PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SCIENCE RESEARCH EDUCATORS

Build the Expertise Behind Strong Student Research.

Teaching independent research requires a different kind of expertise.

Science Research Academy provides practical, research-focused professional development for educators who guide students through the complexities of independent scientific research—from developing research questions and designing studies to navigating research approvals, finding mentors, analyzing data, and preparing students to communicate their work.

Every SRA professional development experience is designed around the realities of working with student researchers.

Independent Research Requires More Than Content Knowledge.

A teacher can be an outstanding biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics educator and still find independent student research challenging to supervise.

Research educators routinely have to help students navigate questions that extend far beyond a traditional science classroom.

SRA professional development is built specifically around these challenges.

Professional Development Built for Research Educators

SRA workshops can be delivered individually or combined into a customized professional development experience based on the needs of your teachers and research program.

Not Another One-Size-Fits-All Workshop

Every research program is different.

Before an SRA professional development engagement, we’ll learn about your program, your educators, your students, and the challenges you’re trying to solve.

Workshops can then be adapted to your school’s experience level, program structure, research expectations, and goals.

Designed for Educators Who Support Student Research

SRA professional development can support:

Science Research Teachers • Science Departments • Research Program Directors • Department Chairs • Curriculum Leaders • School Administrators • STEM Coordinators • Districts

Whether you’re launching a research program for the first time or strengthening one that has existed for years, professional learning should reflect where your program actually is.

Built From Experience Inside Student Research Programs

Dr. William Maelia is the founder of Science Research Academy and an experienced 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 the Director of the Science Research Program at Somers High School in New York, where he leads a multi-year program that guides 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 science and engineering fair and the largest regional high school research competition in the country. In this leadership role, he helps oversee a major regional competition that brings together hundreds of student researchers across a wide range of scientific disciplines. 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. Together, these roles have given Dr. Maelia extensive experience evaluating student research, developing fair and judging systems, preparing students and educators for competition, and managing the complex processes required to support high-quality student research at scale.

Dr. Maelia earned his Doctor of Education (EdD) from Northeastern University, where his doctoral research examined the impact of science research programs and experiential learning opportunities on high school student engagement in STEM. His research reinforced what he has observed throughout his career: authentic, hands-on research can provide students with opportunities to think, problem-solve, communicate, and engage with science in ways that extend far beyond the traditional classroom.

He founded Science Research Academy to bring that experience to a broader community of students, educators, and schools. Through professional development, program consulting, and expert research review, Dr. Maelia helps educators build the knowledge, structures, and systems necessary to support rigorous, authentic, student-owned research.

His goal is simple: help schools create research experiences that challenge students to think and work like scientists.

Bring SRA to Your School

Tell us about your educators, your research program, and the challenges you’d like to address. We’ll help you identify a professional development experience that fits your needs.

Custom workshops • Half-day and full-day options • Virtual and in-person availability