Pranav always knew he wanted to study abroad, but was not sure of what his path toward that goal was. Early in high school, he was interested in music and chess and won several awards in them, but it was difficult for him to balance his interest in these extracurriculars with good grades. In his sophomore year, Pranav was introduced to the world of research through the NUS summer school and he found himself drawn to the topics that he was working on. Our research showed that many students were in a similar position—research can help students with strong extracurriculars (e.g. in the arts or sports) round out their profile by proving their academic ability, too!

In particular, Pranav began to develop a real expertise in renewable energy solutions. A budding innovator, he spent his time on developing projects such as Project ReCharge, an initiative where he created solar powered lamps from waste plastic bottles. He applied to global innovation challenges and social impact competitions, with the goal of getting feedback and exposure for his work.

As he continued working independently on a submission to one of his competitions, he realized that his proposal to turn CO2 into fuel was a great theory—but didn’t work in practice! So, Pranav sought QRI’s help in the winter of his junior year and worked with a chemistry PhD researcher at the John Hopkins University to research alternative materials as catalysts for the oxidation of carbon monoxide.

Through his research, Pranav was able to gain technical expertise in how chemicals function as catalysts, and specialized on the cobalt oxide catalyst. Based on the strength of his work, he was able to work at a top local university lab to do applied work on perovskites. High school students working on independent research quickly run up against the limits of their knowledge and expertise—having a mentor can unlock new pathways for their research. 

When applying to college, Pranav hoped to do the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) at the University of Pennsylvania, a selective undergraduate program that prepares students in the field of sustainable energy science and technology. His multiple research experiences in the area of renewable energy and his work building a sustainable energy solution prepared him well! Research helps students applying to technical programs such as VIPER exhibit both expertise and passion for their chosen field. By discussing his extensive and guided research work in his Common App essay, Pranav was able to prove his skills and knowledge in his topic of interest, a long term commitment to his work, and a nuanced understanding of the social impact he wanted to achieve.