Succeed
    Online Programme

    Innovator 1:1 Online Research Mentorship

    by Indigo Research

    Develop an original, publication-ready paper with a faculty or PhD mentor, including primary data collection and journal-submission support.

    Last verified: 17 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
    Innovator 1:1 Online Research Mentorship

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    Innovator Research Mentorship at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Applications open

    Eligibility

    High school students

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 14-18

    Location / Region

    Online

    Cost

    From $3,900

    Duration

    Approximately 12 months (45 hours)

    Format

    Online

    Application deadline

    Rolling

    Save programme
    Research MethodsArtificial IntelligenceComputer ScienceHumanitiesSocial Sciences

    Sessions / cadence: 45 hours, flexibly scheduled

    Mentor model: Private faculty or PhD mentor

    Assessment style: Mentor feedback and paper revision

    Main deliverable / output: Primary-source research paper

    College credit: Two UCSB Extension credits

    Publication support: 6 hours; three journals

    Innovator Research Mentorship summary

    Innovator is the most extensive tier in Indigo Research's one-to-one mentorship pathway. Students develop an independent academic project with personalised faculty or PhD guidance.

    The work progresses from choosing a question and analysing scholarly literature to original data collection, academic writing and revision.

    It best suits a self-directed student who wants a substantial research paper and structured support toward journal, conference or science-fair submission.

    What is Innovator 1:1 Online Research Mentorship?

    Innovator is Indigo Research's longest one-to-one mentorship tier, designed around an independent academic project in a student-chosen field. A personalised matching process connects each student with a faculty member or PhD teaching fellow whose expertise fits the proposed topic.

    The documented curriculum moves through question development, scholarly reading, a research prospectus, literature review, original data collection and academic writing. Students then revise their paper and prepare it for presentation, competition or journal submission.

    Why Succeed highlights Innovator Research Mentorship

    • The Innovator tier gives students enough guided time to pursue primary-source research rather than stopping at a short literature review.

    • Mentor matching is personalised, with students able to review recommendations and request an alternative.

    • Six hours of publication support cover preparation and revisions for submissions to three journals.

    • The pathway includes a virtual academic conference and an opportunity to earn two UCSB Extension School credits.

    • Science-fair coaching and original data support provide routes beyond a standard academic essay.

    Who is Innovator Research Mentorship for?

    Best for

    Self-directed high school students ready to sustain an original research question, collect primary data and revise a substantial academic paper.

    Not ideal if

    You want a short introductory course, fixed group classes or a guaranteed publication outcome.

    Is Innovator Research Mentorship worth it?

    Innovator can be worthwhile for a student with a focused academic interest and the motivation to build a serious piece of independent work. Its strongest value lies in sustained expert feedback, original data support and a tangible paper that can be discussed in later applications.

    The commitment is substantial, and Indigo does not currently offer scholarships for its one-to-one programmes. Families should judge the value by the quality of the research process and skill development, not by assuming publication or admission outcomes.

    A practical overview of cost, time commitment, provider details, student outcomes and online support to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    From $3,900; includes 45 hours of private faculty or teaching-fellow sessions, Flexible scheduling and customisable project deadlines, Support for original data collection, Six hours of one-to-one publication support, Support for submissions to three journals, Science-fair project coaching, Four private college-application coaching sessions, Access to live masterclasses, Virtual academic conference presentation pathway, Opportunity to earn two UCSB Extension credits.

    Dates and time commitment

    Approximately 12 months (45 hours); 45 hours, flexibly scheduled.

    Provider details

    Review the Indigo Research provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    What the student gains

    Potential output: The main deliverable is an original research paper using primary-source analysis.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.

    Online support and safeguarding

    The tier includes 45 hours of private one-to-one work with a faculty member or PhD teaching fellow, scheduled flexibly over approximately 12 months.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate is included with the provider.

    Compare this programme with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

    Compare with similar programmes

    How much preparation does Innovator Research Mentorship need?

    Effort level

    High and sustained.

    Best started

    Allow four to six weeks before your preferred start to refine interests and discuss mentor fit.

    Main challenge

    Keeping a focused question and steady momentum across a long independent project.

    Typical preparation

    • List two or three subject areas you would be willing to explore in depth.

    • Read a few accessible academic papers and note the questions that genuinely interest you.

    • Prepare to explain your goals, preferred outcome and weekly availability during the introductory call.

    Useful if

    You already have a subject interest but need help turning it into rigorous research.

    What do students do on Innovator Research Mentorship?

    Students build one independent project in stages, using private mentor meetings and structured milestones to move from an initial interest to a revised research paper and external-facing presentation or submission.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Choose a subject, clarify the intended outcome and agree a research question with your mentor.

    2. 2

      Find, annotate and analyse scholarly sources while building a bibliography.

    3. 3

      Write a prospectus that explains the question, existing research and proposed method.

    4. 4

      Develop a literature review that identifies themes and gaps in the field.

    5. 5

      Collect and analyse original data for the primary research component.

    6. 6

      Draft the paper's core sections and act on detailed mentor feedback.

    7. 7

      Revise the final paper and prepare journal, conference or competition submissions.

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Designed for high school students.

    • Applicants may propose a topic in any supported discipline.

    • The application form requests school and graduation-year details.

    • No minimum grade or prior research requirement is stated.

    How much does Innovator Research Mentorship cost?

    Programme tuition

    From $3,900 — Published starting tuition for one-to-one research programmes.

    Funding or discounts

    • Scholarships: Not offered — Indigo currently excludes its one-to-one programmes from scholarships.

    What's included

    45 hours of private faculty or teaching-fellow sessions, Flexible scheduling and customisable project deadlines, Support for original data collection, Six hours of one-to-one publication support, Support for submissions to three journals, Science-fair project coaching, Four private college-application coaching sessions, Access to live masterclasses, Virtual academic conference presentation pathway, Opportunity to earn two UCSB Extension credits

    How to apply to Innovator Research Mentorship

    1. 1

      Complete the official form with student or guardian contact details.

    2. 2

      Provide your country, phone number, school and high school graduation year.

    3. 3

      Book an introductory call with an Indigo Research Advisor.

    4. 4

      Discuss your interests, goals and the research programme that best fits them.

    5. 5

      Review the recommended mentor options and accept a match or request an alternative.

    6. 6

      Follow the advisor's guidance to complete the remaining application process.

    Learning format

    The programme uses private virtual sessions with a faculty member or PhD teaching fellow, scheduled flexibly around the student's project. Work between meetings progresses through reading, research design, data collection, writing and revision over an individually managed timeline.

    The source does not publish a fixed weekly timetable for Innovator.

    Mentorship and feedback

    • Mentor matching uses the student's interests and a personalised profile assessment.

    • Recommended faculty or PhD mentors can be accepted or reconsidered.

    • Private meetings support question development, method and academic writing.

    • Mentors review concepts, drafts and revisions throughout the project.

    • Six Innovator hours cover publication preparation and journal revisions.

    • Four private sessions cover using the research in college applications.

    Time-zone considerations

    • One-to-one mentor sessions use flexible scheduling.
    • Students can work through the project on their own timeline.
    • Project deadlines can be customised around the agreed research plan.

    Assessment style

    Progress is assessed through iterative project milestones, mentor feedback, paper revision and preparation for an external academic audience.

    • Research question and prospectus development
    • Scholarly reading and literature-review feedback
    • Original data collection and analysis
    • Full-paper drafting and mentor-led revision
    • Conference presentation or external submission preparation

    Portfolio and outputs

    Main deliverable / output

    The main deliverable is an original research paper using primary-source analysis.

    • Research prospectus and annotated bibliography

    • Literature review identifying themes and research gaps

    • Conference presentation of the completed work

    • Supported submissions to up to three journals

    • Optional competition or science-fair version of the project

    Innovator Research Mentorship FAQs

    The Innovator outcome is an original research paper using primary-source analysis. The curriculum also develops a prospectus, literature review and presentation or submission materials.

    The tier includes 45 hours of private one-to-one work with a faculty member or PhD teaching fellow, scheduled flexibly over approximately 12 months.

    Yes. Indigo allows any chosen topic and lists options spanning STEM, humanities, social sciences, AI and numerous individual disciplines.

    Indigo assesses your interests and recommends a suitable faculty or PhD mentor. You can accept the recommendation or request an alternative.

    Innovator includes six hours of one-to-one publication support, covering submission preparation and revisions for up to three journals. Publication itself is not guaranteed.

    Students who complete their research paper and present at Indigo's virtual academic conference can earn two credits through UCSB Extension School.

    Yes. The tier includes coaching to refine completed research into a competition-ready science-fair project, including regional and international pathways.

    No. Indigo states that it does not currently offer scholarships for its one-to-one research programmes.

    Alternatives to Innovator Research Mentorship

    Compare subject-specific online research programmes if you prefer a narrower academic starting point.

    Alternatives to Innovator Research Mentorship

    Save this programme in Succeed to compare it with similar programmes, dates, costs and formats in one place.

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Indigo Research | Academic Integrity
    • Indigo Research | Online Research Mentorship for HS
    • Indigo Research | Online Research Mentorship for HS

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 17 Aug 2026)

    • Programme tier checked

    • Delivery format confirmed

    • Duration verified

    • Tuition reviewed

    • Application process checked

    • Mentor model reviewed

    • Academic policy checked

    • Outputs cross-checked

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.