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Browse project ideas by Polygence mentors
Learn How to Code a Quantum Computer Using Qiskit!
On this project, you will learn the fundamentals of quantum computing by coding in Qiskit (Python). You will understand the basics of superconducting qubits, one of the leading qubits in the field. You will also explore Python, a fundamental coding platform used throughout the sciences. This project is sure to excite you!
Physics, Animation
Podcast and Content Creation Idea!
This project will be a fun way for you to learn how to communicate complex ideas effectively to a broad audience. You will pick a topic that fascinates you and we will work together to build your platform, either on podcast, social media, YouTube, etc. This project will be a great way for you to learn the fundamentals of communication! Who knows who it will attract and inspire.
Physics, Animation
A History of Women in Quantum Physics (or other fields as well!)
So many women's stories exist in the field of quantum physics, but few are told. In fact, the early history of the field was known as Knabenphysik (boys' physics), given that its early creation is often credited with men in their 20s in the 1920s. In this project, you will work to tell the story of the women who are behind the foundation of quantum mechanics. This project will guide you towards understanding not only the history of quantum mechanics, but also touch on women's history. This is a great project for those passionate about gender representation in STEM.
Physics, Animation
Schrodinger's Cat, in Practice: Learn how to Generate a Superposition State!
In this project, I will guide you on how to understand a superposition state in quantum mechanics, a fundamental step in understanding the field. You will learn about bra-ket notation, probability distributions, and what it really means to collapse a wave function. This will be a fun, exciting way for you to engage with a fundamental property of quantum particles!
Physics, Animation
Sports Analytics
Students interested in sports, statistics, or data storytelling can explore how analytics is transforming modern basketball. Using publicly available datasets, they can investigate questions such as how passing patterns differ across teams, what player combinations generate the most efficient offense, or how ball movement changes over a season (here's a sample project https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/123292) Students may gather information by analyzing open-source play-by-play data, studying visualizations used in professional analytics departments, or reviewing publicly shared models from sport analysts. Along the way, they can learn skills such as data cleaning, basic statistical analysis, and creating clear visual representations of complex relationships. Possible outcomes include data visualizations, an analytical report, a dashboard, or a presentation communicating their findings. This project is ideal for students who love sports and want to see how data can uncover hidden patterns behind great teamwork.
Sports Analytics
Exploring and Documenting Green Public Space Features
In this project, students will explore local parks or green spaces to observe and document key usability and accessibility features such as seating, walking paths, shade, and plant diversity. Using photography and mapping softwares, they’ll collect data, analyze how these features contribute to community well-being, and identify opportunities for improvement. Some of the skills the students are expected to learn and apply are: 1. Observational research and data collection 2. Analysis of public space functionality 3. GIS and mapping techniques 4. Critical thinking in urban and environmental design By the end of the project, students will create a visual report or map summarizing their findings, propose improvements for the space, and present their analysis in a research report or presentation.
Engineering
How Strong Are Stellar Flares? Comparing Red Dwarf Flares to Solar Flares
In this project, a student will explore how powerful star explosions—called stellar flares—can be on small stars known as red dwarfs, and then compare them to the flares we see on our own Sun. I can help guide the student in understanding what flares are, why stars have them, and how scientists measure their strength. Using simple examples or beginner-friendly data, the student will estimate how big a red dwarf flare would be if it happened on the Sun (for example, “this one might be as strong as an X5 solar flare”). Over the course of our ten meetings, the student will learn how to read basic light curves (brightness vs. time plots), do easy calculations or comparisons, and look up helpful information from NASA websites and educational astronomy resources. By the end, the student could create a mini research report, a presentation, or a set of simple graphs explaining what they discovered in a fun, clear way.
Physics
Individual reliability of personality tests
Personality tests have formed a major area of research within psychology. Critical to personality test validity is that they are stable within a person, thereby measuring a person's trait instead of the current emotional state. A research topic would be to administer common personality tests to members of your community multiple times. I would work with the student to then calculate reliability measures, where we would go over basic coding, statistical analysis and graphing n R. The student would then summarize the results in a research article. Alternative research projects that allow for actual data collection would be testing for measurement reliability in personality tests. This is a nice project as it is feasible for people to do without lab equipment.
Statistics, Neuroscience, Biology
Critical evaluation of testosterone supplements in men
I am a neuroscientist and can offer expertise in neuroscience, biology, chemistry, statistics, and psychology. The most critical skill for any scientist is to be able to critically evaluate primary literature. Developing a critical eye for good research takes time, but it can be facilitated by reading articles with a mentor. I would like to work with a student to develop a research question that they are interested in. An example would be critically evaluating the scientific support for testosterone supplements in men. For this, we would first learn about basic information on how testosterone impacts cell signaling pathways. Then I would help teach the student how to seek out literature. This is a critical life-long skill that very few people outside of academia possess. After we have identified literature, we would then work through reading articles together to learn how to identify a hypothesis and to examine how well the experiments actually test the hypothesis. Based on the readings, the student would produce a scientific literature review that addresses empirical support for testosterone supplements, and what research gaps need to be filled.
Statistics, Neuroscience, Biology
Battle of The Sexes: Exploring Addiction in Men and Women
Historically, alcohol use disorder has been largely diagnosed in men. However, women have increased rates of this disorder and the development of this condition comes at a faster rate in women. This project will allow you to explore how men and women differ in various areas of alcohol use disorder including neuropharmacology, behavior and social factors. If you are interested in other substance use disorders (e.g., opioids, cannabis) this project would be perfect as well. You can highlight what you have learned from this project by creating an infographic, poster presentation, or a three minute research slam. If you are more interested in refining your writing skills, this project would also be a great opportunity to write a scientific review. Along with gaining knowledge on this subject, you will also be forming your own research questions that may lead to important answers as to how this disorder impacts others and why individuals continue to abuse substances regardless of negative consequences.
Neuroscience
