2026 Science Research Senior Symposium

A young man in a white shirt is standing at a podium, speaking into a microphone, with a dark background behind him.
A young woman stands at a podium, speaking into a microphone while holding a tablet in front of her against a dark curtain backdrop.
A young woman with long dark hair is standing at a podium, speaking into a microphone while holding a laptop in front of her against a dark curtain backdrop.
A young woman with long dark hair is standing at a podium, speaking into a microphone against a dark background.
A person is standing on a stage in front of a large audience, delivering a presentation with a pink ribbon symbol displayed on a screen behind them.
A woman stands on a stage in front of a large projection screen displaying various images, with an American flag visible in the background.
A woman in a black top is standing in front of a purple background with the text %22Extended Find IMPACT ALS%22 displayed.
A person is standing at a podium on a stage, with a large screen displaying the %22Pelham Science Research%22 logo behind them, and a crowd of people seated in the audience.
A woman is standing at a podium on a stage, addressing a large audience seated in front of her. The stage is set up with a projection screen and American flag in the background.

By Dan O'Reilly

The students of Pelham Memorial High School’s award winning Science Research Program showcased their findings with parents, peers and community members last month at the Science Research Senior Symposium. 

“The Senior Science Research Symposium was a powerful reflection of the skills our students have built through years of hard work: critical thinking, perseverance, collaboration, and the confidence to communicate complex ideas,” said Science Research Director Steven Beltecas. “These are not just research skills, they are life skills that will serve them well in college and beyond.

Projects varied in topic, covering everything from the effects of redlining on the rates of Asthma in New York City to how gravity affects our intuitive understanding of our own bodies and much more.

“Every 90 minutes, someone is either diagnosed with or passes away from ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis),” said senior Taya Senerchia, whose family has been personally affected by the disease. “In 2019 The ALS Association published the IMPACT ALS survey, which included information from over 1500 patients and caregivers… I took this data set, cleaned it and analyzed it to research the lifestyle effects of the disease for patients, the financial impact and how that stresses caregivers, and lastly, the diadic nature of the relationship between caregivers and patients.”

Senerchia was one of several presenters to share their work for the full audience in the auditorium before the attendees broke up to see more presentations in nearby classrooms. Each presenter took to the stage and easily summarized their complex research for the gathered crowd.

Senior Sandra Chalissery had an interest in space and the effects of gravity, and the lack thereof, on the body schema, or your brain’s understanding of the body’s position and spatial properties.

“I discovered that there was a whole field of science known as space physiology and bioastronautics,” Chalissery said. “From that moment on, I knew that that was the only thing I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”

The PMHS Science Research program is taught by Mr. Beltecas, Joe DiBello and Dr. Lori Tortorella. Students work with professional mentors in a variety of fields ranging from environmental and behavioral sciences to cancer research, among others. The students are able to work together and often review each other's work, providing feedback and honing their presentation and public speaking skills.

A universal trait among science research students at PMHS is their passion and determination, even in the face of adversity.They also demonstrated how they are making use of the skills and connections they developed through the science research program.

“I spent two years looking for a mentor,” Chalissery continued, “facing tons of rejection and discouragement until I stumbled upon my mentor’s TikTok… After a couple of meetings, I became a part of a team of women who did not let ‘no’ stop them from doing their research.”

The night’s rigorously researched projects and professionally constructed presentations contrasted with a uniquely warm camaraderie that only science research students could know. Students supported their peers, stood at the podium and introduced one another as friends as well as researchers and, at the end, awards were presented to seniors by their classmates.