In her AP Research course, Joy Cho — who was recently accepted to Brown University — embarked on a project that pushed the limits of creativity, persistence, and self-directed learning. Rather than selecting a well-trodden research topic, Joy engineered and tested a 3D-printed, MRI-compatible thermoregulatory cradle for rodents used in medical imaging studies. Her prototype was designed to deliver uniform, all-directional heat to maintain body temperature during MRI procedures—while being modular, detachable, and affordable, unlike the high-priced, single-direction models typically used in research labs.

To bring her idea to life, Joy stepped far outside her comfort zone. With no prior coding or engineering experience, she taught herself to design and 3D-print components using MATLAB, a university-level modeling program. Through multiple design iterations, she refined her cradle’s efficiency and structure—learning to code, problem-solve, and adapt along the way.

Joy’s initiative extended beyond the classroom as she reached out to university researchers, initiating correspondence with Dr. Omid Yaghmazadeh (Boise State University) and Dr. Smart (Oxford University) for expert feedback. Dr. Yaghmazadeh later wrote,

“It was a joy to assist you through the process. I really liked watching your enthusiasm for research which is not very common at your age. And that’s why I would be happy to have students like yourself in my team, who will hopefully become good researchers themselves :) Happy to keep in touch as well! Let me know how things go on for you every now and then. And hopefully one day soon you can visit our lab!”

Supported by her teachers and family, Joy turned a challenging idea into a fully realized innovation—proving that perseverance, curiosity, and the courage to ask questions can transform the unknown into discovery. Her work embodies the spirit of AP Capstone at BFS: independent inquiry, resilience, and authentic intellectual engagement.

Sidebar: Joy’s Take on Research and Growth

“My AP Research project is something I’m most proud of. I had no idea this field even existed—I had to learn everything from scratch, from coding to 3D printing. It was hard, but I loved every moment I spent figuring things out. What I learned most wasn’t just how to build something—but how to reach out, take risks, and keep learning even when things felt uncertain.”