How it works

From curious question to finished investigation.

Four simple steps. No fees, no sign-up — just real research.

Step 01

Pick a Challenge

Browse problems across Biology, Neuroscience, Genetics, Epidemiology and more. Filter by level and discipline.

Step 02

Do the Research

Use the hints and resources provided. Investigate independently, run experiments, or analyse real datasets.

Step 03

Submit Your Work

Upload a PDF write-up and answer one reflection question. No rigid format required.

Step 04

Get Your Certificate

A researcher reviews your work within 2 weeks. Approved submissions earn an Open Lab Certificate of Completion plus written feedback.

Problems written and reviewed by researchers from

  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Cleveland Clinic
  • Harrington Discovery Institute
  • Imperial College London
  • Stanford University
  • University of Cambridge

Levels explained

Pick the depth that matches your experience.

Beginner

5–15 hours · Ideal for GCSE (~9th–10th grade) · No specialist software needed

Advanced

15–35 hours · A-level (~11th–12th grade / early college) and above · Some data analysis required

Expert

35+ hours · University entrance level · Coding or lab work expected

Submission format

A suggested structure for your write-up. Treat it as a guide, not a strict template.

  1. 01

    Title Page

    Your name, school, challenge title, and date.

  2. 02

    Introduction

    ~150 words

    What problem did you investigate and why does it matter?

  3. 03

    Background Research

    ~300 words

    What did you find from existing literature? Key concepts you needed to understand before starting.

  4. 04

    Method / Approach

    ~200 words

    How did you investigate this? What tools, datasets, or experiments did you use?

  5. 05

    Results / Findings

    ~300 words

    What did you find? Include graphs, tables, or screenshots where relevant.

  6. 06

    Discussion

    ~200 words

    What do your findings mean? Did anything surprise you? What are the limitations?

  7. 07

    Conclusion

    ~100 words

    One paragraph summarising your key takeaway.

  8. 08

    References

    List any papers, datasets, or tools you used.

Rules of thumb

  • • Quality over quantity — no min or max length.
  • • Graphs and figures are strongly encouraged.
  • • No fixed template — this is a guide.
  • • Cite your sources, even informally.

Frequently asked