The World Bridge Network Research Fellowship gives high school and gap-year students the opportunity to conduct independent research with guidance from a research mentor.
Over eight weeks, students develop a research question, explore existing literature, conduct research, analyze evidence, write a research manuscript, and submit their completed work for academic review.
The Research Fellowship is open to:
Previous research experience is not required. We value curiosity, motivation, and commitment to completing the research process.
Students can pursue research across the following areas:
Explore topics in AI, machine learning, computing, and related fields.
Conduct research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related disciplines.
Explore questions involving history, culture, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities.
Investigate questions related to markets, economics, finance, and quantitative analysis.
Explore research questions that connect multiple academic fields.
Students are matched with mentors based on their research interests and available mentor expertise.
Work with your mentor to identify, refine, and structure a research question.
Review existing research, identify relevant sources, and develop your research approach.
Carry out your research, collect and evaluate evidence or data, and begin developing your analysis.
Complete your research manuscript and incorporate feedback from your mentor.
Submit your completed manuscript to World Bridge Network for academic review.
Throughout the fellowship, students meet with their mentors once per week and communicate through email as needed.
Each student is matched with a research mentor based on their research interests and the mentor's academic or professional background.
Mentors help students:
Note: Students remain responsible for conducting their research, analysis, and writing. Mentors provide guidance and feedback rather than writing the research for students.
After the fellowship, completed research manuscripts undergo academic review by PhD candidates and researchers at universities such as Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), and more.
The review considers areas such as:
Students may receive feedback or recommendations for improvement as part of the review process.
Research papers that meet academic standards will be considered for publication in the WBN Research Hub.
Publication is not guaranteed. When published, the student is identified as the author, with the mentor credited.
Expect to dedicate approx. 5–8 hours per week to reading, research, analysis, writing, and communication.
The exact time commitment may vary depending on the research topic and methodology.
Free for everyone. There is no participation fee.
Our goal is to make meaningful research opportunities accessible to students who lack access to academic networks.
Take your research idea from a question to a completed manuscript with guidance from a research mentor.
Apply for the Research Fellowship →