PDS REx

The 2020 and 2019 REx participants with REx faculty Dr. Kelly Bethoney (left) and Dr. Charles Alt (far right).

Science Research Experience Program

The PDS REx program is Princeton Day School’s signature science research experience program for Upper School students. In the 11th grade, students have the opportunity to apply for this selective independent study program in which they explore particular areas of scientific research through guided inquiry, dynamic lessons, and rich discussions. Through independent study, students dive deeper and choose a field that resonates with them. Guided by faculty, students then apply for summer internships at leading professional and academic laboratories across the country. After the internship, students have the opportunity to present the research to the PDS community the following fall.

REx gives students an unparalleled independent science study and internship experience and opens possible career pathways.

In the PDS REx program, students learn how to annotate dense scientific papers and present an article to the class, articulating complex scientific phenomena to their peers.

They also explore scientific literature and write comprehensive reviews to better understand the network of scientific articles, and fully immerse themselves in their chosen field. Students design their own experiments (hypothesis construction, experimental design and execution, data analysis, conclusion, and reporting) in order to gain a better understanding of their topic. This program also offers hands-on practice in using equipment, experimental protocols, and computer programs to prepare the students for their summer lab experience.

Learn more about the REx program and faculty advisor Charles Alt in our Fall 2019 Journal.

PDS REx students have been accepted into the following internships:

2021

The College of New Jersey, NJ

Drop the Beet Aquaponics

Duke Kunshan University, China

Harvard University, MA

HS Designs (Engineering)

Lehigh University, PA

Novitium Pharma

NYU, NY (2)

Rutgers University, NJ

Rutgers University, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research Department of Medicine

Simpl, Inc.

University of Virginia, VA

University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, PA

University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine (2)

University of Pittsburgh, PA (2)

Yale University, CT

2020

Brown University, CT

Columbia University, NY (4)

Cornell University, NY

Harvard University

Johns Hopkins University, MD

NYU, NY

Rutgers University, NJ

University of Maryland, MD

University of Missouri, MO

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

University of Pennsylvania, PA

University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, PA

University of Wisconsin, WI

2019

Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital
Study the epidemiology of depression

Harvard University, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Investigate the genomics of neuroblastoma

Johns Hopkins University, Center of Excellence in Stroke Detection and Diagnosis
Investigate understanding language recovery after stroke

Lehigh University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Investigate fatigue performance on steel highway bridges

Princeton University, NOAA
Focus on modeling arctic sea ice melt

Rutgers University, Department of Environmental Sciences
Measure bioaccumulation of contaminants in wetlands

University of Rhode Island, Department of Biological Sciences
Analyze movement ecology of sharks

2018

Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, NY
studying the molecular representation of behavioral differences in memory rescue

Duke University, Department of Chemistry, VA
pharmaceutical development research project to develop new dual-catalyzed hydroalkylation reaction to produce molecules more efficiently

Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Department of Pathology
research and testing of liver cell lines and liver testing, experimentation with imitating in vivo conditions

NYU, Langone Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, NY
identifying and analyzing biomarkers for World Trade Center lung injury as a result of 9/11

Rutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Department of Marine & Coastal Sciences, NJ
research on possible relationship of blue crab larvae morphology and their swimming characteristics

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Department of Biology, NC
thermoregulatory research on tobacco hornworms

University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, PA
studying protein design and antibiotic resistance using mass spectrometry