THE PIONEER RESEARCH INSTITUTE

 PRI

Reviews & Insights

Reviews & Insights
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High schoolers, why wait until college to make your mark on the world of knowledge? As a Pioneer Scholar, you can conduct original research that contributes to global understanding. Hear from students and leading educators as they share their experiences with the Pioneer Research Institute.

Experts and Leaders

  • Tony Wagner

    Tony Wagner, Ed.D

    Author and Senior Research Fellow, Learning Policy Institute
    “Curiosity and intrinsic motivation are essential qualities for the innovation era, yet are often missing in conventional approaches to education today. By providing students around the world with opportunities to ask their own questions and pursue problems, ideas, and interests deeply, Pioneer Academics plays a unique and vital role in the development of thoughtful, engaged citizens for the future.”
  • Azamat Tulepbergenov

    Azamat Tulepbergenov

    Bilim-Innovation” International Community Fund
    “Thank you for erasing the socioeconomic barrier and making us part of your educational community and the community of young, bold scientists. We thank you for giving our students tools, mentorship and rigor to explore various research interests, question existing scientific findings, and generate and work on their ideas.”
  • Luisa Duarte

    Luisa Duarte

    Ashinaga Africa Initiative
    “As a counselor to students of varied backgrounds and heritages, I have no doubt that the quality of the individual mentorship that Pioneer Academics provides to all its students is one of the most unique, valuable and high-quality activities any high school student can enjoy.”
  • Video: Testimonial from CEO of A Better Chance

    Francisco J. Tezen

    President & CEO, A Better Chance
    “Former Pioneer scholar Kennedy would never have considered her dream to earn a PhD in computer science had she not participated in Pioneer, which she learned about through A Better Chance. Kennedy is now working towards her undergraduate degree at Columbia.”
  • Photo of Matthew Pohl, Pioneer Academics research mentor

    Matthew Pohl

    Former Associate Director of Admissions 
University of Pennsylvania and Wharton
    “Pioneer is one of very few selective summer undergraduate research opportunities, and that’s something that’s known among college admissions officers at top universities.”
  • Warren Berger

    Warren Berger

    Author and Expert on Innovation and Creativity
    “Pioneer Academics is on the cutting edge in terms of bringing a higher level of student inquiry into education. I am particularly impressed with the way Pioneer encourages students to tackle big, meaningful questions–and take ownership of those questions.”
  • Video: Testimonial from former admissions director

    Mary Hetlage

    Former Senior Associate Director of Admissions University of Chicago
    “The more we saw the quality of the work, Pioneer has become, simply, a trusted entity in the admissions market.”

Students

  • A.J. Pioneer Research alumnus

    A.J.

    Pioneer Research alumnus
    Cornell, UPenn MD candidate
    “Pioneer made me feel like I really did something — like this was my first step in my academic professional career and that it was opening doors for me and for my future career in biological sciences.”
  • Mohmed, Global Problem-Solving alumnus at Uni

    Mohmed

    GPSI alumnus
    University of Cairo, admitted to NYU
    “GPSI pushed my boundaries to tackle complicated challenges. It helped me see the world from different perspectives… I can analyze problems from multiple angles and develop appropriate solutions.”
  • Maya, Pioneer Academics Research alumnu at Duke Law

    Maya

    Pioneer Research alumna
    UPenn, Duke Law
    “The Pioneer Research Institute is transformational in that you learn how to interact with professors in a way that you wouldn’t otherwise, and the experience definitely helped me in college.”
  • Zeynep

    Zeynep

    Pioneer Scholar Zeynep’s favorite Pioneer experience was talking with her professor which gave her a perspective she couldn’t have accessed through reading textbooks.
  • Wanyu

    Wanyu

    Pioneer scholar Wanyu conducted research in biology and was proud of obtaining a scientist’s mindset after the Pioneer Research Program.
  • Talula

    Talula

    University of Southern California
    Pioneer scholar Talula, now a pre-law student at USC, shared how having conversations with her Pioneer professor gave her confidence for college.
  • Rithi

    Rithi

    Pioneer scholar Rithi conducted research in neuroscience, and highlighted the rigorous Pioneer community where she was able to meet other very academically qualified students.
  • Rebecca

    Rebecca

    Stanford University
    Pioneer scholar Rebecca, now a student at Stanford, describes how her first research experience in STEM led to pursuing research in music.
  • Mahima

    Mahima

    Pioneer scholar Mahima, who conducted research in environmental studies, says most crucial learning from her Pioneer experience was effective time management.