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Mentor Help for 7th Grader
Hello! I am a 7th grader and I have been interested into some research. I actually have been interested in posting in JEI(Journal of Emerging Investigators) which, short summary is a way to post your research built for high schoolers and middle schoolers.
I'm trying to find a research mentor for my project and I've been sending out countless cold emails to professors, graduates, PhDs, etc.. I watched multiple videos and at most hours on how to get a mentor. I also believe I have a good way to email people asking if they can mentor me.
Honestly, I've been losing hope over time and I was wondering if there is a way that I can get a mentor more quick or if someone is offering to mentor me.
extra info: I want this research to be in relation to cognitive sciences and Neuro-related.
1 answer
Asia Howard
Asia’s Answer
🎯 Programs built to match students with mentors
These are often quicker than cold emails, because the mentors have already signed up to help:
Polygence: matches students with PhD mentors, and neuroscience is a popular topic. It costs money, but they offer financial aid.
Pioneer Academics and Lumiere Research Scholar Program: similar programs. Some are for older students, so check the age rules.
JEI itself: look at JEI's website for mentor or reviewer resources. JEI was started by Harvard grad students to help young researchers.
Science fair groups: your local or state science fair (part of Regeneron ISEF or Broadcom MASTERS for middle schoolers) often knows scientists who volunteer.
University outreach: many universities run neuroscience outreach events, like Brain Awareness Week or "Brain Bee" competitions. These are great places to meet grad students in person.
✉️ Tips to make your emails work better
Email grad students and postdocs, not just professors. They usually have more time and are often excited to mentor.
Keep it short: about 5–6 sentences. Say who you are, what interests you about their research (be specific!), and exactly what you're asking for, like "a 20-minute call each month."
Make it easy to say yes. Ask for something small first, like one video call, instead of "Will you be my mentor?"
Follow up once after 1–2 weeks. Lots of replies come from the follow-up!
Go local. Nearby universities and community colleges reply more often than famous faraway ones.
🧠 Start without a mentor
You can begin now. Cognitive science has lots of projects you can do with free tools:
Make simple memory or reaction-time tests with PsyToolkit or Gorilla (ask an adult first).
Look at public brain data from sites like OpenNeuro.
Example question: "Does listening to music change how well students remember words?"
When you email people, having a project idea already started makes them much more likely to say yes.
⚠️ Stay safe
Always include a parent or guardian in your emails and meetings with mentors. Be careful of strangers online who offer to mentor you, especially if they ask for money or personal information. A teacher or school counselor can also help you reach out. They may even know a scientist!
You're doing something really impressive for a 7th grader. Keep going! 🚀