Research Idea Clinic: How to Narrow a Broad Interest Into a Specific Question
Join Jonas Katona, Managing Editor of Convergence Journal and a PhD candidate at Yale University, as he breaks down how to move from a broad interest to a specific, researchable question. Learn how to shape a topic you care about into a question that is precise enough to investigate, grounded in existing literature, and viable enough to build a real research project around. You'll also see real student research ideas reviewed live, with direct feedback on how effectively students have narrowed their thinking and where their questions still need sharpening.
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Turn your broad interest into a research question that actually works – before you commit to it!
Join this session to learn how to shape a topic you care about into a specific, researchable question, identify the gaps your idea needs to fill, and refine your thinking before you start writing.
You will learn:
01
Why having an interest is not the same as having a research question.
02
The three levels every researcher moves through, from broad interest to specific question.
03
How mentors help turn curiosity into a structured research project.
04
What Jonas thinks of your idea – through brief 1:1 feedback on whether it’s worth pursuing and what to fix.
Learn from
proven researchers
About Jonas
Jonas Katona is the Managing Editor of Convergence Journal and a fifth-year PhD candidate in the Applied Mathematics Program at Yale University. He has over three years of experience mentoring high school students through Indigo Research and two years with Veritas AI. Jonas has a strong background in STEM education and outreach, having previously worked with Berkeley Engineers & Mentors to engage K–8 students, served as a course liaison and lead tutor at UC Berkeley’s Student Learning Center, and supported peers as a mentor in the university’s Department of Mathematics.
About Alex
Alex graduated from the University of Toronto in Canada with a bachelor's degree in Statistics and Mathematics, and later received a master's degree in Project Management from Northeastern University in the United States. He has mentored numerous students on interdisciplinary research projects, helping them successfully apply to top universities in the US and the UK.
How Indigo Research Works
Indigo Research mentors high school students to produce exceptional, publishable research. With a curriculum designed by Harvard and Oxford graduates, students work with top university faculty or PhD fellows, building intellectual depth and boosting their academic profile.
Our students achieve real outcomes – journal publications, competition wins, and admissions to the world’s leading universities. Indigo students have a 33% Ivy League acceptance rate – over three times the global average – and a 22% acceptance rate to Oxford and Cambridge.
