Student Research Program
Student Inquiry and Research (SIR) supports student investigations conducted on and off-campus. Formalized in and evolving since 1989, the SIR department provides a framework for students to conduct original investigations on compelling questions of interest, collaborate with other students and professional researchers, and to 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 opportunities, 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 the solicitation of projects, recruitment of students to projects, logistics of sending students to research sites, and oversight of projects and student outcomes.
Students must have completed their first year at IMSA and be in good academic standing to be eligible for participation in the program. 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 is intended to instruct students in the methods of doing research 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 together provide guidance and support for students to work through this process.
Research Mentors
IMSA is grateful for the generosity of all professionals who undertake the serious commitment of 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.
IMSAloquium
IMSAloquium is an annual, public event during which IMSA students showcase their work. SIR students present their research, students participating in the Business Internship Program present their experience, and students doing independent studies, and other innovative work are also invited to present. The event also features a keynote speech and brief comments from members of the IMSA staff. Parents, research mentors, IMSA staff and students, and outside visitors are all welcome.
Abstracts from past years are available on DigitalCommons.
Recent News
- SIR Student Virtually Presents at The ISSCR Boston 2022 Symposium November 17, 2022
- Two SIR Students Present Internationally at the Japan Super Science Fair in Kyoto November 2, 2022
- 5 SIR Students Selected to Present at the ABRCMS Symposium for Emerging Scientists April 26, 2022
- Illinois Junior Academy of Science (IJAS) Awards Two SIR Students with Gold Level Certificates for Research Papers April 22, 2022
- SIR student amongst the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search held by Society for Science January 3, 2022
