Welcome to Indigo Research, formerly known as Crimson Research Institute (CRI)!

You’ve been redirected here from our old website, but don’t worry, we’re still the same team committed to providing our students with the highest quality research experience.

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Explore with Indigo

Get research mentorship from top professors and PhD teaching fellows to transform your academic passion into publishable research!
Schedule a research planning call with us
Schedule a research planning call with us
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700+

Indigo Research students supported since 2019

17.15 %

Indigo alumni acceptance rate to the Ivy Leagues, 2.91x higher than the global average

30+

Academic journals that have published our students’ work

200+

Mentors from the world's leading universities

To get into a great college 
you have to build a 3 Dimensional Profile

The 1st dimension:
‍who you are on paper.
Your goal is to ‘check the boxes‘ that colleges are look at first. Grades, SAT score, and AP/IB scores are essential.
The 2nd dimension: a long-term passion or commitment
This can be art, music, a sport, or even an academic subject. Once youʼve committed, find a niche within your chosen passion and build it out.
The 3rd dimension: an academic center of gravity.
This matters in both the U.K. and U.S.. In the U.K., the additional activities matter less.
Around the apex achievement of a research paper, youʼll add activities that boost your academic niche, illustrating youʼre a serious scholar.

Indigo Research is the premier provider
of academic research mentorship for students
in high school and college

With a curriculum designed by graduates of Harvard and Oxford, Indigo pairs you with a Professor or PhD teaching fellow at a top university to provide one-on-one guidance as you produce exceptional, publishable research.

How Indigo Research supports students

Turn passion into publication

Develop a high-impact research paper with expert guidance from a mentor at a top university, transforming your academic passion into a tangible, published, collegiate level achievement.

Cultivate intellectual curiosity outside class

Dive deep into your academic passion, gaining advanced, real-world knowledge and skills that go far beyond the typical high school or even undergrad curriculum. Make research your strongest extracurricular.

Transform your university applications

Stand out in the admissions process with a distinctive, academically rigorous project — talk about it in essays, activity lists, interviews, and in your CV. We’ll even help you send your paper to admissions officers directly!

Forge connections with elite academics

Mentors and students often build close working relationships, allowing students access to invaluable networks, insights, and even recommendation letters when it comes time to apply to college.

Earn college credit from UCSB

Start college early and save time later with 2 transferable  credits and a transcript from UCSB’s extension school, earned upon completion and presentation of your research at our Indigo Academic Conference.
Only 10 spots available per each course session!
Book Your Spot Now!
Book Your Spot Now!

Indigo Alumni Admission Rates

Produce exceptional, publishable research, and get admitted to top schools. The admission rates have been updated with data from the 2023-2024 cycle!
15%
at Harvard
Standard Acceptance Rate: 3%
18%
at Stanford
Standard Acceptance Rate: 4%
27%
at Cambridge
Standard Acceptance Rate: 19%
20%
at Oxford
Standard Acceptance Rate: 14%
28%
at Columbia
Standard Acceptance Rate: 4%
35%
at Penn
Standard Acceptance Rate: 11%
39%
at NYU
Standard Acceptance Rate: 8%
39%
at UCLA
Standard Acceptance Rate: 11%

Why students and parents choose Indigo

01
Start any time, choose any topic, work on your schedule.
02
All Indigo programs offer credit from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). Present your research at our virtual Indigo Academic Conference, and earn two undergraduate credits!
03
We have partnered with the venerable New York Academy of Sciences to launch the first academic journal for high schoolers that has the support of a formal academic society!
04
Our mentors are professors and postgrads from the best global universities! We only hire experienced educators (PhD and above) working at top 15 research universities.

First, research with us.
Then, get admitted
to top schools.

# of our students who have been accepted to:
UPenn | The University
of Pennsylvania
99
The University of Cambridge
76
The University of Oxford
57
University of St Andrews
49
Stanford University
47
Brown University
47
Our students have been accepted to:
Cornell University
45
Harvard University
42
Yale University
39
Princeton University
24
Dartmouth College
23
MIT | The Massachusetts Institute
of Technology
10

Want to add
your top schools to our list?

Chat with Us
Chat with Us
Want to add your top schools to our list?

Hear from our students

David X.
Harrow School, UK

“Working with a professor gave me more freedom and independence in decision making and where I wanted to take the project. The expertise also meant that I could always have ideas reviewed and concepts clarified. My experience with Indigo Research has been truly unique and insightful and has allowed me to push my own interests beyond my original boundaries”

Illarion I.
Lyceum "Second School", Russia

“This program allowed me to acquire knowledge in the field of organizing research work, to understand how the task is formulated and the experiment is conducted. Doing research opens up a new vision of many subjects. For me this is the story of the development of my passion for Computer Science, as well as the discovery of a new interest in mathematics”

Lilit A.
Glendale High School, US

“This course has given me the opportunities to improve my skills,
to connect with experienced mentors,
and has taught me how to better manage my time. I'd recommend this program to future students because it gave me valuable experience for the future. I plan to go into neurosurgery, so taking this course gave me a detailed look at what I'd be dealing with”

Eden C.
Good Hope School, Hong Kong

“Research is a journey of learning and discovering, and you should definitely maximize the experience by picking an interesting and challenging topic. Don’t pick a topic that is too complicated though. Know your limits, and don’t make yourself feel pressured. Most importantly, be sure to enjoy the experience!”

Jeremy N.
Haileybury College, Australia

“Working with my mentor and with Indigo Research has deepened my understanding of the publishing process and of conducting research. I've gained invaluable insight into academic medicine”

Aryaman S.
British International School, Vietnam

“It’s been great working with my Indigo Research Mentor! I have been able to learn from his experience with research projects, learn about a new field of research, and incorporate some tips my mentor has figured out along the way in his PhD in my research project”

How Indigo works

01
First, choose your subject
You may choose a topic outside of this list as long as there is a mentor whose expertise is a match.
Humanities
Art History 
Classics 
Philosophy
English & Literature (including world literature)
Religious Studies 
Media Studies
Show Related Majors
Engineering & Technology
Data Science
Computer Science
Machine Learning & AI
Engineering
Nanotechnology
Robotics
Show Related Majors
Hard Science
Biology (Molecular, Cellular, etc.)
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Genetics
Mathematics 
Materials Science 
Physics & Astrophysics 
Clinical Medicine
Biochemistry
Zoology 
Pharmacology
Show Related Majors
Social Science
Economics
Finance & Accounting 
Ethnic & Gender Studies
History
International Relations 
Political Science 
Psychology & Psychiatry
Sociology
Public Health & Infectious Diseases
Business Management
Entrepreneurship & Innovation 
Law
Show Related Majors
Dr. Ceyhun E.
Columbia University
Economics at Columbia University, Lecturer
Economics at Bogazici University, Professor
Research interests: Applied Macroeconomics, Economic Growth, Political Economics
Dr. Nora I.
Columbia University
Psychology at Columbia University. Professor
Psychology at Now York University, Professor
Research interests: Cognitive Psychology. Psychology of Language, Electroencephalography
Dr. Vladimir A.
MIT
Chemistry at MIT, Postdoctoral Researcher
Chemistry at Martin-Luther University, former postdocs
Research interests: Peptide-protein Interactions, Drug Development, Heterogeneous Catalysi
Dr. Kif L.
Stanford University
Genetics at Stanford University, Researcher, Instructor and DEl Leader
Awarded Fellow, European Molecular Biology Organization
Research interests: Epigenetics, Skin Biology, Microbiology
Dr. Timur I.
Northwestern University
Chemistry at Northwestern University, Assistant Professor
Lead Research Scientist, UL Research Institutes (Materials Discovery Research Institute)
Research interests: Chemistry, Water Purification, Metal-Organic Frameworks
Dr. Andrea G.
Imperial College London
Thermofluids — Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Lecturer
Previously Rolls-Royce Rescarch Associate, Engincering Department at the University of Cambridge
Research interests: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, Nanomaterial Science
Dr. Michellana J.
MIT
Global Economics and Management Group, MIT Sloan School of Business, Lecturer
Oversees Global Entrepreneurship Lab (G-Lab) and Hacking the Future (HIF) at MIT
Research interests: Entrepreneurship, Business, Innovation, Emerging Markets
Adrian B.
Harvard University
PhD student, Chemical Biology, Harvard; BS with Honors in Molecular Bio from Yale
Completed advanced research at Northwestern University while still in high school
Research interests: Molecular, Cellular, Chemical, Developmental Biology, Genetics
02
Then, choose your mentor
Our mentors have been carefully selected for their outstanding academic backgrounds from leading UK & US universities, extensive teaching experience, and a rare ability to inspire and accelerate the growth of scholars!
03
We’ll take it from there
We’ll walk you through the steps from developing a research question to submitting for publication. Our curriculum is the most rigorous of any research program for high schoolers.
Profile Assessment
Research interests: Applied Macroeconomics, Economic Growth, Political Economics
01
Program Selection
You’ll choose which size program (Explorer, Researcher, or Innovator) you want, and whether you’d prefer the seasonal group intensive or bespoke one-on-one.
02
Mentor Allocation
After officially being admitted to the program, we’ll work with you to choose the best-fit Professor or PhD Teaching Fellow, based on your subject area and experience.
03
Week 1
Week 2
Preliminary Work
Using our MLA-featured curriculum, you’ll define project goals, decide your research question, and learn the basics of conducting research.
04
Reading & Analysis
With guidance from your mentor, you’ll find, read, annotate, and analyze a wide variety of scholarly sources, building your bibliography and preparing to begin writing.
05
Research Prospectus
As you read, you’ll refine your research question, begin outlining your paper, and develop a prospectus, which explains the research and shows how you’ll conduct it.
06
Week 3-5
Week 6-8
Literature Review
The first chapter or section of your paper will be a literature review, in which you survey the existing writings on your subject and identify trends and gaps in the literature.
07
Research & Write
With input and feedback from your mentor, you’ll conduct your research and assemble the heart of your paper, along with methods and discussion sections.
08
Revise & Prepare
As you near completion, your mentor will provide revisions and prepare you to submit to a journal, competition, or conference.
09
Week 9-12
Week 13-17
Week 18-20
Submit Paper
Submit your paper! Journals may return it to you for revisions— not a problem. Your mentor will assist you in finalizing it.
10
Week 21+
Show More
04
Next, present your research at our virtual Indigo Academic Conference
Hear from peers and professors about their innovations, and become part of an incredible network. Upon completing your presentation, you’ll earn 2 UCSB credits.
05
Then, meet with one of our Indigo executives
Our team went to Harvard, UChicago, and Stanford — in a Masterclass or one-on-one, you’ll learn how to leverage research on your college application. Strategies differ for every student, and we’ll analyze your application holistically to assess all the places — from your essays to your interviews to the additional information section and beyond — that we can feature research in your application.
Gabe Gladstein
Founder, Indigo
Ivo Paulo Lima
General Manager, Indigo

When to start

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Middle School

Develop extracurriculars and research skills to prepare young minds for college and beyond.

Learn More
Learn More
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High School

Strengthen college applications though
a unique research project and develop professional skills along the way.

Learn More
Learn More
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Graduate School

Lay the foundation for thesis work, publish your findings, and expand your CV through research and professional support.

Learn More
Learn More

Meet a few Indigo mentors

Our mentors have been carefully selected for their outstanding academic backgrounds from leading UK & US universities, extensive teaching experience, and a rare ability to inspire and accelerate the growth of scholars.
Dr. Ceyhun E.
Columbia University
Economics at Columbia University, Lecturer
Economics at Bogazici University, Professor
Research interests: Applied Macroeconomics, Economic Growth, Political Economics
Dr. Nora I.
Columbia University
Psychology at Columbia University. Professor
Psychology at Now York University, Professor
Research interests: Cognitive Psychology. Psychology of Language, Electroencephalography
Dr. Vladimir A.
MIT
Chemistry at MIT, Postdoctoral Researcher
Chemistry at Martin-Luther University, former postdocs
Research interests: Peptide-protein Interactions, Drug Development, Heterogeneous Catalysi
Dr. Kif L.
Stanford University
Genetics at Stanford University, Researcher, Instructor and DEl Leader
Awarded Fellow, European Molecular Biology Organization
Research interests: Epigenetics, Skin Biology, Microbiology
Dr. Timur I.
Northwestern University
Chemistry at Northwestern University, Assistant Professor
Lead Research Scientist, UL Research Institutes (Materials Discovery Research Institute)
Research interests: Chemistry, Water Purification, Metal-Organic Frameworks
Dr. Andrea G.
Imperial College London
Thermofluids — Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Lecturer
Previously Rolls-Royce Rescarch Associate, Engincering Department at the University of Cambridge
Research interests: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, Nanomaterial Science
Dr. Michellana J.
MIT
Global Economics and Management Group, MIT Sloan School of Business, Lecturer
Oversees Global Entrepreneurship Lab (G-Lab) and Hacking the Future (HIF) at MIT
Research interests: Entrepreneurship, Business, Innovation, Emerging Markets
Adrian B.
Harvard University
PhD student, Chemical Biology, Harvard; BS with Honors in Molecular Bio from Yale
Completed advanced research at Northwestern University while still in high school
Research interests: Molecular, Cellular, Chemical, Developmental Biology, Genetics

Our mentors

Vladimir A
Vladimir A.
PhD from Friedrich-Alexander University
Currently works at MIT

Research interests: Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Catalysis, Carbon-Based Materials

Vladimir graduated from Moscow State University, Chemistry Department in 2017, during his Bachelor/Master. He has visited Utrecht University to study solid-state NMR and its application for protein research, Friedrich-Alexander University to work on synthesis of sp2-carbon-based materials, and Novartis to work on bioconjugates. In 2018, he moved to Friedrich-Alexander University to continue his studies on carbon materials as a PhD student. After his thesis defense in 2019, he began his Postdoc at Martin-Luther University to work on heterogeneous catalysis. In 2022, he joined Pentelute group at MIT, where he is currently working on peptide-protein interactions and drug development.

Jeanne-Marie J
Jeanne-Marie J.
PhD from Yale
Currently works at Johns Hopkins University

Research interests: Russian Language and Literature, Russian History, African Literature and History, Philosophy, Comparative Literature, European History

Professor Jeanne-Marie J. research spans Russian language and literature, Russian history, African literature and history, Philosophy, Comparative literature, and European history. Her first book, South African Literature's Russian Soul, is centrally concerned with how Russia's nineteenth-century "Golden Age" of literature and ideas provides a model for the study of South African realist forms and epistemologies, both during and after apartheid. Her second book, The African Novel of Ideas, tells a story of how the novel has negotiated between liberal selfhood and awareness of liberalism's failings across key African intellectual contexts.

Eric S
Eric S.
Ph.D. from Cornell University
Currently works at Morgan State University

Research interests: Machine Learning, Computer Systems, Bioinformatics

Dr. Eric S. has BS, MS, and PhD degrees from Cornell University. His research includes work in dynamical systems, machine learning, system theory, computer systems, communications systems and bioinformatics. He is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Morgan State University, a public research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Eric S. also has a breadth of industry experience in the fields of pattern recognition, machine learning, speech recognition, signal processing and power systems. He has been a participating member of the IEEE, Sigma Xi, and Sigma Pi Sigma. Dr. Eric S. is currently working on machine learning techniques for financial data analysis and blockchain applications and is currently a member of the Morgan State University Fintech Center for Blockchain Technology.

See More Mentors →
See More Mentors →
Ready to explore biology?
Ready to make a change?
Join a global community of intellectually curious
and ambitious Indigo Research high school students.
Schedule a research planning call with us
Schedule a research planning call with us
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April Application Deadline

Click to learn more
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April 15, 2023
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Welcome to Indigo Research, formerly known as Crimson Research Institute (CRI)!

You’ve been redirected here from our old website, but don’t worry, we’re still the same team committed to providing our students with the highest quality research experience.

Okay
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