The research projects are the results of the private school’s advanced STEM and humanities research programs, where students apply with their own research proposals and spend the majority of the school year experimenting and studying their subjects of choice.

said Jill Walker, director of the advanced STEM research program.

Project topics are as varied and unique as the students, Walker said. The program, which has been in place for about four years, places a big emphasis on free inquiry and community partnerships. This year, a group of seven students partnered with the Trudeau Institute to do research on antigens and antibodies — that is, markers that trigger the immune system and proteins that counteract antigens. They received credit through Paul Smith’s College for their work.

Northwood senior Maegan Byrne said.

Northwood School student Maegan Byrne poses next to her project poster, “Immune Response to Foreign Antigens,” at Northwood’s student symposium on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Sydney Emerson)

Alongside their research, Byrne’s group also developed a set of 3D-printed antigen and antibody replicas that can serve as visual aids for biology teachers. Byrne, who plans to attend Elon University for pre-med after graduation, said that she initially found the prospect of independent research

she said.

This is by design, Walker said — students often struggle when they first strike out on their own.

she said.

Reid Jewett Smith, who teaches the humanities course, said that independent research opens up a new way of thinking to the students.

Northwood School student Ashley Guevara presents her research projects at Northwood’s student symposium on Thursday. Guevara opted to complete two projects, one in STEM and one in humanities. (Enterprise photo — Sydney Emerson)

she said.

Jewett Smith, who has a Ph.D. in education policy, had previously only taught this class to graduate students. She said she didn’t have to alter the course much for Northwood students.

she said.

This year, she was particularly impressed by the students, who had to complete the final three weeks of their projects by themselves while she was unexpectedly ill.

she said.

Among her students was senior Jordan Shullenberger, a soccer player and fan who’s planning to go to the University at Albany in the fall. His project examined the social contagion of hooliganism — the violent behavior of some English football, meaning soccer, fans — and was inspired by his own love of the sport.

he said.

Shullenberger took a sprawling approach to his research, studying policing measures at major soccer events, the psychology of hooliganism, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s time in office and the Hillsborough Disaster, a 1989 crowd-crush incident at a Liverpool and Nottingham Forest match that claimed 97 victims.

He concluded that feelings are more contagious than people assume.

he said.

Independent research is about so much more than bolstering college applications, Jewett Smith said — it mimics the challenges students will have to face in adult life.

she said.