Introduction to Zotero: Your Free Personal Research Assistant

At the beginning of this summer (Y2025), I learned about a tool that I wish I had discovered years ago. I hadn’t even heard of Zotero until my research collaborator, Computational Sociolinguist Dr. Sidney Wong, introduced it to me while we were working on our computational linguistics project analyzing Twitch data.

After exploring it and learning to use it for my current research, I now realize how effective and essential Zotero is for managing academic work. Honestly, I wish I could have used it for all my previous research projects.

What is Zotero?

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool that helps researchers at any level:

Collect sources such as journal articles, books, web pages, and more
Organize them into collections and tag them for easy retrieval
Annotate PDFs directly within the app with highlights and notes
Cite sources seamlessly in any citation style while writing papers
Share references and collections with collaborators

It’s like having a personal research assistant that keeps all your readings, citations, and notes organized in one place.

Why I Recommend Zotero for High School Students

As high school students, we often juggle multiple classes, club projects, competitions, and research interests. Zotero makes it easy to:

Manage research projects efficiently, especially when writing papers that require formal citations
Keep track of readings and annotate PDFs, so you don’t lose key insights
Collaborate with teammates or research mentors by sharing folders and annotations
Avoid citation mistakes, as it automatically generates references in APA, MLA, Chicago, and many other styles

My Experience Using Zotero

When Dr. Wong first recommended Zotero to me, I was a bit hesitant because I thought, “Do I really need another app?” But after installing it and importing my Twitch-related research papers, I quickly saw its value. Now, I can:

Search across all my papers by keyword or tag
Keep notes attached to specific papers so I never lose insights
Instantly generate BibTeX entries for LaTeX documents or formatted citations for my blog posts and papers

I wish I had known about Zotero earlier, especially during my survey sentiment analysis project and my work preparing research paper submissions. It would have saved me so much time managing citations and keeping literature organized.

Zotero vs. Other Reference Managers: Pros and Cons

Here is a quick comparison of Zotero vs. similar tools like Mendeley and EndNote based on my research and initial use:

Pros of Zotero

✅ Completely free and open source with no premium restrictions on core features
✅ Easy to use with a clean interface suitable for beginners
✅ Browser integration for one-click saving of articles and webpages
✅ Excellent plugin support for Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs
✅ Strong community support and development
✅ Works well for group projects with shared libraries

Cons of Zotero

❌ Limited built-in cloud storage for PDFs (300 MB free; need WebDAV or paid plan for more)
❌ Not as widely used in certain STEM fields compared to Mendeley or EndNote
❌ Slightly fewer advanced citation style editing features than EndNote

Compared to Mendeley

Mendeley offers 2 GB free storage and a slightly more modern PDF viewer, but it is owned by Elsevier and some users dislike its closed ecosystem.
Zotero, being open-source, is often preferred for transparency and community-driven development.

Compared to EndNote

EndNote is powerful and widely used in academia but is expensive (>$100 license), making it inaccessible for many high school students.
Zotero offers most of the core features for free with a simpler setup.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a high school student interested in research, I highly recommend checking out Zotero. It’s free, easy to set up, and can make your academic life so much more organized and efficient.

You can explore and download it here. Let me know if you want a future blog post on how I set up my Zotero collections and notes for research projects.

— Andrew

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October 6, 2025 0

What Is an Annotated Bibliography (And Why Every Junior Researcher Should Make One)

Recently, I was fortunate to work with Dr. Sidney Wong on a computational linguistics research project using Twitch data. As a high school student just stepping into research in the field, I learned a lot—not just about the technical side of computational linguistics, but also about how research is actually done.

One of the most valuable lessons I took away was the importance of using a structured research process, especially when it comes to narrowing down a topic and conducting a literature survey. One tool that stood out to me was the annotated bibliography.

Although our project is still ongoing, I wanted to take a moment to introduce annotated bibliographies to other students who are just beginning their own research journeys.

What Is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is more than just a list of sources. It’s a carefully organized collection of books, research papers, or articles. Each entry includes a short summary and analysis that helps explain what the source is about, how reliable it is, and how it fits into your research.

Each entry usually includes:

A full citation in a standard format (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
A brief summary of the key points
An evaluation of the source’s quality or credibility
A reflection on how the source is useful for your project

In other words, it helps you stay organized and think critically while reading. It’s like building your own research map.

Why It Matters (Especially for Beginners)

When you’re new to a field, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the papers and sources out there. Creating an annotated bibliography helps in several important ways:

1. Keeps you organized

Instead of juggling dozens of open tabs and scattered notes, you have everything in one place with clear summaries and citations.

2. Helps you truly understand what you read

Summarizing and reflecting on a source forces you to go beyond skimming. You learn to recognize the core arguments, methods, and relevance.

3. Highlights gaps in the literature

As you build your list, you’ll start to notice which topics are well studied and which ones aren’t. That can help you identify potential research questions.

4. Makes writing much easier later

When it’s time to write your literature review or paper, you’ll already have the core material prepared.

How I Got Started

When I began working with Dr. Wong on our project about Twitch chat data and language variation, he encouraged me to start building an annotated bibliography early. I started collecting articles on sociolinguistics, computational methods, and prior research involving Twitch or similar platforms.

For each article, I wrote down:

What the authors studied
How they conducted the research
What they concluded
And how it connects to my own research

Even though I’m still early in the process, having this document has already helped me organize my thoughts and see where our work fits in the broader field.

Final Thoughts

If you’re just starting out in research, I highly recommend keeping an annotated bibliography from day one. It may seem like extra work at first, but it will pay off in the long run. You’ll read more thoughtfully, remember more of what you read, and write more confidently when it’s time to publish or present.

I’ll share more about our Twitch project once it’s complete. Until then, I hope this helps you take your first step toward building strong research habits.

— Andrew

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September 27, 2025 0

How to Connect with Professors for Research: A Practical Guide (That Also Works for High School Students)

Recently, I read an article from XRDS: Crossroads, The ACM Magazine for Students (vol. 31, issue 3, 2025). You can find it here. The article is called “Connecting with Your Future Professor: A Practical Guide” by Ph.D. students Swati Rajwal and Avinash Kumar Pandey at Emory University.

Even though the guide is written for students planning to apply for Ph.D. programs, it immediately reminded me of my own experience cold emailing professors to ask about research opportunities as a high school student. Honestly, their advice applies to us too, whether we are looking to join a lab, collaborate on a small project, or simply learn from an expert.

I wanted to share a quick summary of their practical tips for anyone who is thinking about reaching out to professors for research.

1. Engage Deeply with Their Research

Before emailing a professor, make sure you understand their work. This doesn’t mean reading every single paper they’ve ever published, but you should:

Look up their Google Scholar or university profile to see what topics they focus on
Read their most cited papers to understand their main contributions
Explore other outputs like software tools, patents, or public datasets they’ve created

Knowing their research deeply shows that you are serious and respectful of their time.

2. Interact with Their Current Students or Lab Members

If possible, find ways to connect with their current Ph.D. students or research assistants. You can:

Learn about the lab environment and expectations
Get advice on how to prepare before joining their group
Understand the professor’s mentoring style

For high school students like me, this might feel intimidating, but even reading lab websites with student profiles or LinkedIn posts can give hints about the culture.

3. Use Digital Platforms Strategically

The guide suggests checking:

Personal websites for updated research, upcoming talks, and recent publications
Social media (if they are active) to get a sense of their latest projects, collaborations, and sometimes even their personality

Of course, it’s important to keep boundaries professional, but this context can help you write a more personalized email.

4. Join Open Academic Forums or Reading Groups

Some research groups host open reading groups, seminars, or webinars. Joining these:

Exposes you to their research discussions
Gives you a chance to ask questions and show your interest
Helps you see if their group aligns with your goals and interests

Even if you’re a high school student, you can check if their university department posts public seminar recordings on YouTube or their website.

5. Watch Their Talks or Lectures Online

Many professors have guest lectures or conference presentations recorded online. Watching these helps you:

Learn their communication style and main research themes
Feel less nervous if you end up meeting them virtually
Prepare thoughtful questions when reaching out

6. Attend Academic Conferences

This might be harder for high school students due to cost, but if you get the chance to attend local NLP or AI conferences, take it. These are the best places to:

Introduce yourself briefly
Ask questions after their talks
Follow up later via email referencing your in-person interaction

7. Request Virtual Meetings (Respectfully)

Finally, if you email a professor to ask about research opportunities, consider asking for a short virtual meeting to introduce yourself and learn about their work. The guide emphasizes:

Doing your homework beforehand
Being concise in your request
Understanding that not all professors have time to meet, so be respectful if they decline

Key Caveats They Shared

The authors also noted a few important reminders:

Citation counts don’t always reflect research quality, especially for newer professors or niche fields
Other students’ experiences in the lab might not fully predict yours, so reflect on your own goals too
Digital research is great, but it shouldn’t replace direct communication
Always plan ahead for conference interactions or virtual meetings

Final Thoughts

Reading this article made me realize that building connections with professors is not just about sending one perfect cold email. It’s about understanding their work deeply, showing genuine interest, and being respectful of their time.

If you’re a high school student like me hoping to explore research, I think this guide is just as helpful for us. Professors might not always say yes, but thoughtful, well-informed outreach goes a long way.

Let me know if you want me to share a template of how I write my cold emails to professors. I’ve been refining mine and would love to help others start their research journey too.

— Andrew

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September 13, 2025 0

How I Published My STEM Research in High School (and Where You Can Too)

Publishing as a high school student can be an exciting step toward academic growth and recognition. But if you’re anything like me when I started out, you’re probably wondering: Where do I even submit my work? And maybe more importantly, how do I avoid falling into the trap of predatory or low-quality journals?

In this post, I’ll walk through a curated list of reputable STEM journals that accept high school submissions—along with some honest thoughts from my own publishing journey. Whether you’re writing your first paper or looking for your next outlet, I hope this helps.

📚 10 Reputable Journals for High School Research (Especially STEM)

These are ranked loosely by selectiveness, peer-review rigor, and overall reputation. I’ve included each journal’s website, review cycle, and key details so you can compare.

Columbia Junior Science Journal (CJSJ)
Selection Rate: ~10-15% (very selective)
Subjects: Natural sciences, engineering, social sciences
Peer Review: Professional (Columbia faculty/editors)
Cycle: Annual (6–9 months)
🔗 cjsj.org
Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI)
Selection Rate: ~70-75%
Subjects: Biological/physical sciences (hypothesis-driven only)
Peer Review: Graduate students and researchers
Cycle: Rolling (7–8 months)
🔗 emerginginvestigators.org
STEM Fellowship Journal (SFJ)
Selection Rate: ~15-20%
Subjects: All STEM fields
Peer Review: Canadian Science Publishing reviewers
Cycle: Biannual (4–5 months)
🔗 journal.stemfellowship.org
International Journal of High School Research (IJHSR)
Selection Rate: ~20–30%
Subjects: STEM, behavioral, and social sciences
Peer Review: Author-secured (3 academic reviewers)
Cycle: Rolling (3–6 months)
🔗 ijhsr.terrajournals.org
The Young Researcher
Selection Rate: ~20–25%
Subjects: STEM, social sciences, humanities
Peer Review: Faculty and researchers
Cycle: Biannual (4–6 months)
🔗 theyoungresearcher.com
Journal of Student Research (JSR)
Selection Rate: ~70–80%
Subjects: All disciplines
Peer Review: Faculty reviewers
Cycle: Quarterly (6–7 months)
🔗 jsr.org
National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS)
Selection Rate: ~20%
Subjects: STEM and social sciences
Peer Review: Student-led with academic oversight
Cycle: Rolling (3–5 months)
🔗 nhsjs.com
Journal of High School Science (JHSS)
Selection Rate: ~18%
Subjects: STEM, arts (STEAM focus, quantitative research)
Peer Review: Academic reviewers
Cycle: Quarterly (4–6 months)
🔗 jhss.scholasticahq.com
Curieux Academic Journal
Selection Rate: ~30–40%
Subjects: STEM, humanities, social sciences
Peer Review: Student-led with professional oversight
Cycle: Monthly (fast-track: 2–5 weeks; standard: 1–3 months)
🔗 curieuxacademicjournal.com
Young Scientists Journal
Selection Rate: ~40–50%
Subjects: STEM (research, reviews, blogs)
Peer Review: Student-led with expert input
Cycle: Biannual (3–6 months)
🔗 ysjournal.com

🧠 My Experience with JHSS, JSR, and NHSJS

1. Journal of High School Science (JHSS)
This was the first journal I submitted to on November 13, 2024. The submission process was straightforward, and the portal clearly tracked every stage of the review. I received feedback on December 29, but unfortunately, the reviewer seemed unfamiliar with the field of large language models. The decision was based on two Likert-scale questions:

“The paper makes a significant contribution to scholarship.”
“The literature review was thorough given the objectives and content.”

The first was marked low, and the second was marked neutral. I shared the feedback with LLM researchers from top-tier universities, and they agreed the review wasn’t well-grounded. So heads up: JHSS does have a formal structure, but you may run into an occasional reviewer mismatch.

2. Journal of Student Research (JSR)
Originally, I was going to submit my second paper here. But I ended up choosing NHSJS because JSR’s review timeline was too long for my goals (6–7 months vs. NHSJS’s 3–5 months). That said, JSR has one of the clearest submission guides I’ve come across:
👉 JSR Submission Info
If you’re not in a rush and want a polished process, it’s a solid option.

3. National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS)
This is where I published my first solo-authored research paper (see my earlier post). What stood out to me:

Quick response times
Detailed and constructive reviewer feedback

My reviewers gave me 19 major and 6 minor suggestions, each with specific guidance. It was incredibly helpful as a student navigating scientific writing for the first time.

That said, the journal’s submission format was a bit confusing (e.g., its citation style is non-standard), and the guidelines weren’t always followed by other authors. I had to clarify formatting details directly with the editor. So: highly recommend NHSJS—just make sure you confirm your formatting expectations early.

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about publishing your research, take time to explore your options. The review process can be slow and sometimes frustrating, but it’s one of the best ways to grow as a thinker and writer.

Let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to share more from my experience.

— Andrew

July 1, 2025 0