SoTS Princeton Research Labs

For High School, Middle School, and Home School Students

Each semester: One original research project of your own, from question formulation to findings.
Open to: High school and middle school students from any school, including homeschool. No prior research experience needed.
Length: 16 weeks in Fall or Spring, or 8 weeks in Summer with two sessions a week.
Weekly commitment: One 1 to 1.5 hour meeting, plus your own research between sessions.
Cohort: Up to 5 students per group, each carrying their own project.
Tuition: $3,500 per semester, in person or hybrid.

About

Princeton Research Labs are the research component of the SoTS Physics Lyceum.

Students meet weekly in central Princeton, NJ, with expert researcher-educator mentors. No lectures, just real research: you define your question, design approaches, collect data, analyze results, and present findings.

Dr. Sergey Samsonau on the path from a question to new knowledge, at the SoTS Princeton Research Symposium 2026.

Enrollment and Tuition

Tuition

$3,500per semester

Semesters: Fall, Spring, and Summer, at the same rate
Formats: In-person in Princeton, NJ, or hybrid from anywhere
Commitment: Full semester

Book an info call

team@teenscientists.org

Pay

Payment and refunds

Payment is due at enrollment
Not accepted to any lab (no space, prerequisites not met): full refund
You cancel 1+ week before the start: full refund
You cancel less than 1 week before: no refund
Voluntary disenrollment after the start: no refund
Disenrolled for lack of commitment or conduct: no refund. Parents are contacted before any action is taken.

How It Works

Our labs welcome curious, active, and engaged students. Experience does not matter; commitment and growth do. Nobody will force you to do anything.

Small groups: Up to 5 members per group.
Your project: Each student works on their own research question. Peer feedback deepens when directions overlap.
Between sessions: Research, experiments, coding, writing, and analysis happen on your own. AI Research Mentor helps you stay prepared.
Regular presentations: Practice presenting your work and receiving feedback.
Real research: Questions have no answer keys. You do the work; mentors coach.
Your question: Define what you genuinely care about within your lab's field.
Method fits you: Science takes many forms. We match the approach to your question.

More on methodology: The Research Guide: From Informal Role to Profession, Samsonau & Pearce, arXiv:2604.19961 (2026)

Available Labs

In-Person and Online

Same labs, same research cycle, different formats. Every one of them is a full semester commitment.

In-person

Weekly 1- to 1.5-hour sessionsin person
Fall: Sep–Jan, 16 weeks
Spring: Feb–May, 16 weeks
Summer: Jul–Aug, 8 weeks (2 sessions per week)with occasional online flexibility (details)

Hybrid

Weekly 1- to 1.5-hour Zoom meetingswith 2 or 3 required in-person visits
Fall: Sep–Jan, 16 weeksincluding 3 required in-person visits
Spring: Feb–May, 16 weeksincluding 3 required in-person visits
Summer: Jul–Aug, 8 weeks (2 sessions per week)including 2 required in-person visits

Hybrid eligibility

Active SoTS membership.
Record of weekly progress. For at least 8 of the last 10 weeks, share what you're working on with us (currently via email; SoTS submission tool coming soon). Our free Personal AI Research Mentor can help structure your work.
Short interview with the lab director.
Attend the half-day visits in central Princeton, NJ (3 per Spring or Fall semester, 2 per Summer).

Year-long option: The International Format bundles a full year: two weeks in Princeton to start, weekly Zoom mentorship, and one week back in Princeton to finish. All Research Skills Courses included. Built for students outside the US, Americans abroad, and US families far from Princeton who can travel for the residency weeks.

Certificate of Research Training

Complete a semester in good standing (attend at least 75% of sessions, demonstrate satisfactory progress) and earn a physical Certificate of Research Training. Summer students must attend at least 50% of sessions in person.

The certificate confirms training in authentic research, an original project, and completion of a semester-long lab program. Signed by your lab director and the Academic Director of SoTS. May include a QR code linking to your Research Profile.

View sample certificate →

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