Marin Academy Research Collaborative

Marin Academy supports student interests in many ways. Our research program allows students to follow interests and questions in a manner that fosters independence and healthy risk taking while offering support along the way.

Program Overview

The Marin Academy Research Collaborative (MARC) program is specifically designed to engage a diverse group of students in cutting-edge science and engineering research that is characteristic of college-level courses. This two-year, multidisciplinary program provides the opportunity for interested students to identify their particular skills and interests, partner with the larger scientific community to pursue a research project of their own design, and complete a rigorous college-level curriculum. Students generate a novel research question, conduct a rigorous literature review, collaborate with content-area experts, develop hypotheses, collect and analyze data, and learn how to publicly present, as well as publish their work.

Students may choose a topic from engineering and computer sciences, physical sciences, life sciences, social sciences, or psychology that piques their curiosity. Students collaborate with content-area experts, and with the guidance and support of the MARC coordinator, identify an outside mentor to help with their research project. The MARC program is unlike any other offered at Marin Academy, beginning during the fall of 11th-grade and ending during the spring of 12th-grade. The MARC Independent Research electives are offered pass/fail, and students work independently toward their own set of goals. While MARC students are required to demonstrate a high degree of autonomy, initiative, and time management, classes are held during the week, and students share their ongoing research with each other and mentor students new to the program. Students also are expected to spend time working in the lab of their outside mentor during the school year or take part in a summer science research internship program.

Read the MARC blog and meet our current MARCers.

View the 2023 Wildcat Colloquium

Important Dates

2024 Dates TBD

Information Session for Students:
Application Posted:
Information Session for Families:
Application Drop-In Session for Students:
Application Due:
Applicant Interviews:
Decisions to Applicants:
Admitted MARC Sophomores: Parent/Guardian "Office Hours":
Participant Agreement Due:
Senior MARC Colloquium Recording

Eligibility Requirements

Due to the unique demands of the MARC program, only a limited number of students can be admitted. Students must be entering 11th-grade and be in good academic standing, have taken Biology and Chemistry, and be concurrently enrolled in Physics during 11th- or 12th-grade to be eligible to apply. Applicants are required to submit three short essays, two letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, and have the approval of their academic counselor. While not required, previous enrollment in the 9th-grade MARC Minicourse and the optional MARC Elective: Exploring Experimental Design are highly recommended. Concurrent enrollment in a science course related to area of interest during 11th-grade and Statistics during 12th-grade also are recommended. The MARC Independent Research electives are offered pass/fail and therefore do not receive A–G designation by the University of California or count towards a student’s overall GPA.

Students enrolled in the MARC Independent Research I elective must successfully complete all major assignments including, but not limited to: finding a mentor, writing a project proposal, and presenting a poster at the Marin Academy Science Symposium to earn a final passing grade at the end of junior year and continue on to the MARC Independent Research II elective. Students also must demonstrate a growth mindset and an ability to work independently by the end of junior year to continue in the program. Students enrolled in the MARC Independent Research II elective are required to work on their MARC project for their Senior Project requirement, prepare a major research paper at the conclusion of their research project, and deliver a formal seminar presentation at the MARC Wildcat Colloquium. Students enrolled in either of the MARC Independent Research electives will be placed on programmatic probation if they receive a set of grades or comments at the end of any formal marking period that are indicative of difficulty meeting with success in the MARC program. If a MARC student is placed on programmatic probation, they and their parents or guardians will meet with the MARC Coordinator and Academic Dean to review the specific terms of the probation, which are determined on a case-by-case basis. If a student fails to meet the terms of the probation at the end of the designated time period, they will be separated from the MARC program unless, after consultation with the MARC Coordinator and Academic Dean, the Head of School decides otherwise.

Calling all Mentors!

Information for Parents of Prospective MARC Students

My child is interested in science. Should they consider the MARC program?

Which student types perform best in this program?

Any student can be successful in this program if they are willing to prioritize MARC as a time commitment. Students should have a deep interest in a particular field of science and be innately motivated. Due to the nature of the program the most successful students will be those who have or develop a growth mindset and skills in cooperative learning, independent organization and responsibility, and flexible and creative thinking.

When can a student begin participating in the MARC program?

Students can begin as soon as they get excited about conducting independent research. There are opportunities at every level. In 9th-grade, students can participate in the Science-Lover’s Odyssey Minicourse. In 10th-grade, they can enroll in the Exploring Experimental Design elective. In order to be accepted into the MARC program, students must apply in the spring semester of their 10th-grade year.

What should a 10th grader who is preparing to enter the MARC program in 11th-grade expect within the first few months of the program and throughout the next two years?

This depends on whether or not they have completed the Exploring Experimental Design elective and what level of preparedness they have coming in to the program. Generally, the first semester will be geared towards reading scientific literature, formulating a question and hypothesis, mentor outreach, and designing
an experiment. Beyond the first semester, students will be working with mentors to conduct their own novel research. The program will culminate with the student writing and submitting a manuscript to a scientific peer- reviewed journal and a presentation of their findings at the MARC Wildcat Colloquium. Students also may enter senior level contests appropriate to their area of study, such as the Siemens Competition, the Intel Science Talent Search, or they may present at appropriate academic conferences or science fairs.

What are the 11th-grade course objectives?

Students will learn how to critically and scientifically think, write, and speak. They will learn how to conduct a scientific literature search, identify and select an area of interest in which to complete a scientific study, and learn to network and communicate with members of the scientific community. Students enrolled in the MARC Independent Research I elective must demonstrate an ability to work independently and complete all assignments successfully to earn a final passing grade at the end of junior year and be eligible to continue on to the MARC Independent Research II elective.

What are the 12th-grade course objectives?

This year-long elective will focus on advanced research skills, data analysis, mentoring, and scientific communication. During 12th-grade, students will complete the research projects they began in Independent Research I. The culmination of this program will require that students write their own research papers and present their findings to the broader MA community during the MARC Wildcat Colloquium. Students may enter senior level contests appropriate to their area of study, such as the Siemens Competition, the Intel Science Talent Search, or they may present at appropriate academic conferences or science fairs. Seniors also must commit to their MARC project being the focus of their senior project.

What does collaboration look like in the MARC program?

During the first semester of the MARC Independent Research I elective, students will work in teams on select assignments that pertain to the general research process (e.g., debates in research ethics, reading and understanding scientific publications, peer-review process) to build a uniform foundational understanding. Then, the focus of their second semester will be to branch into directions that are specific to their chosen areas of research. During this time, and until the end of their senior year, students will model the structure of a research group. Specifically, students will share resources and ideas and lean on each other for feedback that will help enhance their overall communication and project management abilities.

Does my child need to double in science to participate in the MARC Program?

Yes, students in the MARC program will need to double in science either their junior or senior year to complete their MA science requirements. Students are required to complete three years of laboratory science including 9th-grade Biology, 10th-grade Chemistry, and one year of Physics (Physics with Algebra and Trigonometry, Advanced Physics with Calculus, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, or Astrophysics). Physics may be taken in either the junior or senior year. Students also are strongly encouraged to enroll in a science course related to their area of interest during junior year and take statistics during their senior year.

Is this program widely recognized by college admission boards?

In which disciplines can a student complete research?

Is my child required to work in a research facility during the summer between their junior and senior year?

How does enrollment in the MARC program affect my child’s ability to participate in semester abroad programs, co-curricular activities, or work after school?

Students often participate in co-curricular activities and hold after school jobs, but because enrollment in the MARC program is a two-year commitment, students will not be able to participate in study abroad programs during the school year. Students also should expect to spend 6 to 8 hours per week inside and
outside of the classroom working on their MARC projects and must commit to their MARC project being the focus of their senior project.

If my child has additional questions about the MARC program, how can they get more information?

I was immediately drawn to the MARC program as a way to potentially explore more ways to help mitigate pollution. I dipped my toe in the water of what researching and crafting an experiment was actually like by taking the pre-MARC class. This was very transformative in my decision to apply to the MARC program. It opened my eyes to the impact that research could have on decreasing plastic pollution or addressing water shortages.

Elsa '22

Our Goals

The MARC program seeks to inspire a passion for research and discovery and promote enthusiasm, exploration and academic excellence in an evolving global and scientific/technological community.

Throughout this process students will:

Connect with the local scientific community
Develop mastery in a chosen field
Think critically
Communicate effectively
Develop professional skills necessary for a successful scientific career
Use innovative technology
Take academic risks
Make new discoveries

MARC Program Overview and FAQ

MARC News

Amy Strauss

Science Teacher, Marin Academy Research Collaborative Coordinator

Work: 415/482.3279