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Interested in learning more about Research Science Institute? Maybe you've heard that the RSI Summer Program is the most competitive science research program for high school students in the US, and attending it is one of the best ways to get the attention of top-tier colleges. But what is the Research Science Institute, and what do participants do there? And how can you be one of the lucky few who get accepted? This guide will answer all those questions and give you tips on how to create a standout RSI application.

What Is Research Science Institute? What Do Participants Do?

The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a summer program for rising high school seniors, but it's not just any summer program . RSI is probably the most prestigious science research program in the country for high school students, and being able to include it on your resume can give your college applications a huge boost.

Each summer, 80 high school students who are selected for RSI spend six weeks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Roughly a third of those admitted come from outside the US. There is no cost to attend the program.

The Research Science Institute was founded in 1984 as a way for high-achieving rising seniors to conduct high-quality science and engineering research before entering college. The program combines courses that focus on scientific theory with hands-on STEM research. Participants will experience the entire research cycle from start to finish. Some activities RSI students will do include:

• Reading current literature in their field of research
• Drafting and executing a detailed research plan
• Delivering written and oral reports of their findings

The first week of the course will consist of intensive STEM and humanities courses taught by MIT professors and researchers. For the subsequent five weeks, students will conduct individual research projects while being mentored by experienced scientists. Research projects take place off-campus, often at MIT labs, Harvard labs, or with a local company. During this time, there are guest lectures in the evening several times a week. Many of the lecturers are Nobel Prize winners and other leaders in their field. The final week is spent preparing and giving written and oral presentations on the research.

The research projects completed by participants are easily college-level in depth and difficulty. Students admitted to RSI get a very rare opportunity to conduct their own high-level research project and learn from MIT researchers and professors. You can view past RSI projects to get a sense of what participants do during the program (the link only shows math-related research projects, but projects are undertaken in many STEM areas).

How Competitive Is RSI?

As we mentioned above, RSI is very competitive. Each year, the program receives over 1,600 applications for 80 spots. That's an acceptance rate of less than 5%, on par with many Ivy League college acceptance rates . That means, hypothetically, a student could be accepted to Harvard, Yale, MIT itself etc. but not be competitive enough to get into RSI.

So what does this mean? First, you'll need to have a very strong application to get into RSI (we go into how to do this in the next three sections). Second, it means that, if you do get into RSI, colleges are going to be very impressed. Our co-founder, Allen Cheng, believes that his participation in RSI is one of the major reasons he got into Harvard . As he states, if a college sees that an applicant has already been admitted into a highly-selective program like RSI, they're much more likely to believe you're a standout applicant and worth seriously considering.

What Does RSI Look for in Applicants?

RSI admissions are based solely on academics and accomplishments; knowing the "right people" or being a legacy won't have any impact on your chances of getting in. It's all up to you. 

For academics, RSI recommends PSAT scores of 740+ in Math and 700+ in EBRW OR an ACT Math score of 33+ and English/Science/Reading scores of 34+. On the RSI website, they specifically recommend taking the PSAT, so that's the test you should take if you're deciding between that and the ACT.

For high school grades, RSI looks for "exceptional strong academic ability" in math, science, and verbal subjects, although no average or recommended GPA is given. However, because the program is so competitive, we recommend aiming for at least the top 5% in your class and for test scores, if not the top 1% , as well as taking advanced classes like honors and AP.

In terms of achievements, RSI is looking specifically for leadership and research experience, as well as a passion for STEM. Rather than having a lot of extracurriculars you spent a little time on, it's better to have a smaller list of extracurriculars that you've really committed to and shown leadership in. We call this a spike , and it's what top-tier colleges look for as well. Examples of things that'd stand out to RSI include:

• Research experience, with a bonus for being published in a scientific journal
• Leadership roles in extracurriculars (club president, starting your own club /company, etc.)
• Awards and achievements in other STEM competitions ( Science Olympiad , Chemistry Olympiad, Regeneron ISEF, etc.)
• Clear passion for a subject (i.e. most/all your extracurriculars focus on it)

How to Apply to the Research Science Institute

Once you've decided you want to apply to the Research Science Institute, what do you do now? Follow these six steps to apply to the RSI.

#1: Make Sure You Meet the Eligibility Requirements

RSI's eligibility requirements are pretty basic, but there's no wiggle room with them so you need to be sure to meet them. For US students (and US citizens living abroad), only current high school juniors can apply; the program takes place the summer between junior and senior year. No students in other grades will be accepted. RSI has partnerships with several dozen countries outside the US, and there are specific eligibility criteria for each.

If you're an international student, contact Ms. Maite Ballestero , who is the Executive Vice President of Programs. She'll help you determine if your home country participates in RSI and put you in contact with the right agency conducting selection for your country.

#2: Fill Out the Application

#3: answer the rsi essay questions, #4: get letters of recommendation, #5: send standardized test scores and high school transcript.

RSI requires applicants to send in test scores from all the standardized tests they've taken, including the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP. They particularly recommend PSAT scores. It can take up to two weeks for official scores to be sent, so be sure not to leave this until the last minute.

They also require a high school transcript . Your school must send them an official one so they can verify your grades and coursework.

#6: Submit by the Deadline

RSI does not accept late applications, so be sure you have everything submitted by the deadline. For US students, the deadline is January 15, and for international students it's March 15. This means your application, test scores, application fee of $60, and letters of rec all need to be submitted by that date. 

How to Get Into Research Science Institute: 4 Tips

Decided that you want to attend the RSI summer program? Below are four tips to follow to give yourself the best shot at getting admitted.

#1: Participate in Other STEM Competitions

Very few RSI participants get accepted without having first taken part in science competitions. Participating in other STEM competitions shows RSI that you have exceptional STEM skills and are a leader in the field compared to your peers. We have lists of science , math , and computer science competitions for high school students, which you should definitely check out.

Some of the most popular competitions students take part in before RSI include Science Olympiad, Chemistry Olympiad, Math Olympiad, the USA Computing Olympiad, Regeneron ISEF, the Harvard/MIT Mathematics Tournament, and the MIT THINK Scholars Program. Definitely don't think you need to compete in all of these; instead, choose one or a few that match most closely with your interests.

#2: Get Research Experience

#3: make sure you have strong letters of recommendation.

The 2-3 letters of recommendation you include as part of your application are the only time RSI will get to hear about your accomplishments and strengths from someone who isn't you. Strong letters of rec--those that clearly show that you're smart, talented, and a leader--will look a lot more impressive than a generic letter.

The key to getting good letters is to ask teachers who know you best. Don't feel that you automatically need to ask your junior year math and science teachers; if you had more of a connection with, say, a teacher from your sophomore year, ask them! And if there's someone who wasn't a math/science teacher of yours but who you think would write you a really strong letter, have them submit one since you're allowed an optional third letter. Be sure to give your letter writers several weeks (we recommend 6+) to write your letter so they have time to write you a stellar letter.

#4: Aim High for Your Standardized Test Scores

With competition to get into RSI as stiff as it is, you really need to have standout standardized test scores. For the PSAT (which they recommend), you want at least a 740 on Math and a 700 in EBRW. (If you took the SAT instead, your goal score would be the same). We have lots of tips for raising your PSAT and SAT scores , including how to get a perfect SAT score . For the ACT, they recommend a Math score of at least 33 and a score of at least 34 for the Reading, English, and Science sections. To help, we have a lot of guides for raising your ACT score and getting a perfect ACT score . 

As with all other parts of the Research Science Institute application, because the program is so competitive, you want to go above and beyond the recommended test scores, so aim high--about the top 1% of test scores. For the PSAT, that's about a 730 for EBRW and a 750 for Math, and for the ACT, that's about a 34 in Math and a 35 in the other subjects.

We recommend several months of studying and time to take the SAT/PSAT/ACT more than once if need be. To help you get started, here are sample SAT and ACT study plans so you can lay out your schedule.

Summary: How to Get Into Research Science Institute

What is the Research Science Institute? The RSI summer program is one of the most prestigious research programs for high school students--and one of the most competitive as well. The MIT RSI acceptance rate is less than 5%. The MIT Research Science Institute is for rising high school seniors and takes place for six weeks over the summer on MIT's campus. It's a fantastic way to get high-quality research experience before you even start college.

In order to make your RSI summer program application as competitive as possible, aim to compete in other STEM competitions, get research experience, get strong letters of recommendation, and aim for high standardized test scores (top 1%, ideally). RSI is tough to get into, but the upside is that, even if you don't get accepted, all the work you've done will make your college applications stand out even more.

What's Next?

Interested in other extra impressive extracurriculars? Check out four examples of extracurriculars sure to impress colleges.

There are many other science competitions beyond the Research Science Institute. Check out our guide to 11 of the best science competitions for high school students.

Do you love science? Check out our guide to learn which science classes you should take in high school .

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Since 1993, the MIT Mathematics Department has participated in the Research Science Institute (RSI) , an MIT-hosted six-week summer program for rising high school seniors. RSI students are chosen for their superior achievement in math, science and engineering. The selection for RSI is done by the Center for Excellence in Education , a federally and privately funded nonprofit organization, based in Washington DC. All inquiries about applications to RSI should be directed to the CEE.

There are about 3,000 applicants to the program each year and of the 80 selected, around one third are from abroad and two thirds from the United States. About a dozen students are selected to work on research projects in mathematics. The MIT Mathematics Department Faculty Advisors for RSI match each student with a mathematics graduate student mentor with compatible interests. The graduate student mentor devises a research project, often in consultation with an MIT faculty advisor. The graduate student then meets with each of his/her mentees each weekday during the RSI program. RSI faculty advisors are Prof. David Jerison and Prof. Ankur Moitra. Program assistant is André Dixon.

Applying to RSI

The application materials and the process can be found online at CEE RSI application page .

Past Projects

At the end of the program, students make presentations to each other and to a panel of scientists who are usually former RSI participants themselves. See abstracts and papers from recent mathematics projects.

Recent Awards

RSI students often use their projects to participate in the Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS) and the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology or the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF). The mathematics group has been very well represented among the winners of these contests.

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Every summer, 80 of the top students from around the world come together at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for an intensive summer program called the Research Science Institute (RSI). However, RSI is not a typical summer camp; it is free to students, and you leave with a slew of new connections and experiences that most other high school students will never be able to experience.

Interview With Research Science Institute

Moon Prep sat down with Maite Ballestero , the Executive Vice President of Programs and Administration and Maureen Palmer , the Manager, Advisory and Consultancy for the Research Science Institute, to gain further insight into the admission process and how prospective candidates can make their application stronger.

Kristen Moon: What are the general guidelines for admission?

Maite Ballestero and Maureen Palmer: To gain admission into the Research Science Institute, there is a set of general guidelines that the ideal candidate should meet. On average there are more than 1600 applicants into this camp, of which only 80 are chosen. Admissions are solely based on academics and accomplishments, and no applicant is favored due to legacy or knowing someone who is associated with the program.

Students are expected to achieve high marks during their high school career, and perhaps even lead a club or start their own business or nonprofit. While the average GPA and test scores change from year to year, typically the students will be in the top 1%. To combat GPA inflation, the admissions committee looks at individual coursework and the grades. One last thing the committee wants to receive is at least one standardized test score: the PSAT, SAT or ACT. It is not required that you take all three, just one.

However, just because you meet all of these requirements doesn’t mean you will gain a spot at the camp, and you don’t have to meet all of the criteria to be chosen for RSI. The review process is holistic, and many factors are considered.

Moon: Any advice to students on how to get accepted?

Ballestero and Palmer: Be passionate, be well-rounded. Be a leader. Be who you are. Perhaps you have heard of the saying, ‘Jack of all trades, master of none.’ We want students to find out what they are passionate about and explore it deeply. We don’t expect students to be able to list out ten or more activities they excel at. In fact, we prefer to see students doing a few activities that they have leadership positions.

We do like to see students who have been published. While the committee does love to see this, it is not a requirement and it by no means guarantees your entrance into the program. A gold medal in Science Olympiad also helps your application stand out, but once again, it does not mean you will be admitted.

Even if the applicants are from small towns, we want to see students who are taking advantage of what opportunities are available to them. We want them to exploit their surroundings in the most positive way. For example, if you are passionate about math, the student should be going to summer programs in math and taking courses online or at community colleges. Some applicants are world-class musicians, cross country stars, or accomplished singers. We have even had a previous student who could have qualified in the Olympics in figure skating. There is never a dull moment here!

Moon : What is the process of selection?

Ballestero and Palmer: We are the first high school program to use SlideRoom , which is an applicant tracking and management system. It makes it easy to share our files with a committee of seven to nine people. The process is very intensive because each member presents the students who they would like to be admitted to the entire committee, and the decision must be unanimous.

We will have applications from every single state and many countries. We have partnerships with 15 countries, and we typically admit 30 international students. We also have worked with NGOs and gifted and talented organizations to find the most qualified students. Of course, we thoroughly vet every student who is admitted into the program, regardless of how we find them.

We are very proud never to have had to charge for this opportunity. When we are selecting attendees, we make sure that we are giving a spot to a student whose life could be changed by this camp. Regardless of income, background, or where you grew up, all students are looked at objectively.

Moon: What are some of the biggest accomplishments that you have seen from past applicants?

Ballestero and Palmer: After the program ends, the students enter into their senior year. That means they will be competing in and frequently winning science fairs, the Regeneron Science Talent Search , and other math or science-based competitions. Some of our admitted students continue to show great success and continue to research their fields.

One of the mentors for our program and an alum is Feng Zhang , the inventor of CRISPR, a gene-editing technique. He is very generous with his time and continues to support the program.  The founder of Pinterest , the first female math chair at Harvard, and a Facebook engineer are all alums, and they all continue to give back to the program. As you can see, many of our students go on to achieve great things! They go on to study at Stanford, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton and are the recipients of every type of award and scholarship imaginable including Rhodes Scholars , Waterman Awards , and Simons Investigators . Anything is possible for our alums.

Moon: What are some of the highlights of the program?

Ballestero and Palmer: The program lasts for six weeks, and is packed with activities from start to finish. For the first four days, every single student, regardless of their interests, reads a humanity book. Last year, they read Frankenstein. It helps them start thinking from the first day, and we have a small essay competition, which is a light-heart way to get the students to acclimated into the program.

All students take humanities because we want students to realize that communication is crucial. This course helps them to become more effective community members and more well-rounded. After this first week, they get to dive more into their research topic in either biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, physics, or humanities.

We partner with MIT, and an alum or MIT professors teach all of the classes. For Weeks 2-5, the attendees are paired up with a mentor who works in the field the student wants to learn about more. Of course, one of the biggest struggles is finding a good bond between the mentor and the mentee, so we work hard to make sure the student and mentor are a good fit.

The students might be working in a lab at Harvard, MIT, Broad Institute, or a local company. We ensure the students are always safe and able to learn more about a specific academic area.

Throughout the program, we also have a guest lecture series three or four nights a week. We bring in Nobel Prize winners, people who work in top companies, and other leaders in their fields. We want our attendees to meet and network with the guest lecturers and help them broaden their horizons.

During the last week of the program, they will finish the research paper they have been working on throughout the program. The students then present their paper in both an oral and written format. We feel that this is an integral part of the program because some students have never had to present their research in this way. It makes for a good learning experience for them.

Moon: What are some of the biggest challenges students face in the program.

Ballestero and Palmer: The heat! Since there is no air conditioning, it can become quite muggy. They have to try to stay cool and still get a good night’s rest to keep on working hard all week.

Moon: What are some of the biggest takeaways students get by the end of the camp?

Ballestero and Palmer: When the students come to the camp, they might be meeting kids that are just like them for the first time - other students who perform competitively and at a high academic level. By the end of the program, they have formed friendships that often last for years. There are Facebook groups, Google Hangouts, and other methods of keeping in touch with the students. We try to help them find internships or even get jobs. Essentially, you are part of this group for life, or as long as you want to continue engaging with other members.

The application deadline for the Research Science Institute is January 15 for domestic students and March 15 for international students. To apply and for more information, visit www.cee.org/apply-rsi .

Research for this article was contributed by Moon Prep college counselor,  Lindsey Conger .

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The Ultimate Guide to Getting into Research Science Institute (RSI)

Do you want to research over the summer with the help of experienced mentors? Do you want to meet with peers who share similar interests in the sciences as you? Do you want to explore campus life at MIT?

If you said yes to all of the above, then the Research Science Institute is perfect for you! While it is a highly selective program, this prestigious cost-free summer program hosted by MIT ensures their participants will get to explore their desired research project extensively. Read this article to learn more about the program and how you can get accepted.

What is the Research Science Institute?

First started in 1984, the Research Science Institute (RSI) is an international summer research program for high school students. RSI is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and hosted by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts every summer.

During the first week of the program, students will take intensive STEM courses, but during the five weeks afterwards, participants experience the entirety of the research cycle from start to finish . They read the most current literature in their field, create a detailed research plan, and receive guidance from experienced scientists and researchers. During the final week of RSI, these projects are published in a written report and delivered through oral presentations .

Where can I see past RSI projects?

Distinguished written papers and oral presentations in 2022 can be found here . Topics can range from a variety of subjects, such as mathematics, biology, physics, and robotics. Therefore, no matter which area of STEM you want to study, it is likely that you’ll be able to explore that area within RSI.

Is RSI prestigious?

This research program is highly prestigious . RSI is known globally for its excellent curriculum and research opportunities. With the program’s association with MIT and zero costs, the program is eyed by many aspiring high school students in STEM.

Due to its stellar reputation, RSI is very difficult to get into. While they receive over 1,600 applications yearly, only 100 high school students are selected.

In fact, getting into RSI pretty much signals that you’ll be accepted to MIT, along with many top level universities like the Ivy League!

Who is eligible?

The eligibility criteria is very simple: those who are entering their final year of high school are allowed to apply. This typically describes high school juniors, or those in the third year or in grade 11. High school seniors are not allowed to apply.

It is recommended that PSAT Math Scores be at least 740 or higher and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score be 700 or higher. ACT math scores should be at least 33 and verbal scores at least 34. Those with lower scores must show strong indicators of potential in other areas of STEM and academics, such as in recommendations, high school grades, and science activities.

Applicants are divided into two categories:

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents . All U.S. students, including U.S. Citizens studying overseas, with one year remaining before graduation from high school, may apply to RSI. U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents applications are submitted directly to CEE. Students are not nominated or selected by their schools. Successful applicants will have demonstrated superior scholastic achievement in mathematics, the sciences, and verbal arts. They will have shown the potential for leadership in science and mathematics through their activities in and beyond the classroom.

International Applicants . Each participating country has its own selection procedure and selection schedule. Please contact Ms. Maite Ballestero, Executive Vice President of Programs to determine if your country participates. If it does, her team will put you in contact with the appropriate representative at the agency conducting selection for your country. For more information, click here .

What must the application include?

Each student must submit:

Essay responses to the questions in the application, such as his or her goals in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

Recommendations by two teachers (Math/Science or a research supervisor). Applicants who have participated in a research project of 4 weeks or longer at a university or a laboratory should request a recommendation from the research supervisor.

Maximum of 3 recommendation letters are accepted.

Official high school transcript.

All scores from nationwide standardized tests, including the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams.

Students planning to apply for RSI are strongly encouraged to take the PSAT.

When is the deadline for RSI?

Applications for the 2023 cohort have closed. Every year, US applicants have a deadline of January 15th , while international students have the deadline of March 15th .

All components of the application, including essay responses, transcript, test scores, and application fee of $60, will need to be submitted by the deadline.

Tips to get into RSI:

RSI can be hard to get into, but with the right preparation, you can show the admissions committee that you are committed to the field of STEM.

Tip #1 : Prioritize academics and letters of recommendation.

The first step is to have high grades in your schoolwork. It’s expected that participants of the program are passionate about schoolwork, and therefore, being able to present high grades in your transcript will be useful. Moreover, because of RSI’s emphasis on STEM, students are encouraged to take rigorous courses in math, science, and engineering. It is useful to take AP Physics 1/C and AP Calculus AB/BC, for example.

Not only will this prove your commitment to academia, but also it will allow you to have good relations with many of your teachers, who you can ask for recommendations when you are able to apply. Make sure to pay special attention in your math and science courses to build a good repertoire. Then, at least 6 weeks before the deadline of the application, you can ask for recommendations from teachers that know you best from your sophomore or junior year.

Tip #2 : Achieve high standardized exam scores.

The next step is to take standardized exams . While they are not explicitly required, having high test scores can significantly boost your chances of acceptance. If you have taken AP classes, be sure you receive 4s or 5s if possible. Be prepared to register for the PSAT, which is administered only once every year during October. The last year that you can take it before you can apply for RSI is in 11th grade, so it may be helpful to take it in earlier years. SAT or ACT scores may be submitted as well, but it’s not necessary.

Tip #3 : Participate in STEM competitions.

Try out STEM competitions . For example, joining your local science olympiad team and excelling in regional, state, and national levels will highlight your skills in science. If you’d prefer engineering, then you may join your school’s robotics club for contests and projects, or you can win medals in coding competitions like the USACO. There are a plethora of other competitions, including but not limited to Chemistry Olympiad, Math Olympiad, the USA Computing Olympiad, Regeneron ISEF, the Harvard/MIT Mathematics Tournament, and the MIT THINK Scholars Program. Find a STEM subject you are passionate about and you’ll definitely find a competition that will match your interests.

Tip #4 : Obtain prior research experience.

While RSI will engage participants into the full research process, If you’d like to get involved in research, then it’s recommended that you reach out to your high school teachers, guidance counselors, or even university professors who conduct work in your field of interest to research on your topic. Admittedly, this is the most difficult tip, as very few high schoolers are able to achieve research experience, but for those that do, they stand out from their peers. Therefore, don’t be afraid to reach out to the people in your circle to see what research opportunities may be available.

Example Student Profile: Puja Chopade

Everyone’s application is and should be different, but it may be helpful to see previous acceptee’s profiles – while they shouldn’t be copied, they can serve as an inspiration as to what you can do for your application.

Puja Chopade was a junior at Bob Jones High School when she was accepted into RSI 2022, which accepted only 81 students at the time.

Her achievements included being ranked as the second-place finalist in Pathophysiology at the Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference in early 2021, and her Science Bowl team claimed the regional title. Moreover, she served as the President and co-founder of Bob Jones Science Academy , which hosts the Bob Jones Science Challenge. She also claimed the title of 2021 Alabama Brain Bee Champion , a neuroscience competition aht is affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Moreover, she explored her hobbies in chess. She was an accomplished chess player in Madison City Chess League and was the Assistant Tournament Director of at the 2021 Fall Scholars Tournament . The year prior, she placed top ten in the 2020 Madison City SChools Tournament in the K-12 Open Section and tied for third place in the U1200 section of the Alabama State Chess Champions .

To highlight her strengths and why she was accepted, Puja’s application clearly showcased her competence in science , particularly in competitions that involved physiology. Not only did she win awards, but she held leadership positions as well , which showed her deep involvement and commitment to these communities. Finally, while not directly related to STEM, her hobby in chess proved that she had outside interests and contributed to the admissions officers’ content of her character.

Overall, Puja was strong in many areas. Her extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and diverse range of interests undoubtedly stood out, and led to her acceptance – therefore, adding these elements to your application can help you as well!

Final Thoughts

All in all, it’s incredibly crucial that you are a student who is deeply interested in STEM in order to highlight your skills to RSI. The advice listed above can provide you with a good framework for not only other summer program applications, but also applications for college when you start applying in senior year. Start early as soon as possible and don’t be afraid to pursue different interests!

If you are interested in doing university-level research or preparing for competitive programs like RSI, then you could consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research inclusion Foundation , a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.

Lydia is currently a sophomore at Harvard University, studying Molecular and Cellular Biology. During high school, she pursued engineering activities like attending the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. In her spare time, she likes to create digital art while listening to music.

Image source: Research Science Institute

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Applications Being Accepted for 2023 Research Science Institute

martyna p November 6, 2022 Competitions

The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for its 2023 Research Science Institute (RSI), which is collaboratively sponsored with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA on its campus.

RSI ’23 will be in session from June 25 to August 5, 2023. It will bring together top U.S. and international high school students who have completed comparable to three years of school for an intensive, six-week program that provides students with the opportunity to conduct original, cutting-edge research. RSI is cost-free for students to attend.

Participants experience the entire research cycle from start to finish. They read the most current literature in their field, draft and execute a detailed research plan, and deliver conference-style oral and written reports on their findings.

During the first week of RSI, students participate in intensive STEM classes with accomplished professors. The heart of RSI is the five-week research internship where students conduct individual projects under the tutelage of scientists and researchers.

To apply, visit  https://www.cee.org/apply-rsi . The deadline is December 2, 2022.

Research Science Institute (RSI): Your 2024 Guide to Getting In

By János Perczel

Co-founder of Polygence, PhD from MIT

2 minute read

The Research Science Institute (RSI) appears on a few of our blog posts, including:

Top Research Opportunities for High School Students

Top 20 Most Competitive Summer Programs for High School Students

Internship or Research Project in High School: Which is Right for You?

RSI is very prestigious and well-regarded. If you’re interested in STEM subjects, you should seriously consider applying to one of the top STEM summer programs in the country.

A proven college admissions edge

Polygence alumni had a 92% admissions rate to R1 universities in 2023. Polygence provides high schoolers a personalized, flexible research experience proven to boost your admission odds. Get matched to a mentor now!"

Why should you apply to RSI?

RSI is completely free. Travel, room and board, and research supplies are all covered.

Incredible faculty serve as research mentors and guest speakers. You’ll get direct access to some of the best scientists, mathematicians, and engineers in their fields, globally.

RSI facilities are cutting-edge. RSI is a 6-week residential program that takes place on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Cambridge, MA. RSI takes place and is hosted by MIT, and the program is sponsored by The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE). Depending on your research project, you’ll do your work using state-of-the-art equipment in MIT labs, such as the esteemed Space Systems Lab; area hospitals; or corporate research facilities in Boston and Cambridge, MA. In short, RSI gives you a chance to do what you love with experts using the best possible resources.

RSI is a very selective, prestigious, and challenging program. Approximately 80 students are accepted each year, with an acceptance rate of about 5%. RSI participants are called “Rickoids,” which comes from the name of CEE co-founder Admiral Hyman G. Rickover . Because becoming a Rickoid is so competitive, RSI is a network of some of the most innovative, productive, and scientifically/mathematically accomplished students in the world. They will inspire and challenge you. We were also excited to learn that in 2022, the Rickoid group was 55% women , a very exciting trend since there were only 11 women in the program when it began in 1984. Being an RSI alumnus opens many doors with a powerful referral and networking STEM community at your disposal. It also boosts your chances of getting into MIT and other top schools. 

The RSI application process is great prep for the college admissions process. Even if you don’t get into the RSI (and, let’s face it, most don’t), the process of taking the PSAT, asking teachers for recommendations, collecting your transcripts, and answering the personal statement questions is very similar to what you will need to do your senior year for college applications . Having thought about and written the RSI essays, you will be ahead of the curve when it comes time to write college application essays later.

What are 6 application tips to help you get in?

Because of it’s competitiveness, the reality is that there’s no single easy way to get in. Getting into RSI may be as difficult as getting into MIT or Harvard. However, there are some basic things you can do to strengthen your RSI application:

Make sure you’re eligible! You can’t apply to RSI if you’re already a high school senior. The optimal time to apply is in 11th grade, your junior year. Though some Rickoids have been younger, that is extremely rare. 

Complete standardized testing. RSI will accept PSAT, ACT, or SAT scores and are technically looking for:

PSAT (preferred over other tests) or the SAT : The math score should be at least 740 and EBRW (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) score at least 700

ACT : Math should be at least 33 and verbal at least 34

Don’t despair if your standardized test scores aren’t at these specific levels or if you don’t have a 4.0 GPA. Extraordinary recommendations, essays, extensive science or math activities in or out of school, published research, and awards and accomplishments will carry more weight than perfect test scores or grades.

Give yourself ample time to complete your application. The RSI application is as in-depth as a college application (and great practice for that), so plan accordingly. You want to give yourself plenty of time to ask your favorite science or math teachers for recommendations, write your personal statements, and proofread/edit them.

Get stellar recommendations. You can submit up to 3 letters of recommendation from a math or science teacher or research supervisor. This is great practice for college, and you can check out this helpful post about how to ask teachers for letters of recommendation .

Show your authentic passion for science, technology, engineering, and/or math in your essay via your research, projects, and extracurricular activities. You’ll be asked to choose two research fields you’re interested in and a subfield for each. For example, biology with a subfield of genetics or physics with a subfield of condensed matter physics. Weaving all of your extracurricular activities on related subjects into your essay response will give the RSI faculty a better sense of your specific STEM research , interests, and experience. 

Be active and deep dive into the subject you are most passionate about. This is a tip you should ideally act on well before you even think of applying. RSI likes to see students who “ exploit their surroundings in the most positive way ”, meaning you follow your curiosity, jump into opportunities to learn more about your subject, and show leadership potential in that area. This can take the form of independent passion projects and inventions , extracurricular courses, competitive outlets such as Regeneron ISEF or math competitions , published works , or any other way you can showcase an extraordinary mastery over your subject. RSI wants to know that you have a genuine passion for scientific inquiry and a deep curiosity about the world around you.

How can you check out past rickoids?

A great way to get a sense of what RSI is looking for (and to get inspired) is by looking at past Rickoids and their accomplishments . A few Rickoids also post inspiring and very helpful YouTube videos about their application process. If you’re feeling insecure about your grades and test scores, check out Elizabetyh N.’s first -hand account about the RSI application experience . Granted, anything she may have lacked in the test or GPA stats department, she more than makes up for in intellectual curiosity, technical ingenuity (she is patenting her female financial empowerment device called Etana , employing blockchain tech to create a unique digital identity and wallet with no need for an internet connection or electricity), political activism, and leadership! We love how excited Elizabeth gets about her passions (she’s a huge blockchain fan) and how much she is willing to share about her RSI experience.

What is the Timeline for Research Science Institute (RSI)

Middle school to sophomore year of high school: Pursue your passions! Do research and/or pursue a passion project . Compete in math or science competitions (if that’s your thing). Find research mentors who can help you expand your knowledge and develop good working relationships with your science and math teachers. Working closely with mentors and teachers speeds up learning and will be helpful when the time comes for you to seek recommendations. You should also study and keep your grades up. The summer after your freshman year of high school, start looking to register for the PSAT.

October of your sophomore and/or junior year : Take the PSAT, which is a standardized test that’s only offered in October. Taking the PSAT in your sophomore year gives you the chance to retake it your junior year if you want to improve your score. The PSAT is the recommended test for RSI, though you can also submit ACT or SAT scores.

November of your junior year : This is when the RSI application is released. Get started on seeking out up to 3 letters of recommendation from science and math teachers or research supervisors. Request your school transcripts. Start writing your personal statements. Give yourself plenty of time to review and edit.

January of your junior year : Submit your application. The RSI deadline is around January 14th for U.S. students. International students have a deadline of around February 11th. Good luck!

March : RSI notifies all applicants of their admission status. 

End of June to the first week of August : RSI is held on the MIT campus for 6 weeks.

Do your own research through Polygence!

Polygence pairs you with an expert mentor in your area of passion. Together, you work to create a high quality research project that is uniquely your own.

What to Do if You Don’t Get Into RSI?

As noted above, getting into RSI is very competitive, and not everyone who applies will get in. If you fall within that group, you can explore other research opportunities for high school students, including independent study with an expert research mentor . Check out some of the incredible passion projects high school students have taken on in various  subjects, including biology and physics, through the Polygence program .

Do Your Own Research Through Polygence

Your passion can be your college admissions edge! Polygence provides high schoolers a personalized, flexible research experience proven to boost your admission odds. Get matched to a mentor now!"

Preparing for MIT: Summer programs

If you’re the kind of student who’d like to spend your summer learning as much hands-on math, science, and engineering as you can, you might be a good fit for MIT!

So here is an (incomplete) list of summer programs that MIT students have found enriching and fun. We have prioritized selective summer programs, at MIT and elsewhere, that offer compelling intellectual content and a rigorous educational approach, a great community of like-minded peers to make friends with, and that are either free to attend or, like MIT, offer generous need-based financial aid.

MIT summer programs

MIT does not offer open-enrollment summer programs where any high school student can come to campus to take courses and live in the residence halls. However, several partner organizations run small, specialized programs on campus. If studying the human genome, building a robot, or scoping out the stars sound like a fun way to spend your summer, then you might try one of these:

MITES Summer

MITES Summer is an intensive six-week residential academic enrichment program for high school juniors who intend to pursue careers in science, engineering, and entrepreneurship, especially those from underrepresented or underserved communities. The program is free of charge to participating students, not including transportation.

Research Science Institute (RSI) — a program of the Center for Excellence in Education hosted in partnership with MIT —  brings together high school students each summer for six stimulating weeks of advanced research and intellectual enrichment. This rigorous academic program stresses advanced theory and research in mathematics, science, and engineering. Participants attend college-level classes taught by distinguished faculty members and complete hands-on research. Open to high school juniors, the program is free of charge for those selected.

Women’s Technology Program (WTP) is a women-focused program aimed at empowering students from groups that are historically underrepresented in engineering by providing a rigorous four-week summer academic experience that introduces 20 high school students to Mechanical Engineering (ME) through hands-on classes (taught by MIT graduate and undergraduate students), labs, and team-based projects in the summer after 11th grade.

While the  Summer Science Program (SSP) is not on campus, MIT co-sponsors this residential program, and many MIT students are among the program’s alumni. The curriculum is organized around a central research project in either Astrophysics, Biochemistry, or Genomics. In the Astrophysics program, each team of three students determines the orbit of a near-earth asteroid (minor planet) from direct astronomical observations. In the Biochemistry program, each team designs a small molecule to inhibit an enzyme from a fungal crop pathogen. In the Genomics program, each team builds a bioreactor to stimulate evolution of antibiotic resistance in E. coli, then analyzes its DNA for mutations. The programs are six weeks long and offered at locations in Colorado, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Indiana.

Beaver Works Summer Institute

Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is an intensive four-week program where high school juniors can get a taste of the MIT experience, while working on college-level curriculum with other students from around the country. BWSI is free to students, especially those who may be the first person in their family to attend college. They offer a range of courses—from Autonomous Underwater Vehicles to Quantum Software and to Serious Game Design with AI—with concentrations in programming autonomous systems and more! While this program is only open to high school juniors, there are also online programs offered for younger high school students.

Other summer programs at MIT

Do you want to spend part of your summer at MIT? In addition to the programs listed above, MIT also hosts the following programs:

• LLRISE: MIT Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers
• iD Tech Camps

Other selective summer programs

Most summer programs admit all or most students who can pay the (often high) tuition. However, a number of competitive-admission summer programs select only the best students on the basis of merit and are often free or comparatively affordable. MIT offers four of our own (above), and here are a few more from other organizations:

Science and research programs

• BU Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
• Clark Scholar Program
• Garcia Summer Scholars
• High School Honors Science/Mathematics/Engineering Program (HSHSP)
• International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)
• Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
• Summer Program on Applied Rationality and Cognition (SPARC)
• Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
• Student Science Training Program (SSTP)
• QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship

Math summer programs

The American Mathematical Society maintains a large  list of youth summer enrichment programs in math . Some summer math programs that our applicants seem to like include:

• AwesomeMath
• Canada/USA Mathcamp
• Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)
• Texas State Mathworks Honors Summer Math Camp
• Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
• The Ross Program
• Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
• Prove It! Math Academy

Other summer programs

• The nonprofit Davidson Institute maintains extensive lists of both residential and day summer programs across the United States that provide for the intellectual and social enrichment of students.
• The National Conference of Governor’s Schools (NCoGS) supports  development and growth of summer residential governor’s school programs across 15 states , dedicated to finding and cultivating students with special academic, creative, artistic, and/or leadership talents.

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A Young Scientist’s Guide to the Research Science Institute

Research Science Institute (RSI) is the most competitive science research program for students in the US, and its partner programs are similarly competitive internationally. But because of its competitiveness and rigor, it is well-known among admissions officers at top-tier research universities worldwide. Attending RSI will undoubtedly boost your profile when it comes time to apply to colleges and join your first research group. 

More than that, attending the Research Science Institute will give you an excellent introduction to scientific research and connections with researchers at the top of their field. By attending RSI, you will have unparalleled access to faculty and staff at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and many of the premier technology companies in and around Boston, MA. Read on if you want to learn more about RSI and how to create an outstanding application.

Background on the Research Science Institute

Research Science Institute is the first cost-free-to-students summer science and engineering program combining on-campus coursework in science theory with off-campus STEM research. Each year, it accepts 100 rising seniors from across the world to spend the summer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts for this prestigious science research program. 

As part of the Research Science Institute, you will experience the entire research cycle firsthand, including reading current literature in your field, drafting a research plan, and delivering written and oral reports on your findings. You will first participate in a week of college-level classes taught by MIT professors to gain the academic background needed to complete your research.

The core of the Research Science Institute begins in the second week and continues for the next five weeks, where you will conduct individual research projects off-campus, typically at MIT labs, Harvard labs, or companies in Boston. Throughout the research phase of RSI, you will routinely be invited to guest lectures from leaders in STEM fields, often Nobel Prize winners. Finally, you will spend the last week preparing and giving oral and written research reports. 

Interested in learning how students can build impactful AI projects? Enter your email below for updates on program information, curriculum, & more!

To understand a Research Science Institute project's scope, depth, and difficulty, you can view some of the past mathematics-related research projects here . While this link only shows examples from math-related projects, your work could focus on any area of science or engineering.

Applying to the Research Science Institute

The Research Science Institute application process is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of less than 5%. This means that you will need to submit a very strong application to be accepted, but it will be very impressive to top-tier colleges when you are. When admissions officers see that you have been accepted to a highly selective program like RSI, they will be more likely to view your application as indicative of exceptional scientific promise.

To apply to the Research Science Institute, you will need an exceptionally strong academic background and should be in your junior year (grade 11, second to last year) of secondary school. Approximately 80% of those accepted will be United States Citizens and Permanent Residents, including those studying overseas.

Your standardized scores should reflect your academic success, and they recommend that your PSAT Math scores should be at least 740, your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score should be at least 700, your ACT math scores should be at least 33, and your verbal scores should be at least 34. You should still apply if you have lower scores but other strong indicators of academic potential in your grades, activities, and recommendations. 

Successful applicants to the Research Science Institute will show potential for leadership in science and mathematics through their coursework and activities. You might have a long record of participation in STEM competitions, completed courses at a university, conducted original research, or worked in a laboratory. Regardless, your application should highlight your abilities in STEM and your community leadership as the main centerpieces.

If you are an international student, your country will have its own selection schedule and procedure. You can contact Ms. Maite Ballestero , Executive Vice President of Programs for the Research Science Institute to find out if your country participates and gain information about selection for your country. 

Your Research Science Institute application will include:

Essay responses to the questions in the application detailing your goals in STEM

Recommendations by two teachers familiar with you and your academic record, including a research supervisor if you have spent four weeks or longer at a university or laboratory, with an optional third letter

An official high school transcript

All scores from standardized tests, including PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams

For US students, the deadline to apply to the Research Science Institute is January 15, and for international students it is March 15. You should have your application, test scores, $60 fee, transcript, and recommendations in by this time.

Crafting an Exceptional Research Science Institute Application 

Participate in stem competitions and research projects.

It is rare for Research Science Institute participants to be accepted without competition experience, so you will want to look into popular competitions and pursue a few that interest you. Try to get some research experience since it will help your application stand out significantly if you can. You might want to reach out to your guidance counselors, local STEM professors, or local research labs to see if they need an intern or junior researcher. 

Find Strong Recommenders

You will want recommendation letters for Research Science Institute from people who can speak to your intelligence, talent, and leadership. Feel free to ask your sophomore-year teachers if they know you better than current teachers, and if there is someone that knows you well who isn’t a math/science teacher, have them write your optional third letter of recommendation. Give them plenty of time (6+ weeks) to write you a strong letter.

Spend Time Crafting Your Essays

At the end of the day, the Research Science Institute doesn’t really care about your exact test score or which competition you participated in. They want to know what these mean about your character and ability. The essays are your opportunity to describe who you are, what drives your interest in science and engineering, and your commitment to leadership in STEM. Take time to craft these essays, and have family, teachers, and mentors read them and offer feedback.

Don’t Skimp on Your Test Scores

Like with competitive universities, the Research Science Institute uses test scores to weed applicants out rather than to choose who to admit. So you will need spend time studying for these exams and geting your test scores into their range. Prepare over several months, and retake them if you can. However, once you’re in their recommended range, invest that time back into your activities and schoolwork rather than shooting for an even higher score. 

If you are interested in applying to the Research Science Institute, consider applying to the  1:1 Mentorship Program at InspiritAI! Research experience will give you a significant leg up in your application, and our mentors – hailing from the world's top research institutions and tech companies – will walk you through an entire research project from start to end. Whether you are a coding novice or a virtuoso, our individualized mentorship program will help you develop an exceptional research project. For more information, do not hesitate to contact InspiritAI with questions.

Standing Out at the Broadcom MASTERS

Regeneron science talent search: the nation’s most prestigious science competition.

UTIA Professor Appointed to National Academy of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board

Posted on May 17, 2024 News Release Share on

Edward Yu Lends Expertise to Board’s Standing Committee on Environmental Issues in Aviation

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Edward Yu, professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, has been appointed to the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, where he will lend his expertise to its standing committee on Environmental Issues in Aviation.

“I am honored to serve as a member of the TRB’s Committee on Environmental Issues in Aviation,” said Yu. “The aviation industry is striving to decarbonize its sector through sustainable aviation fuels and other means. Locating relevant feedstock for various sustainable aviation fuel pathways and developing the supply chains is crucial to achieving the goal.”

Over the past two decades, Yu has extensively researched the economics of biofuels, focusing on agricultural and forestry biomass logistics, the bioenergy-agriculture-environment interface, and spatial- temporal analysis. The logistics generated through his research is crucial information needed to successfully expand the use of sustainable aviation fuels and accelerate its adoption. This strategic information will be used to inform stakeholders on production pathways that can increase economic efficiency, enhance sustainability, leverage economies of scope and scale, and reduce renewable fuel costs — all necessary to achieve the aviation industry’s goal of carbon-neutral growth by 2050. Yu and UT AgResearch Associate Dean Tim Rials co-lead a Tennessee team conducting feedstock supply analysis for sustainable aviation fuel for the Aviation Sustainability Center , which is funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, the Department of Defense, Transport Canada, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Being appointed on the TRB of the National Academy of Sciences is another strong testament of Dr. Yu’s national prominence and recognition as a distinguished expert in the field of environmental issues in aviation,” said UT AgResearch Dean Hongwei Xin. “We are excited that Edward will share his expertise and wisdom with this scientific advisory board.”

Members of the National Academies’ Transportation Research Board’s standing committees are recognized as experts in their field and play a vital role in facilitating the exchange of transportation research information and results.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine , which includes the National Academy of Sciences, is a private, nonprofit society of distinguished scholars who work together to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions.

Yu is currently serving as an editor of the Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics and is a Buford and Beatrice Irwin Endowed Faculty Fellow. He joined UT’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics in 2009.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu .

Media Contact

Tina M. Johnson

UTIA Agricultural and Resource Economics

Edward Yu, professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

'Research Art Collection' showcase in Old Main

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research at Penn State hosted an open house for the “Research Art Collection” on April 25. The collection showcases the fine balance between art and research through various displays. From cassowary bird scans to bio-manufactured fashion to sustainable architecture, these works are featured in several different dimensional formats, including digital, print and 3D. 

“It’s inspiring to see people become engaged in research via the arts, and the arts via research, whether intentional or unintentional on the creator’s part. This curated collection is a reminder that we are sculpting a landscape of knowledge, where we see the depth and dimensions of our discoveries," said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at Penn State. “We truly appreciate not only the artists and the researchers that contributed their work, but the team that helped curate, install and create this space that sparks conversation and inspiration.”  

Included in the inaugural exhibit are works by researchers and artists in the College of Arts and Architecture, the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, the Social Science Research Institute, Materials Research Institute, the Institute of Energy and the Environment, the College of Health and Human Development and more.  

An image of a flag indicating if the weather is good for whaling in Barrow, AK, taken by SSRI cofund and CSA Director Guangqing Chi, was included in the collection.

José Pinto Duarte, professor of architecture and of landscape architecture, also contributed to the exhibit. 

“Throughout history, art has consistently mirrored the advancements in science and technology of its era," Duarte said. "Creating art that encapsulates the forefront of contemporary science and technology often demands a close collaboration between artists and scientists, blurring the boundaries between their respective domains. The pieces showcased in this exhibition vividly illustrate this concept."

Melik Demirel, Huck Endowed Chair Professor of Biomimetic Materials in the Penn State College of Engineering contributed his team’s research to the exhibit and discussed why he chose to participate.

“We wanted to draw attention to the issue of microfiber plastic pollution," Demirel said. "The use of plastic products has brought us many benefits, but it comes at a cost. The use of plastic requires massive resources, and it fills up landfills and pollutes our oceans.” 

Work from the lab of Seth Bordenstein, director of the Microbiome Center, Huck Chair in Microbiome Sciences and professor of biology and of entomology, is also included in the collection. 

“Wonder weaves science and art together in a tapestry of imagination," Bordenstein said. "This fusion drives momentum for creativity and collaboration across disciplines, ones that have personally enriched my perspective and capacity to think outside the box. In steadfast ways, Penn State is the model for melding our artistic and scientific imaginations together for the benefit of our experiences and growth."

Artwork was selected to highlight the breadth and depth of the art of research. Included in the mixed media exhibit are microscopic images and ceramic representations of zombie-ant fungus, visual virus gears made of powder-coated aluminum and knit sculpture that emphasize the relationship between form, force and material. 

“These captivating works that showcase the remarkable synergy between art and research at Penn State are powerful reminders that art and science are complementary expressions of human creativity and curiosity,” said Kimberly Brue, assistant vice president, research marketing and communications, who led the curation project. “It’s been an honor to drive this collection which features faculty, staff and student’s work from across the enterprise. And a special thank you to the various staff members who assisted with the curation, preparation and installation — such as the Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, the Office of Physical Plant and the sign Shop at Penn State — who were essential in making this a success."

Artwork will be updated annually to continually showcase new works from across Penn State institutes, colleges and campuses. The office, located at 304 in Old Main, is open to visitors to take a self-guided tour weekdays.  

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From steel engineering to ovarian tumor research

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Ashutosh Kumar is a classically trained materials engineer. Having grown up with a passion for making things, he has explored steel design and studied stress fractures in alloys.

Throughout Kumar’s education, however, he was also drawn to biology and medicine. When he was accepted into an undergraduate metallurgical engineering and materials science program at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, the native of Jamshedpur was very excited — and “a little dissatisfied, since I couldn’t do biology anymore.”

Now a PhD candidate and a MathWorks Fellow in MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and a researcher for the Koch Institute, Kumar can merge his wide-ranging interests. He studies the effect of certain bacteria that have been observed encouraging the spread of ovarian cancer and possibly reducing the effectiveness of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

“Some microbes have an affinity toward infecting ovarian cancer cells, which can lead to changes in the cellular structure and reprogramming cells to survive in stressful conditions,” Kumar says. “This means that cells can migrate to different sites and may have a mechanism to develop chemoresistance. This opens an avenue to develop therapies to see if we can start to undo some of these changes.”

Kumar’s research combines microbiology, bioengineering, artificial intelligence, big data, and materials science. Using microbiome sequencing and AI, he aims to define microbiome changes that may correlate with poor patient outcomes. Ultimately, his goal is to engineer bacteriophage viruses to reprogram bacteria to work therapeutically.

Kumar started inching toward work in the health sciences just months into earning his bachelor's degree at IIT Bombay.

“I realized engineering is so flexible that its applications extend to any field,” he says, adding that he started working with biomaterials “to respect both my degree program and my interests."

“I loved it so much that I decided to go to graduate school,” he adds.

Starting his PhD program at MIT, he says, “was a fantastic opportunity to switch gears and work on more interdisciplinary or ‘MIT-type’ work.”

Kumar says he and Angela Belcher, the James Mason Crafts Professor of biological engineering, materials science and of the Koch Institute of Integrative Cancer Research, began discussing the impact of the microbiome on ovarian cancer when he first arrived at MIT.

“I shared my enthusiasm about human health and biology, and we started brainstorming,” he says. “We realized that there’s an unmet need to understand a lot of gynecological cancers. Ovarian cancer is an aggressive cancer, which is usually diagnosed when it’s too late and has already spread.”

In 2022, Kumar was awarded a MathWorks Fellowship. The fellowships are awarded to School of Engineering graduate students, preferably those who use MATLAB or Simulink — which were developed by the mathematical computer software company MathWorks — in their research. The philanthropic support fueled Kumar’s full transition into health science research.

“The work we are doing now was initially not funded by traditional sources, and the MathWorks Fellowship gave us the flexibility to pursue this field,” Kumar says. “It provided me with opportunities to learn new skills and ask questions about this topic. MathWorks gave me a chance to explore my interests and helped me navigate from being a steel engineer to a cancer scientist.”

Kumar’s work on the relationship between bacteria and ovarian cancer started with studying which bacteria are incorporated into tumors in mouse models.

“We started looking closely at changes in cell structure and how those changes impact cancer progression,” he says, adding that MATLAB image processing helps him and his collaborators track tumor metastasis.

The research team also uses RNA sequencing and MATLAB algorithms to construct a taxonomy of the bacteria.

“Once we have identified the microbiome composition,” Kumar says, “we want to see how the microbiome changes as cancer progresses and identify changes in, let’s say, patients who develop chemoresistance.”

He says recent findings that ovarian cancer may originate in the fallopian tubes are promising because detecting cancer-related biomarkers or lesions before cancer spreads to the ovaries could lead to better prognoses.

As he pursues his research, Kumar says he is extremely thankful to Belcher “for believing in me to work on this project.

“She trusted me and my passion for making an impact on human health — even though I come from a materials engineering background — and supported me throughout. It was her passion to take on new challenges that made it possible for me to work on this idea. She has been an amazing mentor and motivated me to continue moving forward.”

For her part, Belcher is equally enthralled.

“It has been amazing to work with Ashutosh on this ovarian cancer microbiome project," she says. "He has been so passionate and dedicated to looking for less-conventional approaches to solve this debilitating disease. His innovations around looking for very early changes in the microenvironment of this disease could be critical in interception and prevention of ovarian cancer. We started this project with very little preliminary data, so his MathWorks fellowship was critical in the initiation of the project.”

Kumar, who has been very active in student government and community-building activities, believes it is very important for students to feel included and at home at their institutions so they can develop in ways outside of academics. He says that his own involvement helps him take time off from work.

“Science can never stop, and there will always be something to do,” he says, explaining that he deliberately schedules time off and that social engagement helps him to experience downtime. “Engaging with community members through events on campus or at the dorm helps set a mental boundary with work.”

Regarding his unusual route through materials science to cancer research, Kumar regards it as something that occurred organically.

“I have observed that life is very dynamic,” he says. “What we think we might do versus what we end up doing is never consistent. Five years back, I had no idea I would be at MIT working with such excellent scientific mentors around me.”

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Worked together in the lab, murdered together in Auschwitz

Élisabeth and eugène wollman made their way from russia to the pasteur institute in paris, where they worked together for many years on joint and groundbreaking research in microbiology, until the nazis came  .

From Minsk to Paris

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Transforming the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses.

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Basic Research Powers the First Medication for Postpartum Depression

May 14, 2024 • Feature Story • 75th Anniversary

At a Glance

• Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental disorder that many women experience after giving birth.
• Onset of PPD coincides with a dramatic drop in levels of a brain-derived steroid (neurosteroid) known as allopregnanolone.
• Decades of research supported by NIMH illuminated the role of neurosteroids like allopregnanolone in mental illnesses.
• In 2019, brexanolone—a medication that acts by mimicking allopregnanolone—became the first approved drug to treat PPD.
• Able to significantly and rapidly reduce PPD symptoms, brexanolone was a major leap forward in depression treatment.

Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., a practicing psychiatrist at the time, would never forget the call he received one night from a distraught mother.

“She was plagued with a deep, inescapable hopelessness—so depressed she was afraid she was going to hurt her month-old daughter. I helped her get to the hospital, where she spent the next 2 months in an in-patient program trying every available treatment to recover,” said Dr. Gordon, now the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Unfortunately, this experience is not uncommon among women and other postpartum people who may feel intense sadness, anxiety, and loss of interest after giving birth. These symptoms can be signs of a clinical disorder known as postpartum depression (PPD) . Unlike the "baby blues" or feelings of sadness many new mothers experience in the days after delivery, PPD is more intense and long-lasting, with damaging impacts on health and well-being.

More than the blues: Impacts of PPD on women's mental health

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rates of depression are high—and rising—among postpartum women. Using data from the 2018 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System  , the CDC found that about 1 in 8 postpartum women had symptoms of depression, while another CDC study  showed rates of PPD that were seven times higher in 2015 compared to 2000.

Depression can happen to anyone, and it's especially tough for new moms dealing with the physical challenges of childbirth and the stresses of caring for a young child. When women experience PPD, they often have strong feelings of sadness, anxiety, worthlessness, and guilt. Their sleep, eating, thoughts, and actions can all change noticeably. These mood and behavior changes can be highly distressing and even life-threatening, making it difficult for a woman to do everyday things and take care of herself or her child. In extreme cases, women with PPD may be at risk of hurting themselves or their child or attempting suicide.

Fast-acting, effective treatment for PPD can be life-changing and potentially lifesaving. However, for too long, such care was hard to reach, leaving many women to struggle with depression at a pivotal point in life. Despite some similarities, PPD is not the same as major depression at other times in life. Because of this, usual depression treatments are much less effective in managing the symptoms of PPD.

“PPD is very difficult to treat,” said Mi Hillefors, M.D., Ph.D., Deputy Director of the NIMH Division of Translational Research. “It is usually treated with medications originally approved for major depression—despite limited evidence that they are effective in treating PPD. Standard depression treatments, including antidepressants, psychotherapy, and brain stimulation therapy, can also take weeks or longer to work.”

PPD’s unique risk factors reflect the physical changes of pregnancy and the postpartum period, which include dramatic changes in levels of many hormones and other molecules.

These biological changes had long been seen as a possible source of postpartum mood disorders like depression. But could they also be a solution?

Unlocking the power of allopregnanolone through basic research

Some psychiatric medications owe their discovery to chance. Not so with brexanolone, the first-ever medication to specifically treat PPD. Brexanolone culminated a long series of research studies, much of it funded by NIMH as part of its commitment to understand and support women’s mental health .

Thanks to NIMH-supported basic research, brexanolone was developed by design—a design centered around a molecule called allopregnanolone  .

Allopregnanolone is a steroid naturally produced in the brain and with important actions there, such as regulating neurotransmitter activity and protecting neurons from damage. Its impact extends to mental health, with higher levels linked to better mood, lower anxiety, and reduced depression  .

Allopregnanolone is also important to pregnancy  , during which its levels are extremely high. This happens because of the enhanced production of a hormone called progesterone, which prepares the body for pregnancy and childbirth.

In the last few months of pregnancy, the ovaries and placenta make more progesterone, causing a huge rise in allopregnanolone levels. These levels then drop rapidly after birth. Because allopregnanolone plays a crucial role in mood, these ups and downs can impact a woman’s mental health during and after pregnancy.

Researchers had been aware of brain-derived steroids like allopregnanolone as far back as the 1940s. But the journey to a new PPD treatment began within NIMH's Intramural Research Program (IRP) . At the helm was the NIMH Scientific Director at that time, Steven Paul, M.D., who collaborated with researchers in the NIMH Clinical Neuroscience Branch and at other NIH institutes, including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The researchers sought to understand how the steroids work, change over time, respond to stress, and ultimately relate to health and disease.

Early discoveries came in the 1980s. Paul, working with Maria Majewska, Ph.D., Jacqueline Crawley, Ph.D., A. Leslie Morrow, Ph.D., and other researchers showed that hormones such as progesterone and molecules derived from them have calming and anxiety-reducing effects  . Extensive research by Paul’s lab showed that these anxiolytic effects come from enhancing the activity of GABA  by binding to specific sites on its receptor. As the main inhibitory neurotransmitter (chemical messenger), GABA reduces the activity of neurons, making them less likely to fire. When molecules bind to its receptor, GABA becomes more potent at inhibiting electrical activity  in the brain, with calming effects on behavior.

Paul and IRP colleague Robert Purdy, Ph.D., used the term “ neuroactive steroids  ,” or neurosteroids, to describe these molecules able to bind to receptors in the brain to rapidly alter neuronal excitability. Their work in animals confirmed that allopregnanolone is synthesized in the brain  . They also showed the effects of allopregnanolone on GABA receptors in humans. Moreover, they found that allopregnanolone affects the response to stress  , with acute stress leading the neurosteroid to increase to levels that alter GABA activity. These findings suggested that neurosteroids play an important role in helping animals “reset” and adaptively respond to stressful life events.

Together, this IRP-conducted research established the importance of neurosteroids via their presence in the brain, ability to reduce neuronal activity, and release during stress. Although much of this work was conducted in animals, it would spotlight neurosteroids—and allopregnanolone in particular—as promising targets for treating mental disorders, eventually opening the door to their therapeutic use in humans.

Bridging the gap to advance clinical intervention

While NIMH intramural researchers were making remarkable strides, researchers at other institutions were also conducting work bolstered by funding from NIMH. Among them were Alessandro Guidotti, M.D., at the University of Illinois at Chicago; Istvan Mody, Ph.D., at the University of California, Los Angeles; and Charles Zorumski, M.D., at Washington University in St. Louis. Their NIMH-funded research propelled understanding of inhibitory neurosteroids and their importance in reducing the adverse effects of stress. This work would be the impetus for homing in on allopregnanolone as a treatment for PPD.

Guidotti and colleagues conducted several NIMH-funded studies. Their research in rodents confirmed that allopregnanolone is produced in the brain  and helps regulate neuronal excitability  by acting on GABA receptors. They also built on the knowledge that neurosteroids are affected by stress. However, unlike acute stress, a stressor lasting multiple weeks led to a decrease in allopregnanolone  in brain areas involved in anxiety- and depression-like behaviors.

Importantly, their NIMH-funded work offered some of the earliest evidence that allopregnanolone contributes to depression by showing significantly lower levels  in people with depression compared to people without the disorder, a rise in levels (but not that of other neurosteroids) after treatment with antidepressant medication  , and a link between increased levels and reduced depression symptoms  .

NIMH and NINDS funded multiple studies by Mody and colleagues on interactions of neurosteroids, stress, and GABA receptors. This research was integral to understanding a mechanism in the brains of mice  that might explain why some people become depressed after childbirth. Their NIMH-supported research  showed changes in GABA receptors in the brain, where neurosteroids are active, that impaired the body’s ability to adapt to hormonal fluctuations. Animals with an irregular GABA receptor component lacking sensitivity to neurosteroids showed depression-like behaviors and reduced maternal care; treating them with a drug that restored the receptor’s function reversed those changes.

Another study by Mody and colleagues  revealed changes in GABA expression during pregnancy that led to greater neuronal activity in the brain—but could be brought down by allopregnanolone. This finding opened the door to future studies exploring whether a postpartum drop in the neurosteroid contributed to the risk for mood disorders after birth.

Zorumski led a team in extensively studying neurosteroids as well. Among their seminal findings was identifying the mechanisms by which inhibitory neurosteroids like allopregnanolone affect GABA receptor activity  . Their NIMH-funded work dramatically augmented knowledge of how neurosteroids alter GABA receptors to contribute to the risk for mental disorders like PPD.

“The accumulated evidence from these studies established the necessary bridges to justify examining a potential therapeutic role for allopregnanolone in women with PPD,” said Peter Schmidt, M.D., Chief of the NIMH Behavioral Endocrinology Branch.

By the 2010s, researchers had a much better understanding of how allopregnanolone is linked to PPD. Studies showed decreased allopregnanolone in pregnant  and postpartum  women with symptoms of depression and higher allopregnanolone associated with a lower risk of PPD  . The possibility that PPD might be caused by the downregulation of GABA receptors in response to low levels of allopregnanolone after birth inspired researchers to put that theory to the test in clinical studies with human participants.

Taking allopregnanolone from bench to bedside

Extensive research, supported by NIMH and other NIH institutes, found that neurosteroids play a key role in how people deal with stress. They also contribute to the development of mood disorders like anxiety and depression. For allopregnanolone, evidence that it sharply decreases after pregnancy and regulates GABA activity gave rise to the notion that it contributes to PPD—and inspired hope it could be used to treat the disorder.

The biopharmaceutical company Sage Therapeutics utilized this basic research to develop brexanolone. Administered intravenously by a health care professional in a doctor’s office or clinic, brexanolone mimics the effects of allopregnanolone, increasing the inhibitory actions of GABA receptors.

Stephen Kanes, M.D., Ph.D., at Sage Therapeutics and Samantha Meltzer-Brody, M.D., MPH, at the University of North Carolina led several randomized clinical trials to measure the effectiveness of the medication in treating PPD and evaluate its safety and tolerability. The studies, which recruited adult women with PPD from hospitals, research centers, and psychiatric clinics across the United States, measured the effects of brexanolone compared to a placebo over 4 weeks.

The trials were a success. Brexanolone significantly and meaningfully reduced PPD symptoms  , and it had only mild side effects. Compared to usual depression treatments, brexanolone brought about a faster response and greater improvement  . Whereas most antidepressants take weeks to work, brexanolone improved symptoms and functioning in women with PPD within a few hours to days. And the effects lasted up to a month after the treatment stopped. Not only was brexanolone more effective, but it also worked faster than other depression medications.

“The dramatic impact of basic research on real-world health outcomes has been inspiring. The fact that NIMH-supported studies contributed to successful drug development in a matter of decades is a remarkable feat and a powerful demonstration of the potential of this foundational research,” said Dr. Gordon.

Based on this promising evidence, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave brexanolone priority review and breakthrough therapy designation in September 2016. Then, in March 2019, the FDA approved brexanolone  , making it the first drug to treat PPD.

Brightening the future for women with PPD

For women with PPD, brexanolone was a long-awaited reason to celebrate. For NIMH, it was a testament to discoveries made through the decades of research it supported. Although some barriers to treatment persisted, women now had greater hope for treating depression symptoms after pregnancy.

“The approval of brexanolone was an important milestone. Finally, an effective, fast-acting medication specifically to treat PPD,” said Dr. Hillefors. “It was also a victory for psychiatric neuroscience because basic and translational research—by design, not chance—led to a truly novel and effective treatment for a psychiatric disorder.”

Without NIMH-supported studies providing the foundational knowledge of neurosteroids, researchers may have never made the connection between allopregnanolone and treating PPD. “That’s why the approval of brexanolone is such a cause for celebration for mental health research: It represents a true bench-to-bedside success,” said Dr. Gordon.

The success of brexanolone has continued to open the door to exciting advancements in mental health care. For instance, researchers and clinicians are investigating ways to make brexanolone work better for all postpartum people. Researchers are also testing how neurosteroids can be used to treat other forms of depression and other mental health conditions.

Just the beginning of treatment advances for PPD

Brexanolone is only the start of what will hopefully be a new future for PPD treatment. In August 2023, the FDA approved zuranolone  as the first oral medication for PPD. Zuranolone acts via similar biological mechanisms as brexanolone. Its approval reflects the next step in NIMH-supported basic research being translated into clinical practice with real-world benefits.

The success of the drug, which is taken in pill form, was shown in two randomized multicenter clinical trials  . Women with severe PPD who received zuranolone showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in depression symptoms compared to women who received a placebo. These effects were rapid, sustained through 45 days, and seen across a range of clinical measures. The benefits were mirrored in patients’ self-assessment of their depression symptoms.

According to Dr. Schmidt, “The approval of zuranolone to treat PPD provides women with a rapid and effective treatment that avoids some of the limitations of the original intravenous medication.”

And the journey is far from over. Researchers, clinicians, and industry are continuing to innovate new treatments for PPD to increase access and availability to ensure all people can receive help for their postpartum symptoms.

“While I will never forget that phone call from my patient, the development of these effective medications brings us hope for helping people with PPD and for the overall impact of basic research to truly make a difference in people’s lives,” concluded Dr. Gordon.

Publications

Burval, J., Kerns, R., & Reed, K. (2020). Treating postpartum depression with brexanolone. Nursing , 50 (5), 48−53. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000657072.85990.5a  

Cornett, E. M., Rando, L., Labbé, A. M., Perkins, W., Kaye, A. M., Kaye, A. D., Viswanath, O., & Urits, I. (2021). Brexanolone to treat postpartum depression in adult women. Psychopharmacology Bulletin , 51 (2), 115–130. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8146562/pdf/PB-51-2-115.pdf 

Deligiannidis, K. M., Meltzer-Brody, S., Maximos, B., Peeper, E. Q., Freeman, M., Lasser, R., Bullock, A., Kotecha, M., Li, S., Forrestal, F., Rana, N., Garcia, M., Leclair, B., & Doherty, J. (2023). Zuranolone for the treatment of postpartum depression. American Journal of Psychiatry , 180 (9), 668−675. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20220785  

Deligiannidis, K. M., Kroll-Desrosiers, A. R., Mo, S., Nguyen, H. P., Svenson, A., Jaitly, N., ... & Shaffer, S. A. (2016). Peripartum neuroactive steroid and γ-aminobutyric acid profiles in women at-risk for postpartum depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology , 70 , 98−107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.05.010  

Edinoff, A. N., Odisho, A. S., Lewis, K., Kaskas, A., Hunt, G., Cornett, E. M., Kaye, A. D., Kaye, A., Morgan, J., Barrilleaux, P. S., Lewis, D., Viswanath, O., & Urits, I. (2021). Brexanolone, a GABAA modulator, in the treatment of postpartum depression in adults: A comprehensive review. Frontiers in Psychiatry , 12 , Article 699740. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.699740  

Epperson, C. N., Rubinow, D. R., Meltzer-Brody, S., Deligiannidis, K. M., Riesenberg, R., Krystal, A.D., Bankole, K., Huang, M. Y., Li, H., Brown, C., Kanes, S. J., & Lasser R. (2023). Effect of brexanolone on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and insomnia in women with postpartum depression: Pooled analyses from 3 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in the HUMMINGBIRD clinical program. Journal of Affective Disorders , 320 , 353−359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.143  

Gilbert Evans, S. E., Ross, L. E., Sellers, E. M., Purdy, R. H., & Romach, M. K. (2005). 3α-reduced neuroactive steroids and their precursors during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Gynecological Endocrinology , 21 (5), 268−279. https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590500361747  

Guintivano, J., Manuck, T., & Meltzer-Brody, S. (2018). Predictors of postpartum depression: A comprehensive review of the last decade of evidence. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology , 61 (3), 591−603. https://doi.org/10.1097/GRF.0000000000000368  

Gunduz-Bruce, H., Koji, K., & Huang, M.-Y. (2022). Development of neuroactive steroids for the treatment of postpartum depression. Journal of Neuroendocrinology , 34 (2), Article e13019. https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.13019  

Haight, S. C., Byatt, N., Moore Simas, T. A., Robbins, C. L., & Ko, J. Y. (2019). Recorded diagnoses of depression during delivery hospitalizations in the United States, 2000-2015. Obstetrics and Gynecology , 133 (6), 1216−1223. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003291  

Hellgren, C., Åkerud, H., Skalkidou, A., Bäckström, T., & Sundström-Poromaa, I. (2014). Low serum allopregnanolone is associated with symptoms of depression in late pregnancy. Neuropsychobiology , 69 (3), 147–153. https://doi.org/10.1159/000358838  

Hutcherson, T. C., Cieri-Hutcherson, N. E., & Gosciak, M. F. (2023). Brexanolone for postpartum depression. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy , 77 (5), 336−345. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxz333  

Kanes, S., Colquhoun, H., Gunduz-Bruce, H., Raines, S., Arnold, R., Schacterle, A., Doherty, J., Epperson, C. N., Deligiannidis, K. M., Riesenberg, R., Hoffmann, E., Rubinow, D., Jonas, J., Paul, S., & Meltzer-Brody, S. (2017). Brexanolone (SAGE-547 injection) in post-partum depression: A randomised controlled trial. The Lancet , 390(10093), 480−489. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31264-3  

Leader, L. D., O'Connell, M., & VandenBerg, A. (2019). Brexanolone for postpartum depression: Clinical evidence and practical considerations. Pharmacotherapy , 39 (11), 1105–1112. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.2331  

Maguire, J., & Mody, I. (2008). GABAAR plasticity during pregnancy: Relevance to postpartum depression. Neuron , 59 (2), P207–P213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2008.06.019  

Maguire, J., & Mody, I. (2016). Behavioral deficits in juveniles mediated by maternal stress hormones in mice. Neural Plasticity , Article 2762518. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2762518  

Majewska, M. D., Harrison, N. L., Schwartz, R. D., Barker, J. L., & Paul, S. M. (1986). Steroid hormone metabolites are barbiturate-like modulators of the GABA receptor. Science , 232 (4753), 1004−1007. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2422758  

McEvoy, K., & Osborne, L. M. (2019). Allopregnanolone and reproductive psychiatry: An overview. International Review of Psychiatry , 31 (3), 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1553775  

Meltzer-Brody, S., Colquhoun, H., Riesenberg, R., Epperson, C. N., Deligiannidis, K. M., Rubinow, D. R., Li, H., Sankoh, A. J., Clemson, C., Schacterle, A., Jonas, J., & Kanes, S. (2018). Brexanolone injection in post-partum depression: Two multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials. The Lancet , 392 (10152), 1058−1070. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31551-4  

Morrison, K. E., Cole, A. B., Thompson, S. M., & Bale, T. L. (2019). Brexanolone for the treatment of patients with postpartum depression. Drugs Today , 55 (9), 537–544. https://doi.org/10.1358/dot.2019.55.9.3040864  

Purdy, R. H., Morrow, A. L., Moore, P. H., & Paul, S. M. (1991). Stress-induced elevations of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor-active steroids in the rat brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 88 (10), 4553−4557. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.88.10.4553  

Scarff, J. R. (2019). Use of brexanolone for postpartum depression. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience , 16 (11−12), 32–35.

Schüle, C., Nothdurfter, C., & Rupprecht, R. (2014). The role of allopregnanolone in depression and anxiety. Progress in Neurobiology , 113 , 79−87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.09.003  

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Shorey, S., Chee, C. Y. I., Ng, E. D., Chan, Y. H., Tam, W. W. S., & Chong, Y. S. (2018). Prevalence and incidence of postpartum depression among healthy mothers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research , 104 , 235–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.08.001  

Slomian, J., Honvo, G., Emonts, P., Reginster, J. Y., & Bruyère, O. (2019). Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes. Women's Health , 15 , 1−55. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745506519844044  

• Perinatal Depression (NIMH brochure)
• Depression in Women: 4 Things You Should Know (NIMH health topic page)
• Depression (NIMH health topic page)
• Major Depression (NIMH statistics page)
• Women and Mental Health (NIMH health topic page)
• A Bench-to-Bedside Story: The Development of a Treatment for Postpartum Depression (NIMH Director’s Message)
• Bench-to-Bedside: NIMH Research Leading to Brexanolone, First-Ever Drug Specifically for Postpartum Depression (NIIMH press release)
• Population Study Finds Depression Is Different Before, During, and After Pregnancy (NIMH research highlight)
• FDA Approves First Treatment for Post-Partum Depression  (FDA news release)
• FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression  (FDA news release)

Applications Being Accepted for 2022 Research Science Institute

McLean, VA   (November 15, 2021) –  The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for its 2022 Research Science Institute (RSI), which is collaboratively sponsored with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on its campus or virtually.

RSI ’22 will be in session from June 26 to August 6, 2022. It will bring together top U.S. and international students who have completed comparable to three years of high school for an intensive, six-week program that provides students with the opportunity to conduct original, cutting-edge, science,  technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research. RSI is cost-free for students to attend.

Participants experience the entire research cycle from start to finish. They read the most current literature in their field, draft and execute a detailed research plan, and deliver conference-style oral and written reports on their findings.

During the first week of RSI, students participate in intensive STEM classes with accomplished professors. The heart of RSI is the five-week research internship where students conduct individual projects under the tutelage scientists and researchers.

To apply, visit https://www.cee.org/apply-rsi . The deadline for U.S. domestic student applications is January 14, 2022. The deadline for international student applications is February 11, 2022.

About the Center for Excellence in Education

The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) was founded in 1983 by the late Admiral H.G. Rickover and Joann P. DiGennaro, President of the Center. The Center’s mission is to nurture high school and university scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and to encourage collaboration between and among scientific and technological leaders in the global community. CEE sponsors the Research Science Institute (RSI), the USA Biolympiad (USABO), and the Teacher Enrichment Program (TEP). Visit CEE’s website, https://www.cee.org .

Media Contact:

Tom Flavell,   (703) 448-9062 ext. 237

Follow CEE on Twitter @CEE1983

Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

At michigan state university, international research team uses wavefunction matching to solve quantum many-body problems, new approach makes calculations with realistic interactions possible.

FRIB researchers are part of an international research team solving challenging computational problems in quantum physics using a new method called wavefunction matching. The new approach has applications to fields such as nuclear physics, where it is enabling theoretical calculations of atomic nuclei that were previously not possible. The details are published in Nature (“Wavefunction matching for solving quantum many-body problems”) .

Ab initio methods and their computational challenges

An ab initio method describes a complex system by starting from a description of its elementary components and their interactions. For the case of nuclear physics, the elementary components are protons and neutrons. Some key questions that ab initio calculations can help address are the binding energies and properties of atomic nuclei not yet observed and linking nuclear structure to the underlying interactions among protons and neutrons.

Yet, some ab initio methods struggle to produce reliable calculations for systems with complex interactions. One such method is quantum Monte Carlo simulations. In quantum Monte Carlo simulations, quantities are computed using random or stochastic processes. While quantum Monte Carlo simulations can be efficient and powerful, they have a significant weakness: the sign problem. The sign problem develops when positive and negative weight contributions cancel each other out. This cancellation results in inaccurate final predictions. It is often the case that quantum Monte Carlo simulations can be performed for an approximate or simplified interaction, but the corresponding simulations for realistic interactions produce severe sign problems and are therefore not possible.

Using ‘plastic surgery’ to make calculations possible

The new wavefunction-matching approach is designed to solve such computational problems. The research team—from Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University in Turkey; University of Bonn, Ruhr University Bochum, and Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany; Institute for Basic Science in South Korea; South China Normal University, Sun Yat-Sen University, and Graduate School of China Academy of Engineering Physics in China; Tbilisi State University in Georgia; CEA Paris-Saclay and Université Paris-Saclay in France; and Mississippi State University and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University (MSU)—includes  Dean Lee , professor of physics at FRIB and in MSU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and head of the Theoretical Nuclear Science department at FRIB, and  Yuan-Zhuo Ma , postdoctoral research associate at FRIB.

“We are often faced with the situation that we can perform calculations using a simple approximate interaction, but realistic high-fidelity interactions cause severe computational problems,” said Lee. “Wavefunction matching solves this problem by doing plastic surgery. It removes the short-distance part of the high-fidelity interaction, and replaces it with the short-distance part of an easily computable interaction.”

This transformation is done in a way that preserves all of the important properties of the original realistic interaction. Since the new wavefunctions look similar to that of the easily computable interaction, researchers can now perform calculations using the easily computable interaction and apply a standard procedure for handling small corrections called perturbation theory.  A team effort

The research team applied this new method to lattice quantum Monte Carlo simulations for light nuclei, medium-mass nuclei, neutron matter, and nuclear matter. Using precise ab initio calculations, the results closely matched real-world data on nuclear properties such as size, structure, and binding energies. Calculations that were once impossible due to the sign problem can now be performed using wavefunction matching.

“It is a fantastic project and an excellent opportunity to work with the brightest nuclear scientist s in FRIB and around the globe,” said Ma. “As a theorist , I'm also very excited about programming and conducting research on the world's most powerful exascale supercomputers, such as Frontier , which allows us to implement wavefunction matching to explore the mysteries of nuclear physics.”

While the research team focused solely on quantum Monte Carlo simulations, wavefunction matching should be useful for many different ab initio approaches, including both classical and  quantum computing calculations. The researchers at FRIB worked with collaborators at institutions in China, France, Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and United States.

“The work is the culmination of effort over many years to handle the computational problems associated with realistic high-fidelity nuclear interactions,” said Lee. “It is very satisfying to see that the computational problems are cleanly resolved with this new approach. We are grateful to all of the collaboration members who contributed to this project, in particular, the lead author, Serdar Elhatisari.”

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the German Research Foundation, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship Initiative, Volkswagen Stiftung, the European Research Council, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Security Academic Fund, the Rare Isotope Science Project of the Institute for Basic Science, the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Institute for Basic Science, and the Espace de Structure et de réactions Nucléaires Théorique.

Michigan State University operates the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) as a user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), supporting the mission of the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics. Hosting what is designed to be the most powerful heavy-ion accelerator, FRIB enables scientists to make discoveries about the properties of rare isotopes in order to better understand the physics of nuclei, nuclear astrophysics, fundamental interactions, and applications for society, including in medicine, homeland security, and industry.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of today’s most pressing challenges. For more information, visit energy.gov/science.

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Dear Colleague Letter: Joint National Science Foundation and United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Funding Opportunity: Supporting Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR)

April 18, 2024

Dear Colleague:

Recognizing the importance of use-inspired collaborations in promoting scientific discoveries, the National Science Foundation (NSF), in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA), seeks proposals to advance foundational research in agricultural robotics. These proposals should be of mutual interest to the NSF Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) program and to USDA/NIFA .

NSF's FRR program, jointly led by the Directorate for Engineering (ENG) and the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), supports research to create innovative robots with unprecedented new functionality. USDA/NIFA has the mission to provide leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences. Proposals submitted under this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) should present a compelling vision for pioneering robots with transformative potential in agricultural contexts. It is highly suggested that potential proposers contact the USDA/NIFA program director first (listed below) with a short narrative to determine project applicability for this program. If appropriate, an NSF program director will be further consulted.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

NSF is the lead agency for this collaboration. Proposals to be considered under this Dear Colleague Letter should have a title prefixed by "NIFA:" and should be submitted to the FRR program. Submissions will be evaluated in FRR review panels, following the requirements of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) ( https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg ), and the FRR Program Description ( https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/foundational-research-robotics-frr ). Proposals submitted under this Dear Colleague Letter must be clearly justified by important needs in agriculture and the agricultural sciences.

NSF will manage and conduct the review process of proposals submitted in accordance with NSF standards and procedures, as described in the PAPPG. USDA staff will participate in panels as observers during the discussion of USDA-focused proposals. Information about proposals and unattributed reviews of proposals will be shared with USDA staff. NSF and NIFA will meet as soon as possible after the proposals have been reviewed to formulate a set of funding recommendations consistent with the goals of this DCL. Note that if a proposal is selected for an award to be funded by NIFA, NSF will request the submitting institution withdraw their NSF proposal and submit to NIFA.

Recipients funded by NIFA will be encouraged to participate in annual FRR grantee meetings, along with recipients funded by NSF.

Interested parties are encouraged to contact the listed program directors at NSF and USDA/NIFA prior to submission.

TECHNICAL POINTS OF CONTACT

FRR Program Officers:

USDA/NIFA Program Officers:

Margaret Martonosi Assistant Director Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering<

Susan Margulies Assistant Director Directorate for Engineering