Independent research and field-building. Remote-first, headquartered in Boston.
Partner Programs / OREL / JOPRO
The Orthogonal Research and Education Laboratory (OREL) has run Google Summer of Code cohorts since 2017. Nearly 30 contributors have completed the program under the guidance of Dr. Bradly Alicea, producing published preprints, open-source tools, and ongoing research collaborations.
The Open Source Summer Cohort is the broader learning and professional development track that runs alongside GSoC each summer. Cohort members work on open-source projects related to research infrastructure, computational modeling, or the FrontierMap methodology, with access to the same mentorship network, community sessions, and professional development programming as GSoC contributors. The difference is structural: GSoC contributors are funded by Google and work on designated INCF Neurostars projects; Summer Cohort members pursue OREL- and JOPRO-adjacent open-source work on a flexible schedule without the Google stipend.
Past cohort projects have spanned agent-based modeling, VR tools for distributed research collaboration, and computational developmental biology. Contributors work with mentors from OREL, INCF, the OpenWorm Foundation, and JOPRO. The position is open to international applicants.
More about the GSoC + OREL Summer Cohort →
Undergraduate or graduate students with software development experience and interest in open-source research tools, computational biology, neuroscience modeling, or research infrastructure. International applicants welcome. This track is well-suited for students who want structured mentorship and community without the full-time commitment of GSoC, or who are exploring open-source research for the first time.
The OREL Summer Cohort has run alongside GSoC since 2017. Past cohort participants have gone on to serve as GSoC mentors in subsequent years.
Or email start@jopro.org with your statement of interest and CV.