Helping students take their first step into research.
SPAN connects motivated high school students with professors, Ph.D. students, and researchers for free, remote-friendly mentorship in math, computer science, AI, physics, and related fields.
No long applications. No program fees. Just genuine mentorship and intellectual growth.
- 1DiscoverCuriosity & questions
- 2PrepareRead, learn, build skills
- 3ConnectMentorship & growth
A different kind of research initiative.
Free by Design
We believe financial ability should never determine who gets to explore research.
Beginner-Friendly
No prior research experience required. We help students learn how research works and grow from curiosity.
Mentor-Guided
Students connect with passionate professors, Ph.D. students, and researchers who volunteer their guidance.
Remote-Friendly Fields
AI, computer science, math, physics, and more explored from anywhere.
A simple, human process.
Tell Us Your Interests
Submit a short application with your background, courses, interests, and research goals.
We Look for a Match
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as mentors and projects become available.
Meet a Mentor
If there is a possible fit, the mentor may invite you to a short conversation to understand your curiosity and readiness to grow.
Because mentors volunteer their time, matching depends on mentor availability and cannot be guaranteed immediately.
Research is a journey, not a résumé line.
We do not encourage students to pursue research only for college applications, and we do not guarantee publications. The value of a first research experience comes from learning how to ask questions, read deeply, handle uncertainty, communicate with mentors, and grow as an independent thinker.
Read Our Research PhilosophyNot ready yet? Start learning here.
Our resources help students understand what research is, how to find questions, how to read papers, how to write effective cold emails, and how to work with mentors.
Explore ResourcesHelp a student discover research.
We invite professors, Ph.D. students, postdoctoral researchers, and experienced scholars to offer flexible mentorship to curious high school students. Your support can be as small as a short reading recommendation or as involved as a longer research project.
Mentors choose their field, time commitment, project format, and number of students.
Become a MentorGrowth stories, not prestige stories.
When students complete a mentorship experience, we ask them to share how they grew. Here's how SPAN helped their thinking grow.
Ready to take the first step?
Whether you are a student hoping to begin research or a mentor willing to guide the next generation, we invite you to join us.