Research Mentorship Programs in Computer Science: How to Start Researching as a Student
There are many research mentorship programs in computer science for students in high school and college! In this blog, we will describe some amazing computer science research mentorship programs that students can apply for.
What are Research Mentorship Programs?
Research mentorship programs are programs that allow students to dive deeper into their field of choice and research on a topic that interests them while being guided by a mentor. A special bond is forged between the student and mentor as they research complex topics and work together to solve any challenges that may arise.
Benefits of Research Mentorship Programs
Participating in a research mentorship program builds important skills for students where they can utilize it in and out of school. Additionally, research mentorship programs allow students to shine on college applications and/or resumes!
BUILD IMPORTANT SKILLS
Participating in research mentorship programs in computer science allows students to further develop their skills in computer science which will be extremely helpful in the future when pursuing a job in computer science! Students will be able to prove their problem solving and critical thinking skills when met with challenges during the research process. Not only does it help students get a leg up in computer science, but it also exposes students to real world research.
In addition to learning more about computer science, students gain helpful connections with their mentor which will improve their teamwork and communication skills. While working with a mentor, students gain a greater insight into real world problems and creative solutions.
HELPS STUDENTS SHINE
Research mentorship programs in computer science allows students to shine on their college applications and/or resume. Not only does it demonstrate their passion for computer science, but it also displays their ability and desire to dive deep into their topic of interest.
Computer science is a very popular topic and major that is continuing to grow and although it may be difficult to stand out amongst the rest, participating in research mentorship programs for computer science definitely helps. Students have the opportunity to show off their expertise in computer science while learning about a specific route in computer science.
Research Mentorship Programs in Computer Science for High School Students
There are many research mentorship programs in computer science for high school students and the ones we have listed below are only a few of the numerous programs available!
INSPIRIT AI RESEARCH MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS
Inspirit AI offers summer and spring research mentorship programs in computer science where students can explore the different applications of AI. Inspirit AI offers programs for both new and returning students no matter their experience in programming.
For new students to Inspirit AI, AI Scholars is a live online program that takes place over the summer and spring for high schoolers over 10 sessions (25 hours) that is open to programmers of any experience. Students have the opportunity to explore more about the applications of AI in real world situations. Mentors who are Stanford alumni and/or graduate students specializing in AI guide students through participating in an AI project.
For returning students with experience in programming, 1:1 Project Mentoring and Deep Dives are two programs that students can participate in.
For 1:1 Project Mentoring, there is a 10 hours option and a 25 hours option. It connects students with an experienced AI mentor to help them guide their way through their research project about AI + X. Students have the opportunity to complete an independent AI project, research proposal, and final research paper/article.
Deep Dives are project-based courses that continue to build graduate-level AI skills. Students have the opportunity to explore applications of machine learning models of their topic of interest, learning and applying their applications of AI to real world problems.
UC SANTA BARBARA RESEARCH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program is a research mentorship program where students can choose to research in computer science. The UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program engages high school students from around the world to participate in hands-on, university-level research. Students are paired up with a graduate student, faculty, or postdoctoral mentor and have the opportunity to choose a research project from a long list of disciplines offered by the program.
Students have the opportunity to create a long-lasting relationship with their mentor while learning about research techniques, gaining a greater insight into professional research-based opportunities. Students will gain connections to some of the top minds among the UC Santa Barbara research community through their innovative research and are able to network with ambitious and curious peers through this program.
PRINCETON LABORATORY LEARNING PROGRAM
The Princeton Laboratory Learning Program is a full time, free research experience for students interested in STEM. There are many tracks available for students to pursue besides computer science such as engineering and natural sciences.
Students have the opportunity to be included in ongoing research students where they are supervised by Princeton’s research faculty and staff. The program typically spans up to 5 to 6 weeks over the summer and the participation dates are customized based on the schedules, the research personnel and the specifics of the project.
Research Mentorship Programs in Computer Science for Undergraduates
Undergraduates have many opportunities to participate in research mentorship programs in computer science. Whether the research mentorship programs are led by businesses like Google or your own college, there are many options out there for students to participate in!
GOOGLE’S COMPUTER SCIENCE RESEARCH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM (CSRMP)
Students who participate in Google’s Computer Science Research Mentorship Program have the opportunity to work with their peers at a similar academic stage while being supported by a designated Google mentor. Students can participate in discussions with their small group and attend one-on-one meetings with the Google mentor throughout the program.
Students can join a broader community and attend career talks, networking events, and more during this program. Google’s Computer Science Research Mentorship Program runs for 12 weeks during the academic year and they aim to support students from historically marginalized groups to progress in computing research pathways.
AMAZON SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (SURE)
Students have the opportunity to be a part of the 8 to 10 week SURE program at a university of their choice where they are mentored by the faculty of that university. Students create their own research project while being supported by professionals and top researchers in computer science and STEM.
The Amazon Summer Undergraduate Research Experience aims to increase diversity in STEM fields by providing students from historically underrepresented communities with a summer research experience at a top-tier university. Amazon has worked with Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Tech, Columbia University, University of California Los Angeles, and University of Southern California where the listed universities host the multi-year SURE programs.
RESEARCH MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS HOSTED BY YOUR COLLEGE
Many universities have research mentorship programs available for their students. For example, the University of Michigan provides faculty and post-doctoral researchers to undergraduate student researchers as an opportunity for students to engage in research activities. The University of Michigan is not the only university that has a research mentorship program in computer science as many other colleges do too such as Wellesley College, Stanford University, Portland State University, and more!
Colleges try their hardest to provide their students with many opportunities, so feel free to ask your college if they have any research mentorship programs in computer science available! Not only is it more convenient because you are already attending that university, but you also gain more connections with the faculty and mentors at your school!
Research Mentorship Programs in Computer Science
There are many opportunities for students in high school and college to participate in research mentorship programs in computer science. In this blog, we only listed a few but there are an endless list of research mentorship programs in computer science for students to participate in! Research mentorship programs in computer science provide students with many benefits for school and in the future, and it also helps them gain connections to graduate students and faculty from different universities!
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
