ISEF Research Mentor

ISEF Research Mentor (Professor/PhD/Postdoc)

Location: Remote (U.S.)

Position Type: Part-time / Contract

Compensation: Competitive, aligned with U.S. university consulting standards (hourly or project-based)

About POP Education

POP Education is a global online learning organization serving high-achieving students across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia. Our Research & Innovation Division helps students develop university-level STEM research projects for top competitions such as:

• Regeneron ISEF
• Regeneron STS
• JSHS
• Genius Olympiad
• Other major STEM fairs & youth research journals (JEI, CURJ, etc.)

Our students come from competitive AP/IB magnet schools, honors STEM programs, and selective research tracks. They are motivated, well-prepared, and supported by their families.

We are seeking experienced professors, PhD researchers, postdocs, and ISEF-affiliated professionals to mentor these students as they develop original research.

This is not a tutoring role; it is a research mentorship role comparable to guiding a junior researcher in a lab.

Position Summary

The ISEF Research Mentor leads students through the entire research lifecycle:

• topic selection
• literature review
• research design
• experimentation or computational modeling
• statistical/data analysis
• research writing
• poster preparation
• competition presentation & Q&A training

POP handles all administrative tasks so mentors can focus strictly on research and academic guidance.

Key Responsibilities

Research Mentorship & Project Development

• Guide students in selecting feasible, impactful research topics aligned with ISEF standards
• Teach methodology, experimental design, computational modeling, or analytical frameworks
• Support students in data collection, coding, analysis, and interpretation
• Ensure research integrity—mentors teach and guide; students produce all work

Deliverables Support

• Review and refine abstracts, research papers, and final reports
• Advise on scientific communication, visualization, poster layout, and presentation
• Conduct mock judging interviews and Q&A sessions
• Help students understand competition rules, rubrics, and best practices

Progress Monitoring & Collaboration

• Meet weekly or bi-weekly via Zoom
• Track milestones to ensure timely progress
• Communicate regularly with POP’s academic team (admin handled by POP)
• Provide expert recommendations on competition pathways and feasibility

Qualifications

Required

• PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, or University Faculty (current or retired) in a STEM field
• Strong research background with peer-reviewed publications
• Experience mentoring students in research (high school, undergraduate, or graduate)
• Familiarity with U.S. STEM competitions (ISEF, STS, JSHS, or similar)
• Excellent communication skills; able to explain complex concepts clearly

Preferred

• Former ISEF finalist, mentor, or official judge
• Previous students who qualified for ISEF/STS/JSHS or published research
• Experience with Python, R, MATLAB, or statistical/ML tools
• Access to lab resources or established collaborations
• Experience guiding youth journal submissions (JEI, CURJ, YRS, etc.)

We welcome mentors from all ISEF-aligned fields, including:

• Biology, Biochemistry, Medicine & Health
• Engineering, Robotics, AI/ML, Computer Science
• Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science
• Behavioral & Social Sciences
• Mathematics & Data Science
• Earth & Planetary Sciences
• Materials Science

What POP Offers

• Top-tier compensation, benchmarked to U.S. university consulting rates
• Highly motivated, well-prepared students with strong support systems
• No administrative burden—POP handles scheduling, parent communication, logistics
• Flexible scheduling; sessions conducted remotely
• Access to a growing international mentor network for cross-disciplinary collaboration
• Ability to build long-term mentor–student pipelines and meaningful research impact

Time Commitment

• 1–3 hours/week per student
• Typical project duration: 4–9 months
• All mentorship conducted virtually

Job Types: Part-time, Contract

Education:

• Doctorate (Required)

Work Location: Remote