Students

Are you interested in the fields of agriculture, sustainability, or STEM?

Do you want to be paid to conduct innovative research in these fields?

If yes, OpenSTEM may be the perfect fit!

As a student researcher, you will have access to cutting-edge technology to design and execute custom experiments on your campus.

Without the barriers of grants, lab space, and prior experience, OpenSTEM is the fastest way to gain practical research experience (and get paid too!).

Get Involved

How It Works

Step 1

Reach Out

Submit the Contact Us form to express interest in OpenSTEM and provide some background information about yourself.

Get Involved

Step 2

Choose Your Experiment

Collaborate with OpenSTEM to identify an experiment that satisfies your interests and schedule.

Step 3

Conduct Your Experiment

Conduct your experiment inside an OpenSTEM unit throughout the semester.

Step 4

Stay Involved

Receive a $100 Amazon gift card by providing weekly experiment updates to the OpenSTEM Instagram page for the duration of your experiment.

Step 5

Compile Your Research

You own your research.

Students will have the opportunity to present their research to OpenSTEM's sponsors, as well as submit their results to any conference, expo, etc.

Student Testimonials

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I gain from participating in OpenSTEM?

By participating in OpenSTEM, you will...

  • Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology in a practical research environment.
  • Contributing to meaningful sustainability and innovation challenges.
  • Build skills in experimental design, data analysis, research practices, and more.
  • Earn a $100 Amazon gift card by meeting simple accountability metrics.
  • Add a unique and impactful project to your resume or portfolio.

Do I need prior experience to join OpenSTEM?

No! OpenSTEM welcomes university students of all grade levels and academic backgrounds, regardless of prior experience.

What is the time commitment to participate in OpenSTEM?

Your level of commitment to your OpenSTEM experiment is entirely up to you!

There is a minimum requirement to visit the unit once a week and provide an experiment update to remain eligible for your $100 Amazon gift card.

After signing up, collaborate with OpenSTEM to identify a viable plan and schedule.

What kinds of experiments can I run?

The focus of your experiment is entirely customizable and up to you!

After signing up, you will collaborate with OpenSTEM discuss and define an experiment that satisfies your interests and schedule.

While OpenSTEM welcomes university students of all disciplines, some common examples include...

  • Investigating how temperature, soil compound, light intensity and duration, nutrient load, etc. affect plant growth.
  • Programming the unit's Raspberry Pi to automate environmental conditions in accordance with current experiments.
  • Manage the OpenSTEM data pipeline and dashboard in accordance with current experiments.
  • Train agriculturally-focused image classification models using the unit's camera system.

How does the payment system work?

Following these steps, you are guaranteed to receive a $100 Amazon gift card at the conclusion of your experiment...

  1. Visit the unit at least once a week based on your predetermined schedule.
  2. Snap a photo of your experiment and provide a brief weekly update to OpenSTEM.

Can I participate in OpenSTEM for academic credit?

OpenSTEM is an independent third-party meaning your experience cannot be counted as academic credit.

You can, however, present your research at conferences and expositions, highlight your OpenSTEM experience on your resume or portfolio, and more!

Join OpenSTEM Today

Participate in OpenSTEM's mission of developing an innovative research platform where Students learn and earn, Sponsors elevate their brand, and Hosts transform their space.

Get Involved