Student applications open till May 31st! Students will be considered on a first-come, first serve basis.
Horizons Quest
High School Internship Program
A STEMPeers® Initiative
Inspiring Innovation,
Empowering Tomorrow
Who are we?
Horizons Quest is an initiative started by STEMPeers, one of the world’s largest network of STEM professionals redefining resources, connecting with others and helping them in their journey.
Horizons Quest vision is to provide high quality and unparalleled experience to high schoolers interested in exploring or pursuing careers in STEM. Our mentors focus on the journey of learning.
Our Four Pillars
Built by STEM professionals, Horizons Quest offers more than mentorship — we offer a launchpad. These are the four pillars at the heart of every intern's journey.
🛠️ Real-World Experience
What it means: Students work with mentors who are actively working in STEM — not just teaching it.
What they do: Collaborate on real projects, learn the tools and mindsets used by scientists and engineers today.
Why it matters: Students don’t just learn about STEM — they do STEM.
💬 Confidence Through Mentorship
What it means: Mentors guide students step-by-step, helping them shape ideas and build confidence.
What they do: Encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and self-belief in every phase of the project.
Why it matters: Confidence builds when students are heard, supported, and challenged in the right way.
🌍 Exposure to STEM Pathways
What it means: Students gain visibility into various fields — from AI to biology to science communication and more.
What they do: Read articles, explore different STEM areas, and broaden their view of what’s possible.
Why it matters: Exposure leads to informed decisions, curiosity, and ambition.
🧾 Resume-Ready Achievements
What it means: Students complete and present meaningful projects.
What they do: Present at showcases or continue the work to be presented at school science fairs, submitted to journals or publish on our online blog. Why it matters: Real results mean real value on college applications, future internship opportunities, and beyond.
Dr. Roopsha Sengupta
Roopsha Sengupta is an independent scientific editor and the Editor-in-Chief at Club SciWri, a platform dedicated to creative science communication. She earned her Ph.D. from the Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna and conducted postdoctoral research in Epigenetics at the Gladstone Institutes at UCSF and the University of Cambridge. At Club SciWri, Roopsha collaborates with scientists, artists, and writers to bridge the gap between science, art, and literature, aiming to make science more accessible and engaging to the broader public.
Dr. Maya Murdeshwar
Dr Maya Murdeshwar is an Assistant Professor at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, India, with 12+ years of experience in engaging young minds in scientific thought. She holds a Master's degree in Biotechnology from IIT-Bombay and a PhD in Molecular Biophysics from IISc Bangalore. She has been teaching Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Science Communication Skills among other subjects, and is a passionate sustainability champion.
Dr. Abhinav Dey
Dr. Abhinav (Abhi) Dey is an accomplished scientist and strategic leader with over a decade of experience in preclinical drug development, scientific strategy, and business innovation. He holds a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science and has published extensively in areas such as drug delivery and biomarker discovery, with multiple patents to his name. Dr. Dey’s passion for mentorship is evident in his collaborative leadership style and his ability to communicate complex STEM concepts in an inspiring and accessible way. As a STEM mentor, he is dedicated to empowering high school students to explore scientific inquiry, develop critical thinking skills, and pursue impactful careers in science and technology. His high school trainees have published their work in journals and have been awarded at the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), a program of the Society for Science (the Society), which is the U.S.'s most prestigious pre-college science and mathematics competition.
Dr. Awanti Sambarey
Bio- Coming Soon!
Dr. Vishnu Samara
Dr. Vishnu Samara, PhD, MBA, DABCC is a board certified clinical chemist from American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC), an Assistant Professor of Pathology at The University of Chicago and directs the Clinical Chemistry testing laboratory of UChicago Medicine. He is passionate about training future leaders through hands-on mentorship and academic guidance.
Dr. Taraka Ramji Moturu
🌱 Scientist by training, entrepreneur by conviction.
Dr. Moturu is the co-founder and CEO of Peelon, where they’re building the future of fresh produce packaging — sustainable, compostable, and smart. With a PhD in Plant Biology and over a decade in genomics, Taraka transitioned from lab benches to boardrooms, bringing science to shelf through real-world applications. Dr. Moturu has worked at the intersection of biotech, climate resilience, and food systems, constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in agri-tech.
Dr. Ananda Ghosh
Ananda founded Stempeers.org realizing dearth of mentorship and platforms dedicated to social and career issues for the growing worldwide STEM workforce. He is keenly interested in building passionate communities as a solution to some of the world's unsolvable problems.
He currently works in a biotech investment bank in New York as VP Equity Research.
Dr. Richa Tewari
Dr. Richa Tewari is a Ph.D.-trained cancer biologist and Engagement Manager at RLS Consultants with nearly a decade of experience in oncology consulting. She founded Onco-This-Week, a blog and newsletter analyzing oncology clinical development, and led STEMPeer’s MedNess platform to support academic-to-industry transitions. Committed to long-term mentorship, Dr. Tewari has guided individuals at all career stages, from high school students to seasoned professionals.
Dr. Ajinkya Sase
Bio- Coming Soon!
Dr. Manasi Pethe
Bio-Coming Soon!
Dr. Dolonchapa Chakraborty
Dolon began her career in academic research, earning a PhD on virus-mediated outbreaks then moving to infectious diseases during her Postdoc. Motivated to apply scientific problem-solving beyond the lab, she transitioned into life sciences consulting, working with small- , mid-, and large pharma and biotech—particularly in oncology and rare diseases. Her work has spanned go-to-market strategy, product launches, brand development, and portfolio planning.
Recently, Dolon joined a tech startup that leverages machine learning and AI to streamline commercial and operational decision-making in the pharmaceutical industry.
Testimonials
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My work with Dr. Tewari and Dr. Ghosh was excellent and provided me a platform to provide educational material, which is a passion of mine. The experience was invaluable for someone getting into STEM, and is something I would love to see repeated with more intensity for others going through late high school and early college. Experience with real-world scientific writing, educational content, and scientific analysis all were excellent in shaping my time in college, and are essential elements of any scientist's toolkit.
Rakhtim Basu, John Hopkins University ‘26 (Masters in Biotechnology)
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My internship with StemPeers was an incredible experience that introduced me to the intersection of the finance and biotechnology sectors. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ananda Ghosh, I conducted market and landscape analyses of pharmaceutical companies developing anti-obesity drugs. I delved into the biology behind these drugs and learned how investors assess and compare new treatments to existing ones to evaluate the investment potential of pharmaceutical companies. This internship has given me much-needed real-world exposure to the financial and business aspects of drug development, while also improving my understanding of biological concepts. These insights have not only broadened my perspective but also helped me refine my career goals. I am thankful to StemPeers for this unique and impactful experience.
Udayan Basu, Sophomore, High School
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I thought it was an interesting experience, learning about how to interpret papers and make it more digestible, a skill that's important for anyone in science, and it's a skill I use frequently in college”.
Srikar Siripuram, Rice University ’26 (Neuroscience)
Join Us Today!
Interested in working together as a mentor? Or interested in learning about our program? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!