Frequently asked questions
What is Moxie Scientist?
Moxie Scientist is an entirely online research program specifically designed for high school students and high-achieving curious minds.
What kind of research does Moxie Scientist do?
Moxie Scientist does Computational chemistry research, especially inclined towards drug discovery. Students interested in pursuing a STEM major would highly benefit from our program.
What is the duration of the research program at Moxie Scientist?
Moxie Scientist offers an intensive 10-week summer research program. We also offer Fall, Spring (13 week program) and Academic year programs (9-months).
Is the program only for High School students?
Our program is mainly geared towards high school students. Our 10-week intensive summer research program mainly targets junior and senior students in high school.
Are all applicants accepted?
Unfortunately, no. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6 out of 4 is required to be accepted to our program. We want our students to be committed to research and be able to produce high-quality research by the end of the program.
How is the selection process?
Selection is based on GPA. If your student has an unweighted GPA of 3.6 or above, please proceed to registration and secure your spot. If the student has a GPA lower than 3.6, we might need additional steps to assess, please schedule an appointment here.
Is prior research experience required?
No. Most high school students will not have research experience. We give them the experience that they require. We only look for curiosity and commitment.
What are the pre-requisites for the research programs?
We require the student to have a minimum GPA of 3.6 and a basic knowledge of Biology and Chemistry. Rest is taught by our mentors in the weekly sessions and mini-lecture series.
What are the qualifications of the mentors?
All our research mentors are PhD scientists or professors, having ample expertise in drug discovery.
Are students expected to develop their research topic, or will one be assigned to them?
The mentors will engage with students to explore their research interests and provide guidance in refining and selecting an appropriate research topic. Additionally, students who have already identified a research topic will have the opportunity to discuss and further develop it in collaboration with their mentor.
Will there be a scientific publication by the end of the program?
Depending on the quality and novelty of research work and the time attributed to research, each student’s efforts will be evaluated for a potential publication in a high school research journal. Having said that, publishing a research paper is not an easy task, the reason we ask our students to be committed to research is to produce high-quality research that can stand up to the rigor of publishing the scientific work. There are many factors to be considered before the research paper can be published. High-quality work and articulate writing skills are some of the aspects in which the assigned mentor would be guiding the students to achieve their best. However, students' commitment to the research project and time management are also major factors that are needed for a quality publication. Publication charges, if any, would be handled by the student.
Will there be an opportunity for students to present their research findings?
Yes. The students are required to present their findings in an internal presentation by the end of our program.
How are online classes conducted?
Online sessions are offered via Google Meet.
How often are the classes/meetings?
Two sessions with the mentor are required each week. The first session, is to discuss the work to be done during independent research, and the second one is to report the work done in a progress meeting.
How much time commitment is required each week?
The summer program requires the student to spend at least 3-5 hours per week in independent research work apart from the 1-1 and group sessions every week.
How long are the 1-1 sessions?
The 1-1 sessions usually last 30-45 minutes and the group progress meeting lasts for about an hour.
What if there is a conflict with classes and meetings offered by Moxie Scientist?
Students schedule their one-on-one sessions using a calendar link. We understand that there might be conflicts due to other commitments, and we usually try to accommodate schedule changes if informed at least 24 hours in advance.
What would students gain from this research program?
All students present their research in our internal symposium called 'Moxymposium', which is presided over by external judge(s). They gain valuable presentation and communication skills. Some students also prefer to submit a college-level research paper, approximately 20 pages in length. This allows students to enhance their writing skills and equips them with the ability to analyze academic journal articles. All students will also be awarded a certificate of completion. Exceptional students who demonstrate outstanding performance may even be eligible to secure letters of recommendation or explore opportunities for external recognition, such as participating in symposiums, science fairs, or having their work published in high school journals.
Is the program completely online?
Yes. Our program is completely virtual. Students might have to use specific software for their research, which will be guided by their research mentor.
Is there a fee associated with Moxie Scientist?
Yes. The details are available in our brochure.