What is ‘Science Research’?
‘Science Research’ refers to the process in which a student, typically in their secondary level of education (grades 6-12), will identify a topic of their own choosing based on their own personal interests and curiosity and will develop an authentic research project to answer an original research question in a STEM field. Students will often times collaborate with a professional scientist in the field who can serve as the student’s mentor to support them through the process. Students will identify a research question, develop a research plan, establish their research goals, objectives, and hypotheses, carryout an experimental methodology, collect and analyze their data, and ultimately produce original findings. Students will then write an academic research paper and present their findings at various local, regional, national, and international competitions and symposia. Some students will even submit their findings for publication.
What this process looks like for students can take many different forms. Some schools offer a multi-year course where students conduct their independent scientific research with the guidance of a research teacher. Other students conduct their scientific research independently, without the formal guidance and structure of an official class offered at their school. Regardless of whether an official class structure is in place for students, the main driving force behind their research is their innate curiosity and love for STEM…
…and that’s where Science Research Academy comes in!
Science Research Overview
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Students engage in conducting original research. They delve deep into a scientific topic of their choice, form hypotheses, design experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw meaningful conclusions.
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Each student is potentially paired with a professional scientist who acts as their mentor throughout the program. The mentor provides guidance, knowledge, and support as the student undertakes independent research. Some research projects do not officially require the mentorship of a professional scientist, but all projects can benefit from the enhanced knowledge and expertise of a seasoned research scientist.
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Upon completion of their research, students are required to write an academic-level research paper detailing their methodology, results, and conclusions following standard scientific format and guidelines.
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Students showcase their findings at various competitions, symposia, and science fairs at local, regional, national, and even international levels. This provides them with the opportunity to communicate their research effectively and receive feedback from peers and professionals in the field.
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Exceptional research projects have the chance to be published in scientific journals, thereby contributing meaningfully to the scientific community. Moreover, students stand a chance to win accolades and recognition for their exemplary work through competitions and symposia.
Benefits
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Scientific research encourages students to explore their curiosity, think outside the box, and come up with innovative solutions to complex problems
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Students gain practical experience in scientific research, learning essential skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, and scientific writing.
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By working closely with a mentor, students build valuable connections within the scientific community, opening doors to future opportunities in academia and industry. Students also learn to work collaboratively with peers and supervisors in a professional setting.
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The program hones students' skills in research design, experimentation, data interpretation, and presentation, laying a solid foundation for their future academic and professional pursuits.
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Participation in scientific research demonstrates to college admissions officers a student's passion for learning, ability to work independently, and dedication to a particular field of study, giving applicants a competitive edge during the college admissions process.
Research Process
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The first step, and one of the most exciting, is that you get to choose a topic to study that you have a personal interest or curiosity about!
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After reading some of the current published literature around your topic, you will develop a research question to investigate.
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At this point, you will collaborate with your Research Coach and Mentor to create a research plan prior to starting your study.
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Students will conduct their research following the methodology they outlined in their research plan. This can be done in-person or remotely.
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Students will analyze the data collected in their methodology to draw conclusions. These conclusions will be original findings in their field.
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The final step is to write an academic research paper and create visual presentations (PPT / Poster) to share their findings with the world!
Science Research Academy
Science Research Academy offers a range of research experiences designed to support high school students at every stage of their scientific journey. Students may apply to curated research projects listed on our website, or pursue more advanced pathways that involve deeper customization and mentorship. Whether a student is just beginning to explore independent research or is actively developing a high-level project, SRA provides structured entry points into authentic scientific inquiry.
Students gain access to a team of experienced educators, research coaches, and professional scientists with decades of combined experience. Through our On-Demand Research Experience, Summer Research Experience, and Full Custom Research Experience, students receive the guidance, resources, and feedback necessary to design, execute, and present rigorous, competition-ready research.
Science Research Academy is built for motivated high school students who are serious about research. From applying to pre-designed projects available on our site to developing an original research question from the ground up, SRA offers the structure, expertise, and mentorship needed to succeed at the highest level.
Dr. William Maelia
Founder / Research Coach
My name is Dr. William Maelia and I am the founder of Science Research Academy. I have over a decade of experience in the Science Research world, serving as the director of the Science Research program at Somers High School in New York. I am also the Fair Director of the Somers Science Fair, the largest first-year science research student competition of its kind in the country. Additionally, I serve as the site chairperson on the Executive Board of the REGENERON Westchester Science & Engineering Fair, the largest regional high school science competition in the country. I have a passion for research and engaging students in STEM through real-world research experience.
I earned my doctoral degree in Education from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. My doctoral research was titled, “The Effects of a Science Research Program and Experiential Learning Opportunity on High School Student Engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)”. Through my own research, it became clear that learning through hands-on, experiential pedagogies was a very powerful tool to engage students in STEM. It is my hope that by creating Science Research Academy, more students will be able to participate in this type of learning, fueling their love and passion for science beyond the classroom and into their future careers in science.
Mr. Jamie Dowd
Founder / Research Coach
My name is James Dowd and I am a former research scientist from California and currently a science teacher and the Director of Science Research at Ardsley High School in Westchester County, just outside of NYC. I have over a decade of experience in the R&D and Business Development in the Global Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical sector as well as an additional 13 years in the science classroom in San Francisco, (Lowell High School) and in New York. I currently serve as a board member for both the REGENERON Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF) and the Somers Science Fair, two of the largest science research student competitions of their kind in the country. I am proud to have several grand award winners at ISEF as well as award winning finalists for the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), the Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS), Genius Olympiad and the New York State Science & Engineering Fair (NYSSEF). My role guiding and supporting student researchers is more than just a job, it is a lifestyle and one of my greatest passions of my life. It is an honor to be a part of the Science Research Academy to lead students down such a personal research pursuit pathway and watch them thrive each step of the way.
Dr. Rachel Ostrand
Director of Mentor Matching
My name is Rachel Ostrand, and I'm a cognitive science researcher. I have a PhD in cognitive science from UC San Diego, and I've spent the last decade as a research scientist at IBM Research in New York. My research focuses on language production and dialogue in the brain, in particular how people adapt their language processing based on the context of their conversation. My research looks at language adaptation in human-human conversation and also human-chatbot and human-AI conversation, and also investigates using speech as a biomarker for cognitive decline. This means looking at how we can use properties of the way someone talks to assess whether they are in early stages of dementia, or progressing in cognitive decline.
I've been very involved in science research and outreach since my grad school days. I've been a judge at the WESEF science fair for several years, and have mentored multiple science research students on their own research projects. I spent many years volunteering at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego when I was in grad school, working with them on education initiatives, adults-only fun night of science events, and presenting science and scientists to the general public in bars around the city through the 2 Scientists Walk Into a Bar and Pint of Science programs. I teach a class called States of Matter to local middle schoolers every winter as part of IBM's STEM winter camp, Family Science Saturdays. I love bringing science to students and people of all kinds!
Who are our Research Coaches and Mentors?
At Science Research Academy, we take pride in our diverse team of experts who come from various academic institutions and fields of science from around the world. Our seasoned science research coaches have years of experience teaching science research in the classroom. Our mentors have backgrounds in academia and the private sector, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide students in their research endeavors. Whether you prefer in-person interactions or virtual collaborations, our mentors are available to support you every step of the way. Get ready to embark on a journey of scientific discovery with our exceptional research coaches and mentors at Science Research Academy!