Free Webinar

Become A Published Researcher In One Summer and Get into Top Colleges

Curious about how high school students can use their summer more strategically? Join James Gillespie (Stanford University, University of Notre Dame) and Prof. Siddharth Krishnan (UNC Charlotte) as they break down how research is evaluated in US college admissions and what actually strengthens an application. Learn how to approach summer with intention, build a research-driven project aligned with your interests, and avoid choices that add little value. You'll also understand how a well-planned summer can signal academic depth, intellectual curiosity, and readiness for top colleges. Don’t miss this chance to approach your summer with clarity, strategy, and direction

15 April, 2026 (Wednesday)

5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

Zoom

Discover how choosing the right summer experiences can give students a powerful edge in college admissions.

Join James Gillespie (Stanford University, University of Notre Dame) and Prof. Siddharth Krishnan (UNC Charlotte) as they guide high school students through how research is evaluated in US college admissions. Learn how using your summer strategically can signal academic readiness, intellectual depth, and direction, qualities top universities look for beyond grades and test scores.

You Will Learn:

How top colleges evaluate summer experiences

What families should prioritise when planning high school summers

How research projects signal academic depth and intellectual curiosity in applications

How to make summer planning more intentional and less stressful

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Meet Our Speakers

James Gillespie

Tenured Associate Professor at Saint Mary’s College and Advisor at Stanford University

James Gillespie is a tenured Associate Professor of Business & Economics at Saint Mary’s College and a Senior Advisor at Stanford University’s Clinical Excellence Research Center. He is also an Affiliated Scholar at the University of Notre Dame’s McKenna Center for Human Development & Global Business and an External Advisor at McKinsey & Company.With a multidisciplinary background spanning business, data analytics, healthcare, and public policy, his work focuses on applying data, AI, and strategy to solve complex challenges in healthcare and life sciences. His research has been published in leading journals, including Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Review, and Strategic Management Journal, and he is the author of multiple books on healthcare policy and business analytics.He previously held research roles at Yale University School of Medicine and brings extensive experience across academia, consulting, and applied research. He holds advanced degrees from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, Harvard Law School, Princeton School of Public Policy, and MIT.

Dr Siddharth Krishnan

Faculty member at UNC Charlotte and Former Researcher from Virginia Tech

Prof. Siddharth Krishnan is a Computer Science faculty member at UNC Charlotte with 10+ years in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning research, 25+ publications in leading CS conferences and journals, and three best paper awards. At UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and Informatics, Dr. Krishnan directs the Scalable Machine Research Laboratory and teaches AI & ML courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has also led several AI project development and implementation efforts at UNC Charlotte and Virginia Tech. He is also a co-founder and Principal AI Scientist at a multi-million-dollar stealth startup that focuses on developing an autonomous decision-making AI platform for the enterprise.

Chris Haley

Senior Strategist and Academic Advisor, Indigo Research

Chris Haley is a Harvard University graduate with over five years of experience as a professional college counsellor. He has guided students through hundreds of successful applications to top U.S. universities, including the Ivy League, MIT, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and USC. Chris also has a strong track record of helping students gain admission to elite summer and research programs such as USC SHINE, LaunchX, UCIxGATI BEAM, and COSMOS. In addition, he has mentored students preparing for prestigious STEM competitions like the AMC10 and the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO).

How Indigo Research Works

Indigo Research mentors high school students to produce exceptional, publishable research. With a curriculum designed by Harvard and Oxford graduates, students work with top university faculty or PhD fellows, building intellectual depth and boosting their academic profile.