ABOUT SCIENCE RESEARCH ACADEMY
Built by Research Educators. Built for Student Research
Science Research Academy helps students, educators, and schools navigate the challenges of independent scientific research through expert review, professional development, and research program consulting.
Our work is grounded in years of experience guiding student researchers, developing secondary science research programs, and leading large-scale research competitions.
WHY SRA EXISTS
Student Research Is Different.
Independent research asks students to do something fundamentally different from most of their school experience.
There may be no answer key. The path forward is rarely obvious. Students must learn to navigate scientific literature, develop meaningful questions, design defensible methods, work through unexpected results, analyze evidence, communicate their findings, and defend their decisions.
The educators supporting them face an equally difficult challenge. A single research program may include projects spanning biology, medicine, engineering, environmental science, computer science, mathematics, behavioral science, and dozens of specialized fields.
That kind of work requires more than information. It requires judgment.
Science Research Academy was created to make experienced scientific and educational judgment more accessible—to individual student researchers and to the educators and schools building the programs that support them.
WHAT SRA DOES
Expertise at Every Level of Student Research
One mission. Three ways to strengthen student research.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Better Guidance Creates Better Researchers.
STUDENT OWNERSHIP
The research must remain the student’s work. Expert guidance should strengthen a student’s thinking—not replace it.
SCIENTIFIC RIGOR
Strong research requires thoughtful questions, defensible methods, appropriate analysis, careful interpretation, and an honest understanding of limitations.
EXPERT JUDGMENT
Information is abundant. What students and educators often need is someone with the experience to recognize what matters, identify what doesn’t make sense, and ask the questions that move the work forward.
AUTHENTIC LEARNING
The value of research extends beyond a final paper, competition, or award. Students learn to solve unfamiliar problems, respond to evidence, communicate complex ideas, and take ownership of their work.
We don’t believe the goal is to make research easier. We believe the goal is to help students become better researchers.
FOUNDER
Founded From Experience in Student Research
Dr. William Maelia
Founder, Science Research Academy
Dr. William Maelia is the founder of Science Research Academy and a science research educator, program director, and competition leader with more than a decade of experience developing and supporting independent student research.
Dr. Maelia serves as Director of the Science Research Program at Somers High School in New York, where he leads a multi-year program guiding students through the full research process—from scientific literature and research question development to mentorship, experimental design, data analysis, scientific communication, and research competition.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Maelia serves as Co-Director of the Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF), an ISEF-affiliated regional science and engineering competition. He also serves as Fair Director of the Somers Science Fair, a large-scale competition designed specifically for first-year high school science research students. These roles have provided extensive experience evaluating student research, developing judging and review systems, preparing students and educators for competition, and managing the processes required to support student research at scale.
Dr. Maelia earned his Doctor of Education (EdD) from Northeastern University, where his doctoral research examined science research programs, experiential learning, and high school student engagement in STEM.
He founded Science Research Academy to make high-quality research guidance and expertise available beyond the walls of a single school or research program.
EXPERIENCE BEHIND SCIENCE RESEARCH ACADEMY
THE SRA EXPERT NETWORK
Expertise Beyond a Single Discipline.
Student research can span an extraordinary range of scientific fields. No single educator or researcher can be an expert in all of them.
The SRA Expert Network allows Science Research Academy to connect projects with experienced science research educators, researchers, scientists, statisticians, and subject-area specialists whose backgrounds align with the work being evaluated.
Reviewers are selected not only for their expertise, but for their ability to provide constructive feedback that helps student researchers think more critically about their own work
RELEVANT EXPERTISE
Match reviewer experience to the project whenever possible.STRUCTURED EVALUATION
Use SRA review frameworks to provide consistent, meaningful feedback.HUMAN JUDGMENT
Every SRA Expert Review is evaluated by a real person—not generated by an automated scoring system.
HUMAN EXPERTISE IN THE AGE OF AI
Artificial intelligence has made information, writing assistance, and analysis more accessible than ever. But access to information is not the same as experienced judgment.
SRA believes AI can be a useful tool when used responsibly and transparently. It should not replace the intellectual work that makes student research meaningful.
An AI system can process a research plan. An experienced reviewer can question whether the plan actually makes scientific sense.
SRA is built around that distinction.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Your Research. Your Work. Expert Guidance.
Everything SRA does is built around student ownership.
Our reviewers may identify concerns, challenge assumptions, ask questions, identify limitations, and recommend areas for further consideration. They do not conduct the research for the student, fabricate data, write student work, or make research decisions on the student’s behalf.
The reviewer provides judgment and feedback. The student decides what to do with it.
OUR VISION
Research Should Be an Opportunity, Not Just an Assignment.
Some students have access to established research programs, experienced teachers, university laboratories, and extensive networks of scientific mentors. Others are trying to navigate independent research with far fewer resources.
Science Research Academy exists to help close part of that gap by making experienced research guidance more accessible while also helping schools build stronger systems of their own.
Our goal is not simply to help students complete research projects.
It’s to help more students experience what it means to think, question, investigate, and communicate like scientists.
HOW CAN SCIENCE RESEARCH ACADEMY HELP?
Expert feedback for student researchers. Expert guidance for the schools that support them.
From research planning to competition, SRA brings experienced scientific judgment to every stage of the research process.
FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS
Get expert eyes on your research.
Receive personalized feedback from an experienced science research educator or subject-area expert.
RESEARCH PLANS • PAPERS • POSTERS • PRESENTATIONS • COMPETITION PREPARATION
FOR EDUCATORS & SCHOOLS
Build a stronger research program.
Professional development, consulting, and expert research support for schools.