Tier I
Circles
Structured cohort-based experiences that introduce students to serious mentor-guided research in an accessible but rigorous format.
Mentored Research in Mathematics and Computational Sciences
Mentored research for ambitious young scholars.
The Virtual Research Institute offers serious mentored research for high-school students in mathematics, statistics, data science, and related computational fields. Built around close mentorship and high standards, the institute is designed for students seeking work that goes beyond ordinary enrichment.
Online Mentorship
Research mentorship across distance.
Ambitious students enter a focused research environment where sustained work, careful feedback, and mentor guidance happen in real time.
Why VRI
More serious than ordinary enrichment.
The institute is built for students who are ready to think deeply, work closely with mentors, and contribute to meaningful collaborative research.
What makes VRI distinctive
Close mentorship, sustained intellectual work, and a scholarly environment designed for students who want more than a standard online class.
Research Pathways
Pathways into mentored research.
There are two primary ways to participate. Circles provide a broader public entry point, while Teams offer a smaller and more intensive cohort experience.
Tier II
Teams
Smaller collaborative cohorts with closer mentor interaction, deeper sustained work, and a more intensive research experience.
Research Extension may be available by invitation after a Circle or Team when prior performance, mentor recommendation, project suitability, and capacity align.
Explore programs and pricing
Visit the dedicated page for pathway details, program format, and pricing information.
Current Openings
Upcoming public sessions.
Dates and enrollment status update automatically from the program calendar and session data. Choose a pathway to review project-specific offerings.
Fall 2026 · Session 1
Circles begins October 12, 2026 Teams begins September 14, 2026
Circles closed Teams closed
Fall 2026 · Session 2
Circles begins October 26, 2026 Teams begins September 28, 2026
Circles closed Teams closed
Latest from VRI
News, research, and opportunities.
Noteworthy institute achievements and announcements appear alongside a small, carefully screened selection of academic opportunities and research highlights chosen for our community.
Student Opportunity
2027 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship applications open with field-specific October deadlines
NSF has opened the 2027 Graduate Research Fellowship competition, offering five-year support with three years of stipend and tuition funding. Mathematical sciences applications are due October 23, 2026; other STEM fields have separate deadlines.
Mentor Opportunity
Miller Research Fellowship applications are open for 2027–2030
The Miller Institute at UC Berkeley is accepting nominated applications for its 2027–2030 Research Fellowship, supporting outstanding prospective postdoctoral researchers in basic science. Complete applications, including reference letters, are due October 9, 2026.
Research Highlight
Generative AI accelerates statistical computation of turbulent flows
A new open-access Nature Communications study reports that a generative modeling approach can produce fast, statistically accurate samples of complex three-dimensional turbulent flows, combining ideas from applied mathematics, computational science, and machine learning.
Explore current updates.
Browse current institute announcements, student and mentor opportunities, and selected research highlights.