UChicago Welcomes Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy to Hyde Park Labs

Published on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

New presence in the UChicago Science Incubator expands opportunities for high school STEM students and supports the South Side innovation ecosystem

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago announced today that the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) will establish its first Chicago-based office at Hyde Park Labs, located within the UChicago Science Incubator.

This new presence builds on the Polsky Center’s role as a hub for innovation, opening new opportunities for advanced public high school students to connect with research, entrepreneurship, and early-stage science and technology companies on the South Side.

IMSA will place a dedicated Chicago-based staff member at Hyde Park Labs and coordinate with the Polsky Center to identify experiential learning and internship opportunities for IMSA students within science-based startups.

“IMSA bringing its first Chicago office to Hyde Park Labs creates a powerful bridge between public STEM education and real-world innovation,” said Samir Mayekar, managing director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “By connecting these students with science-based startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs, we’re expanding access to hands-on experiences that can help shape the next generation while strengthening the South Side’s growing innovation ecosystem.”

By locating within the University of Chicago’s innovation ecosystem, IMSA gains proximity to university researchers, founders, and industry partners working at the forefront of science commercialization.

“We’re excited to partner with UChicago to create new access points for research and entrepreneurship, working directly with innovators and inspiring role models. This collaboration also allows us to expand our reach and better serve K–12 students across Chicago through IMSA’s STEM enrichment programs,” said Evan Glazer, Ph.D., President of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

The announcement underscores the University of Chicago’s continued investment in strengthening the South Side innovation ecosystem while creating new, inclusive pathways into STEM education and entrepreneurship for students across Illinois.