Aaisha’s AI Research Journey: From Passion Project to Pennsylvania Science and Engineering Fair
Exploring the Power of AI
Astronomical Redshift and Machine Learning: Determining Age of Supermassive Black Holes
When Aaisha joined the Inspirit AI + X 1:1 Mentorship Program, she was eager to dive deep into the intersection of artificial intelligence and astrophysics. After exploring several ideas with her mentor, she landed on a project titled Astronomical Redshift and Machine Learning: Determining Age of Supermassive Black Holes.
Aisha chose this topic because of her long-standing interest in astrophysics, and wanted to explore how AI could drive real-world impact in this field.
“I found the age of supermassive black holes. My mentor had a big influence on how my project was developed. I told him what I was interested in and he was able to help me formulate an interesting idea. ”
One-on-One Mentorship That Makes a Difference
For Aaisha, the most valuable part of the 1:1 Mentorship Program was building a strong relationship with her mentor.
Working closely with a PhD mentor from Caltech, Aaisha gained not only technical knowledge but also the confidence to ask bold questions, iterate on ideas, and learn from failures. The structured yet flexible nature of the program helped her go from concept to publication-ready research in just a few months.
“The best part was the connections I made. My mentor is a student at CalTech and being able to talk to someone who attends my dream school is really great. Also, the applications that my project had was very useful. I used my project for a journal submission and multiple science fairs.”
From Research to Recognition: Aaisha’s Awards and Achievements
The project Astronomical Redshift and Machine Learning: Determining Age of Supermassive Black Holes has since earned Aaisha recognition in several prestigious venues. Her work was accepted into the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair and she even won first place award at Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Fair, showcasing their contribution to cutting-edge high school research.
Beyond the accolades, the experience gave Aaisha a major confidence boost in her academic journey.
About the Inspirit AI 1:1 AI + X Mentorship Program
The Inspirit AI 1:1 AI + X Mentorship Program is a personalized research experience designed for ambitious high school students interested in exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and their unique areas of interest—ranging from medicine and neuroscience to climate science, economics, and beyond.
Students are paired with expert mentors from top institutions like Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, who guide them step-by-step through the process of designing, developing, and writing a publication-ready AI research project. The program equips students with both the technical skills and research mindset needed to produce original work, with the ultimate goal of submitting their projects to top high school journals, science fairs, and competitions.
The Value of Building an AI Research Project as a High Schooler
Publishing a research project as a high school student offers a powerful opportunity to stand out academically, demonstrate initiative, and showcase a deep commitment to learning beyond the classroom. It not only strengthens college applications by highlighting intellectual curiosity and advanced problem-solving skills, but also gives students experience with real-world scientific communication and academic rigor.
Whether submitted to a peer-reviewed journal or a high school research publication, having published work signals to universities and scholarship committees that a student is capable of producing meaningful, original contributions to their field of interest—something few high schoolers can claim.
Ready to turn your passion into a published AI research project? Apply to the Inspirit AI 1:1 AI + X Mentorship Program today and work one-on-one with expert mentors from top universities to bring your ideas to life. Spots are limited—take the first step toward making your mark in the world of AI research!
