Sir Luther Center for Research & Innovation

Sir Luther Center is a research mentorship program that helps high school students (grades 8-12) publish original research in peer-reviewed, Google Scholar indexed academic journals. Founded in 2020, we have guided 400+ students from 40+ countries to publication.

What We Do

Students work 1-on-1 with Harvard student mentors through an 8-week curriculum covering topic discovery, literature review, research methodology, academic writing, and journal submission. Cohorts are capped at 12 students for personalized attention. Every student leaves with a published paper, a professional research portfolio, and a clear narrative for college applications.

Programs

Harvard Student Mentors

All mentors are undergraduate and graduate researchers from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, and Princeton. Each has personal publication experience and is trained to guide students through every stage of the research process.

Outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sir Luther Center research program?

A structured 8-week research mentorship program where high school students work with Harvard student mentors to conduct original research and publish in peer-reviewed academic journals.

What publication support do students get?

Students who complete all program requirements and submit original, quality research are guided by their mentors until the paper is accepted in a peer-reviewed journal.

How long does the program take?

The Research Publication Fellowship and Global Impact Fellowship each run for 8 weeks, with one 1.5-hour live session per week plus independent research time and 1-on-1 mentor calls.

Who can apply?

High school students in grades 8-12 from any country. The Young Researchers Programme serves middle school students. The Global Impact Fellowship is for students who already have a published paper.

What does it cost?

Pricing varies by program and cohort. Current pricing and applications are available at https://sirluthercenter.com/apply

Key Pages

Contact

Email: info@sirluthercenter.com
Website: https://sirluthercenter.com

After Publishing

How to File a Patent as a High School Student

If your research produced a novel invention or method, you can file a provisional patent for just $80. Here's exactly how it works for student researchers.

Sir Luther Center - Research Education - 8 min read

Can a High School Student File a Patent?

Yes. There's no minimum age for filing a patent in the United States. If your research produced a novel invention, device, method, or software process, you may be eligible for patent protection. And as a student, the cost is surprisingly affordable.

Understanding Patentability

### What Can Be Patented - A new device or physical invention - A novel software algorithm or process - A unique chemical compound or material - A new method of doing something useful - An improvement to an existing technology

### What Cannot Be Patented - Abstract ideas or theories - Laws of nature or mathematical formulas - Pure research findings without a practical application - Something already publicly known

### The Novelty Requirement Your invention must be new - not previously published, sold, or publicly disclosed. Important: If your research paper describes the invention, you have a 12-month grace period in the US to file a patent after publication.

Provisional vs. Non-Provisional Patents

### Provisional Patent ($80 for Micro-Entity) - What it does: Establishes your priority date and gives you 12 months of "patent pending" status - Cost: $80 for micro-entity (students qualify) - Requires: Description of invention, any drawings, cover sheet - Doesn't require: Formal patent claims, attorney - Timeline: File in 1-2 weeks

### Non-Provisional Patent ($400+ for Micro-Entity) - What it does: Starts the formal examination process - Cost: $400+ filing fee, plus attorney costs ($5,000-15,000 typically) - Timeline: 2-4 years for examination - Note: You can decide whether to pursue this after the provisional

How to File a Provisional Patent

### Step 1: Document Your Invention Write a detailed description including: - What it is and what problem it solves - How it works (step by step) - What makes it different from existing solutions - Detailed drawings or diagrams

### Step 2: Search Existing Patents Before filing, check if something similar exists: - Google Patents: patents.google.com - USPTO Patent Search: patft.uspto.gov - This isn't required for a provisional, but saves you money if your idea already exists

### Step 3: Prepare Your Application For a provisional patent, you need: 1. Cover sheet (USPTO form SB/16) 2. Detailed description of your invention 3. Any drawings or diagrams 4. Filing fee payment ($80 micro-entity)

### Step 4: File Through USPTO Submit electronically through the USPTO's Patent Center at patentcenter.uspto.gov.

Innovation Competitions for Young Inventors

### Georgia Tech InVenture Prize Open to students with patentable inventions. Offers mentorship and prizes.

### Conrad Innovation Challenge Global STEM innovation competition for teams with real-world solutions.

### Lemelson-MIT Student Prize For collegiate students, but understanding this pathway early is valuable.

### NCIIA (VentureWell) Programs Supports student innovators through grants, training, and networking.

Conclusion

Filing a patent as a high school student is rare - and that's what makes it powerful. If your research produced something novel and useful, a provisional patent protects your idea while you develop it further, and it adds a genuinely unique credential to your profile.

Have a patentable idea from your research? The Sir Luther Center can connect you with resources to explore your intellectual property options.

Patents and commercialisation are mapped in our post-publication pathways.