Academics
Science Research
College-Level Research for the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers
Science Research is a rigorous three-year, college-level program in which students design and pursue independent original research projects under the guidance of expert mentors across the sciences, behavioral science, engineering, computer science and mathematics.
Through a combination of coursework, summer internships and ongoing faculty mentorship, students immerse themselves into their chosen topics; sharpen their critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills; and prepare to present at major competitions.
Masters students consistently excel and receive top honors at prestigious regional and international fairs, including the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the GENIUS Olympiad, Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF) and the New York State Science & Engineering Fair (NYSSEF).
DIVE DEEPER
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Science Research Year 1
Students choose an area of interest, search databases, read primary scientific literature, develop a focused research question, reach out to professional scientists for mentorship, and write a research plan. They also build public speaking and visual design skills by creating a professional poster that is presented at the annual Science Research Symposium. Students have the opportunity to compete in the Somers Science Fair along with other first-year Science Research students from Westchester County. Students should expect to work on their project during the summer. Some students seek out summer lab internships at local universities, while others conduct home-based or field-based research. -
Science Research Year 2
Students work on finalizing the data collection of their independent research project, which they initiated in the previous spring and summer under the guidance of their mentor. Students learn statistical analysis as it relates to their own project, read primary scientific literature, write a formal research paper, and create a professional poster and slideshow presentation about their completed project. They have the opportunity to compete in regional, state and international science fairs. In the spring, they work with their mentor to initiate a second phase of their research project, which will be continued during the summer. Students also present their work in front of the school community at the annual Science Research Symposium. -
Science Research Year 3
Students work on finalizing the data collection of the second phase of their independent research project under the guidance of their mentor. They analyze the data using statistical methods and write a formal research paper. Students have the opportunity to compete in regional, state, or even international science fairs. Students enter their research paper in the Regeneron Science Talent Search. In the spring, the students mentor the younger students in the program and present their work in front of the school community at the annual Science Research Symposium.
Student and Alumnae/i Reflections
Meet the Program Director
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Awards and Accolades (2025)
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Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)
ISEF is considered to be the “Olympics” of high school science competitions. More than 1,600 students from 60+ countries presented graduate-level research in front of expert judges.3rd Place in Biomedical & Health Sciences: Aaron Weinberg ’25 - “S107 Mitigates RyR2-Mediated Cardiac Dysfunction in COVID-19 Infected Rodents”Air Force Research Laboratory Award: Aaron Weinberg ’25 - “S107 Mitigates RyR2-Mediated Cardiac Dysfunction in COVID-19 Infected Rodents” -
Genius Olympiad
Honorable Mention, Ecology & Diversity: Alex Pinnock ’26 - “Brood Parasitism and Host-Switching Shape Evolutionary Rates in Diverging Lineages of Greater Honeyguides” -
National Junior Science and Humanities (JSHS) Symposium
National JSHS was judged by top scientists from the U.S. Department of Defense.
2nd Place, Biomedical Sciences: Aaron Weinberg ’25 - “S107 Mitigates RyR2-Mediated Cardiac Dysfunction in COVID-19 Infected Rodents” -
Junior Science and Humanities (JSHS) Symposium
NY-Upstate JSHS is one of the largest of the 48 regional competitions in the country.
2nd Place, Oral Presentations: Aaron Weinberg ’25 - “S107 Mitigates RyR2-Mediated Cardiac Dysfunction in COVID-19 Infected Rodents” -
New York State Science & Engineering Fair (NYSSEF)
1st Place and ISEF finalist in Biomedical & Health Sciences: Aaron Weinberg ‘25 - “Characterizing the RyR2-Mediated Cardiac Pathophysiology of COVID-19 in Rodent Models”4th Place in Robotics & Intelligent Machines: Max Lovitt ’25 - “Suicide Risk Assessment on Social Media with Semi-Supervised Learning”3rd Place in Cellular & Molecular Biology: Nico Khoury-Levy ’26 - “Overcoming Stroke Disabilities by Modulating Maladaptive Antiviral Defenses” -
Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF)
WESEF is the largest American science fair.
1st Place in Medicine & Health: Aaron Weinberg ’25 - “Characterizing the RyR2-Mediated Cardiac Pathophysiology of COVID-19 in Rodent Models”
2nd Place in Behavioral & Social Sciences: Isabella Levine ’26 - “Does Time Spent on Social Media Impact the Ability to Distinguish Between Facts and Opinions?”
4th Place in Physics & Astronomy: Alyssa Wang ’25 - “Visualizing and Placing Limits on Non-Orientable Compact Euclidean Topologies of the Universe”
Future of Medicine Award: Aaron Weinberg ’25 - “Characterizing the RyR2-Mediated Cardiac Pathophysiology of COVID-19 in Rodent Models”
Excellence in Medical Research Award: Nico Khoury-Levy’ 26 - “Overcoming Stroke Disabilities by Modulating Maladaptive Antiviral Defenses”
Innovations in Biological Sciences Research Award: Frank Liu ’26 - “Examining the Role of Frataxin in Alleviating Type 2 Diabetes-Related Symptoms” -
Burke Neurological Institute Research Symposium and Poster Session
Best Poster & Presentation: Ella Shapiro ’26 - “FDA Approved Zileuton as a Therapeutic Agent Against Hemin-Induced Ferroptosis” -
Somers Science Fair
1st Place in Bioinformatics: April Wang ’27 - “Uncoupling TLR7 and Estrogen Effects on Immunity Using the Four Core Genotype Model”1st Place in Behavioral & Social Science: Julia Panos ’27 - “The Impact of Truthful vs. Fabricated Responses to Visual Cues on Memory Recall Accuracy”2nd Place in Behavioral & Social Science: SeRy Jarret ’27 - “Rest and Resilience: Investigating the Impact of Sleep Quality and Positive Mindset on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients”2nd Place in Behavioral & Social Science: Lucille Quackenbush ’26 - “The Impact of Chronic Pain on Quality of Life in Men vs. Women”2nd Place in Cell & Molecular Biology: Emily Kasoff ’27 - “Investigating the Role of Dhx9 in Congenital Heart Disease Etiology Using iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes”2nd Place in Medicine & Health: Arlo Goldberg ’27 - “Comparing Outcomes of Minimally Invasive vs. Open Ureteral Reconstruction After Kidney Transplant”3rd Place in Computer Science: Siena Versaci ’27 - “Fragmented Faces, Whole Emotions: Advancing AI Emotion Detection with Partial Facial Input”
The Masters School
