Tier I
Circles
Structured cohort-based experiences that introduce students to serious mentor-guided research in an accessible but rigorous format.
Mentored Research in Mathematics and Computational Sciences
Mentored research for ambitious young scholars.
The Virtual Research Institute offers serious mentored research for high-school students in mathematics, statistics, data science, and related computational fields. Built around close mentorship and high standards, VRI is designed for students seeking work that goes beyond ordinary enrichment.
Why VRI
More serious than ordinary enrichment.
VRI is built for students who are ready to think deeply, work closely with mentors, and contribute to meaningful collaborative research.
What makes VRI distinctive
Close mentorship, sustained intellectual work, and a scholarly environment designed for students who want more than a standard online class.
Online Mentorship
Research mentorship across distance.
VRI brings ambitious students into a focused research environment where sustained work, careful feedback, and mentor guidance happen in real time.
Research Pathways
Pathways into mentored research.
VRI offers two primary ways to participate. Circles provide a broader public entry point, while Teams offer a smaller and more intensive cohort experience.
Tier II
Teams
Smaller collaborative cohorts with closer mentor interaction, deeper sustained work, and a more intensive research experience.
Research Extension may be available by invitation after a Circle or Team when prior performance, mentor recommendation, project suitability, and capacity align.
Explore programs and pricing
Visit the dedicated page for pathway details, program format, and pricing information.
Current Openings
Upcoming public sessions.
Dates and enrollment status update automatically from VRI’s calendar and session data. Choose a pathway to review project-specific offerings.
Fall 2026 · Session 1
Circles begins October 12, 2026 Teams begins January 11, 2027
Circles closed Teams preparing
Fall 2026 · Session 2
Circles begins October 26, 2026 Teams begins February 8, 2027
Circles preparing Teams preparing
Latest from VRI
News, research, and opportunities.
VRI announcements appear alongside a small, human-reviewed selection of academic opportunities and research items chosen for our community.
VRI News
Spring 2027 research opportunities are being prepared
VRI is preparing its upcoming mentored-research offerings for Spring 2027. Project-specific availability and enrollment status will appear on the Upcoming Projects pages as they are finalized.
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Student Opportunity
JMM 2027 accepts eligible high-school research presentations
The 2027 Joint Mathematics Meetings will accept eligible high-school students into the Pi Mu Epsilon poster and contributed-paper program when the research was conducted under faculty supervision at a post-secondary institution. The PME submission deadline is September 29, 2026.
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Mentor Opportunity
SIAM CSE27 presentation submissions close August 25
SIAM's 2027 Conference on Computational Science and Engineering is accepting minisymposium, lecture, poster, and related presentation submissions through August 25, 2026. The conference will be held February 22–26, 2027 in Pittsburgh.
Explore all VRI updates.
Browse institute announcements, student and mentor opportunities, and selected research highlights.
Explore more about VRI.
Learn more about the institute, review common questions, browse policies, or explore past work in the research archive.