High School Independent Research Fellowship
A highly selective, invite-only mentorship for high school students ready to create a college-ready research project with real-world impact. Work 1:1 with a world-class AI leader to build something that sets you apart.
What You'll Learn
How to design a compelling research question
You’ll learn how to take a broad interest and turn it into a focused, researchable question that goes beyond surface-level thinking — something original, relevant, and worth exploring. Example: “How do TikTok’s recommendation algorithms shape the visibility of underrepresented artists in hip-hop?”
How to conduct a literature review & cite sources properly
We’ll walk through how to find credible sources (academic, journalistic, industry-specific), identify gaps in existing knowledge, and create a foundation your research can build on — all while citing like a pro.
How to use AI tools to organize, synthesize, or explore topics
This is where Byte&Chord’s DNA comes in. You’ll explore how to use tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, or Notion AI to summarize articles, test hypotheses, and speed up your learning — without shortcutting the work.
How to present findings with clarity & purpose
You’ll learn how to take your messy notes, brainstorms, and data — and turn them into a clean, clear research paper, white paper, or case study. We’ll go over narrative structure, tone, and visual presentation.
How to package your research into a Common App-ready summary
We don’t stop at writing the paper — you’ll get a polished abstract and a 1-paragraph project description ready for your Activities Section, plus language to reuse in essays, interviews, or program applications.
How to collaborate with a high-level mentor & request a recommendation letter
This is real mentorship. You’ll learn how to ask smart questions, respond to critical feedback, and advocate for yourself — the same skills you’ll need in college, internships, and life. If you show up and do the work, you’ll walk away with a signed letter of recommendation that actually means something.
Fellowship Tiers & Tuition
Standard Track
$6,000
10-week Personalized Research Mentorship
Designed for students who want a deep, steady pace to explore their topic, refine their writing, and work toward a standout final submission.
Biweekly 1:1 coaching sessions with Alisha
Asynchronous feedback on research progress
Customized topic development & project strategy
Literature review & structure guidance
Final paper + Common App abstract review
Signed recommendation letter (based on performance)

Certificate of Completion
Accelerated Track
$9,000
6-week High-Intensity Research Sprint
✅ Most Popular
Ideal for high performers with tight deadlines or early summer program goals who want maximum momentum, feedback, and polish in a shorter timeframe.
Weekly 1:1 coaching with Alisha for rapid progress
High-priority async support via WhatsApp & Slack
Rapid topic development + scoped project strategy
Ideal for early deadlines or summer program applicants
Premium feedback on all key milestones (topic, outline, draft, final)
Final deliverables: research paper, abstract, Common App summary
Signed recommendation letter (based on performance)
Certificate of Completion
Both tracks are invite-only and include a LinkedIn-ready Certificate of Completion.
Fellows graduate with a portfolio-quality project, a signed recommendation letter, and a certificate they can showcase across applications and professional platforms.
🎯 Ready to Apply?
This fellowship is limited to just 10 students per season.
We also welcome inquiries from parents, counselors, or educators.
Research Domains
🎧 Music & AI
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Investigate how AI is changing music discovery, royalties, and fan engagement through real-time data.
Topics may include:
TikTok virality and algorithmic bias
Can AI predict a hit song?
How streaming economics shape genre trends
How AI changes the economics of music publishing
💼 Business & Entrepreneurship
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Study why startups fail and how they pivot. Use real case studies from Y Combinator, Shark Tank, and Byte&Chord’s own incubator archive.
Topics may include:
Behavioral analysis of founder decisions
MVP feedback loops
Resilience and decision-making in venture-backed tech
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Explore how AI can be applied to solve complex problems in underserved health markets like peri/menopause & PCOS.
Topics may include:
Hormonal health & diagnostic AI
Ethical design for health AI
Trust & data in digital health platforms
🎭 AI in Comedy & Culture
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Investigate the intersection of AI and humor — from generative models to social satire.
Topics may include:
Can AI generate humor?
Bias and stereotypes in comedy datasets
TikTok humor trends & algorithmic influence
Generational humor across platforms
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