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Interested in learning more about Research Science Institute? Maybe you've heard that the RSI Summer Program is the most competitive science research program for high school students in the US, and attending it is one of the best ways to get the attention of top-tier colleges. But what is the Research Science Institute, and what do participants do there? And how can you be one of the lucky few who get accepted? This guide will answer all those questions and give you tips on how to create a standout RSI application.

What Is Research Science Institute? What Do Participants Do?

The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a summer program for rising high school seniors, but it's not just any summer program . RSI is probably the most prestigious science research program in the country for high school students, and being able to include it on your resume can give your college applications a huge boost.

Each summer, 80 high school students who are selected for RSI spend six weeks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Roughly a third of those admitted come from outside the US. There is no cost to attend the program.

The Research Science Institute was founded in 1984 as a way for high-achieving rising seniors to conduct high-quality science and engineering research before entering college. The program combines courses that focus on scientific theory with hands-on STEM research. Participants will experience the entire research cycle from start to finish. Some activities RSI students will do include:

• Reading current literature in their field of research
• Drafting and executing a detailed research plan
• Delivering written and oral reports of their findings

The first week of the course will consist of intensive STEM and humanities courses taught by MIT professors and researchers. For the subsequent five weeks, students will conduct individual research projects while being mentored by experienced scientists. Research projects take place off-campus, often at MIT labs, Harvard labs, or with a local company. During this time, there are guest lectures in the evening several times a week. Many of the lecturers are Nobel Prize winners and other leaders in their field. The final week is spent preparing and giving written and oral presentations on the research.

The research projects completed by participants are easily college-level in depth and difficulty. Students admitted to RSI get a very rare opportunity to conduct their own high-level research project and learn from MIT researchers and professors. You can view past RSI projects to get a sense of what participants do during the program (the link only shows math-related research projects, but projects are undertaken in many STEM areas).

How Competitive Is RSI?

As we mentioned above, RSI is very competitive. Each year, the program receives over 1,600 applications for 80 spots. That's an acceptance rate of less than 5%, on par with many Ivy League college acceptance rates . That means, hypothetically, a student could be accepted to Harvard, Yale, MIT itself etc. but not be competitive enough to get into RSI.

So what does this mean? First, you'll need to have a very strong application to get into RSI (we go into how to do this in the next three sections). Second, it means that, if you do get into RSI, colleges are going to be very impressed. Our co-founder, Allen Cheng, believes that his participation in RSI is one of the major reasons he got into Harvard . As he states, if a college sees that an applicant has already been admitted into a highly-selective program like RSI, they're much more likely to believe you're a standout applicant and worth seriously considering.

What Does RSI Look for in Applicants?

RSI admissions are based solely on academics and accomplishments; knowing the "right people" or being a legacy won't have any impact on your chances of getting in. It's all up to you. 

For academics, RSI recommends PSAT scores of 740+ in Math and 700+ in EBRW OR an ACT Math score of 33+ and English/Science/Reading scores of 34+. On the RSI website, they specifically recommend taking the PSAT, so that's the test you should take if you're deciding between that and the ACT.

For high school grades, RSI looks for "exceptional strong academic ability" in math, science, and verbal subjects, although no average or recommended GPA is given. However, because the program is so competitive, we recommend aiming for at least the top 5% in your class and for test scores, if not the top 1% , as well as taking advanced classes like honors and AP.

In terms of achievements, RSI is looking specifically for leadership and research experience, as well as a passion for STEM. Rather than having a lot of extracurriculars you spent a little time on, it's better to have a smaller list of extracurriculars that you've really committed to and shown leadership in. We call this a spike , and it's what top-tier colleges look for as well. Examples of things that'd stand out to RSI include:

• Research experience, with a bonus for being published in a scientific journal
• Leadership roles in extracurriculars (club president, starting your own club /company, etc.)
• Awards and achievements in other STEM competitions ( Science Olympiad , Chemistry Olympiad, Regeneron ISEF, etc.)
• Clear passion for a subject (i.e. most/all your extracurriculars focus on it)

How to Apply to the Research Science Institute

Once you've decided you want to apply to the Research Science Institute, what do you do now? Follow these six steps to apply to the RSI.

#1: Make Sure You Meet the Eligibility Requirements

RSI's eligibility requirements are pretty basic, but there's no wiggle room with them so you need to be sure to meet them. For US students (and US citizens living abroad), only current high school juniors can apply; the program takes place the summer between junior and senior year. No students in other grades will be accepted. RSI has partnerships with several dozen countries outside the US, and there are specific eligibility criteria for each.

If you're an international student, contact Ms. Maite Ballestero , who is the Executive Vice President of Programs. She'll help you determine if your home country participates in RSI and put you in contact with the right agency conducting selection for your country.

#2: Fill Out the Application

#3: answer the rsi essay questions, #4: get letters of recommendation, #5: send standardized test scores and high school transcript.

RSI requires applicants to send in test scores from all the standardized tests they've taken, including the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP. They particularly recommend PSAT scores. It can take up to two weeks for official scores to be sent, so be sure not to leave this until the last minute.

They also require a high school transcript . Your school must send them an official one so they can verify your grades and coursework.

#6: Submit by the Deadline

RSI does not accept late applications, so be sure you have everything submitted by the deadline. For US students, the deadline is January 15, and for international students it's March 15. This means your application, test scores, application fee of $60, and letters of rec all need to be submitted by that date. 

How to Get Into Research Science Institute: 4 Tips

Decided that you want to attend the RSI summer program? Below are four tips to follow to give yourself the best shot at getting admitted.

#1: Participate in Other STEM Competitions

Very few RSI participants get accepted without having first taken part in science competitions. Participating in other STEM competitions shows RSI that you have exceptional STEM skills and are a leader in the field compared to your peers. We have lists of science , math , and computer science competitions for high school students, which you should definitely check out.

Some of the most popular competitions students take part in before RSI include Science Olympiad, Chemistry Olympiad, Math Olympiad, the USA Computing Olympiad, Regeneron ISEF, the Harvard/MIT Mathematics Tournament, and the MIT THINK Scholars Program. Definitely don't think you need to compete in all of these; instead, choose one or a few that match most closely with your interests.

#2: Get Research Experience

#3: make sure you have strong letters of recommendation.

The 2-3 letters of recommendation you include as part of your application are the only time RSI will get to hear about your accomplishments and strengths from someone who isn't you. Strong letters of rec--those that clearly show that you're smart, talented, and a leader--will look a lot more impressive than a generic letter.

The key to getting good letters is to ask teachers who know you best. Don't feel that you automatically need to ask your junior year math and science teachers; if you had more of a connection with, say, a teacher from your sophomore year, ask them! And if there's someone who wasn't a math/science teacher of yours but who you think would write you a really strong letter, have them submit one since you're allowed an optional third letter. Be sure to give your letter writers several weeks (we recommend 6+) to write your letter so they have time to write you a stellar letter.

#4: Aim High for Your Standardized Test Scores

With competition to get into RSI as stiff as it is, you really need to have standout standardized test scores. For the PSAT (which they recommend), you want at least a 740 on Math and a 700 in EBRW. (If you took the SAT instead, your goal score would be the same). We have lots of tips for raising your PSAT and SAT scores , including how to get a perfect SAT score . For the ACT, they recommend a Math score of at least 33 and a score of at least 34 for the Reading, English, and Science sections. To help, we have a lot of guides for raising your ACT score and getting a perfect ACT score . 

As with all other parts of the Research Science Institute application, because the program is so competitive, you want to go above and beyond the recommended test scores, so aim high--about the top 1% of test scores. For the PSAT, that's about a 730 for EBRW and a 750 for Math, and for the ACT, that's about a 34 in Math and a 35 in the other subjects.

We recommend several months of studying and time to take the SAT/PSAT/ACT more than once if need be. To help you get started, here are sample SAT and ACT study plans so you can lay out your schedule.

Summary: How to Get Into Research Science Institute

What is the Research Science Institute? The RSI summer program is one of the most prestigious research programs for high school students--and one of the most competitive as well. The MIT RSI acceptance rate is less than 5%. The MIT Research Science Institute is for rising high school seniors and takes place for six weeks over the summer on MIT's campus. It's a fantastic way to get high-quality research experience before you even start college.

In order to make your RSI summer program application as competitive as possible, aim to compete in other STEM competitions, get research experience, get strong letters of recommendation, and aim for high standardized test scores (top 1%, ideally). RSI is tough to get into, but the upside is that, even if you don't get accepted, all the work you've done will make your college applications stand out even more.

What's Next?

Interested in other extra impressive extracurriculars? Check out four examples of extracurriculars sure to impress colleges.

There are many other science competitions beyond the Research Science Institute. Check out our guide to 11 of the best science competitions for high school students.

Do you love science? Check out our guide to learn which science classes you should take in high school .

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Since 1993, the MIT Mathematics Department has participated in the Research Science Institute (RSI) , an MIT-hosted six-week summer program for rising high school seniors. RSI students are chosen for their superior achievement in math, science and engineering. The selection for RSI is done by the Center for Excellence in Education , a federally and privately funded nonprofit organization, based in Washington DC. All inquiries about applications to RSI should be directed to the CEE.

There are about 3,000 applicants to the program each year and of the 80 selected, around one third are from abroad and two thirds from the United States. About a dozen students are selected to work on research projects in mathematics. The MIT Mathematics Department Faculty Advisors for RSI match each student with a mathematics graduate student mentor with compatible interests. The graduate student mentor devises a research project, often in consultation with an MIT faculty advisor. The graduate student then meets with each of his/her mentees each weekday during the RSI program. RSI faculty advisors are Prof. David Jerison and Prof. Ankur Moitra. Program assistant is André Dixon.

Applying to RSI

The application materials and the process can be found online at CEE RSI application page .

Past Projects

At the end of the program, students make presentations to each other and to a panel of scientists who are usually former RSI participants themselves. See abstracts and papers from recent mathematics projects.

Recent Awards

RSI students often use their projects to participate in the Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS) and the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology or the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF). The mathematics group has been very well represented among the winners of these contests.

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The Ultimate Guide to Getting into Research Science Institute (RSI)

Do you want to research over the summer with the help of experienced mentors? Do you want to meet with peers who share similar interests in the sciences as you? Do you want to explore campus life at MIT?

If you said yes to all of the above, then the Research Science Institute is perfect for you! While it is a highly selective program, this prestigious cost-free summer program hosted by MIT ensures their participants will get to explore their desired research project extensively. Read this article to learn more about the program and how you can get accepted.

What is the Research Science Institute?

First started in 1984, the Research Science Institute (RSI) is an international summer research program for high school students. RSI is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and hosted by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts every summer.

During the first week of the program, students will take intensive STEM courses, but during the five weeks afterwards, participants experience the entirety of the research cycle from start to finish . They read the most current literature in their field, create a detailed research plan, and receive guidance from experienced scientists and researchers. During the final week of RSI, these projects are published in a written report and delivered through oral presentations .

Where can I see past RSI projects?

Distinguished written papers and oral presentations in 2022 can be found here . Topics can range from a variety of subjects, such as mathematics, biology, physics, and robotics. Therefore, no matter which area of STEM you want to study, it is likely that you’ll be able to explore that area within RSI.

Is RSI prestigious?

This research program is highly prestigious . RSI is known globally for its excellent curriculum and research opportunities. With the program’s association with MIT and zero costs, the program is eyed by many aspiring high school students in STEM.

Due to its stellar reputation, RSI is very difficult to get into. While they receive over 1,600 applications yearly, only 100 high school students are selected.

In fact, getting into RSI pretty much signals that you’ll be accepted to MIT, along with many top level universities like the Ivy League!

Who is eligible?

The eligibility criteria is very simple: those who are entering their final year of high school are allowed to apply. This typically describes high school juniors, or those in the third year or in grade 11. High school seniors are not allowed to apply.

It is recommended that PSAT Math Scores be at least 740 or higher and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score be 700 or higher. ACT math scores should be at least 33 and verbal scores at least 34. Those with lower scores must show strong indicators of potential in other areas of STEM and academics, such as in recommendations, high school grades, and science activities.

Applicants are divided into two categories:

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents . All U.S. students, including U.S. Citizens studying overseas, with one year remaining before graduation from high school, may apply to RSI. U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents applications are submitted directly to CEE. Students are not nominated or selected by their schools. Successful applicants will have demonstrated superior scholastic achievement in mathematics, the sciences, and verbal arts. They will have shown the potential for leadership in science and mathematics through their activities in and beyond the classroom.

International Applicants . Each participating country has its own selection procedure and selection schedule. Please contact Ms. Maite Ballestero, Executive Vice President of Programs to determine if your country participates. If it does, her team will put you in contact with the appropriate representative at the agency conducting selection for your country. For more information, click here .

What must the application include?

Each student must submit:

Essay responses to the questions in the application, such as his or her goals in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

Recommendations by two teachers (Math/Science or a research supervisor). Applicants who have participated in a research project of 4 weeks or longer at a university or a laboratory should request a recommendation from the research supervisor.

Maximum of 3 recommendation letters are accepted.

Official high school transcript.

All scores from nationwide standardized tests, including the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams.

Students planning to apply for RSI are strongly encouraged to take the PSAT.

When is the deadline for RSI?

Applications for the 2023 cohort have closed. Every year, US applicants have a deadline of January 15th , while international students have the deadline of March 15th .

All components of the application, including essay responses, transcript, test scores, and application fee of $60, will need to be submitted by the deadline.

Tips to get into RSI:

RSI can be hard to get into, but with the right preparation, you can show the admissions committee that you are committed to the field of STEM.

Tip #1 : Prioritize academics and letters of recommendation.

The first step is to have high grades in your schoolwork. It’s expected that participants of the program are passionate about schoolwork, and therefore, being able to present high grades in your transcript will be useful. Moreover, because of RSI’s emphasis on STEM, students are encouraged to take rigorous courses in math, science, and engineering. It is useful to take AP Physics 1/C and AP Calculus AB/BC, for example.

Not only will this prove your commitment to academia, but also it will allow you to have good relations with many of your teachers, who you can ask for recommendations when you are able to apply. Make sure to pay special attention in your math and science courses to build a good repertoire. Then, at least 6 weeks before the deadline of the application, you can ask for recommendations from teachers that know you best from your sophomore or junior year.

Tip #2 : Achieve high standardized exam scores.

The next step is to take standardized exams . While they are not explicitly required, having high test scores can significantly boost your chances of acceptance. If you have taken AP classes, be sure you receive 4s or 5s if possible. Be prepared to register for the PSAT, which is administered only once every year during October. The last year that you can take it before you can apply for RSI is in 11th grade, so it may be helpful to take it in earlier years. SAT or ACT scores may be submitted as well, but it’s not necessary.

Tip #3 : Participate in STEM competitions.

Try out STEM competitions . For example, joining your local science olympiad team and excelling in regional, state, and national levels will highlight your skills in science. If you’d prefer engineering, then you may join your school’s robotics club for contests and projects, or you can win medals in coding competitions like the USACO. There are a plethora of other competitions, including but not limited to Chemistry Olympiad, Math Olympiad, the USA Computing Olympiad, Regeneron ISEF, the Harvard/MIT Mathematics Tournament, and the MIT THINK Scholars Program. Find a STEM subject you are passionate about and you’ll definitely find a competition that will match your interests.

Tip #4 : Obtain prior research experience.

While RSI will engage participants into the full research process, If you’d like to get involved in research, then it’s recommended that you reach out to your high school teachers, guidance counselors, or even university professors who conduct work in your field of interest to research on your topic. Admittedly, this is the most difficult tip, as very few high schoolers are able to achieve research experience, but for those that do, they stand out from their peers. Therefore, don’t be afraid to reach out to the people in your circle to see what research opportunities may be available.

Example Student Profile: Puja Chopade

Everyone’s application is and should be different, but it may be helpful to see previous acceptee’s profiles – while they shouldn’t be copied, they can serve as an inspiration as to what you can do for your application.

Puja Chopade was a junior at Bob Jones High School when she was accepted into RSI 2022, which accepted only 81 students at the time.

Her achievements included being ranked as the second-place finalist in Pathophysiology at the Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference in early 2021, and her Science Bowl team claimed the regional title. Moreover, she served as the President and co-founder of Bob Jones Science Academy , which hosts the Bob Jones Science Challenge. She also claimed the title of 2021 Alabama Brain Bee Champion , a neuroscience competition aht is affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Moreover, she explored her hobbies in chess. She was an accomplished chess player in Madison City Chess League and was the Assistant Tournament Director of at the 2021 Fall Scholars Tournament . The year prior, she placed top ten in the 2020 Madison City SChools Tournament in the K-12 Open Section and tied for third place in the U1200 section of the Alabama State Chess Champions .

To highlight her strengths and why she was accepted, Puja’s application clearly showcased her competence in science , particularly in competitions that involved physiology. Not only did she win awards, but she held leadership positions as well , which showed her deep involvement and commitment to these communities. Finally, while not directly related to STEM, her hobby in chess proved that she had outside interests and contributed to the admissions officers’ content of her character.

Overall, Puja was strong in many areas. Her extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and diverse range of interests undoubtedly stood out, and led to her acceptance – therefore, adding these elements to your application can help you as well!

Final Thoughts

All in all, it’s incredibly crucial that you are a student who is deeply interested in STEM in order to highlight your skills to RSI. The advice listed above can provide you with a good framework for not only other summer program applications, but also applications for college when you start applying in senior year. Start early as soon as possible and don’t be afraid to pursue different interests!

If you are interested in doing university-level research or preparing for competitive programs like RSI, then you could consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research inclusion Foundation , a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.

Lydia is currently a sophomore at Harvard University, studying Molecular and Cellular Biology. During high school, she pursued engineering activities like attending the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. In her spare time, she likes to create digital art while listening to music.

Image source: Research Science Institute

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Complete Guide to the Research Science Institute

• Last modified 2024-03-05
• Published on 2023-12-12

1. What is the Research Science Institute?

The Research Science Institute was founded by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE), a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing high school and university students to a career in STEM. In addition to the Research Science Institute, this nonprofit sponsors well-known student programs such as the USA Biolympiad (USABO) and STEM Lyceums.

The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a prestigious summer program held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for 100 select high school students. Participants engage in the entire research process, including reviewing current literature, developing research plans, and presenting their findings through written and oral reports. RSI includes a week of intensive STEM classes with professors, followed by a five-week research internship where students work on individual projects under the guidance of experienced mentors. The program culminates in research presentations on the findings and process of their projects.

3. How much does Research Science Institute Cost?

RSI is cost-free for students to attend. Students will participate in the entire research cycle, take STEM classes and conduct research with accomplished professors.

4. Research Science Institute Dates

Program Deadline : Applications for RSI 2024 close on December 13, 2023 at 11:59PM E.T.

Program Dates: RSI ’24 will be in session from June 23 to August 3, 2024

When do RSI decisions come out?

Since the program doesn’t offer rolling admission, all students are informed of their status in March.

5. What is RSI acceptance rate?

The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a highly competitive summer program that receives approximately 3,000 applications each year. From this large pool of applicants, only 100 students are selected for the program, resulting in an acceptance rate of about 3.3%. This level of selectivity is comparable to the admission rate for undergraduate students at MIT, highlighting the rigorous nature of the program.

According to the MIT Mathematics Department, the applicant pool for RSI is diverse, with approximately one-third of the participants coming from abroad and the remaining two-thirds from the United States. This international representation adds to the program’s global perspective and fosters a rich cultural exchange among the participants.

The high number of applicants and the limited spots available make RSI a highly sought-after opportunity for high school students interested in science and engineering. The program’s reputation, coupled with its association with MIT, attracts top talent from around the world who are eager to engage in intensive scientific coursework and research experiences.

6. What’s the application requirements?

The application is pretty straightforward, as the application only accepts high school juniors (typically students apply in the middle of junior year). High school seniors are not eligible to apply.

Depending on whether you’re a U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents or an International Applicant, you will have a different application process:

• U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents: Your application will be submitted directly to CEE.
• International Applicants: Each participating country will have a different selection procedure and selection schedule. Students should contact Ms. Maite Ballestero, Executive Vice President of Programs to determine if your country participates.

After deciding your eligibility and application category, students will have to submit:

• Official high school transcript.
• 2 letters of recommendation (Math/Science or a research supervisor), with a maximum of 3 letters of recommendation to be submitted
• Standardized test scores: PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP Exams
• Research Preferences: Please choose your first and second research fields.
• Applicant Personal Statements: Why did you choose the above research fields? What are your long-term goals? What activities and/or hobbies demonstrate your leadership, creativity, and uniqueness? Describe your participation in extracurricular or community outreach activities. How did you hear about RSI? Why are you applying to RSI? And, what aspects most appeal to you?
• Coursework: STEM coursework experience, Computer Skills, Additional STEM courses, and any other information regarding your academic performance that might be relevant
•  Awards and Accomplishments: Science Fairs, Competitions, or Programs; STEM Olympiad Distinctions. Please list (concisely) other major awards, activities, and accomplishments in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Please list (concisely) the applicant’s most important non-STEM awards, activities, and accomplishments. Please list any previous STEM research; and Publications.

7. How to get into the Research Science Institute?

The Research Science Institute (RSI) application process requires students to demonstrate excellence in three areas: grades, research, and essays. While a stellar GPA is undoubtedly advantageous, having a lower GPA than some applicants does not necessarily preclude acceptance. RSI recognizes that academic achievements extend beyond just GPA. If your GPA doesn’t stand out, take the opportunity to highlight your commitment to academic rigor by showcasing challenging coursework and demonstrating competence in these challenging classes. Showcase your ability to excel in the face of intellectual challenges, illustrating how you’ve engaged with difficult subjects and emerged as a competent learner. The admissions committee values a holistic understanding of an applicant’s academic journey, and a lower GPA can be compensated for by emphasizing your dedication to intellectual growth.

Grades: For standardized scores, the program recommends that students should have PSAT Math Scores be at least 740 or higher, and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Scores be 700 or higher. ACT math scores should be at least 33, and verbal scores at least 34. However, even if your scores fall slightly below these thresholds, the emphasis should shift to showcasing your potential through other indicators. Strong recommendations, a compelling research portfolio, and active participation in science-related extracurricular activities can provide a comprehensive picture of your capabilities.

Research components: When it comes to the research component of the Research Science Institute (RSI) application, diversity in your research experiences can undoubtedly be beneficial, showcasing a well-rounded and versatile scientific background. However, it’s equally important to recognize the power of finding a specific focus within your research endeavors. Instead of scattering your efforts across a broad range of topics, identifying a niche or a particular area of interest can enhance the depth and impact of your application. In addition, don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself when writing down your research achievements. They are a testament to your passion for STEM and your capacity to make a meaningful impact. Whether you’ve won science fairs, participated in STEM competitions, or engaged in impactful extracurricular activities, these accomplishments add layers to your application, making you a standout candidate.

Essays: When answering questions in the essay section, be genuine and authentic in your responses, and if applicable, discuss how your experiences, challenges, or setbacks have contributed to your personal growth and how they will impact your research journey at RSI. Ensure that your responses align with the values and goals of RSI. Tailor your answers to reflect how your participation in the program aligns with your academic and career aspirations.

In addition to the tips above, students who attended RSI in 2022 – Rishab Jain and Elizabeth Nyamwange  – have also posted videos sharing their anecdotes of applying to RSI and getting accepted into the program. Here are some tips they want to leave you with:

• Start your application as early as possible. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to perfect your essays, get strong recommendations, and add new experiences. I started my RSI application in December and submitted it in early February.
• Get strong recommendations. When selecting recommenders, prioritize those who can speak to your academic prowess and your potential as a researcher. Ensure that their letters provide a comprehensive view of your capabilities, emphasizing your research work, initiatives, and contributions.
• Thoroughly review and edit! Before submitting your application, carefully proofread it multiple times, either on your own or with a family member or a teacher.

Some other helpful tips that we believe that students should know:

• Participate in more STEM competitions and research projects: Look for local, national, or even international competitions that cater to your specific interests within STEM. We have provided a list of 11 STEM Competitions for High School Students to help you get started. Winning or even participating in such events can set you apart from other applicants and provide tangible evidence of your dedication and skills. If you’re not ready for competitions at the moment, there are also 7 STEM activities that will get you familiar with the field and start building up your experience.
• Express your interest in collaborative research experiences: Don’t be afraid to share stories of your involvement in group projects, team efforts, or mentorship opportunities. Research is a collaborative journey, so it’s important to showcase your ability to work effectively in a research team, underscoring the collaborative spirit that is a hallmark of the RSI experience.

8. Elevate Your Research Journey with Aralia

If you’re interested in building your research experience to participate in the Research Science Institute in the future, consider applying for the Aralia Research Program , a valuable opportunity to conduct research with award-winning high school teachers and college professors!

• Competitions

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How to Get Into Research Science Institute (RSI)

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/4/22

The Research Science Institute is thought of as the pinnacle of internships for future scientists and researchers. Read on to learn how to get into the Research Science Institute .

Have you heard about the Research Science Institute (RSI)? It’s an annual event hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that provides high schoolers with a unique opportunity in their junior year. 

Attending the RSI can change the trajectory of your academic and professional career. You can even improve your chances of getting into MIT ; all you have to do is apply. Applications open during the fall, with limited capacity for American and international students. Thinking about submitting an application?

Below we’ll discuss everything you need to know about how to get into the Research Science Institute.

What Is the Research Science Institute?

The Research Science Institute is an internship program that invites 100 high school students to participate in scientific research at MIT’s main campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The program is hosted by its large parent organization, the Center for Excellence in Education , which focuses on STEM careers. 

Under the guidance of MIT’s brilliant professors and scientists, students will present oral and written reports on research that they’ll conduct on campus. The goal of the RSI is to give students the opportunity to experience an entire research cycle before entering college. To meet this goal, students will participate in an intensive seven-week program. 

The RSI typically accepts around 30 international students out of the 100 total participants. Students from over 60 countries have participated in the RSI since its inception in 1984. Since the program is merit-based, students won’t have to pay out of pocket for the experience, no matter where they come from!

The first week at the RSI is preparatory. The program highlights the importance of being strong communicators and well-rounded learners, so you’ll take a few humanities courses within this time. 

After this, the internship focuses on guided research for six weeks, honing the students and their passions. You’ll be paired up with an MIT mentor while taking on biology, chemistry, engineering, and math courses. You’ll then apply what you learn to your research project. After, the final research presentation wraps up the internship.

If accepted into the RSI, you’ll be surrounded by MIT professors and like-minded peers from all around the world, giving you a unique networking opportunity. This is another reason why this program is highly-regarded!

How to Get Into the Research Science Institute

If you want to get into the RSI, you’ll need a competitive GPA and impressive test scores. Aim for a score of 1500 on the SAT and 34 on the ACT, and maintain a 4.0 GPA. To make your application stand out, demonstrate your passion for STEM through extracurricular projects and essays that focus on your scientific goals!

Answering the question, “how to get into the Research Science Institute?” comes with a list of strict criteria. Though more than a thousand students apply every year, only the best and the brightest are selected. But don’t be discouraged! 

To help you get into the Research Science Institute, here’s a breakdown of its eligibility requirements . In addition to being a junior in high school, students must also include the following in their application:

Standardized Test Scores

Students must include all standardized test scores that they have taken in their application. This includes the ACT , SAT , and AP exams . If you haven't taken the SAT yet, you can also submit your PSAT score .

Concerning the SAT, the RSI requires you to score a minimum of 700 on the Reading and Writing SAT section and at least a 740 on the Math section. If you’ve opted for the ACT, however, you must meet a minimum of 33 on the Math portion and a 34 on the Verbal test. 

Letters of Recommendation

Students must provide at least two letters of recommendation from math and science teachers in their application. If you have taken on a research project at another university or laboratory, you must also ask for a third letter of recommendation for that program’s research supervisor. No matter who you ask, make sure your recommender is familiar with your academic ability. 

Official High School Transcripts

In addition to their standardized test scores, students must also submit their official high school transcripts to give program organizers a complete idea of their academic profile. Remember, RSI is very competitive. To keep up, aim to get as close to a 4.0 GPA as you can. 

Answer the Essay Questions

The students’ application must also include answers to the RSI essay questions. The answers should include their goals in science, technology, engineering, or math.

If you can meet these requirements, you should definitely consider applying to the RSI! Keep in mind that international students may have additional requirements, depending on their home country. 

If you’re worried about standing out among the other 1,600 applicants, remember that while your academic profile is important, it’s not the only thing that matters. The RSI program values candidates who are well-rounded, passionate, and excellent leaders.

A great way to stand out is by pursuing a passion project in math, science, or another related field of interest!

Benefits of Attending the RSI

Students that attend the RSI gain distinction, unique experiences, and hands-on knowledge from world-class faculty. Participating could help you get into top colleges, land a higher-paying job, and perhaps set up other research opportunities in the future. 

RSI alumni have gone on to become notable scientists in their fields, earning honors and awards for work in bioengineering, physics, social media development, and more. Many of them discovered their future dreams and goals during their time researching with RSI!

Remember that all these RSI alumni were once like you, wondering how to get into the Research Science Institute. So long as you maintain a strong academic profile, have a passion for science and math, and are interested in research and leadership, you’ll have a good chance of getting into the RSI! 

If you apply yourself, participating in the RSI may shape you into a famous alumnus too!

Where to Apply for the RSI

Ready to apply for the RSI? You can submit your application through the Center for Excellence in Education’s portal if you’re ready to put what you’ve learned about how to get into the Research Science Institute into practice.

The application window only exists during the fall semester, so if you don’t see a place to submit your applications, the deadline has passed. 

If you’re considering applying, you’ll need to do so before the end of your junior year. If you need more specific information, don’t hesitate to contact the RSI by email. If you’re an international student, you must contact your RSI’s international representative to ensure you’ve met any country-specific requirements.

FAQs: Research Science Institute

Below are some common questions about the RSI from potential applicants. 

1. How Do You Qualify for RSI?

To qualify for the RSI, you must meet all their specifications regarding transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation. You must also be a junior in high school; seniors are not eligible to apply. 

2. How Hard Is It to Get Into the Research Science Institute?

So, how hard is it to get into the Research Institute of Science? Looking at the requirements, you’ll find that the answer is that it’s quite challenging. The limited number of students that are accepted each year makes this internship application especially competitive. 

3. How Many Applicants Does RSI Get?

The RSI receives over 1,600 applications from qualified students. With only 100 students picked out of that number, and at least 30 spots reserved for international students, your odds as an American applicant land just over three percent. 

But don’t let this deter you! Even though the chances are low, you’ll never get in if you don’t apply!

4. What Is RSI’s International Inclusiveness Like?

The RSI reserves 30 spots for international students from more than 60 countries. If you value the insight gained from a cultural exchange and hope the program is inclusive, you’ll be relieved to find that the RSI holds these same values!

5. Who Can Apply for RSI?

RSI applications are only open to students in their junior year, which is equivalent to the eleventh grade depending on your country. 

Since the application window is only open in the fall, you will miss your chance if you have not signed up before the semester's end. Keep in mind that you will not have another chance, so you need to decide fast!

6. Are High School Internships Worth It?

Students do not often pursue internships in high school. Between trying to ace standardized tests, secure letters of recommendation, and build a solid college list , students’ schedules are typically filled to the brim! 

Many students believe it’s best to use their time during the school year to focus on extracurriculars and maintaining high GPAs. However, participating in an opportunity like the RSI in the summer will definitely be worth your time!

7. How Do You Stand Out In the RSI Application? 

There are a few key tips that can help you stand out from the competition . According to an interview with the RSI Vice President, CEE likes to see students who are passionate and involved in math, science, and leadership programs. Keep this in mind when pursuing extracurriculars in high school!

Final Thoughts

The Research Science Institute is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of researchers by offering a cost-free internship program to high school students. They aim to ignite students’ passions, encouraging them to work towards making the world a better place.

While challenging, an internship at the Research Science Institute will become a life-defining experience. If you’re still wondering, “how to get into the Research Science Institute?", the first step is to ensure you meet the requirements. If you're a driven individual with a passion for science and math, and possess the leadership skills to make a difference, an opportunity at the Research Science Institute may be the perfect fit for you.

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How to Get into RSI (Research Science Institute)

Madeleine Karydes

Lead admissions expert, table of contents, research science institute, compete with this, why choose rsi.

Stay up-to-date on the latest research and college admissions trends with our blog team.

The Research Science Institute (RSI) program, offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is a prestigious summer opportunity that allows high school students to engage in cutting-edge research and gain valuable experiences. In our previous blog post, we explored some essential tips on how to get into RSI. Now, we will delve further into the subject, providing additional recommendations that will boost your chances of securing a spot in this esteemed program. Furthermore, we will explore the profound benefits that participating in the RSI program can have on a student’s college admissions process.

Wondering how to get into RSI (research science institute) to gain some experience?  Research opportunities for teens in lab settings are sparse, so consider RSI. This program is a prestigious, free summer program in partnership with MIT, with only 80 coveted seats. What’s more, students gain admission purely on potential and achievement, not according to who they know. Students take courses in STEM fields, engage in intensive research, and prepare a conference-style presentation on their findings. If you don’t gain admission, however, don’t be heartbroken. There are plenty of ways to get into RSI and independently gain similar experience this summer. So, if you want to know how to get into RSI at MIT – read on!

RSI (Research Science Institute) is a free rigorous and prestigious science theory and research camp . One more time: this camp is free to 70-80 admitted rising seniors! They typically admit 30 international students.  

The 5-week program at RSI takes students through a research cycle. This includes learning to read peer-reviewed publications, writing a detailed research plan, and crafting an oral and written report: conference-style.

Lastly, check the program’s website for the most up-to-date deadlines for applications. Here’s your guide on how to get into RSI.

What to expect week by week

RSI hosts students at the MIT campus. While there, expect to explore on-campus scientific theory, combined with off-campus trips to relevant science and tech applications.  

• Week 1: Students participate in week-long intensive STEM classes with top professors. You’ll be asked to read a humanities book to emphasize cross-industry collaboration and communication.  
• Weeks 2-6: Research internship. Conduct individual projects under experienced MIT mentors: scientists, alumni, and researchers. Guest speakers include Nobel Prize winners, and industry professionals.  
• Week 7: Students prepare written and oral presentations on their research projects- awesome preparation for presenting at future academic conferences!

Prestige, if you please

RSI offers super strong payoff in the college admissions process for STEM field college-bound applicants. This is because the program has quality name recognition among admissions officers, with the added bonus of merit-based admission into the program without any cost. In addition, the covered cost of the program rules out the question of privileged financial accessibility, highlighting just merit. Refreshing, eh?  

Who gets into RSI? 

On average, 1600 students apply to the camp, and the camp selects 80. If you’re worried about how to get into RSI – remember that admission is solely based on academics and accomplishments. No one gains favor due to something called legacy . In other words, this means an applicant’s parent or sister or cousin attended (usually referred to as a legacy admissions privilege). Instead, it’s just you and your credentials: a high GPA, demonstrated leadership, rigorous coursework, and a promising PSAT or SAT or ACT score.

Some notable RSI alumni include Feng Zhang, inventor of CRISPR gene editing, the founder of Pinterest, the second female math tenured professor at Harvard, Dr. Lauren K. Williams, now teaching at Berkeley .  

How do I write an RSI essay? 

To get into RSI at MIT, you will need to know how to write your essays. In your essays, explain the central mission that drives you and your goal-orientation. Further, demonstrate how you make the most of the resources available to you to drive a passionate purpose you’ve carved out for yourself. The admissions officers know that a student who lives in Hutchinson, Kansas has different constraints than a student in the heart of Silicon Valley. It’s not about who you know or where you’re located; rather, it’s about being resourceful and leveraging opportunity.  

Best of luck to all applying! 

I didn’t get into RSI. Plan B – contingency plan

If you didn’t get accepted the first time around – don’t worry. Here’s how to get into RSI after being declined the first time around. If not admitted, you can try to simulate the experience and participate in similar programming on your own to parallel the RSI benefits; also, you’ll earn bonus points for independent initiative, resilience, and growth mindset!

Independent research conducted with a college professor or grad students is incredibly valuable for STEM-bound applicants. Beyond that, independent or group research that results in a published journal paper? Great! Anywhere the student is mentioned as a co-author or credited as a research assistant is a huge achievement. As RSI prepares students to speak at academic conferences, you can do so, too.  

Aim to pursue a research topic that will match up with the STEM field that you plan to pursue as a major. You may need to cold email several professors and/or lab directors at universities before you get a response. Nonetheless, your research assistance is needed. Cast a wide net, and stay strong!

Present at a conference 

You can bookmark the IEMS conference which is held annually in March in Clearwater, Florida, accepting presenting high school students in the fields of Industry, Engineering, Management Systems, and related STEM fields. IEMS hosts professors and scholars in Industrial Engineering, and branches out into related applied fields and industries.

The conference directors believe in preparing and empowering high school students to share their innovations and network with other academics- leading them to add a rare high school and undergraduate student presenting track! 

Track fields include but are not limited to: Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing and more!), Automation and Modeling, Business Analytics, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Corporate Governance, Data Analytics, Engineering Innovations, Healthcare Systems, Human Factors & Cognitive Engineering, Leadership & Diversity, Quality Planning & Process Improvement, Supply Chain Management, etc. See a full list of tracks in the Call for Papers . 

Additionally, original research that a student begins with a professor or grad students can be later used to enter amazing science competitions such as:

• Google Science Fair
• Regeneron Science Talent Search

Whether you started your research with RSI or independently, you can take your findings to compete in science fairs and other math or science-based competitions. Students have gone on to apply for:  Rhodes Scholars, Waterman Awards, and Simons Investigators. 

An Empowerly counselor can help you chart out a dynamic and rigorous summer. Click below to schedule a consultation and learn more about how you can get into RSI at MIT.

Cultivate a Strong Research Background:

• One of the key factors that admissions committees evaluate when considering RSI applicants is their research potential. To increase your chances of acceptance, actively engage in research activities early on in high school. Seek out opportunities such as science fairs, research competitions, and mentorship programs to develop your skills and demonstrate your passion for scientific inquiry. By showcasing your ability to formulate research questions, design experiments, and analyze data, you’ll demonstrate your readiness for the RSI program.

Pursue Specialized Courses:

• Enrolling in advanced STEM courses can significantly enhance your chances of being accepted into the RSI program. Take advantage of rigorous courses in subjects such as physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, or mathematics. These classes not only provide a solid foundation of knowledge but also demonstrate your commitment to academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. Make the most of your school’s resources and actively participate in class discussions and projects to showcase your enthusiasm for learning.

Personalize Your Application:

• When completing your RSI application, remember that it’s not just about your academic achievements. Take the opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences that set you apart from other applicants. Highlight your extracurricular involvement, leadership roles, community service, and any other relevant experiences that demonstrate your well-roundedness. Admissions committees appreciate applicants who show a genuine passion for their interests and have made a positive impact in their communities.

Seek Out Research Opportunities:

• Beyond your school curriculum, actively seek research opportunities that align with your interests. Reach out to professors, researchers, and professionals in your desired field of study, explaining your passion for research and inquiring about potential projects or internships. Collaborating with experts in your chosen field will not only deepen your understanding but also provide valuable mentorship and guidance. These experiences can be invaluable when constructing your application for the RSI program.

Develop a Strong Personal Statement:

• The personal statement is your opportunity to convey your motivation, research goals, and how the RSI program aligns with your future aspirations. Craft a compelling narrative that highlights your passion for research and your drive to contribute to the scientific community. Explain how participating in the RSI program will help you advance your knowledge and skills, as well as contribute to your long-term goals. Seek feedback from mentors, teachers, or peers to ensure your personal statement effectively communicates your unique qualities and motivations.

Leverage Your Network:

• Utilize your existing network to gather insights and advice on the RSI program. Seek guidance from former RSI participants, teachers, counselors, or alumni from your school who may have valuable knowledge or connections. Engage in conversations with those who have experienced the program firsthand to gain a deeper understanding of what the admissions committee is looking for and how to tailor your application accordingly.

The Research Science Institute (RSI) program, offered by MIT, is a highly prestigious and sought-after opportunity for high school students interested in research and scientific exploration. RSI provides a unique and immersive experience that sets it apart from other programs. Let’s explore why RSI is a great place for students.

RSI, also known as the RSI MIT program, offers an intensive six-week summer program that allows students to engage in cutting-edge research with leading scientists and researchers. The program provides access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, enabling participants to tackle complex research projects and make significant contributions to their chosen fields. This hands-on experience fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that are invaluable for future academic and professional endeavors.

One of the remarkable aspects of the RSI program is the unparalleled mentorship it offers. Students work closely with renowned faculty and mentors who guide and support them throughout their research journey. This mentorship not only enhances students’ technical skills but also provides them with insights into the research process, the scientific community, and potential career paths. The relationships formed with mentors and fellow participants can have a lasting impact and open doors to future opportunities in academia and industry.

Getting into RSI is highly competitive, but with proper preparation, it is possible to increase your chances of acceptance. To secure a spot in the RSI program, it is essential to demonstrate a strong academic background, a genuine passion for research, and a clear articulation of your research interests and goals. Highlighting any prior research experience, academic achievements, and extracurricular involvements in STEM fields can strengthen your application.

The RSI program offers a comprehensive and immersive experience beyond research. Participants engage in seminars, workshops, and discussions that expose them to a wide range of scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary connections. They also have the opportunity to network with peers who share their enthusiasm for research and discovery. This vibrant community fosters intellectual growth, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, creating an inspiring environment for learning and personal development.

Final Thought

Overall, the RSI program, known as the Research Summer Institute program, provides a transformative experience for students passionate about research. It offers access to world-class resources, exceptional mentorship, and a vibrant community of scholars. Participating in RSI can serve as a stepping stone to further academic pursuits, contribute to personal and intellectual growth, and provide invaluable connections and experiences that will shape the future of aspiring scientists and researchers.

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Preparing for MIT: Summer programs

If you’re the kind of student who’d like to spend your summer learning as much hands-on math, science, and engineering as you can, you might be a good fit for MIT!

So here is an (incomplete) list of summer programs that MIT students have found enriching and fun. We have prioritized selective summer programs, at MIT and elsewhere, that offer compelling intellectual content and a rigorous educational approach, a great community of like-minded peers to make friends with, and that are either free to attend or, like MIT, offer generous need-based financial aid.

MIT summer programs

MIT does not offer open-enrollment summer programs where any high school student can come to campus to take courses and live in the residence halls. However, several partner organizations run small, specialized programs on campus. If studying the human genome, building a robot, or scoping out the stars sound like a fun way to spend your summer, then you might try one of these:

MITES Summer

MITES Summer is an intensive six-week residential academic enrichment program for high school juniors who intend to pursue careers in science, engineering, and entrepreneurship, especially those from underrepresented or underserved communities. The program is free of charge to participating students, not including transportation.

Research Science Institute (RSI) — a program of the Center for Excellence in Education hosted in partnership with MIT —  brings together high school students each summer for six stimulating weeks of advanced research and intellectual enrichment. This rigorous academic program stresses advanced theory and research in mathematics, science, and engineering. Participants attend college-level classes taught by distinguished faculty members and complete hands-on research. Open to high school juniors, the program is free of charge for those selected.

Women’s Technology Program (WTP) is a women-focused program aimed at empowering students from groups that are historically underrepresented in engineering by providing a rigorous four-week summer academic experience that introduces 20 high school students to Mechanical Engineering (ME) through hands-on classes (taught by MIT graduate and undergraduate students), labs, and team-based projects in the summer after 11th grade.

While the  Summer Science Program (SSP) is not on campus, MIT co-sponsors this residential program, and many MIT students are among the program’s alumni. The curriculum is organized around a central research project in either Astrophysics, Biochemistry, or Genomics. In the Astrophysics program, each team of three students determines the orbit of a near-earth asteroid (minor planet) from direct astronomical observations. In the Biochemistry program, each team designs a small molecule to inhibit an enzyme from a fungal crop pathogen. In the Genomics program, each team builds a bioreactor to stimulate evolution of antibiotic resistance in E. coli, then analyzes its DNA for mutations. The programs are six weeks long and offered at locations in Colorado, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Indiana.

Beaver Works Summer Institute

Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is an intensive four-week program where high school juniors can get a taste of the MIT experience, while working on college-level curriculum with other students from around the country. BWSI is free to students, especially those who may be the first person in their family to attend college. They offer a range of courses—from Autonomous Underwater Vehicles to Quantum Software and to Serious Game Design with AI—with concentrations in programming autonomous systems and more! While this program is only open to high school juniors, there are also online programs offered for younger high school students.

Other summer programs at MIT

Do you want to spend part of your summer at MIT? In addition to the programs listed above, MIT also hosts the following programs:

• LLRISE: MIT Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers
• iD Tech Camps

Other selective summer programs

Most summer programs admit all or most students who can pay the (often high) tuition. However, a number of competitive-admission summer programs select only the best students on the basis of merit and are often free or comparatively affordable. MIT offers four of our own (above), and here are a few more from other organizations:

Science and research programs

• BU Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
• Clark Scholar Program
• Garcia Summer Scholars
• High School Honors Science/Mathematics/Engineering Program (HSHSP)
• International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)
• Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
• Summer Program on Applied Rationality and Cognition (SPARC)
• Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
• Student Science Training Program (SSTP)
• QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship

Math summer programs

The American Mathematical Society maintains a large  list of youth summer enrichment programs in math . Some summer math programs that our applicants seem to like include:

• AwesomeMath
• Canada/USA Mathcamp
• Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)
• Texas State Mathworks Honors Summer Math Camp
• Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
• The Ross Program
• Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
• Prove It! Math Academy

Other summer programs

• The nonprofit Davidson Institute maintains extensive lists of both residential and day summer programs across the United States that provide for the intellectual and social enrichment of students.
• The National Conference of Governor’s Schools (NCoGS) supports  development and growth of summer residential governor’s school programs across 15 states , dedicated to finding and cultivating students with special academic, creative, artistic, and/or leadership talents.

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New Advanced Quantum Science Institute Will Bridge Basic Research and Applied Science

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin is boosting its commitment to research and education in quantum science and engineering by establishing the Texas Quantum Institute . This expanded investment reflects the University’s recognition of the vast potential that quantum science and engineering hold to benefit society through new approaches to computing, energy-efficient electronics, secure communications, ultrasensitive sensors for medical diagnostics, semiconductor quality control and observing climate processes from space.

“Some of the most exciting technological advances of the next few decades will come from quantum research,” said Dan Jaffe, vice president for research. “Thanks to our already-thriving quantum ecosystem on campus and Austin’s status as a vibrant incubator of innovative technologies, UT is the ideal place for world-changing quantum-related discoveries to be made that lead to much-needed applications for energy, medicine, the environment and computing.”

Quantum research delves into an area of science and engineering where peculiar phenomena still mysterious to many physicists meet vast potential for new advances. These unusual phenomena occur at vanishingly tiny and mindbogglingly rapid scales, made possible with new materials and highly advanced equipment.

The new institute will bring together more than 30 researchers and provide postdoctoral fellowships, an interdisciplinary seed grant program, workshops, and construction of a new lab for advanced quantum and semiconductor measurements. The institute will be co-directed by Elaine Li , the Jack S. Josey Welch Foundation Science Chair and professor in the Department of Physics, and Xiuling Li , a Temple Foundation Endowed Professor in the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a fellow of the Dow Professorship in the Department of Chemistry.

“Here at UT, we have a strong track record in designing algorithms for quantum computers, developing materials with unprecedented properties, inventing advanced measurement tools and building quantum systems,” Elaine Li said. “The new institute will enable us to further develop these areas and cultivate collaborations with other academic institutes, as well as industry and national labs.”

With dozens of core research faculty members who study related topics, UT has already earned an international reputation for groundbreaking quantum advances. These include launching the subfield of “Twistronics ,” developing tests for quantum supremacy in computing, and inventing a new imaging technique called microwave impedance microscopy .

“By uniting researchers under a campuswide umbrella organization, the institute will enhance the visibility and impact of quantum research both within the academic community and beyond,” Xiuling Li said. “I am excited that with the increased visibility, we can attract top talent, foster collaborations with industry partners, and ultimately accelerate the translation of quantum discoveries into real-world applications.”

World-class infrastructure — such as the Texas Advanced Computing Center , home of the fastest academic supercomputer in the U.S.; the Microelectronics Research Center , the flagship semiconductor materials and devices research center; the Texas Materials Institute , a premier hub for materials research; and the Texas Institute for Electronics , which develops innovative semiconductor solutions through advanced packaging — will enable UT to hit the ground running in its expanded quantum research initiative.

“The University of Texas at Austin’s launch of the Texas Quantum Institute is a landmark moment for the University, the quantum industry and the state of Texas,” said Scott Faris, CEO of Infleqtion , a global quantum technologies company already partnering with UT on quantum manufacturing . “This bold initiative will position Texas as a leader in the development of quantum technology and the quantum economy. We are incredibly excited to partner with UT Austin on groundbreaking research and moving quantum to the forefront of the technology industry.”

Unveiled during what the University has declared the Year of AI, the new institute’s faculty members are not only physicists, chemists and chemical engineers but also leading computer scientists and electrical and computer engineers, positioned to forge partnerships with industry and national labs, drive quantum innovations through interdisciplinary collaborations, and unlock the potential of future quantum AI systems for the betterment of society.

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Virtual meeting for advancing research careers (arc) predoc to postdoc transition program (f99/k00) applicants.

We’re pleased to announce a virtual “office hour” on May 1 for potential applicants to our new  Advancing Research Careers (ARC) predoctoral to postdoctoral transition award (F99/K00).

The ARC program is part of the National Institutes of Health’s efforts to promote broad participation within the biomedical research workforce. It has two components: an individual predoctoral to postdoctoral career transition award (F99/K00) and an institutional research education cooperative agreement (UE5) to provide these scholars with additional mentoring, networking, and professional development activities. The office hour will focus on the F99/K00 portion.

During the meeting, we’ll provide a brief overview of the ARC F99/K00 funding opportunity and answer your programmatic, budget, and scientific review questions. Those interested in joining the office hour are strongly encouraged to review the  2023 ARC prospective applicant webinar and companion  slide deck [PDF]  beforehand.

Office Hour Information :

Wednesday, May 1, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Zoom link Join by phone Meeting ID: 160 485 4806 Passcode: NIGMS

Participants requiring sign language interpretation and/or other reasonable accommodations should submit a request using our  contact form  at least 5 days prior to the meeting. Note this is a live event that will not be recorded.

NIGMS Staff Participating in the May 1 Office Hour:

• Lameese Akacem, ARC Program Officer
• Laurie Stepanek, ARC Program Officer
• Justin Rosenzweig, NIGMS Grants Management Team Lead
• Latarsha Carithers, Chief, Training, Mentored Research, and Diversity Section, NIGMS Scientific Review Branch

If you have any questions about the office hour, please contact  Lameese Akacem  or  Laurie Stepanek .

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Another Russia: Studies in the History of the Russian Emigration

Dr. Oleg Budnitskii of the National Humanities Center

On Friday, March 29th, 2024, the Walker Institute co-sponsored a lecture by Dr. Oleg Budnitskii, Professor of History and Director of the Institute for Advanced Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies at the National Research University–Higher School of Economics (HSE University) in Moscow. He gave a talk on his book "Another Russia: Studies in the History of the Russian Emigration." During his presentation, he described the political and social life of this community as they built their lives abroad while contemplating a return to Russia. Following his talk, there was a question and answer period.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

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Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers discover novel drug candidate to combat fatty liver disease

Compound 11c (GM-60106), a novel 5HT2A antagonist, paves the way for advancing metabolic liver disease treatment.

GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)

Researchers discovered a compound 11c, a peripheral 5HT2A antagonist, exhibits promising efficacy against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and associated liver diseases, offering hope for improved treatment outcomes.

Credit: Jin Hee Ahn from GIST, Korea.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a burgeoning global health concern, posing a significant threat to public health and escalating the burden on healthcare resources. Characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, MASLD increases the risk of progressing to more severe conditions such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which is marked by inflammation, ballooning, and potential fibrosis.

In response to the pressing need of effective treatments for these metabolic disorders, researchers at the led by Prof. Jin Hee Ahn from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) meticulously developed compound 11c , a novel peripheral 5HT 2A antagonist. This research was made available online on January 20, 2024, and was published in Nature Communications , highlighting a significant therapeutic breakthrough. The compound showcased a promising profile and demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models, positioning it at the forefront of groundbreaking advancements in the field.

11c exhibits promising attributes, including robust biological activity and a favorable safety profile. Dr. Haushabhau Shivaji Pagire, first author and senior researcher at the Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory at GIST, emphasizes, “ Our meticulous analyses have revealed a significant reduction in inflammatory and fibrosis markers, attesting to the potent anti-inflammatory and fibrotic effect of the compound. This action, targeting both inflammation and fibrosis, is a promising step forward in treating MASH .”

The journey for discovering the compound from drug library screening to its refined form involved the identification of Desloratadine, a peripheral agent, which showed promising inhibitory effects. Molecular docking techniques played a pivotal role in transforming Desloratadine into the potent compound 11c .

“ Based on in vitro,  in vivo efficacy, tissue distribution data, DMPK and tox profiles, compound 11c shows promise as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of MASLD and MASH” highlights Prof. Ahn.

Beyond its therapeutic potential, compound 11c displays an excellent safety profile, exhibiting hepatocyte and plasma stability, minimal cytotoxicity, and low cytochrome P450 inhibition. Noteworthy pharmacokinetic attributes, including over 60% oral bioavailability, position 11c as a compelling candidate for advancing MASH treatment.

Obesity-associated MASH currently ranks as the third leading cause of liver transplantation and is poised to surpass hepatitis C in this critical medical intervention. Compound 11c , identified as a promising oral treatment for MASH, holds profound implications for the future landscape of liver disease management. The researchers anticipate a transformative impact, signifying a pivotal advancement in the field.

Completing a successful preclinical study, compound 11c now stands on the brink of a crucial milestone—the Phase 1 clinical trial. This phase holds the promise to reveal the compound's performance in humans, offering insights that could potentially reshape the treatment landscape for metabolic disorders. The successful outcome of these trials could potentially usher in a paradigm shift in the treatment of metabolic disorders.

In conclusion, 11c stands as a beacon of hope against the rising tide of metabolic liver diseases. With its promising attributes and the anticipation surrounding the Phase 1 clinical trial, this compound represents a transformative prospect in liver disease management.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44874-3

About the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) was founded in 1993 by the Korean government as a research-oriented graduate school to help ensure Korea's continued economic growth and prosperity by developing advanced science and technology with an emphasis on collaboration with the international community. Since that time, GIST has pioneered a highly regarded undergraduate science curriculum in 2010 that has become a model for other science universities in Korea. To learn more about GIST and its exciting opportunities for researchers and students alike, please visit: http://www.gist.ac.kr/ .

About the author Dr. Haushabhau Shivaji Pagire is a Senior Researcher at the Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Korea. Simultaneously, he serves as a Principal Scientist at JD Bioscience Inc. Dr. Pagire earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Pune, India and holds a PhD in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from UST and KRICT under the guidance of Prof. Jin Hee Ahn. He completed his postdoctoral training at Prof. Jin Hee Ahn's lab at GIST. His professional journey includes significant roles in global pharmaceutical companies like Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, MacLeod’s Pharmaceuticals and Actavis. Currently, his team is dedicated to research on metabolic diseases.

Nature Communications

10.1038/s41467-024-44874-3

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Discovery of a peripheral 5HT2A antagonist as a clinical candidate for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

Article Publication Date

20-Jan-2024

COI Statement

The authors declare no competing interests

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2024 NHFP Fellows

Meet the 2024 nasa hubble fellowship program fellows, jaren ashcraft.

Host Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara

Proposal Title: Optimizing the Vector Field for Next-generation Astrophysics

Jaren Ashcraft grew up on the Big Island of Hawai'i. He earned his bachelor’s degree in optical engineering from the University of Rochester in 2019, and master’s in optical sciences from the University of Arizona in 2022. Jaren is currently pursuing his doctorate in optical sciences at the University of Arizona supervised by Dr. Ewan Douglas, and will graduate in the summer of 2024.

As a Sagan Fellow at UCSB, Jaren will study how optical polarization can limit the ability of next-generation observatories to directly image Earth-like exoplanets. This phenomenon, known as polarization aberration, is particularly problematic for the ground-based 30-meter Extremely Large Telescopes and the future space-based Habitable Worlds Observatory. Jaren will construct integrated optical models to assess the sensitivity of coronagraphs to the polarization aberrations of these observatories. He will then explore strategies to mitigate the influence of polarization aberrations on astronomical observations, including investigating novel technologies like metasurfaces and liquid crystals to serve as compensators.

Vishal Baibhav

Host Institution: Columbia University

Proposal Title: Dancing with Black Holes: Harnessing Gravitational Waves to Understand the Formation of Black Holes

Vishal Baibhav grew up near New Delhi, India. He earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati in 2016. In 2021, he earned his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University under the supervision of Professor Emanuele Berti. His research focused on black hole spectroscopy and gravitational-wave astrophysics. Currently, he is a CIERA postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University.

Despite breakthrough detections of compact-object mergers by LIGO, Virgo, and Kagra detectors, the birthplace and the origin of these compact objects remain unknown. Vishal's research is focused on fundamental questions such as how, when, and where these binaries form, and what physics drives their evolution. He is interested in understanding the life of stars that evolved into merging black holes and the environments that nurtured them. With future gravitational-wave detections, Vishal aims to address key questions about the formation of compact objects, specifically how black holes and neutron stars acquire their spins. As an Einstein Fellow, he will explore whether these spins are inherited from progenitor stars, or if stochastic processes and natal kicks during core collapse play a significant role in shaping them.

Kiersten Boley

Host Institution: Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory

Proposal Title:  Identifying the Key Materials for Planet Formation and Evolution

Kiersten Boley grew up in Rome, Georgia. She earned her associate’s in physics at Georgia Highlands College before transferring to Georgia Institute of Technology where she earned her bachelor’s in physics in 2019.  Kiersten earned a master’s degree in astronomy at The Ohio State University in 2021. She spent 2022 as an IPAC visiting graduate student at Caltech, working with Dr. Jessie Christiansen. Currently, Kiersten is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at The Ohio State University where she will earn her doctorate in astronomy in May 2024, advised by Professor Ji Wang, Professor Wendy Panero, and Dr. Jessie Christiansen.

Kiersten’s research investigates how elemental abundances impact planet formation and interior evolution through planet detection and interior modeling. Her interdisciplinary research aims to determine the materials required for planet formation by planet type and how their mineral compositions may impact the long-term evolution and habitability of rocky planets. As a Sagan Fellow, Kiersten will continue to study exoplanets through population studies focused on unraveling the dependence of planet formation on galactic location and stellar abundance using observational data. Additionally, she will investigate the long-term evolution and water cycling on rocky planets using theoretical interior models based on experimental data.

Michael Calzadilla

Host Institution: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Proposal Title: A Multiwavelength View of the Evolving Baryon Cycle in Galaxy Clusters

Michael Calzadilla grew up in Tampa, Florida. As a first-generation college student, he earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of South Florida in 2015. He subsequently crossed the pond to complete a master’s degree in astronomy as a Gates Cambridge scholar under the guidance of Professor Andrew Fabian at the University of Cambridge. Michael will complete his doctorate in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in May 2024 with his advisor Professor Michael McDonald.

Michael’s work focuses on multiwavelength observations of galaxy clusters to study the baryon cycle that drives the evolution of all galaxies. The largest galaxies residing in these clusters grow via material cooling from their hot atmospheres, which is balanced by feedback from star formation and active galactic nuclei. As part of the South Pole Telescope collaboration, Michael’s work is among the first to leverage recent Sunyaev-Zeldovich-based detections of galaxy clusters to observe this cycling of material out to unprecedented redshifts.

As a Hubble Fellow, Michael will develop machine learning techniques for characterizing the thousands of galaxy clusters being discovered by next-generation cosmological surveys resulting in clean, unbiased samples of the earliest galaxy clusters. Using synergies with large X-ray, optical, and radio datasets, he will seek to answer when galaxy clusters first dynamically relaxed, and how the effectiveness of supermassive black hole feedback has changed over time. He will also use new observatories for more targeted follow-up to investigate the role of feedback-induced turbulence in regulating galaxy growth.

Sanskriti Das

Host Institution: Stanford University

Proposal Title: Where the Energetic Universe Meets the Hot Universe

Sanskriti grew up in India and earned her bachelor’s in physics at Presidency University Kolkata in 2015, and her master's in physics at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2017. She earned her doctorate in astronomy from The Ohio State University, USA in 2022. Since then, she has been an independent postdoctoral fellow at the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Stanford University.

Sanskriti is interested in the co-evolution of galactic disks and the circumgalactic medium (CGM) through multiphase gas cycles between the disk and the CGM. Faint diffuse CGM signals tend to hide behind bright, variable, and complex backgrounds. Sanskriti devises innovative observing strategies and develops novel data reduction and analysis techniques to extract that signal. Using millimeter and X-ray telescopes, she looks for the hot CGM, the reservoir of baryons, metals, and energy missing from the stars and interstellar medium (ISM). She studies cold CGM using radio telescopes, looking for the accreting raw material for star formation that is missing from the ISM. She uses multiwavelength (radio, UV, optical, IR, and X-ray) data to study the corresponding galactic disks and connect their properties with the CGM. She is passionate about the history of astronomy and is actively involved in mentoring, outreach, and resolving gender inequity in astronomy as well.

As a Hubble Fellow, Sanskriti is excited to unravel the integrated impact of galactic feedback on the CGM using multiwavelength observations, and inform the next generation of millimeter and X-ray missions.

Jordy Davelaar

Host Institution: Princeton University

Proposal Title: Unraveling the Physics of Accreting Black Hole Binaries

Jordy Davelaar was born and raised in The Netherlands in a small country village called De Klomp. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics and astronomy at Radboud University in Nijmegen. In 2020, Jordy earned his doctorate in astrophysics from Radboud, where he worked under the supervision of Monika Mościbrodkza and Heino Falcke. After graduation, he has been a joint postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University and the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics.

Jordy’s primary research focus is modeling the emission produced in the accretion flows of supermassive black holes. To this end, he combines high-performance computing magnetofluid simulations with radiation transfer methods. His work on black hole accretion flows is used to interpret millimeter, near-infrared, and radio observations, e.g. the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration. More recently, Jordy started developing binary black hole models, aiming to predict electromagnetic signatures of Laser Interferometer Space Antenna targets with Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Athena.

A critical component to understanding where and how black holes merge and how they shape galactic evolution is host galaxy identification, which relies on electromagnetic observations. However, the field is still debating major theoretical uncertainties regarding the interaction of the binary with its environment and the potential signatures it might produce. As an Einstein Fellow at Princeton University, Jordy will develop novel accretion flow simulations of merging black hole binaries to identify tell-tale electromagnetic signatures and unravel the physics of accreting black hole binaries.

Alexander Dittmann

Host Institution: Institute for Advanced Study

Proposal Title: Bridging the Gap in Supermassive Black Hole Binary Accretion - From Simulation to Observation

Alexander Dittmann grew up in northern Virginia. He earned undergraduate degrees in physics and astronomy from the University of Illinois in 2018, after which he joined the Astronomy Department at the University of Maryland. He has also worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Center for Computational Astrophysics, and will complete his doctorate under the guidance of Cole Miller in April 2024.

Following his broad interests in high-energy astrophysics and fluid dynamics, Alexander has studied a variety of astrophysical topics from the origins of planetary spins to the final moments of binary supermassive black holes. He has also used data from NASA’s NICER telescope to measure the radii of neutron stars, gleaning insight into the enigmatic nature of matter within their cores. As an Einstein Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study, he will leverage cutting-edge simulations and his experience in astrostatistics to connect theoretical studies of binary black holes to the forthcoming bounty of time-domain observations of active galactic nuclei. 

Cristhian Garcia-Quintero

Host Institution: Harvard University

Proposal Title: Phenomenological Modified Gravity in the Non-linear Regime and Improving BAO Measurements with Stage-IV Surveys

Cristhian Garcia-Quintero was born and raised in Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from the Autonomous University of Sinaloa in 2017. While still an undergraduate student, Cristhian was selected for an internship program, co-funded by the U.S. embassy in Mexico, allowing him to conduct research at The University of Texas at Dallas, where he returned to pursue his doctorate in physics in 2018 under the guidance of Professor Mustapha Ishak.

Cristhian's research is focused on large-scale structure analyses to improve our understanding of cosmology using ongoing and upcoming galaxy surveys. Cristhian is interested in testing the standard model of cosmology using current and future cosmological data while particularly emphasizing phenomenological modified gravity tests and data-driven approaches. Cristhian is heavily involved in the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) where he has contributed to the Baryons Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) analysis. Cristhian is also working towards performing cosmological analyses based on cross-correlations between DESI and other surveys.

As an Einstein Fellow, Cristhian will extend his work on modified gravity to explore tests of gravity beyond the linear regime. Additionally, Cristhian will work towards improving the BAO measurements for DESI year 5 analysis and perform analyses that can benefit from synergies between Stage-IV surveys.

Amelia (Lia) Hankla

Host Institution: University of Maryland, College Park

Proposal Title: Explaining Radio to X-ray Observations of Luminous Black Holes with a Multizone Outflowing Corona Model

Lia Hankla grew up in Lafayette, Colorado. She earned her bachelor’s degree in physics and a minor in oboe performance from Princeton University in 2017 and then spent a year in Heidelberg, Germany as a Fulbright Research Scholar at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. In 2018, Lia returned home to Colorado for her doctorate in physics, where she collaborated with Jason Dexter, Mitch Begelman, and Dmitri Uzdensky with the support of an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. After completing her doctorate in the summer of 2023, Lia joined the University of Maryland, College Park as a Joint Space-Sciences Institute Postdoctoral Fellow and a Multimessenger Plasma Physics Center Fellow.

Lia is interested in anything involving plasmas and black holes, especially accretion disks and their surrounding coronae. Although these plasmas just outside the event horizon hold the key to unraveling how black holes evolved over time, they remain poorly understood because of the difficulty connecting small-scale particle processes to the global scales of the entire accretion disk and corona. Interpreting observations of radio to X-ray emission from around luminous black holes requires understanding how and where magnetic energy dissipates into plasma particle energy.

As an Einstein Fellow, Lia will decipher how these dissipation processes, including turbulence and magnetic reconnection, can further our understanding of nonthermal particle acceleration and winds in accretion disks and coronae. Her research aims to shed light on recent spectral timing and X-ray polarization observations of both stellar-mass and supermassive black holes, and to resolve long-standing questions regarding these mysterious objects in our universe.

Cheng-Han Hsieh

Host Institution: The University of Texas at Austin

Proposal Title: A Deep Dive into the Early Evolution of Protoplanetary Disk Substructures and the Onset of Planet and Star Formation

Cheng-Han Hsieh grew up in Taichung City, Taiwan, and earned his undergraduate degree in physics from National Tsing Hua University in 2018. He stayed at Yale for his graduate studies and will complete his doctorate in the summer of 2024 under the supervision of Professor Héctor G. Arce.

Cheng-Han’s research focuses on using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to characterize the substructure evolution within protostellar disks, where young stars and planets are forming. These substructures manifest varied natures - some potentially sculpted by pre-existing planets, while others, such as dense rings, may act as nurseries for the formation of planetesimals and subsequent planet generations. In particular, he is interested in pinpointing the early formation of disk substructures, which traces the onset of planet formation. As a Sagan Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin, Cheng-Han will undertake a comprehensive statistical study of disk substructures around the youngest protostars, discerning the relationship between circumstellar disk properties and the primordial conditions of planetary systems. Ultimately, he aims to chart the full trajectory of giant planet formation.

Proposal Title: The Role of Magnetic Fields in Galaxy Cluster's Diffuse Structure Formation

Yue Hu grew up in Yuxi City, Yunnan, China. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in automation engineering from Tongji University and the University of Bologna in 2018. Yue is poised to earn his doctorate in astrophysics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in spring 2024, supervised by Professor Alexandre Lazarian. During his doctorate, he developed innovative techniques for tracing 3D magnetic fields across various astrophysical conditions.

Yue's research focuses on the ubiquitous turbulence and magnetic fields in astrophysics, bridging the gap from the microscopic physics of cosmic rays to the macroscopic evolution of galaxy clusters. His work employs a blend of MHD turbulence theories, numerical simulations, and physics-informed machine-learning approaches. He has mapped the megaparsec-scale magnetic field in the El Gordo cluster using the synchrotron intensity gradient technique and MeerKAT radio observations.

As a Hubble Fellow, Yue will explore the role of magnetic fields in the evolution and formation of galaxy clusters, using cosmological simulations, and radio observations from VLA, LOFAR, and MeerKAT, alongside X-ray observations from Chandra and XMM-Newton. He aims to deepen our understanding of the magnetized galaxy clusters, which are among the universe's largest gravitationally bound structures. The research will also facilitate predictive models for the Square Kilometre Array and the Lynx X-ray observatory.

Wynn Jacobson-Galán

Host Institution: California Institute of Technology

Proposal Title: Final Moments: Uncovering the Rate of Enhanced Red Supergiant Mass-loss in the Local Volume

Wynn Jacobson-Galán grew up in Los Angeles where he attended Santa Monica Community College before completing a bachelor’s degree in physics at UC Santa Cruz in 2018. Wynn was an IDEAS Fellow at Northwestern University where he earned a master’s degree in 2021. Wynn is currently an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at UC Berkeley under the supervision of Professor Raffaella Margutti and will finish his doctorate in summer 2024.

Wynn’s research focuses on combining multi-wavelength observations (radio to X-ray) of a variety of supernova types to create a complete picture of the final stages of stellar instability and mass-loss before explosion. His primary interest is the utilization of ultra-rapid observations of young supernovae in order to bridge the gap between stellar life and death. As a Hubble Fellow, Wynn will probe the late-stage evolution of red supergiant stars through observations and modeling of type II supernovae. Using transient sky surveys, he will construct the first volume-limited, spectroscopically-complete sample of type II supernovae discovered within days of explosion in order to constrain the final evolutionary stages of red supergiant stars in the local universe. Additionally, Wynn will utilize ultraviolet spectroscopy/imaging of both young and old core-collapse supernovae to constrain the physics of circumstellar shockwaves and the mass-loss histories of red supergiants in the decades-to-centuries before explosion.

Rafael Luque

Host Institution: The University of Chicago

Proposal Title: Understanding the Origin and Nature of Sub-Neptunes

Born in Priego de Córdoba (Spain), Rafael Luque earned his bachelor’s in physics from the University of Granada (Spain) in 2015 and his master’s in physics in 2017 from the University of Heidelberg (Germany). He earned his doctorate in 2021 thanks to a Doctoral INPhINIT Fellowship from the European Union and “la Caixa” Banking Foundation, having worked with Professor Enric Palle and Dr. Grzegorz Nowak at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (Spain). Currently, Rafael is a "Margarita Salas" Fellow at the University of Chicago, working with Professor Jacob Bean.

Rafael's research aims to understand the origin and nature of sub-Neptunes. This class of planets has no counterpart in the solar system, but they exist in (approximately) every other star in the Galaxy. Several theories and models can explain their existence and demographic properties, but they make opposing predictions about their internal structure, location at birth, evolution history, or atmospheric composition. As a Sagan Fellow, Rafael will exploit the synergies between ground- and space-based observatories to build a sample of sub-Neptunes with precise and accurate measured properties (such as radius, mass, and atmospheric composition) that break the modeling degeneracies inherent to this class and help us infer a unique answer about their properties.

Madeleine McKenzie

Host Institution: Carnegie Observatories

Proposal Title: Uncovering the Unknown Origins of Globular Clusters

Madeleine McKenzie is an Aussie from Perth, Western Australia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in physics and computer science from the University of Western Australia (UWA) in 2018. In 2020, she earned her master’s in astrophysics at UWA and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) working on hydrodynamical simulations of globular cluster formation. For her doctorate, she transitioned from theory to observations to work with Dr. David Yong on the chemical abundance analysis of globular clusters at the Australian National University and is set to graduate at the end of 2024.

Following her passion for these ancient collections of stars, Madeleine has set the lofty goal of redefining what is and is not a globular cluster. With next-generation telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope discovering dense stellar structures in the early universe, understanding the different formation channels of the star clusters and dwarf galaxies in our backyard is becoming more important. As a Hubble Fellow, she will utilize kinematic and chemical element abundance variations, particularly that of iron peak and neutron capture process elements, to characterize the diversity of star clusters around our Milky Way. Using the Magellan Telescopes operated by the Carnegie Observatories, she will undertake an ambitious observing program to identify which balls of stars are masquerading as globular clusters using a combination of high-precision chemical abundances and isotopic analysis. The outcomes from her project will help improve our understanding of fields such as star formation, nucleosynthesis, stellar evolution, and the accreted halo of our Milky Way.

Jed McKinney

Proposal Title: The Role of Dust in Shaping the Evolution of Galaxies

Jed McKinney grew up between Old Greenwich, CT and Brussels, BE. He achieved his bachelor’s degree at Tufts University in 2017, and his doctorate in astronomy from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2022. During his studies Jed was an IPAC Visiting Graduate Fellow at Caltech.  He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin.

Jed’s research focuses on understanding the lifecycle of galaxies through the lens of dust. Dust, a by-product of star formation like interstellar pollution, is a small component of galaxies by mass but plays a transformative role in how we observe, interpret, and model them. Jed’s research uses both observations and simulations to directly test and contextualize the nuanced role of dust in galaxy formation. 

As a Hubble Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin, Jed will combine detailed spectroscopic surveys using James Webb Space Telescope and ALMA with large multi-wavelength imaging programs and simulations. Jed will measure directly the properties of dust grains in distant galaxies to uncover the relationship between dust, star- and supermassive black-hole formation out to early times in the history of the universe. This will enable a new and unbiased perspective on the mechanics of galaxy formation, one that is rooted in a comprehensive census of dust.

Keefe Mitman

Host Institution: Cornell University

Proposal Title: Decoding General Relativity with Next-Generation Numerical Relativity Waveforms

Keefe Mitman was raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics from Columbia University in 2019 and his doctorate in physics from the California Institute of Technology in 2024. At Caltech, he studied black holes, gravitational waves, and numerical relativity with Professor Saul Teukolsky and the Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes (SXS) Collaboration.

Keefe’s research largely focuses on utilizing results from the gravitational wave theory community to improve contemporary numerical relativity simulations of binary black hole coalescences. One such example of this was using these simulations to calculate and model an intriguing and not-yet observed prediction of Einstein’s theory of general relativity called the gravitational wave memory effect. This effect corresponds to the permanent net displacement that two observers will experience due to the passage of transient gravitational radiation and is of immense interest to those working on testing general relativity, probing the fundamental structure of spacetime, and understanding the enigmas of quantum gravity.

As an Einstein Fellow at Cornell University, Keefe will continue his work with the SXS Collaboration to build models of the gravitational waves that can be observed by current gravitational wave detectors. In particular, he will focus on constructing waveform models that contain the memory effect to help observe this perplexing phenomenon, as well as others, for the first time.

Sarah Moran

Host Institution: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Proposal Title: From Stars to Storms: Planetary Cloud Seeding with Sulfur-Based Hazes

Sarah Moran grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in Astrophysics and a minor in Science and Public Policy at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York in 2015. She earned her doctorate in planetary sciences from Johns Hopkins University in 2021, having worked under Sarah Hörst and Nikole Lewis. During her graduate studies, she also served as a Space Policy Fellow with the Space Studies Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Sarah is currently the Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory with Mark Marley.

Sarah’s research combines laboratory astrophysics and atmospheric modeling to understand the aerosols that form in substellar atmospheres, from solar system worlds to exoplanets to brown dwarfs. Aerosols act as tracers of the physics and chemistry of these atmospheres, giving insight into the processes that shape the observable spectra of these objects. As a Sagan Fellow, Sarah will experimentally investigate the effect of sulfur species in forming atmospheric hazes and examine whether such particles enhance or inhibit exotic exoplanet cloud formation. These studies will help interpret ongoing and future observations from the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, and next-generation observatories.

Andrew Saydjari

Proposal Title: Inferring Kinematic and Chemical Maps of Galactic Dust

Andrew Saydjari grew up in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and bachelor’s and master’s in chemistry at Yale University in 2018, with a thesis on organometallic catalysis. Andrew then moved to Harvard University as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow and will complete his doctorate in physics spring 2024, advised by Douglas Finkbeiner.

Andrew’s work focuses on combining astrophysics, statistics, and high-performance coding to study the chemical, spatial, and kinematic variations in the dust that permeates the Milky Way. Dust is an important building block in matter assembly, and a driver of the interstellar environment and galactic foreground. As a Hubble Fellow at Princeton, Andrew will use new, unbiased measurements of near infrared diffuse interstellar bands to precisely map the kinematics and chemistry of galactic dust. He strives to constrain feedback processes shaping the interstellar medium and improve compositional constraints on dust. He will develop the rigorous statistical machinery necessary to combine spectroscopic surveys with upcoming photometry from SPHEREx and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to answer his motivating questions: “What is dust made of, where is it, and how is it moving?”

Peter Senchyna

Proposal Title: Bridging the Gap: Bringing the First Galaxies into Focus with Local Laboratories

Peter Senchyna grew up in rural Venersborg / Battle Ground, Washington, and earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington. He earned his doctorate working with Dan Stark at the University of Arizona in 2020. Since then, Peter has held a Carnegie Fellowship at the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Pasadena.

Peter's research is focused on understanding the first generations of massive stars and the galaxies for which they laid the foundations. Our understanding of how the universe was reionized and the earliest phases of galaxy assembly are inextricably bound-up with uncertainties in the physics of metal-poor massive stars, including the potentially profound but uncertain role of binary mass transfer. As a Hubble Fellow, Peter will bring new James Webb Space Telescope observations into conversation with several unique datasets in the local universe. These include extraordinarily deep ultraviolet continuum spectroscopy of nearby extremely metal-poor blue compact dwarf galaxies with the Hubble Space Telescope, and a large Magellan narrowband imaging campaign dissecting dwarf irregulars at the edge of the Local Group. Peter aims to unite these observations spanning from our cosmic backyard to redshift ~10 to cast light on both the nature of galaxies at cosmic dawn and massive star evolution under (near-)primordial conditions.

Raphael Skalidis

Proposal Title: Magnetic Fields in the Multiphase Interstellar Medium

Raphael Skalidis grew up in Rethymno, Crete, Greece. He obtained his doctorate from the Department of physics at the University of Crete in 2022, and later moved to the California Institute of Technology as a postdoctoral fellow. His research focuses on the interstellar medium (ISM).

Observatories such as LOFAR and the Planck satellite have revealed that a coherent magnetic field permeates the different phases of the ISM, challenging some common conceptions. As a Hubble Fellow, Raphael aims to develop theories about the role of magnetic fields in shaping the multiphase ISM. He will follow a multifaceted approach that will include comparisons between synthetic data and observations, analytical calculations, and numerical simulations. Raphael’s research promises to advance our knowledge of the magnetized ISM which is critical for understanding galaxy evolution and star formation.

Adam Smercina

Host Institution: Space Telescope Science Institute

Proposal Title: A Portrait of the Triangulum: Advancing a New Frontier of Galaxy Evolution with Resolved Stars

Adam Smercina is a native of Northwest Ohio, growing up in the small town of Oak Harbor near the shore of Lake Erie. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics, with a concentration in astrophysics, from the University of Toledo in 2015. He then moved north to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he ultimately earned his doctorate in astronomy and astrophysics in August 2020, advised by Eric Bell. Adam was supported during his doctorate work by a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. Since 2020, he has worked with Julianne Dalcanton and Ben Williams at the University of Washington as a postdoctoral scholar.

Adam's research focuses on reconstructing the evolutionary histories of galaxies by resolving them into their constituent stars. We are in an exciting new era where the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope operate simultaneously, providing better access to the resolved stellar populations in individual nearby galaxies than ever before. These galaxies' constituent stars are tremendously information-rich, providing an archaeological record of their host galaxy's evolution. As a Hubble Fellow at STScI, Adam will use these stars to chart the evolution of structure, star formation, and interaction in galaxies throughout the Local Volume, including a targeted study of the Triangulum Galaxy, M33. The first large galaxy with panchromatic Hubble+Webb observations across its disk, M33 is among the most important members of the Local Group, and exists at a mass where the physics driving the evolution of spiral galaxies is poorly understood. This work will establish a foundational blueprint for a new era of studying resolved stellar populations in large galaxies from space, setting the benchmark for future facilities studying more distant, cosmologically-representative populations of galaxies.

Shangjia Zhang

Proposal Title: Probing Young Planet Populations with 3D Self-Consistent Disk Thermodynamics

Shangjia Zhang was born and raised in Beijing, China. He earned bachelor’s degrees in astronomy and physics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2018. He is currently completing his doctorate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, under the guidance of Professor Zhaohuan Zhu.

Shangjia's research interests focus on several aspects of protoplanetary disks, including constraining dust properties and disk thermal structure, and inferring potential young planet populations from disk substructures. As a Sagan Fellow, he will use state-of-the-art radiation hydrodynamic simulations to self-consistently study disk thermodynamics. By deepening our understanding of disk physics, his goal is to provide better explanations for disk images and kinematics obtained from radio interferometers and giant telescopes. By bridging theory with observations, he aims to distinguish substructures’ planetary and non-planetary origins and uncover more young planets.

Host Institution: University of Chicago

Proposal Title: Enabling Radial Velocity Detection of Earth-Twins Through Data-Driven Algorithms and Community Collaboration

Lily Zhao grew up in west Philadelphia. She earned bachelors’ degrees in biology, mathematics, and physics from the University of Chicago in 2016. Lily was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at Yale University, where she earned her doctorate in astronomy in 2021 under the supervision of Professor Debra Fischer. Since 2021, Lily has been a Flatiron Research Fellow at the Center for Computational Astrophysics.

Lily's research advances precision spectroscopy with a focus on dynamical discovery and characterization of lower-mass exoplanets. She is the project scientist for EXPRES, an ultra-stabilized optical spectrograph. Lily also leads the Extreme Stellar Signals Project, a community-wide collaboration with over 40 members working together to mitigate stellar signals, which are now the largest source of scatter in precision radial velocity measurements. As a Sagan Fellow at the University of Chicago, Lily will develop empirical methods for mitigating stellar signals using the full spectral format and continue coordinating community efforts.

Sebastian Zieba

Proposal Title: Characterization of Rocky Exoplanet Surfaces and Atmospheres in the JWST Era

Sebastian Zieba grew up in Salzburg, Austria. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Innsbruck in 2017. He remained in Innsbruck to pursue his master’s degree, during which he discovered transiting comets orbiting the exoplanet host star Beta Pictoris. After completing his master’s in 2020, he moved to Heidelberg, Germany to pursue a doctorate in astronomy under the supervision of Professor Laura Kreidberg, which he will complete in the summer of 2024.

During Sebastian’s doctorate research at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, he has pushed the boundary of atmospheric characterization down to small, rocky exoplanets. He has used space-based telescopes like the Spitzer Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, and James Webb Space Telescope to cover an extensive temperature range, from lava worlds with outgassed rock vapor atmospheres caused by scorching temperatures exceeding 2000 Kelvin to terrestrial planets with temperatures around 400 K, more comparable to our own inner solar system.

As the Principal Investigator (PI) of two accepted Cycle 2 Webb proposals, Sebastian will characterize the surfaces of hot, airless planets, measure their surface roughness, and explore the transition region between rocky and gaseous planets. As a Sagan Fellow, he will analyze these upcoming observations to unravel the geological history of rocky exoplanets and determine the conditions under which these small worlds retain atmospheres.

Contact the NHFP

[email protected] NASA Hubble Fellowship Program

RSI welcomes 82 Top Scholars to 2019 Summer STEM Institute

Top U.S. and International High School STEM Students Selected for the 36 th annual Research Science Institute

82 high school students from 34 states and 14 countries convene at MIT for prestigious six-week summer academic research program

McLean, VA  (June 24, 2019) –  The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) welcomed the 82 top achieving U.S. high school and international scholars to the 36 th annual Research Science Institute (RSI), jointly sponsored with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). RSI is an intensive, six-week program that gives students the opportunity to conduct original, cutting-edge science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research in state-of-the-art university laboratories, hospitals and corporate research facilities in Boston and Cambridge, MA. 

“The Research Science Institute offers top academic math and science students the opportunity to experience graduate-level research and camaraderie with other talented STEM scholars,” said Joann P. DiGennaro, CEE President. “RSI has 2,800 successful alumni with a STEM career retention rate of 80 percent.” In addition to their individualized research, the students—dubbed “Rickoids” after the late Admiral H.G. Rickover, father of the Nuclear Navy and founder of the Center with DiGennaro—also study pure and applied mathematics, physical and biological science, economics and humanities. 

RSI scholars also learn about the careers, achievements and challenges of STEM through presentations and dialogue in RSI’s Distinguished Guest Lecture Series . Recognized STEM leaders will share their experiences with RSI scholars, including:

• Jeremy Wolfe, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology & Radiology, Harvard Medical School and Visual Attention Lab, Department of Surgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital
• Noam Elkies, PhD, Professor, Mathematics, Harvard University
• Scott Kominers, PhD, RSI '04, Associate Professor, Harvard Business School, Entrepreneurial Management Unit
• Philip Tan, RSI '93, Research Scientist, MIT Game Lab
• Tom Leighton, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO, Akamai Technologies
• Jinger Zhao, Managing Director, Quantitative Research, Two Sigma
• Wolfgang Ketterle, PhD, Nobel Laureate, Physics, MIT
• Sandor Lehoczky, Managing Director and Partner, Jane Street Capital, LLC
• Pardis Sabeti, MD, DPhil, Professor, Harvard University, Institute Member Broad Institute MIT and Harvard         
• Aaron S. Kesselheim, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital

RSI is offered cost-free by CEE to competitively selected top achieving students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students are selected by CEE’s committee of professional educators and RSI alumni based on high school records, personal essays, standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, research experience, potential for leadership, and honors and awards in math and science.

The RSI annual summer program (June 23 to Aug. 3) consists of one week of theoretical classroom work, followed by four-and-a-half weeks of high-level research under the mentorship of leading scientists, engineers, and researchersin the students’ respective areas of interest. In their final week, students demonstrate their research work through written academic papers and oral presentations to their peers and a panel of judges.

Dr. Amy Sillman, an RSI ’84 alum, will lead the Institute this summer. RSI’s 2019 academic professors include:

• Dr. Christopher Skinner, RSI ’88, Princeton University (Mathematics)
• Dr. Forrest Michael, RSI ’90, University of Washington (Chemistry)
• Dr. Rebekah Rogers, RSI '01, University of North Carolina, Charlotte (Biology)
• Dr. Jason Nielsen, RSI ’89, University of California, Santa Cruz (Physics)
• Dr. Steven Leeb, MIT (Engineering)
• Mr. Lance Rhoades, University of Washington (Humanities)

In addition to 52 U.S. high school rising seniors, 30 international students will participate from Bulgaria, Canada, China, India, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey at RSI 2019.

  Research Science Institute 2019 U.S. Students

Research Science Institute 2019 International Students

About the Center for Excellence in Education

The Center for Excellence in Education was founded in 1983 by the late Admiral H.G. Rickover and Joann P. DiGennaro, President of the Center. The Center's mission is to nurture high school and university scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and to encourage collaboration between and among leaders in the global community. CEE’s programs include the Research Science Institute (RSI), the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO), and the Teacher Enrichment Program (TEP). 

Related websites:

Center for Excellence in Education: https://www.cee.org/ Research Science Institute: https://www.cee.org/research-science-institute