The program offers personalized one-on-one mentorship with PhD scholars from top-tier universities, providing a structured pathway for middle schoolers to conduct original research and produce a high-school level project.
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week virtual research program designed for middle school students. It offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with a Ph.D. scholar from a leading university, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, or Princeton, to explore academic interests and develop a research project. The program emphasizes building foundational research and academic writing skills. Students learn to process, read, and interpret scientific literature, formulate research questions, and develop scientific communication skills through feedback and writing coaching sessions. The program culminates in a high school-level research project, which can range from a research paper to a case study or presentation. Past students have built machine-learning models and algorithms to solve real-world challenges. The program aims to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent learning in a low-risk environment.
A typical week involves a one-hour virtual meeting with a Ph.D. mentor and an additional 4-6 hours of independent work, which includes reading articles, watching videos, and conducting analysis.
This program is best for ambitious and gifted middle school students (grades 6-8) who are taking their first step into research and independent projects and are eager to explore diverse academic fields.
Virtual
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