Better Research Starts With Better Guidance.
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.
Experience Behind Exceptional Student Research
Science Talent Search
10+ Scholars
ISEF
20+ Finalists
GENIUS Olympiad
50+ Finalists
1,000s of Projects Guided & Evaluated
Outcomes reflect students guided by SRA educators across their careers
You’ve Put Too Much Into Your Research to Wonder If You’re Missing Something.
Your teacher knows your project.
Your mentor knows your field.
You’ve read your research plan dozens of times.
But sometimes you need a fresh set of expert eyes.
An SRA Expert Review provides an independent assessment of your research so you can understand:
✓ What’s working
✓ What needs attention
✓ What questions remain unanswered
✓ What an expert may question
✓ What you should do next
We don’t do the research for you. We help you see it more clearly.
Choose Your Expert Review
Starting Out
Turn an interesting idea into a researchable question.
Have a research topic or project idea but aren’t sure whether it can become a strong research project?
The SRA Research Idea Review is designed for students in the earliest stages of the research process. Submit your research interests, preliminary research question, background information, and proposed idea, and an SRA expert will evaluate its scientific potential, originality, feasibility, and opportunities for further development.
Your personalized review will help you determine whether your idea is ready to move forward—or needs to be narrowed, refined, or reconsidered.
Your review includes:
Evaluation of your research question and overall project concept
Feedback on scientific significance and research potential
Assessment of project scope and feasibility
Identification of potential challenges or limitations
Suggestions for areas requiring additional background research
Questions to consider as you refine your project
Recommended next steps for developing your research plan
Best for: Students who have identified an area of interest or preliminary research idea but have not yet finalized their methodology.
You bring the idea. We’ll help you determine where it can go.
Turn an interesting idea into a researchable question.
Get expert feedback on your research question, feasibility, scientific potential, and next steps.
⭐️ Most Popular ⭐️
Get expert feedback before you begin your research.
A strong research project starts with a strong plan.
The SRA Research Plan Review provides a comprehensive evaluation of your research question, hypothesis, methodology, experimental design, variables, controls, sample size, proposed data analysis, and overall feasibility before you begin data collection or experimentation.
An SRA expert will examine your proposed research through the lens of an experienced research educator and identify strengths, potential weaknesses, unanswered questions, and areas that may require revision.
You’ll receive a personalized SRA Research Review Report with clear, prioritized recommendations for strengthening your proposed study.
Your review includes:
Research question and hypothesis evaluation
Experimental design and methodology review
Variables and controls assessment
Sample size and replication considerations
Data collection strategy
Statistical analysis considerations
Feasibility and project-scope assessment
Potential ethical, safety, or competition-rule considerations
Major strengths and concerns
Prioritized recommendations and next steps
Where applicable, reviewers may identify areas that should be discussed with your teacher, mentor, Institutional Review Board (IRB), Scientific Review Committee (SRC), or affiliated science fair. SRA review does not constitute IRB, SRC, or competition approval.
Best for: Students who have developed a research proposal or methodology and want an independent expert review before beginning their study.
Find the problems before they become part of your experiment.
A comprehensive evaluation of your research question, methodology, experimental design, variables, controls, sample size, data collection, statistics, feasibility, and potential research-rule considerations.
Includes your personalized SRA Research Review Report.
Competition Ready
Your most comprehensive SRA review.
You’ve spent months—or years—on your research. Before competition, get another set of expert eyes on the entire project.
The SRA Competition Ready Review is our most comprehensive review experience for students preparing to present completed research at a science fair, research competition, symposium, or other high-level event.
Rather than evaluating one component of your project, an SRA expert examines your research as a complete body of work—from your research question and methodology to your paper, poster, conclusions, and ability to communicate your findings.
The goal isn’t to predict whether you will win. It’s to identify the questions, weaknesses, strengths, and opportunities that an experienced reviewer may notice so that you can arrive prepared to defend and discuss your work.
Your comprehensive review includes:
Overall scientific rigor
Research question and significance
Experimental design and methodology
Data collection and statistical approach
Results and interpretation
Conclusions and limitations
Research paper review
Research poster review
Scientific communication
Competition readiness
Potential areas of concern
Questions a judge may ask
Major project strengths
Prioritized recommendations before competition
Plus: Live Mock Judging Session
After receiving your written review, you’ll participate in a 30-minute virtual mock judging session with an SRA expert.
You’ll present and defend your research in a simulated judging environment, respond to questions about your methodology and findings, and receive feedback on your ability to communicate your research effectively.
Best for: Students preparing for regional, state, national, or international science fairs and research competitions who want a comprehensive independent assessment before competition.
You’ve done the research. Now make sure you’re ready to defend it.
Your complete pre-competition research assessment.
Research + Paper + Poster + Scientific Communication + Judge Questions
PLUS: 30-minute live mock judging session
Looking for something specific?
This Isn’t a Generic AI Report
Your Personalized SRA Research Review Report
Every Research Plan Review includes an expert evaluation of:
✓ Research question
✓ Scientific rationale
✓ Experimental design
✓ Variables & controls
✓ Sample size & replication
✓ Data collection
✓ Statistical approach
✓ Feasibility
✓ Ethics, safety & rules considerations
Plus:
Your Project’s Strongest Elements
Top Priorities Before You Begin
Questions an Expert May Ask You
Recommended Next Steps
Why Not Just Ask AI?
AI is an incredible research tool. But your research deserves human judgment.
AI can help organize information, explain concepts, brainstorm ideas, and improve communication.
An SRA Expert Review gives you something different:
An experienced person evaluating your research as research.
How It Works
Expert feedback on your research in four simple steps.
No meetings to schedule. No long-term commitment. Just submit your work and receive personalized feedback from an experienced reviewer.
01
CHOOSE YOUR REVIEW
Select the review that fits your project stage.
02
SUBMIT YOUR RESEARCH
Upload your project and answer a few questions.
03
EXPERT EVALUATION
An experienced SRA reviewer evaluates your work using our proven review framework.
04
RECEIVE YOUR REVIEW
Receive personalized feedback, priorities, expert questions, and clear next steps.
Most reviews delivered within 5 business days.
Reviewed by People Who Understand Student Research
Founder, Science Research Academy
Science Research Educator • Program Director • Competition Director
Dr. William Maelia
Dr. William Maelia has spent more than a decade directing secondary science research programs, guiding independent student research, and leading major student research competitions. His doctoral research focused specifically on secondary science research programs and the educators who lead them.
Expert Review, Led by Experience
SRA’s review process is led by founder Dr. William Maelia and supported by experienced science research educators, researchers, statisticians, and subject-area specialists selected according to the needs of each project.
15+ Years
Leading secondary research programs
Fair Director
of the largest regional high school science fair in the United States
1,000s of Projects
guided, reviewed, and evaluated.
Doctoral Experience Research focused on secondary science research programs
Your Research. Your Work.
SRA believes expert guidance should strengthen student thinking, not replace it.
Our reviewers will:
✓ Identify strengths and weaknesses
✓ Ask challenging questions
✓ Provide expert feedback
✓ Recommend areas for improvement
Our reviewers will not:
✕ Write your research plan
✕ Generate or alter your data
✕ Rewrite your paper
✕ Perform your analysis for you
✕ Guarantee competition results
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"I owe my entire future career to this process and I am so thankful it was offered to me.”
Keelyn F.
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"Everything from Powerpoint, to writing papers, to public speaking, networking, and the art of persuasion — all of these skills were honed in the independent scientific research that I conducted, and each put me at a great advantage upon arriving at University."
Matthew K.
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"Science research is a story: What are you curious about? Is there a problem or question on your mind? What do you care about? Why? And is there something new you can contribute or find? In my experience, those answers are incredibly valuable personally and professionally, and those are questions I'll continue to ask while studying at MIT."
Angelina A.
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"My time conducting independent scientific research while in high school has been an incredible opportunity for me to explore career options, improve my resume, and build important connections."
Conner E.
Are You a Research Educator?
SRA works with schools, too.
Bring SRA’s research expertise to your entire program.
FAQ
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Your project will be reviewed by an experienced SRA reviewer selected based on the type and subject area of your research. SRA reviewers include experienced science research educators, researchers, scientists, statisticians, and subject-area specialists who understand the unique challenges of student research.
Every review follows SRA’s standardized review framework while providing feedback specific to your project.
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Most SRA Expert Reviews are completed within 5 business days after we receive all required materials.
If additional information is needed before your review can begin, we’ll contact you. Any different turnaround time for a specialized or expedited service will be clearly communicated before purchase.
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That depends on the review you select. After purchasing, you’ll be guided through a short submission process where you’ll provide information about your project and upload the relevant materials.
For example, a Research Plan Review may include your research question, background and rationale, hypothesis or objectives, proposed methodology, variables and controls, data collection plan, and proposed analysis.
You don’t need a perfect submission, that’s why you’re getting a review.
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No. Your research remains your work.
SRA reviewers identify strengths, potential problems, unanswered questions, and opportunities for improvement. We may explain why something deserves additional attention and provide questions or considerations to help guide your thinking, but we will not write your research plan, paper, conclusions, or other required research materials for you.
All SRA reviews follow our Academic Integrity Standard.
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No. An SRA Expert Review is an independent advisory review and does not constitute IRB, SRC, IACUC, institutional, school, or science-fair approval.
If your research requires approval or supervision, you are responsible for working with your teacher, mentor, school, affiliated fair, research institution, or appropriate review committee before beginning your research.
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No, and you should be cautious of anyone who does.
Research competitions evaluate projects using their own criteria, judges, eligibility requirements, and selection processes. SRA cannot guarantee acceptance, advancement, awards, publication, or any other outcome.
What we can do is help you identify weaknesses, strengthen your scientific reasoning, and prepare to explain and defend your research more effectively.
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Yes. Research is iterative, and your project may benefit from another set of expert eyes after you’ve made significant changes.
A new SRA Expert Review can evaluate the revised version of your work and provide feedback based on its current state.
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That’s okay. SRA works with research across a wide range of STEM disciplines.
When specialized expertise is important to the review, we’ll make every reasonable effort to match your project with a reviewer whose experience is appropriate for the subject area. If we determine that we cannot provide a meaningful expert review of your project, we’ll let you know rather than provide feedback outside our expertise.
Your Research Is Worth a Second Look.
You’ve done the work. Now see your project through the eyes of an experienced research expert.
Starting at $99 • No subscription • No long-term commitment