Each summer, students have the opportunity to engage in original scientific research through the Young Researchers Program (YREP) at Ransom Everglades. This is not a traditional class. It is a fully immersive research experience where students join an active lab and begin doing real science from day one.

Program Details

Dates: June 22 – July 23 (Monday–Thursday, no class July 3)

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Location: Ransom Everglades Upper School

Tuition: $1,400

Grade Level: Rising 10–12 (open to college students)

Prerequisite: None

 Register Here: https://www.ransomeverglades.org/student-life/summer-programs

Contact: egrace@ransomeverglades.org

What This Program Is

YREP: Lasers is a university-style research experience where students join Dr. Emily Grace’s physics research group to investigate original problems at the intersection of physics, biology, and environmental science.

Modeled after a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), students work in small, collaborative teams on real research questions—not pre-designed labs. They learn to think like scientists: designing experiments, troubleshooting challenges, and pushing ideas forward through iteration.

This is a space for curiosity, creativity, and intellectual risk-taking.

Research Areas

Students contribute to projects across multiple active research areas:

• Urban Mangrove Physics

  • Explore biomechanics, wave–root interactions, and coastal ecosystem dynamics through field-informed modeling of Miami’s mangroves.

• Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

  • Use a Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser, spectrometers, and custom sample preparation to analyze heavy metals and environmental signatures.

• Optical Tweezers & Biophotonics

  • Build and optimize optical trapping systems to measure forces on microscale particles and biomolecules.

• Synthetic Biology (facilitated by Ms. Mirana Klees)

  • Investigate biological systems through experimental design and engineering approaches, expanding the program into cutting-edge interdisciplinary research.

Students gain hands-on experience with:

• Optical tweezers systems

• LIBS instrumentation and spectroscopy

• Microscopy and precision optical alignment

• Experimental design and troubleshooting

• Scientific literature review and data analysis

No prior experience is required—only curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to think deeply.

Outcomes

• By the end of the program, students may:

• Develop an original research project

• Produce a professional scientific poster

• Continue their work into the academic year

• Contribute to research presented at professional conferences such as the APS Global Summit

Many students return as YREP leaders, design their own experiments, and continue advancing their research beyond the summer.

The YREP after-school program gives students the opportunity to pursue original research outside the traditional classroom. Most research groups meet once a week after school, though some advisors may also offer early morning meeting times. Scheduling is flexible and set by each faculty mentor based on their availability and the needs of their research team.

You can participate in after-school YREP in addition to taking a YREP course or joining a summer research team — or as a stand-alone experience. Whether you're just getting started or continuing a long-term project, after-school YREP gives you the chance to dig deeper into your work, collaborate with your research group, and move your project forward at your own pace.

Your level of involvement depends on your schedule and goals—there’s no one-size-fits-all path in YREP. What matters most is your curiosity, commitment and willingness to learn.

Advanced Physics: Electromagnetism, Optics and Modern Physics

YREP extends into the classroom through courses like Advanced Physics: Electromagnetism, Optics and Modern Physics (EMO), where students conduct original research aligned with ongoing YREP projects. Rather than following traditional lab exercises, students write grant proposals, design and troubleshoot experiments, and engage deeply in the scientific process. The course employs a CURE (Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience) model to offer authentic, hands-on research experiences within a high school setting. All students in EMO present their research findings at the Ransom Everglades Climate Symposium, sharing their work with the broader school community. The innovative structure of this course has been presented to great reviews at APS March Meeting 2024, APS Global Summit 2025, and APS DAMOP 2025.

Students enrolled in the course are not required to participate in the YREP after-school program. Still, those who wish to present at professional scientific conferences — such as the APS Global Summit — are encouraged to increase their involvement through additional work outside of school hours, including after-school and school break activities.

The Pathways Scholars program at Ransom Everglades offers a unique opportunity for students to engage deeply with original scientific research. Students are eligible to apply at the end of their sophomore year.

While Pathways Scholars is a program distinct from YREP, students accepted into the Scientific Thinking Pathway automatically become members of YREP and join its broader research community.

Over the course of two years, students work on an original research project during a dedicated class period built into their academic schedule. This extended timeframe allows for a more thoughtful and sustained investigation, giving students the space to develop their own questions, refine their methods, and pursue meaningful scientific inquiry.

This pathway is ideal for students who are eager to take a deep dive into research and want the time and structure to fully explore complex ideas.

YREP: Bimini

Over spring breaks, students have the unique opportunity to travel with Dr. Heather Marshall and Dr. Kristine Stump to South Bimini, The Bahamas, home to the renowned Bimini Biological Field Station — also known as the Bimini Shark Lab. At this world‑class shark research facility, students engage in hands‑on fieldwork — snorkeling, tagging, observing and collecting data on local shark species such as lemon sharks and Caribbean reef sharks. 

Set against turquoise waters and vibrant marine ecosystems, this once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience brings classroom lessons to life, immersing participants in authentic marine research and conservation.

Join us for a spring break adventure that blends science, exploration, and unforgettable encounters with ocean wildlife!