Summer Catalyst Research Program — FAQ
Eligibility & Prerequisites
Q: Who can apply to Summer Catalyst?
Incoming 9th–12th grade students (rising freshmen through rising seniors). Occasionally, exceptionally motivated gap-year students are considered. There is no geographic restriction - students attend from across the US.
Q: Does my student need prior lab experience?
No. Every technique is taught from the ground up during pre-lab week and throughout the program. Students who have completed Spring Catalyst or the Fall Research Accelerator will enter at an "honors" level, but prior experience is not required for admission.
Q: Does my student need a certain GPA or test scores?
We review applications holistically. We are looking for scientific curiosity, the ability to handle uncertainty, a collaborative personality, and genuine commitment to the schedule - not a minimum GPA or standardized test score.
Q: Is the program co-ed?
Yes. The Summer Catalyst program became co-ed in 2024. The 2024 cohort included 5 boys and 12 girls.
Application Process
Q: What does the application include?
A written application (downloaded as a Google Doc, then pasted into a Google Form)
An unofficial academic transcript
A teacher questionnaire from a math or science teacher
A short Loom video responding to a "Dream Big" prompt
Q: What is the Loom video, and how polished does it need to be?
The Loom video is a 2–3 minute recording where your student shares what they hope to learn and why. It is not "America's Got Talent." We simply want students to gather their thoughts and speak naturally so we can get a sense of their personality, since we do not conduct formal interviews.
Q: When is the teacher questionnaire due?
The teacher receives the questionnaire form after the student submits their application. It is due 7–10 days after submission.
Q: When should we apply - Early Action or Regular Deadline?
If you know Catalyst is a good fit, Early Action gives you the earliest notification and priority consideration. There is no penalty for applying at the regular deadline; all applications are reviewed carefully.
Q: What is the application timeline for 2026?
Applications open: January 2026
Early Action deadline: February 17, 2026
Early Action notification: By March 1, 2026
Final deadline: March 16, 2026
Final notification: By April 10, 2026
Schedule & Attendance
Q: What are the exact program dates?
Pre-lab training: Last full week of June (online, 90 minutes daily)
Off-week preparation: Approximately 6–8 hours of independent work during the week of July 4th
In-person lab: July 7–31, 2026, Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Q: How many days does my student need to attend?
A minimum of 17 out of 19 lab days is required. If your student has a known conflict (SAT date, family obligation), note it in the application. Accommodations may be possible but are not guaranteed.
Q: Can my student participate in other activities during the program?
The lab day ends at 4:30 PM, leaving evenings free. However, the program is intensive and requires full daily attendance, so overlapping commitments during lab hours (summer school, jobs, other programs) are not compatible.
Location & Logistics
Q: Where does the program take place?
Catalyst Research Lab, 132 & 140 West Chestnut Avenue, Monrovia, CA - adjacent to the Oakcrest Institute of Science.
Q: How do students get there?
The lab is a 15–20 minute walk (or short bike ride) from the Gold Line Metro station. The area is in safe, walkable downtown Monrovia. Street parking is available for families who drive.
Q: Is lunch provided?
No. Students should bring their own lunch. A designated space is available for eating.
Q: Is housing provided for out-of-state students?
Housing is not provided. We can recommend nearby accommodations for families traveling from out of state.
Cost & Financial Aid
Q: How much does the program cost?
Tuition for Summer 2026 is approximately $5,000.
Q: What does tuition include?
All laboratory materials and reagents, safety equipment and training, 150+ hours of instruction and mentorship, a certificate of completion, and a skills certification document.
Q: Is financial aid available?
Yes. Financial aid is available upon request with supporting documentation. In 2024, three of seventeen students received financial aid. Aid is partial; the program is self-funded through tuition and cannot offer full scholarships.
Q: Are the poster and talk preparation programs included?
No. Poster preparation ($850, two days in August) and talk preparation ($1,450, three days in August plus rehearsals before the November conference) are optional add-ons with separate fees.
Research Projects
Q: What research topics are available?
Students work on one of four original research projects:
Chronic Wound Healing — investigating antimicrobial properties of natural products (such as cinnamon essential oil) against bacteria on wound surfaces, including biofilm disruption and quorum sensing
Type 2 Diabetes — testing plant extracts for their ability to inhibit enzymes involved in blood sugar metabolism
Women's Health (Bacterial Vaginosis) — exploring prebiotics that enhance beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria in the vaginal microbiome
Water Bioremediation — using microalgae to remove endocrine-disrupting pollutants (BPA, triclosan, estradiol) from wastewater
Q: Do students choose their project?
Project assignments are made by the directors to balance group dynamics, skills, and interests. Students indicate their preferences in the application.
Q: Are the experiments real, or are outcomes predetermined?
These are authentic, open-ended research projects with unknown outcomes — exactly like real scientific research. Results are not staged. Students may discover something genuinely new, and they may also experience experiments that do not work as expected. Both outcomes are valuable.
Q: Do projects change from year to year?
The research themes are ongoing — each year's cohort advances the work from where the previous year left off. The specific experiments evolve, but students work with the same organisms, equipment, and scientific questions.
What Students Learn
Q: What lab techniques will my student learn?
Micropipetting (including viscous samples), aseptic/sterile technique, bacterial culturing and inoculation, DNA extraction, PCR and qPCR, gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, serial dilutions, standard curve preparation, and data analysis with figure creation.
Q: Is there more to the program than lab work?
Yes. The program includes public speaking training, small-group research discussions, professional workshops, guest speakers, scientific writing instruction, AI-tools training for literature research, and a resume and college-application workshop on the final day.
Q: What is the public speaking component?
Public speaking is a distinctive emphasis of Catalyst. Students learn to communicate their research clearly and compellingly — to "serve their audience" rather than just report data. This training prepares students for conference presentations, professor conversations, and college interviews.
Program Structure & Mentorship
Q: How big are the research teams?
Each project group has 4–5 students and one dedicated undergraduate Teaching Assistant (TA). The total cohort is 16–20 students.
Q: Who leads the program?
Dr. Elizabeth Krider (PhD Chemistry, Caltech) and Mr. Manjula Gunawardana (BS/MS UCLA, Microbiology and Public Health, 15 years at Oakcrest Institute of Science). Both are present throughout the program.
Q: Who are the TAs?
TAs are undergraduate students - many of them Catalyst alumni - who have been trained in lab supervision, mentorship techniques, and working with diverse learning styles. Each TA is assigned to a single project group for the entire program.
Safety
Q: Is the lab safe for high school students?
Yes. Students receive formal safety training before entering the lab. They work under direct supervision at all times, wear appropriate PPE (lab coats, gloves, safety glasses), and follow documented protocols. The facility includes BSL-2 biosafety hoods for work with biological agents. Model organisms used (E. coli, Vibrio harveyi, Lactobacillus, brine shrimp) are standard teaching organisms handled safely in educational and research settings.
After the Program
Q: What does my student receive at the end?
A certificate of completion documenting 150+ hours of instruction, and a skills certification document listing trained competencies, signed by the program directors.
Q: Can students present their research at a conference?
Yes. Students can apply to present at SCCUR (Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research), typically held in November. In 2025, six of the fifty high school presenters at the 900-person conference were Catalyst students. Conference preparation is available as an optional add-on.
Q: Can students publish their research?
Publication is possible but not promised. In 2025, two publications resulted from Catalyst research. The program focuses on the skills and experience of conducting research; publications are a potential outcome, not a guarantee.
Q: Does the program help with college applications?
Directly. Students leave with a unique research story, documented lab skills, a presentation portfolio, and the ability to confidently discuss their work in interviews and essays. The final day includes a resume and college-application workshop. Letters of recommendation from Dr. Krider are available for a $75 processing fee.
Q: Can my student stay connected after the program ends?
Yes. Dr. Krider provides ongoing mentorship - including one-on-one guidance on college applications, professor outreach, and independent projects - to Catalyst alumni. Outstanding alumni can return as Catalyst Fellows (undergraduate TAs).