Headwaters Research Experience guides students through scientific research from asking a question through publishing results. The process of science is yours to explore!
Summer 2026 Session
Start Date: June 16, 2026
End Date: August 11, 2026
Location: Online meetings, and independent research in the location of the student’s choosing.
Class Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm or 7pm PT
Cost: $2,000 with payment plans available.
with an option for an additional mentoring to support JEI submission ($300). Or mentoring hours can be purchased for science fairs, symposiums, senior projects, etc.
Financial Assistance is available. To be considered for scholarship opportunities, please complete the form. Due May 15th.
7edu Program
Have Questions?
Email brea@headwatersscienceinstitute.org with any questions!
What is the Headwaters Research Experience?
The HRE is an affordable and accessible way for students looking to take their science education to the next level and bolster a college resume, participants design and create an original research project while being mentored by a professional scientist. Students see through the project from conception to publication by conducting field research (or compiling pre-existing available datasets) and learning how to analyze their findings. Students complete the program with a finalized research presentation and a formal research paper that will be submitted for publication.
Mentors:
Our professional scientist mentors from prestigious organizations such as UC Davis and Berkeley, University of Virginia, and NOAA, to name just a few, and are experienced in research and in mentoring students with a variety of research interests. They guide students to utilize a diverse array of research skills that can be used to study almost any topic imaginable.
Benefits:
Students emerge from the program with real-world, hands-on experience they can add to a college resume, contacts in the professional scientific community, a network of peers embarking on their own scientific endeavors, and life skills that will better prepare them for any career!
Experience the program:
Student Research Journal
Research Experience students model the work of a professional scientist by creating journal articles they submit to a publication for consideration. These articles are also published in the Headwaters Research Journal. Browse current and past editions through the link below.
Student Driven Research
To successfully complete this course and reap the benefits, students should expect 5-8 hours a week of work. At Headwaters we believe that students succeed when pursuing their own goals, therefore we follow a student driven research approach. We establish expectations for students so they can flourish in their scientific understanding.
- Weekly 1-hour class
- Regular attendance and participation
- Weekly 1-hour one-on-one mentoring from scientist
- Complete homework assignments and research goals on own time
Meet The Mentors
Corina Mathews-Sanchez
Corina is a PhD student at the University of Nevada in Reno where she studies wildlife ecology. Her research focuses on finding how bird populations are changing in response to a changing environment. Corina has mentored students in the field, showing them how to collect scientific data, as well as in research project development and manuscript writing. She always enjoys taking others on hikes and showing them local wildlife and plant species as well as how to collect citizen science data.
Sean Westley
Sean is a wetland ecologist whose research focuses on habitat restoration and species conservation within coastal wetlands. He is a PhD student at the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Sciences. Sean’s work has allowed him to travel and reside in many areas from mountainous regions to flat beaches. Sean has worked in aquaculture, wetland restoration, wetland mapping, and fish tagging and tracking research.
Jesse A. Scott, Ph.D.
Dr. Scott is an environmental scientist, geospatial analyst, and educator with over 20 years of experience in ecological research, hydrology, and applied conservation. He holds a Ph.D. in Forest Resources and Conservation with a focus on ecological restoration and stream systems. Dr. Scott has worked across federal and state agencies and teaches geospatial and environmental sciences at the university level. As a Scientific Mentor with Headwaters, he supports student-driven research by guiding study design, data analysis, and communication. Dr. Scott is a recipient of the U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
Research Experience FAQ
Questions about the program? We’re here to help. Click any of the commonly asked questions below to expand and see the answer.
With digital learning right now, students are at the computer so much already. Will this program just be more screen time?
This program is designed to be as screen-free as possible. In order to keep this program safe and contactless, students learn from their mentors and peers through digital meetings. The weekly digital group meetings last 1 hour and mentor meetings are 30-60 minutes. However, all other components of the program are screen-free and mostly outdoors.
How does the program work with a pre-existing school schedule?
For programs during the school year, group sessions take place after school and individual mentor sessions can be arranged at a specific time that works for both parties. This program requires 4-8 hours of work per week, similar to the demands of a typical extracurricular program. You can expect concepts in this program to overlap with some parts of your child’s science class.
How is this program different than what students are already learning in science class?
This program reinforces the hands-on parts of science and builds student creativity. Instead of learning from a textbook, students can create their own projects. This kind of confidence has a stronger impression on students than traditional science classes and reinforces what students have learned in science class through real-world applications.
What kinds of research projects can students create?
Students are encouraged to create a project around any topic they feel passionate about! This can extend to any areas of science, including having a social science component. We try to pair students with a mentor whose field experience is similar to their chosen project.
Who is this program for? Can students without research experience participate?
This program is for any child that is high school age (grades 9-12). We can accommodate participants located anywhere in the world, as long as they have a reliable internet connection.
No prior research experience is necessary for this program.
What is required to apply for a financial assistance, and how is this awarded?
On our application form we request a financial disclosure, transcripts, and a few answers to questions which provide us background information to help make our selection.
We try our best to weigh all of these materials fairly, looking beyond just transcripts or a strong academic foundation.
All applicants are required to demonstrate financial need.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations are subject to a $100 fee and are only allowed until four weeks prior to your program.
This program is supported by:
