Athens Academy senior Will McCleary has spent the past year leading an ambitious neuroscience research project that explores how microplastics (MPs) may affect adult neural stem cells (NSCs)—rare cells in the brain responsible for generating neurons and the myelin-producing cells essential for repairing damage in disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. What began as a fifteen-minute student talk on stem-cell therapies grew into a multi-year academic pursuit after Will contacted 20 University of Georgia researchers seeking a lab placement. Only one replied, but that one reply changed everything. Dr. Jayshree Samanta, a neuroscientist who studies myelin repair, invited him to join her lab and has mentored him throughout this project.

To prepare for high-level lab work, Will completed Duke University’s Medical Neuroscience course on Coursera, finishing nearly 170 hours of advanced neuroanatomy, signaling, and disease pathways. Since June, he has logged almost 900 research hours in Dr. Samanta’s lab; learned complex techniques such as perfusion, cryosectioning, immunofluorescence, and neural stem cell harvesting; and taken on immediate responsibility for launching one of the first projects in the field to investigate how microplastics interact with adult NSCs in both animals and cell culture.

Will’s Capstone project evolved into an expansive investigation combining in vivo experiments (tracking where microplastics accumulate in the brain across 24 mouse groups) with in vitro studies examining how MPs influence NSC growth, differentiation, and survival. His extensive literature review revealed major gaps in the field, particularly the lack of research on adult NSCs, and helped shape a study he and Dr. Samanta plan to submit to a top-tier neuroscience journal this spring. Alongside his own project, Will contributed significant staining and sectioning work to two of Dr. Samanta’s forthcoming research papers on remyelination signaling and will be credited in their supplementary materials.

A defining element of Will’s experience has been Dr. Samanta’s mentorship. She entrusted him with high-level scientific responsibility, encouraging independence and teaching him that real progress comes from precision, persistence, and learning through failure. Her investment in his growth has shaped his approach to science and inspired him to strongly consider attending UGA so he can continue advancing this line of research.

Will’s Capstone demonstrates exceptional initiative, discipline, and intellectual curiosity. From mastering advanced coursework to working late nights in the lab, he has pursued the question of how environmental pollutants might influence the brain’s natural repair system with uncommon focus for a high school researcher. This project not only contributes to an emerging area of neuroscience but also helped Will discover his long-term goal: to become a principal investigator studying neural regeneration, and to keep searching for new ways the brain can heal itself.

Athens Academy’s Capstone Project is an opportunity for Upper School students to explore a passion via four criteria: research, mentorship, experiential learning, and an outward contribution. Each student submits a research paper detailing an aspect of the project, and they defend the project before a committee of faculty and administrators, similar to a Ph.D. oral defense. Students whose projects are approved by the committee receive the Capstone designation at commencement in May.

Athens Academy is an independent, co-educational school for students in K3 through 12th grade, located on a beautiful 152-acre campus in Northeast Georgia. Now in its 59th year, Athens Academy pursues its mission of “excellence with honor” through academics, athletics, fine arts, and service and leadership. Ranked the #1 private school in Athens, #7 private school in the state of Georgia (out of 400+ schools), and #1 private school in North Georgia (Niche.com).

For more information, please contact Kelley Cuneo, communications director, at [email protected] or 706-433-2410.