Empowering the next generation of researchers

Meet our Mentors

Blackwell Research Mentors are PhD and doctoral candidates across various areas of STEM from the top universities in the country. They have a passion for STEM, a calling to mentor, and the experience to teach students how to be successful scientists.

Student Opportunities

High School Research Scholars (HSRS)

High School Research Scholars empowers the next generation of scientists, technologists, and engineerings to enter the world of research. Students conduct a project with guidance and mentorship from a Blackwell PhD mentor.

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Hear from Blackwell Students

Find Your Research Question

Every Blackwell paper begins with one good question. Tell us what you are curious about, and we will help you shape it into one.

1Your interest
2Your angle
3Your question

What are you curious about?

A subject, a hobby, a problem, or something you saw in the news. Or choose one below.

What interests you most about it?

Choose the question you would most like to answer.

Your research question

Apply to Research This Learn About the Program

Ask Questions

Across areas of science and engineering, Blackwell provides educational opportunities for students to learn about the ongoing research and scholarly debate.

Conduct Research

Blackwell’s research fellows and programs give students the opportunity to conduct research with the guidance and resources of the Institute.
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Share Findings

Across our platform and partners, fellows can share their research with others to actively contribute to ongoing scholarship.

From Our LinkedIn

Student research from the Blackwell Research Journal, as we share it with our community.

Edition VII · Paper 06

Closing the Alzheimer's Diagnostic Gap

Alzheimer's treatment works best before extensive neuronal damage, yet diagnosis usually happens after symptoms appear. Kolbi Herzfeld's review examines current diagnostic tools, their limits, and emerging methods such as salivary biomarkers, retinal imaging, and AI-based speech analysis.

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Edition VII · Week One

Five Papers, Five Fields

The first five papers of Edition VII span psychological resilience, the biomechanics of dance, pulsar astrophysics, Alzheimer's diagnosis in women, and quantum cryptography. All fourteen papers are now available.

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Edition VII · Paper 05

Quantum Key Distribution and Cybersecurity

Nishant Ambegaonkar's paper explains how quantum key distribution grounds security in physics rather than computational difficulty, and where distance, cost, and integration remain unsolved.

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Event

Biological Research Methods

Get a certificate to learn about the entry-level biological research methods used in university laboratories.

Event

Functional Neuroanatomy

Learn about the parts of the brain, their function, and the current topics of research in neuroanatomy.

Event

Foundations of Genetics

Genetics is a growing field. Learn about the foundations of genetics and genomic research and how you can get involved as a high school student.

The Blackwell Research Journal

Browse every edition of our journal. Read any edition online, or order a printed copy for $50.

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Edition

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The Blackwell Research Journal

Blackwell Research Institute

Original student research, mentored by PhD scholars.

Blackwell Research Institute

Select an edition to open it.

Article

Harnessing the Power of the Immune System to Combat Cancer

Recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy have provided promising new treatments that could revolutionize...

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Article

The Discovery of Gravitational Waves from Black Hole Mergers

In a remarkable development, astrophysicists have made significant strides in understanding the most mysterious and...

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Article

The Development of Sustainable Plastic Alternatives

In recent years, one of the most pressing challenges facing the chemical engineering field has been the...

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Blackwell Research Institute

PO Box 503
93 4th Avenue
New York, NY 10003

Blackwell Research Institute is a national, independent research institution. It is the policy of Blackwell Research Institute to administer its educational programs, including admissions and financial aid, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin or disability.

About Blackwell

The Blackwell Research Institute is a transformative organization for curious minds ready to ask bigger questions and pursue meaningful discovery. We provide opportunities for early-career researchers – from aspiring science researchers to future policy leaders – to engage in rigorous, real-world inquiry across disciplines. Together with our fellows, partners, and broader community, we help students explore critical research questions that are shaping our world, from human health and artificial intelligence to public policy, governance, and beyond.

Through this work, students have an impact and conduct meaningful research. Our programs empower the next generation to investigate complex problems, contribute original insights, and discover the questions that will shape their academic and professional paths.

Our Programs

High School Research Scholars (HSRS)

Blackwell High School Research Scholars (HSRS) is an opportunity for students to conduct a STEM research project with one-on-one mentorship from a PhD researcher in their field of interest. We support projects across many disciplines:

Medicine & Healthcare Psychology Biology Chemistry Biochemistry Public Health Physics Geology Exercise Science Environmental Science Mathematics Computer Science (including AI & ML) Neuroscience Engineering Astronomy Atmospheric Science Animal Sciences

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Polk Policy Scholars

The Polk Policy Scholars Program is designed for students who want to understand and shape the policies that define our world. Students conduct research with the guidance of a PhD mentor on a policy topic of their choosing, including technology and artificial intelligence governance, climate and environmental policy, public health systems, economic and labor policy, education, national security, and global development.

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