Student Research Program
Student Inquiry and Research (SIR) supports student investigations conducted on- and off-campus. Formalized in 1989 and evolving since, the SIR department provides a framework for students to conduct original investigations into compelling questions of interest, collaborate with other students and professional researchers, and share their investigation results through public presentations and publications. Student participation varies slightly each year, but recent trends suggest that about 75% of all IMSA students will conduct at least one investigation during their enrollment at the Academy. For current SIR guidelines, students should email a request to SIR@imsa.edu.
During the academic year, SIR runs a one-credit, graded course. Students work with research mentors both on- and off-campus. The projects are designed to last between one and two years. SIR manages project solicitation, student recruitment, logistics for sending students to research sites, and oversight of projects and student outcomes.
To be eligible for participation in the program, students must have completed their first year at IMSA and be in good academic standing. Inquiry Days (usually Wednesdays) are set aside for students to pursue their research. IMSA provides a variety of unique resources to help facilitate SIR investigations.
The goal of the SIR program is to teach IMSA students how to carry out authentic research. The program aims to teach students research methods in a discipline of their interest.
What happens at each stage of research will vary slightly depending on the student’s proposed project and discipline, but students will undertake some version of the following:
- Phase 1: Getting acquainted with the field
- Phase 2: Development of research plan
- Phase 3: Execution of the research
- Phase 4: Communication of research results
The research mentor and SIR team guide and support students as they work through this process.
Research Mentors
IMSA is grateful to all professionals who are seriously committed to supporting students engaged in research. Mentors interested in working with IMSA students or know of others who might be, should contact the SIR office for further information.
Research Symposiums
The Summer Symposium marks the start of the academic year and showcases the spirit of inquiry and discovery at IMSA. Each year, it highlights research completed over the summer through IMSA’s experiential learning programs, including Student Inquiry and Research (SIR), IN2 Business Internships, and the Student Research and Experiential Learning Opportunity (SRELO) program. Projects span fields from biomedicine and chemistry to mathematics, social sciences, and entrepreneurship, guided by mentors from leading universities, research labs, businesses, and IMSA’s own faculty.
The IMSAloquium is IMSA’s annual public celebration of student exploration, innovation, and achievement. The event highlights the work of students across a wide range of experiential learning pathways. SIR students share their research findings, Business Internship participants reflect on their professional experiences, and students engaged in independent studies and other innovative projects are invited to present their work. The program also includes a keynote address and remarks from IMSA staff. Parents, mentors, students, and visitors from beyond campus join in celebrating students’ accomplishments.
Abstracts from past years are available on DigitalCommons.
