Our Mission
Open Discovery began with a simple belief: scientific research should be accessible to every curious student.
Yet for many high school students, the chance to explore research depends on far more than curiosity alone. Too often, it is shaped by the resources, guidance, and opportunities available to them. And even when students do gain access, research can start to feel like a race to win competitions, earn publications, or build a resume, rather than an opportunity to ask questions, make mistakes, and learn.
We became passionate about science because of a teacher who stayed late to answer our questions, a mentor who treated our ideas like they mattered, and peers who challenged us to see problems from new perspectives. We believe every student deserves moments like those.
Open Discovery exists to show students what science feels like at its best: the wonder of asking difficult questions, the excitement of exploring the unknown, and the feeling of being surrounded by peers and mentors who find the pursuit of discovery endlessly fascinating.
Our Values
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We believe science begins with curiosity and critical thinking. Open Discovery is completely free for students who want to ask questions, learn deeply, and better understand how the world works.
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We teach students to identify questions that matter. Students learn to find gaps in existing research, evaluate what's worth pursuing, and build the instincts that lead to impactful science.
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We believe scientific progress requires humility and comfort with being wrong. By walking through our reasoning, identifying assumptions, and revising our ideas, we learn more deeply and begin to understand how discovery happens.
Meet the Team
Sarah Syed
Sarah is an MD/PhD student with interests in quantitative cell biology, biophysics, and systems biology. She studied neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University.
Co-Founder, Executive DirectorSanjana Paye
Sanjana is an MD/PhD student with interests in functional genomics, precision medicine, and bioinformatics. She studied quantitative biology at the University of Southern California.
Co-Founder, Director of OperationsAli Herman
Ali is an MD/PhD student with interests in neuroscience, translational research, and disease modeling. She studied neuroscience at Princeton University.
Co-Founder, Director of ProgramsInterested in becoming a mentor or joining the Open Discovery team? Let us know through the interest form — we’re always excited to connect with undergraduate students, graduate students, and educators who are passionate about science, mentorship, and accessible education.