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.

Upcoming Projects Register

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.

About VRI

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.

Student participating in a focused online research mentoring session
Student experience Focused independent work, careful preparation, and live engagement with a research mentor.
Research mentor explaining a concept during an online mentoring session
Mentor guidance Experienced researchers help students refine ideas, interpret results, and work at a scholarly level.

Research Pathways

Pathways into mentored research.

VRI offers two primary ways to participate. Circles provide a broader public entry point, while Groups offer a smaller and more intensive cohort experience.

Tier I

Circles

Structured cohort-based experiences that introduce students to serious mentor-guided research in an accessible but rigorous format.

Tier II

Groups

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 Group 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.

Programs & Pricing

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.

View Circles View Groups

Summer 2026 · Session 1

Begins June 8, 2026

Circles closed Groups closed

Summer 2026 · Session 2

Begins July 20, 2026

Circles open Groups open

Explore more about VRI.

Learn more about the institute, review common questions, browse policies, or explore past work in the research archive.

About VRI Questions & Answers Policies & Procedures Research Archive