Summer Research Program
Build a research project in 14 weeks.
Work 1-on-1 with PhD researchers to turn an academic interest into a serious, portfolio-ready deliverable.
Work 1-on-1 with PhD researchers to turn an academic interest into a serious, portfolio-ready deliverable.
Subject Areas
From AI and engineering to law and the life sciences — your student is paired with a PhD researcher in their exact area of interest.
Mentorship
Every student is paired with an active PhD researcher at a top university — someone doing real work in the exact field you want to explore.
Studies how AI systems understand language and images, with work featured in MIT News and New Scientist.
Uses optimization and AI to tackle real-world challenges in autonomous driving at MIT LIDS.
Builds microfluidic diagnostic assays for infectious disease, bridging chemical engineering and bioengineering.
Studies how psilocybin and other psychedelics reorganize brain network dynamics through pharmacological neuroimaging.
Physics DPhil at New College, Oxford with a background spanning physics, history, and interdisciplinary research.
Researches legal tools for tackling environmental challenges and climate injustice.
Studies how AI systems understand language and images, with work featured in MIT News and New Scientist.
Uses optimization and AI to tackle real-world challenges in autonomous driving at MIT LIDS.
Builds microfluidic diagnostic assays for infectious disease, bridging chemical engineering and bioengineering.
Studies how psilocybin and other psychedelics reorganize brain network dynamics through pharmacological neuroimaging.
Physics DPhil at New College, Oxford with a background spanning physics, history, and interdisciplinary research.
Researches legal tools for tackling environmental challenges and climate injustice.
Program Structure
A structured 14-week arc that moves students from an initial idea into technical execution, analysis, writing, and submission strategy.
Narrow a broad interest into a focused, testable question with a clear scope, relevant literature, and a mentor-approved direction.
ScopeBuild the methods needed for the project, from coding and data tools to experimental design, modeling, or field-specific techniques.
Skill BuildCollect, clean, interpret, and visualize evidence so the project moves beyond an idea into defensible research findings.
AnalysisTurn the work into a polished manuscript with an abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and references.
WritingIdentify appropriate journals, science fairs, competitions, or showcase pathways and prepare the project for external review.
SubmissionSubmission pathways depend on project fit, timeline, and external eligibility requirements. Launchpad Labs does not guarantee publication, awards, or admissions outcomes.
Program Logistics