Your Global Research Journey Starts Here

Build Your Research Portfolio

Are You Ready To…

Gain Real Research Experience?

Work alongside our world-class faculty mentors on cutting-edge research projects.

Prepare for Top U.S. Grad Schools?

Get expert guidance on the U.S. graduate school admissions process and stand out from the crowd.

Collaborate in Multicultural Teams?

Develop cross-cultural skills by working on research teams comprised of many cultural and academic backgrounds.

The GEARS Advantage

The Global Education Advancement and Research Seminar (GEARS) enables motivated university students from across the world to participate in academic research at universities across North Carolina.

Faculty Mentorship

Receive weekly guidance from your NC-based faculty mentors and possibly collaborate on journal articles, conference papers, and more.

Skills Development Workshops

Enhance your academic oral and digital presentation skills to effectively communicate your research.

Global Networks

Connect with other high-achieving students from around the world and build lasting relationships.

Certificate and Evaluation

Earn a GTI Certificate of Program Completion and a faculty evaluation to bolster your resume.

On-Campus Program

Program Fee: USD$3760
Jan. 22 – Feb. 20, 2026
J-1 Visa Program

Online Program

Program Fee: USD$1570
Jan. 20 – Feb. 23, 2026
Visa-free Program

Ready to Build Your Future?

Join an upcoming info session or sign up for more information

Interest Form

GEARS Program Website

Upcoming Live Info Sessions

Thursday, November 6 at 8:30a EDT /1:30p UTC / 9:30p Beijing
Monday, November 24 at 8:30a EDT / 1:30p UTC / 9:30p Beijing

Student Testimonial Video (5 minutes)

If the YouTube video above does not work, access the video with this link.

“When I reached out to my supervisor and my mentor for help, they explained everything to me and I had a great experience in the lab.”

Chengwei Wu

2025 Summer On-Campus GEARS participant