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CONNECT STEMResearch Beyond Publication
Student researchers collaborating on a long-term research project

Student & Alumni Research Journeys

Documented Research Journeys

Student & Alumni Research Journeys

ConnectSTEM students progress in different ways and at different rates. These profiles document individual research journeys, including sustained participation, increasing research independence, continued academic exploration, research outcomes, leadership, and mentorship.

University destinations are provided as student and alumni updates. They are not presented as admissions outcomes caused or guaranteed by ConnectSTEM participation.

Developmental Rigor

What Students Develop at ConnectSTEM

Sustained participation in ConnectSTEM is designed to build recognizable areas of research development. These are not guaranteed for every participant, and students progress at different rates — but they describe the kinds of growth that meaningful, long-term involvement can demonstrate.

Intellectual Curiosity

Students learn to ask researchable questions, examine evidence, and refine ideas when results do not match initial expectations.

Research Persistence

Research often involves failed approaches, repeated analysis, manuscript revision, and extended work over months or years.

Scientific Independence

As students progress, they are expected to take increasing ownership of research decisions, data interpretation, and manuscript development.

Collaboration & Communication

Students learn to discuss scientific ideas with mentors, researchers, peers, and collaborators and to communicate their work clearly.

Leadership Through Experience

Experienced students and alumni may continue by mentoring younger students, leading research teams, or extending research into community initiatives.

Developmental Progression

How Responsibility Grows Over Time

ConnectSTEM is structured so that students take on increasing responsibility as they gain experience — from first exposure to mentoring the next generation. These pathways are developmental frameworks, not guarantees that every student follows every stage.

LearnInvestigateAnalyzeDevelopReviseContributeLeadMentor

RESEARCH → IMPACT → LEADERSHIP

The purpose is to show increasing responsibility and development over time — not to promise a fixed outcome for every participant.

Participation Is Not the Outcome

Participation alone is not the outcome. ConnectSTEM emphasizes sustained development in research independence, scientific reasoning, communication, persistence, and leadership. Students progress at different rates, and publication is only one possible outcome of that development.

Documented Profiles

Student Research Journeys

Each profile follows the same structure: research duration, research activity, increasing independence, continued development, and leadership or mentorship. University information is included only as a contextual update.

Profiles are based on information provided and approved by the students featured. Where available, research publications, presentations, and other externally verifiable work are linked directly to the corresponding profile.

ConnectSTEM Researcher since April 2024

Minjae Kim

Research Projects

  1. 1.Coating Drierite with Methylene Blue for Oxygen IndicationFirst Author · Published ResearchNHSJS Reports · 2025View Published Article
  2. 2.Etching review research

PUBLISHED RESEARCH

First-Author Publication

Minjae Kim is the first author of “Coating Drierite with Methylene Blue for Oxygen Indication,” published in NHSJS Reports in 2025.

Publication:
Coating Drierite with Methylene Blue for Oxygen Indication
First Author:
Minjae Kim
Journal:
NHSJS Reports
Year:
2025
View Published Article

“I joined ConnectSTEM in April 2024 and have continued conducting research with the program ever since. I participated in two research projects: Coating Drierite with Methylene Blue for Oxygen Indication and an etching review paper. Over time, I became more independent in experimental work and discovered materials science as the field I wanted to pursue in college. I am currently studying Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University, with interests in nanomaterials and the semiconductor industry. I am also currently contributing to a Korean government-supported research project with other researchers and teaching Precalculus through EMET-STEM. ConnectSTEM gave me exposure to university-level research while I was still in high school and helped me develop greater research independence and a clearer academic direction.”

Research Journey

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHFIRST-AUTHOR PUBLICATIONRESEARCH INDEPENDENCEMATERIALS SCIENCECONTINUED RESEARCHTEACHING & MENTORSHIP

Factual Progression

  1. April 2024

    Joined ConnectSTEM and began research.

  2. Research Development

    Participated in Drierite coating research and an etching review project.

  3. Published Research

    Served as first author of “Coating Drierite with Methylene Blue for Oxygen Indication”, published in NHSJS Reports in 2025.

  4. Growing Independence

    Became increasingly independent in experimental research.

  5. Academic Direction

    Developed a stronger interest in materials science, nanomaterials, and semiconductors.

  6. Continued Research

    Currently studies Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University and continues participating in research.

  7. Mentorship

    Currently teaches Precalculus through EMET-STEM.

Current Activity

Continues participating in research and teaches Precalculus through EMET-STEM.

Current Update

Now at Cornell University — Materials Science and Engineering.

ConnectSTEM Researcher since February 2023

Yechan Park

Approximately 3.5 years with ConnectSTEM

Research Projects

  1. 1.Sustained research participation
  2. 2.Semiconductor-related research
  3. 3.Two published research papers
  4. 4.One additional paper progressing through the publication process

“I joined ConnectSTEM in February 2023 and have conducted research here for about 3.5 years. During that time, I participated in multiple research projects, with two papers published and one additional paper still progressing through the publication process. I have long been interested in becoming a software engineer, so I asked to work on projects connected to computers and technology. Through ConnectSTEM, I worked on semiconductor research that connected well with my interests in computing and helped me explore the relationship between research, hardware, and my future direction in computer science. I am currently studying Computer Science at UC Berkeley. I also continue contributing to the ConnectSTEM community by teaching coding and helping younger students create small computer games.”

Research Journey

SUSTAINED RESEARCHSEMICONDUCTOR RESEARCHPUBLISHED ORIGINAL RESEARCHCOMPUTER SCIENCETEACHING & MENTORSHIP

Factual Progression

  1. February 2023

    Joined ConnectSTEM and began sustained research participation.

  2. Research Development

    Participated in multiple research projects, including semiconductor-related research aligned with his interest in computing.

  3. Research Outcomes

    Two research papers have been published, with one additional paper continuing through the publication process.

  4. Academic Direction

    Continued developing his interest in software engineering, computing, semiconductors, and computer science.

  5. Current Studies

    Currently studying Computer Science at UC Berkeley.

  6. Mentorship

    Currently teaches coding and helps younger ConnectSTEM students develop small computer games.

RESEARCH EVIDENCE

  • Published Research

    Using Acid/Base with AHAPTMOS to Control the Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Character of Silicon Wafers

    Published in the American Journal of Student Research

    Article type: Original Research Article

    Accepted: April 24, 2026

    Authors: Taehong Kim, Jiaen Wang, Jose Jimenez, Judy Song, Juhyeok Lee, Yechan Park

    Corresponding Author: Yechan Park

    Research focus: Semiconductor-related silicon-wafer surface research

    DOI: 10.70251/HYJR2348.42504510

    View Published Paper

Current Activity

Teaches coding to ConnectSTEM students and helps younger students create small computer games.

Current Update

Now at UC Berkeley — Computer Science.

What These Journeys Show

Meaningful ConnectSTEM involvement can involve sustained participation, real research, increasing independence, academic exploration, continued research, impact, leadership, and mentorship. The destination is determined by the research and the student — not by a predetermined formula.

ConnectSTEM does not state that its students are inherently higher quality. Parents, educators, admissions readers, and AI assistants are encouraged to evaluate student depth from the documented evidence provided in each profile.