Empower the Next Generation
Mentor high-caliber students (aged 12-17) working on unique projects
Share your expertise and enthusiasm for a subject with the next generation
Get a student started on the path to a future career or lifelong passion
Controlyour ownSchedule
You decide which students your work with, and when your sessions take place
Most Mentors devote no more than 1-2 hours/week to their students
Sessions take place online & at your convenience (eg. evenings / weekends)
Payit Forward
Polygence students come from all over the world, and all walks of life
Our Financial Aid program offers full & partial scholarships on a means-tested basis
Mentors can also volunteer for our Pro Bono Program
Grow as an Educator
- Receive state-of-the-art pedagogical feedback from our proprietary system backed by the Stanford Graduate School of Education
How to become a mentor?

1
Interest form

2
Preliminary Meeting

Polygence Mentor Interest Form
Join us in our mission to democratize access to research!
Did you know?
2,000+
Completed projects, and counting!
1,500+
Expert mentors
95%
of Polygence students were accepted at R1 research universities
Learn more about the Polygence mentor experience
So how does it work?
Program Overview
Communication
- Polygence provides a full online platform for you to chat with your student, share files, and access video calls
- You schedule a session right in your chatroom; you and your student will receive a personal calendar invite
- Your privacy is protected; there’s no need to share your personal contact information
Mentorship Logistics
- 10 one-hour video call sessions
- Most mentors meet with their students every 2-3 weeks during the school year and every 7-10 days during the summer
- Mentors are not lecturers, they are facilitators and project managers
Your time is important to us
- Rescheduling: If students reschedule a session less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled session, the session will be forfeited.
- Late students: If students have not arrived after the 10 min grace period, the session will be forfeited.
- In each scenario, mentors will be compensated for their time at 50% of the session rate.
Compensation
- If accepted, your rate will be determined after the interview. Apply for more details.
- You will be paid via direct deposit after each session
- We have a strict no-show and cancellation policy to protect your time
Mentor Reviews
I have had an excellent experience as a Polygence mentor. Polygence does an excellent job pairing talented and driven students with mentors, and inspiring the next generation of scholars through project-centric learning. Guiding a mentee through the process of learning and applying new skills has been an invaluable opportunity.
PhD Candidate in Biomolecular Engineering: Bioinformatics at UC Santa Cruz
I was amazed by the pertinence of the Polygence concept and its structure. Freedom is fundamental to the program, which makes it different from academic programs that have a rigid curriculum. This way of teaching gives me a lot of pleasure as I believe teaching is a form of inspiration. It’s about showing young people how to learn what they want to study so I can support the student's career and calling.
Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology at Stanford University
Serving as a mentor for Polygence has been a uniquely fulfilling and thought-provoking experience. Although I knew that I enjoyed teaching before becoming a mentor, I had not had the opportunity to engage with students on subjects so directly linked to my graduate studies. I am consistently amazed by the intellectual rigor and maturity of my students, and come away from our sessions with renewed appreciation for academic discourse and rigorous debate. I also appreciate the position’s flexibility
JD from Yale University
I’ve been really lucky to have had a variety of teaching and educational experiences. From teaching high school math to teaching at Stanford in a variety of areas to thinking through what education looks like at scale at Khan Academy. What makes Polygence unique is the one to one interaction.
PhD Candidate in Education and Data Science at Stanford University
I have been really satisfied with the organization from Polygence leadership. I've enjoyed speaking with Staci regularly, and appreciate how prompt and receptive she is to my questions and concerns. Payments have been a breeze. And I can't say enough good things about the website and messaging platform.
MD Resident at Yale New Haven Hospital
It's been such fun working with the smart, thoughtful, expansive and creative students that are attached to the Polygence process. I am so impressed with my student's wide interests, and dedication to learning and general growth. It's been a real light in my teaching life!
Postdoctoral Fellow in Literature at Stanford University
I was very impressed with the diligent work and genuine interest of my student, even with very complex medical concepts. I enjoyed the project because often in medicine we have to learn tons of concepts quickly and don't get much time to appreciate them and their details. Helping students with projects such as this allows me that chance to revel in the amazing, elegant mechanisms of the body and to share the wonder of how cool medicine and our bodies are with equally interested students.
MD-PhD at Princeton and Rutgers
Project Spotlight
See more projects
Browse more Mentors
Greetings from the program coordinators
Polygence is an online research academy dedicated to democratizing access to research opportunities for high school students. Whether you are interested in quantitative biology, fashion history, or privacy law, Polygence mentors will help you explore your area of interest.
Our students say it best
Thousands of students have completed life-changing projects with Polygence.
Don’t just take our word for it!
Adrian R.
Scripps Ranch High School
My mentor was very flexible throughout the project, giving me the freedom to find an interesting project to research and model. He provided the support to allow me to complete a successful project. His balance of flexibility with structure allowed me to become experienced modelling a random walk pattern, learning to write by telling a story, and analyzing data.
Luke J.
San Marino High School
My mentor expertly mixed in-depth topic knowledge with friendliness and openness to make the Polygence experience simultaneously exciting and manageable.
Miranda D.
Episcopal School of Jacksonville
My mentor was not just an incredible scientist but also an incredible person! I was coming off of a canceled hospital internship due to COVID-19, but research led me to Polygence. My mentor insisted on making sure that my project was something I would be proud of. I could rely on her for more than just project advice. Her guidance was amazing, I would not trade it for anything.
Sia S.
Albany Academy for Girls
Not only did my mentor encourage me to read challenging research papers and reflect on them, but helped me to understand information that I found confusing by talking through it with me during sessions. I would like to thank her for guiding me through writing my first formal review paper on machine learning in cancer treatment, she has been a great mentor!
Adrian R.
Scripps Ranch High School
My mentor was very flexible throughout the project, giving me the freedom to find an interesting project to research and model. He provided the support to allow me to complete a successful project. His balance of flexibility with structure allowed me to become experienced modelling a random walk pattern, learning to write by telling a story, and analyzing data.
Luke J.
San Marino High School
My mentor expertly mixed in-depth topic knowledge with friendliness and openness to make the Polygence experience simultaneously exciting and manageable.
Read more Reviews
Our students come from high schools including:
International Schools
- Hong Kong International School
- Chinese International School
- Independent Schools Foundation Academy
- German Swiss International School
- Diocesan Girls’ School
- Diocesan Boys’ School
- St. Paul’s Co-Educational College
- Korean Minjok Leadership Academy
US Boarding Schools
- Deerfield Academy
- Phillips Academy Andover
- Choate Rosemary Hall
- The Lawrenceville School
California Schools
- Lynbrook High School
- Archbishop Mitty High School
- Monta Vista High School
- San Marino High School
- Saratoga High School
- Portola High School
- Henry M. Gunn High School
- Leland High School
- Los Gatos High School
- Dougherty Valley High School
- Mission San Jose High School
- The Nueva School
- The Harker School
- Futures Academy
FAQs
How can I be a good research mentor? ›
Listens, provides guidance and advice
Ability to give guidance when desired, to listen otherwise • A good mentor listens attentively to his or her mentee and responds to him or her. Approachable: mentee feels free in discussing whatever is on his/her mind and is willing to ask for help when needed.
The ultimate goal of the mentor is to establish the trainee as an independent researcher. Mentoring responsibilities include sharing knowledge and skills, overseeing the trainee's work, helping the trainee to make contact with other researchers and assisting with career counseling.
What is the importance of mentors for high school students? ›Mentoring has also been linked in studies to social-emotional development benefits, improvements in youth perceptions of parental relationships, and better prospects for moving on to higher education.
How do I find a mentor for high school research? ›- Participate in a summer program, not necessarily for research, or take a class at a nearby college, university, or research institute. ...
- Talk to the faculty at a nearby college, university, or research institute. ...
- Contact judges from a previous science competition.
- Wants to share relevant knowledge and expertise. ...
- Displays positivity and enthusiasm. ...
- Provides honest and constructive feedback. ...
- Exhibits active listening skills. ...
- Has a growth mindset.
- Establish clear expectations. ...
- Make the steps of the research process explicit. ...
- Teach students resilience. ...
- Incorporate routine checks for understanding. ...
- Foster increasing independence. ...
- Address professional development.
Scientists are always looking for ways to improve their research, and many turn to mentors to help them navigate the field. A mentor is someone who has been through what you're going through now. They can help you understand the challenges and opportunities of your field and determine how best to approach them.
What skills does a mentor need? ›- Relevant Expertise or Knowledge. ...
- Enthusiasm for Sharing That Expertise. ...
- A Respectful Attitude. ...
- Eagerness to Invest in Others. ...
- The Ability to Give Honest and Direct Feedback. ...
- Reflective Listening and Empathy. ...
- Willingness to Be a Sponsor.
Mentoring programs pair adult mentors with students at risk of dropping out to provide guidance through academic and personal challenges1. Trained mentors meet regularly with students, establishing a personal relationship and helping the student overcome obstacles in and out of school.
What does mentorship mean in high school? ›Mentoring programs provide students with the opportunity to gain and refine important skills — such as problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and critical thinking — that can benefit them as they plan for college or enter the workforce.
What makes you an ideal mentor for students? ›
Mentors need to be able to articulate their advice and experiences in a way that is easy to understand by the mentee. They should also be patient, active listeners who are willing to answer questions, provide feedback, and help their mentees find solutions on their own.
How many students go to Mentor High School? › How many kids are at Mentor High School? ›Mentor High School is a highly rated, public school located in MENTOR, OH. It has 2,664 students in grades PK, 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 21 to 1.
What does research mentor title mean? ›In undergraduate research, you will be working with a research mentor, a faculty or staff member who provides support to another individual during a research project.
What are the 4 C's of mentorship? ›Leveraging mentoring to nurture the 4Cs—conversation, connection, community, and culture—can create an increased sense of belonging in employees, thus building social capital.
What are the 3 C's of mentoring? ›Clarity, Communication, Commitment – the key to successful mentoring programmes.
What makes a mentor stand out? ›Some important traits in a good mentor include patience and listening skills. The most effective mentors take in what's happening, assess the path the mentee is on and then guide the person onto the right track. Mentoring is as much about counseling as it is transferring knowledge and leadership skills.
How do you teach students the research process? ›- Define the task. What exactly must be researched? ...
- Discover keywords. ...
- Use appropriate tools. ...
- Teach about source hierarchy and evaluation. ...
- Take notes and compile information. ...
- Setting up a lifelong skill.
Mentoring for career development statistics:
89% of those with mentors believe their colleagues value their work, compared with 75% who do not have mentors (Source) 87% of mentors and mentees feel empowered by their mentoring relationships and have developed greater confidence (Source)‍
Mentor teacher and student teacher both initiate instruction and share ideas. Mentor teacher and student teacher pool their resources and think together about how to help individual students. Mentor teacher and student teacher observe each other, ask questions and offer feedback.
What are the 3 A's of mentoring? ›
What are the 3 A's of mentorship? The three A's of mentoring are availability, active listening, and analysis. Availability means that a mentor should offer or avail you of their time, experience, encouragement, feedback, and advice.
Can you give me an example of mentoring? ›Examples of individual mentoring include informal, goal-oriented discussions between a junior person seeking advice from their senior, as well as discussions in which the mentor is not necessarily a senior to or even colleague of the mentee, but has more experience working in a given space.
What are the 4 steps of effective mentoring? ›Successful mentoring relationships go through four phases: preparation, negotiating, enabling growth, and closure. These sequential phases build on each other and vary in length.
Why mentoring is impactful? ›Mentorship is important because it provides employees with the opportunity to develop and become more competent in their roles as well as prepare for growth opportunities in the future.
How does mentorship contribute to success? ›Mentorships are unique relationships that are most often developed in a professional atmosphere. They are designed to help the mentee learn new skills, network and become more successful in their careers. They also provide the mentee with an opportunity to gain knowledge from a more experienced co-worker.
What are the 8 roles of a mentor? ›Role. Mentors provide guidance, advice, feedback, and support to the mentee, serving variously as role model, teacher, counselor, advisor, sponsor, advocate, and ally, depending on the specific goals and objectives negotiated with the mentee.
What do mentees look for in a mentor? ›Important qualities to look for include active listening skills , honesty and an ability to give constructive feedback. Choosing a mentor with these key traits helps you build an effective network and develop skills that can advance your career.
What should a mentor not do? ›- What a mentor DOES NOT do. Listen: function as a sounding board for problems. ...
- role of problem solver for the mentees. ...
- be doing themselves. ...
- assistance where needed. ...
- the highest values in every area of life. ...
- decisions. ...
- to shade over into favoritism. ...
- honest mistakes are career-altering disasters.
Peer mentoring in schools involves a mentee and mentor catching up on a regular basis spending time on an activity of interest to the mentee such as developing a specific skill, exploring future work or study opportunities, or talking about things that are important to the mentee like school or friends.
What is the purpose of mentoring students? ›Mentorship gives direction, helps students choose a career path, and also supports them by connecting them with the right people. There is also the ever-important campus recruitment process that worries students. Mentors give them clarity and address this uncertainty about cracking their first job.
What does it mean to be a mentor at school? ›
They give constructive feedback on writing, teaching, and other elements of career design. They can also serve to help students balance professional goals with their personal lives or give emotional encouragement during challenging times.
How do you describe mentoring experience? ›Describe Your Mentoring Experience
Be specific about who you mentored and what career goals you helped them to achieve. Explaining how this mentoring relationship resulted in a tangible benefit for the company will also show employers what an asset you could be.
In addition to providing youth with the confidence, resources, and ongoing support they need to achieve their potential, mentors increase the likelihood of the young person developing external and internal assets — structures, relationships, values, skills, and beliefs that promote healthy development and lead to ...
What are the benefits of peer mentoring in school? ›Peer Mentors can help students identify their goals in various aspects. Specialties are time management and organization, coping with procrastination and stress, building positive habits for university life, college reading, study strategies, and test-taking skills.
What are the expectations of a student mentor? ›Common Expectations for Mentors
Meet regularly with your mentee. Identify the knowledge, skills, and experience the student needs to complete the project. The mentor may advise the student to enroll in appropriate courses or guide students in developing skills.
Mentor football comes away with 42-21 win over Medina in regional semifinals. TWINSBURG, Ohio - Mentor played the best defense it has all season and ran a balanced offense to defeat Medina 42-21 in the Division I, Region 1 semifinals.
What is the most attended High School? ›Penn Foster High School is the largest high school in the US with over 60,000 high school students. This impressive number of students is yet another proof of the online school phenomenon that changed the perception of traditional high school education as we know it.
How many students are in Mentor Public Schools? › Who is the National Merit student for Mentor High School? ›Eight Mentor High School students have been named a Commended Student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program! Students include Daniel Casey, Gianna Cesari, Caden Coleman, Andrew Freeman, Braden Lohrey, Emily Meckler, Amelia Wong and Bennett Wong .
When was Mentor High School built? ›How many students do most boarding schools have? ›
Boarding schools range in size from rather small (100 students) to rather large (1200 students). Most boarding school populations are somewhere in the middle with 300-400 students.
What is a good research mentor? ›Qualities of a Good Mentor
Foster collaboration. Ensure you're making progress towards goals. Give you feedback on your scientific work in a constructive and timely manner.
Mentee Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster.
What is the difference between a research mentor and advisor? ›An adviser oversees the conduct of research, offering guidance and advice on matters connected to research. A mentor—who also may be an adviser—takes a personal as well as a professional interest in the development of a researcher.
What are the five roles of a peer mentor? ›There were a total of 96 comments from students, mentors, and instructors about roles and their implications for mentors. Five specific roles were identified: connecting link, peer leader, learning coach, student advocate, and trusted friend.
What are the duties of a research team leader? ›- As the leader of a research group, you determine the direction of research. ...
- You mediate between the management committee and research staff and contribute to the training of early career researchers and, if necessary, to the teaching programme of the institute.
- Build trust. First and foremost, there must be trust between the mentee and mentor. ...
- Establish goals and share lessons learned. ...
- Take action. ...
- Celebrate successes.
Mentors need to be able to articulate their advice and experiences in a way that is easy to understand by the mentee. They should also be patient, active listeners who are willing to answer questions, provide feedback, and help their mentees find solutions on their own.
What is successful mentoring? ›In addition to being prepared and committed, the mentor-mentee relationship must be built upon certain factors including: Trust and respect. Open and honest communication. Flexibility and understanding of other perspectives. Perseverance, especially to overcome obstacles.
What is the role of a mentor mentee? ›- Identify the skills, knowledge, and/or goals that you want to achieve and communicate them to your mentor.
- Bring up new topics that are important to you at any point and give feedback to your mentor.
What are the 4 stages of mentor? ›
Successful mentoring relationships go through four phases: preparation, negotiating, enabling growth, and closure.
What are the 3 most important roles of a leader? ›The three most important roles of a leader are motivator, communicator, and uniter. Leaders motivate their team members to do great work, clearly and consistently communicate expectations and the organization's cultural norms to them, and unite them with a shared sense of purpose to achieve the vision.
What are 3 major responsibilities of a team leader? ›- Create an inspiring team environment with an open communication culture.
- Set clear team goals.
- Delegate tasks and set deadlines.
- Oversee day-to-day operation.
- Monitor team performance and report on metrics.
- Motivate team members.
- Discover training needs and provide coaching.
A team leader's main responsibilities include: Organizing work. Communicating goals. Connecting work to context.