SoTS Princeton Research Labs

SoTS Princeton Labs is our flagship immersive research program. Students join in person in central Princeton, NJ. Weekly meetings with direct mentorship from experienced research educators.

This is not a class. No lectures. Students work on real problems with support: identifying questions, designing approaches, collecting data, analyzing results, and presenting findings.

Many projects require experimental work, equipment, or fieldwork. Students and families identify resources at their school, purchase materials (eBay, hardware stores), or find opportunities in nature around them.

When your child joins a SoTS Lab, they're not getting yesterday's teaching methods. They're participating in educational approaches that are shaping the future of how research skills are taught worldwide.

• Weekly meetings: 1 to 1.5 hours. In person in central Princeton, NJ. Weekly accountability and honest feedback (no grade inflation).
• Groups: Up to 5 members per group. Groups may differ by age, grade level, or sophistication level.
• Projects: Format varies by lab. Bring your own ideas or join projects formulated by peers. See individual lab pages for details.
• Between meetings: Students do the actual work: research, experiments, coding, writing, analysis. The AI Research Mentor is there to help you come to meetings prepared.
• Presentation practice: Regular opportunities to present your work and receive feedback. Essential for conferences, future research, and self-assessment.
• SoTS ecosystem: Documented research for your portfolio, publication and conference opportunities.

Students who complete a full semester (spring, fall, or summer) in good standing, attend at least 75% of scheduled lab sessions, and demonstrate satisfactory progress (at the lab director's discretion) are eligible to receive a physical Certificate of Research Training. Summer semesters are hybrid; summer-semester students must additionally attend at least 50% of scheduled sessions in person. The certificate states that the student received training in authentic research, conducted an original project, and completed a semester-long program in the lab. Enrollment or participation alone does not guarantee a certificate.

Certificates may include a QR code linking to the student's Research Profile (if the student chooses so). The certificate is signed by the lab director(s) and the Academic Director of SoTS.

Each semester is designed for a full research cycle: from formulating an original question through data collection, analysis, and presentation. How far a student gets depends on their effort and capacity.

Students who enjoy research and want to take their project deeper can continue with our free Personal AI Research Mentor software (researchmentor.ai) or enroll in the next semester, including Summer Research Labs. When results are ready, students can publish in our peer-reviewed journal, write for our magazine, present at the SoTS Annual Meeting, or find other ways to communicate their research through external venues. All of this builds your research profile.

Lab enrollment automatically qualifies students for SoTS membership for the duration of the program, including the ability to submit materials for their research profile.

Harvard's admissions reading procedures name “original scholarship” among the characteristics of their highest-rated applicants. See public records details →

SoTS Research Labs is a space for students who are curious, active, and engaged. Students should demonstrate progress and commitment. Nobody will force or convince students to do anything.

Students may join with extensive experience or none at all. What matters is committed work and growth.

• Ability to attend weekly in-person meetings
• Experience/skills matching lab prerequisites (most labs accept students with no prior research experience)
• Show up prepared
• Do the work between sessions
• Learn independently when directed to resources
• Contribute to peer discussions
• Follow through on commitments

• Not accepted to any lab (no space, prerequisites not met): full refund
• Voluntary disenrollment: no refund
• Disenrolled for lack of commitment or conduct issues: no refund. Parents will be contacted to discuss the situation before disenrollment action is taken. Please note that we cannot afford to have disengaged students affecting other members of the group.

Students who completed a semester and relocated to another area may continue via Zoom. Contact us for details.

Gift certificates available.
Looking for a meaningful gift? Select "Yes" for gift certificate option in the enrollment form.