From Music to Makos: Ossining Research Projects Among Top in Nation

In Ossining High School’s renowned Science Research Program, students find inspiration in many different places. For senior Shae Shandroff, it was aboard a boat off the coast of Long Island during her experiences at summer camp.

The budding scientist is one five students from Ossining High School who placed among the top 300 scholars in the prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024, the oldest and most esteemed science and math competition for high school seniors in the United States.

The top 300 scholars were selected from a pool of 2,162 entrants based on their exceptional research, leadership skills, community involvement, academic commitment, and innovative approaches to scientific questions.

The Shark Conservationist

Shae’s project, titled The Short- and Long-Term Migratory Patterns of Young-of-Year Shortfin Mako Sharks, explored the waters off Montauk, New York, to determine if it served as a critical nursery habitat for the endangered Shortfin Mako Sharks. She tracked and analyzed data that ultimately led to the classification of the area as a nursery habitat, with potential implications for enhanced protection and conservation measures.

“Mako sharks are an endangered species, so it's a very important that their habitat supports them into their later years when they're able to reproduce,” Shae noted.

As for becoming a finalist, Shae said she is grateful for the opportunity and that the recognition has opened numerous doors for her as she prepares for the future.

“Just being able to submit to the competition is a huge accomplishment for me, and I feel like it's set me ahead by years in terms of conducting research. High school students usually don't get this type of graduate-level experience.”

Unraveling the Mysteries of Cancer Metabolism

For senior Thomas Cong, inspiration came from his family members' experiences with cancer.

“Given my family history, I was always interested in the complexities of cancer,” Thomas reflected.

Using a computational model, his research project, titled Overlooked covariates in metabolite abundance levels: Systematically quantifying the information overlap between gene expression and metabolism across multiple cancer types, aimed to unravel the complexities of altered metabolism in cancer cells. As a result, Thomas noted that his findings are a potential catalyst for understanding and targeting metabolic pathways in clinical settings.

“From the very beginning, I wanted look at this disease from a computational perspective and maybe discover things that you can't really see with just a lab grid.”

Thomas said he is most excited about having access to the connections that the Society for Science provides, including Nobel Prize winners and MacArthur fellows.

Bridging Language Barriers with Technology

Senior Elena Prisament's passion for language learning inspired her project, Novel Annotations in Machine Translation Facilitate Language Acquisition.

“Growing up in a multilingual household, I saw how some family members struggled to learn English, and language barriers are one of the greatest things preventing success for immigrants and refugees.”

Recognizing these barriers, Elena adapted machine translation tools, adding color coding and tooltips to improve accessibility for language learners. Her proof-of-concept study showcased the effectiveness of these adaptations in enhancing language learning.

“This recognition is really inspiring because it's nice to see what I'm capable of, especially at this age,” she said of the honor.

The young entrepreneur said she plans to continue developing her project into a full-time endeavor and hopes to start her own company with her language learning software as the flagship product.

Investigating Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer's Patients

Senior Aiden Fel spent countless hours in the lab conducting research for his project, Deficiency of Tetrahydrobiopterin Impairs Cognition in Alzheimer’s Disease and in Mild Cognitive Impairment. His research studied the impacts of amino acid deficiency on mental cognition in Alzheimer patients.

Aiden dedicated 12-hour days to his research, all while balancing the rigorous demands of his academic schedule.

“So being named a semifinalist is an incredible honor for me,” Aiden said. “When I first heard, I was in disbelief because the anticipation has been building for so long.”

Harmonizing Cognitive Workload with Musical Training

Senior Anabel Reed, a talented musician, sought to alleviate the cognitive workload experienced by adolescents during challenging tasks through her project, Musical Training Decreases Cognitive Workload During Hearing-in-Noise Tasks Among Adolescents.

Her research demonstrated that musical training could significantly decrease cognitive workload among elementary and middle school students.

“The goal of my project is to demonstrate that music education can enhance cognitive abilities, reduce stress, and improve overall academic performance,” Anabel noted.

Despite facing setbacks, including a lost data set due to a technical glitch, Anabel credits the support of her teachers and mentors for guiding her through challenges and making her research journey rewarding.

Ossining Science Research Program’s Dynamic Duo

Teachers Valerie Holmes and Angelo Piccirillo, co-directors of Ossining's Science Research Program, have played instrumental roles in shaping the program's growth and nurturing the inquisitive minds of aspiring young scientists. Year after year, the pair have guided their students through novel and independent research at the graduate level, resulting in lasting impacts on the world of science through award-winning projects.

"We are so excited to have our students recognized by this prestigious competition,” expressed Ms. Holmes. “The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the pillar of high school science achievements, and to have five students from our school listed in the top 300 is a tremendous accomplishment! We are so proud!"

Reflecting on the achievement, Mr. Piccirillo added, "We are thrilled that these five students have been recognized and extremely proud of all our seniors. Our program's success year after year also speaks volumes of the dedication our students have to promote a community of collegiality that we know is critical for them to become leaders in whatever career they choose to pursue science or otherwise. These students are truly amazing."

Ossining High School's five Regeneron Science Talent Search semifinalists are set to receive a $2,000 award, while the school will be granted $2,000 for each enrolled scholar.

The upcoming key dates for the the next phase of the competition include the announcement of the top 40 finalists on January 24, followed by the Regeneron STS Finals Week taking place from March 6-13. The final winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on March 12.