ways Students Can Use School Closings To Prepare For College Applications
Meet Our Happy Students & Parents

College Admissions Advantage
It is getting increasingly harder to stand out from the masses in the college admissions process. A high GPA is simply not enough to get into a top-tier university. How students spend their time outside of the classroom is closely examined and is an integral part of the application process.
With more colleges becoming test-optional, increased emphasis is placed on extracurricular achievements. It is critical to demonstrate depth and commitment in your activities.

Direct Medical (BS/MD) Applicants
With the acceptance rates at U.S. medical schools being so low and the admissions process so grueling, BS/MD Programs have grown in both popularity and competitiveness. These programs have always been selective, but with each passing application cycle, the competition is getting fiercer.
A strong BS/MD applicant will have in-depth experience in both clinical and research fields. Rising Researchers provides a way for BS/MD applicants to gain valuable research experience.
Growing Competition & Low Acceptance Rates
University |
# Applicants |
# Seats |
Admit Rate |
BS/MD: George Washington University |
1,000 |
10 |
1% |
BS/MD: Boston University |
2,000 |
25 |
1.25% |
BS/MD: Case Western Reserve University |
2,800 |
15-20 |
0.4% |
BS/MD: Rice University |
1,600 |
6 |
0.38% |
BS/MD: Brown University |
3,516 |
82 |
2.33% |
BS/MD: University of Connecticut |
1,500 |
25 |
1.67% |
BS/MD: University of Pittsburgh |
2,000 |
25 |
1.25% |
BS/MD: Rochester Institute of Technology |
500 |
5 |
1% |
Harvard University |
40,248 |
1,980 |
4.92% |
Yale University |
29,443 |
1,508 |
6.54% |
Princeton University |
32,838 |
1,823 |
5.6% |
Duke University |
39,783 |
3,057 |
7.7% |
Brown University |
36,794 |
2,523 |
6.9% |
University of Pennsylvania |
42,205 |
3,404 |
8.07% |
Columbia University |
37,389 |
2,185 |
5.8% |
Dartmouth University |
20,034 |
2,092 |
10.4% |
Cornell University |
47,038 |
5,889 |
12.5% |

What Makes Rising Researchers Unique?
Get Published In A Scientific Research Journal
Not only do students earn 2 college credits, but they will also have their research published in UMass’s scientific research journal. This intensive course walks students through the entire scientific writing process with the goal of creating a research report and poster that will be published. Stand out in the competitive college admissions process by submitting your publication with your college applications.
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