Science Research Program
Meet the Sleepy Hollow High School students behind the research.
In this series, students in the SHHS Science Research Program share their original projects as they prepare to present at the Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF). Over the course of three years, these students design and conduct their own research, analyze data, and develop the skills to communicate their findings. From ALS research and environmental science to astrophysics, nutrition, and cognitive studies, each project reflects student curiosity, perseverance, and a commitment to real-world learning.
Anna Poret
"Coche o Carro?": Evaluating Student Perceptions of Teacher Bias in Language Education
Drawing from her experience in the district’s dual language program, Anna explored how bilingual students are perceived and treated in educational settings. Her research combines personal insight with data to better understand the student experience.
Eliza Boozer
Evaluating the Association Between Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Cognition: A Study of Adolescent Students
Eliza investigated how ultra-processed foods may affect how adolescents think and learn. Her research explores whether there is a connection between diet and cognitive function, highlighting how everyday choices can impact brain health.
Elliot Bentley
Optimizing Quantitative Methods to Measure the Functionality of TDP-43 Variants Screened in vitro
Elliot’s research focuses on ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a disease that has personally impacted his family. He studied how a specific protein linked to most ALS cases behaves, with the goal of better understanding how the disease progresses and how it might one day be treated.
Libby Block
Anthropogenic Impacts on American Eel Demographics and Macroinvertebrate Communities in Tributaries of the Hudson River, New York
Inspired by her connection to the Hudson River, Libby explored how dams impact the movement of aquatic species, especially the American eel. Her research looks at how changes to these structures can help restore natural migration patterns and support a healthier river ecosystem.
Olivia Miller
Evaluating Visual Working Memory: A Study of Dancers and Non-Dancers
As a lifelong dancer, Olivia wanted to understand how dance affects the brain. Her project examines how dancers perform on memory-based tasks, exploring the connection between movement, learning, and cognitive development.
Maya Tramantano
The Impact of Weather Conditions on the Crab Pulsar Signal as Received by the Green Bank 20-Meter Radio Telescope
Mya’s project explores pulsars—extremely dense, rapidly spinning stars in space. Using coding and data analysis, she studied how scientists detect and understand these objects, while discovering her own passion for astronomy along the way.