Pioneer | Only Fully Accredited Online Research Program for High School Students

About Us

Our Mission

We believe that students who will meaningfully impact society throughout their lives need personalized, guided educational experiences that inspire them to explore, to question, and to generate and test their own ideas. Pioneer Academics® offers these experiences.

Our mission is to transcend cultural, geographic and socioeconomic barriers to educational engagement. That’s why we select student cohorts that bring together ideas and perspectives from diverse cultures and geographies. Such peer interaction challenges stereotypes, augments creativity, and heightens students’ awareness of the global community in which we live. Pioneer also transcends socioeconomic barriers by offering verifiable-need-based scholarships to outstanding students. This initiative enables more students to engage in in-depth exploration of their academic interests under the mentorship of thought leaders than would otherwise be possible..

Our Vision

We will improve the current academic culture by creating educational experiences that are inspiring and life-changing, that unlock students’ curiosity and creativity, and that involve international peer engagement encouraging students to challenge preconceived notions and embedded stereotypes.

Our Social Mission

To transcend cultural, geographic and socioeconomic barriers to educational engagement.

A Public Benefit Corporation

Our social mission is to transcend cultural, geographic and socioeconomic barriers to educational engagement. As part of our social mission, Pioneer Academics dedicates funds every year to need-based scholarships for students to participate in the Pioneer Research Program.

Our Team

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Matthew Jaskol

Founder and Program Director
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Amy Li

Founding Director, Outreach and Communications
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Lucia Murillo

Global Associate Director of Outreach
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Kathryn Lalime

Operations Director
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Joseph Gotto

Senior Academic Relations Manager
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Dan Yu

Regional Director, China Operations
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Alice Shen

Director of China Outreach & Reputation Management
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Kimberly Mathies

Director of HR and Administration
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Brian Cooper

Director of Academic R&D
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Dana Silk

Director of Admissions
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Melissa Rose

Melissa Rose

Student Financial Liaison/Non-Profit Partnership Manager
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Founding Advisors

Pioneer History

Pioneer Academics, a public benefit corporation, created a structured research mentorship model for high school students in 2012. The model provides undergraduate-level research opportunities to intellectually motivated high school students from around the world.

It has become the only fully-accredited online research program for high school students, highly respected by the higher education community.

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The Pioneer 2023 application season has concluded. Applications are no longer being accepted.
We value each applicant’s effort and commitment.
The 2024 application season will open in August.
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  • Considering students have significantly fewer options for their summer enrichment, Pioneer adjusted the cohort size from maximum 5 to maximum 6 so that we can offer the opportunity to more students. Please be aware that Pioneer will only expand cohorts which we feel sure will not be compromised in any way by a slight increase in participation. Some areas, therefore, may stay at a maximum of 5 because the nature of the course requires heavier coaching.

 

  • Pioneer admissions still requires the same application materials, but we may adjust the timing in response to current realities. If you can work with your counselor to collect your official transcript and counselor evaluation and submit them soon after you submit your application, it will speed up the process. Pioneer admissions requires an official transcript and counselor evaluation to process applications for the final round. If these items won't be available during the process due to COVID-19, applicants must submit evidence that the school's counseling office is closed. Pioneer admissions will then decide what adjustment shall be granted.