Ossining Science Research Students Excel at International Science and Engineering Fair

Four Ossining High School students who qualified for an all-expense paid trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair each won special awards at the competition this month.

The Science Research Program students were among more than 1,700 finalists from 78 countries who competed for some of the most prestigious awards a young scientist can receive. ISEF, which is sponsored by the Society for Science & the Public, is the largest international pre-college science competition.

Sarah Hoffman received a $60,000 scholarship to the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, should she choose to attend, for her project in the category of biomedical and health sciences. Her research, which she conducted at the Rockefeller University in New York City, investigated links between type 2 diabetes, gender and Alzheimer’s disease. Her findings may change the course of Alzheimer’s research and possibly even lead to the development of a treatment for the disease. The University of the Sciences awarded five tuition scholarships of $15,000 per year for four years.

Chinmai Deo received a third-place award in the cellular and molecular biology category from the American Physiological Society. His research on ear cells isolated fast adaptation, utilizing pentachloropseudilin to inhibit slow adaptation. By isolating fast adaptation, scientists will be able to make novel insights into the mechanisms behind hearing loss. He also conducted his research at the Rockefeller University. He received $500 and a year’s subscription to Physiology, the APS journal.

Also in the cellular and molecular biology category, the team of Lior Raz-Farley and Michelle Zhang received an honorable mention from the American Statistical Association. They presented research on the significant effects of natural killer cell migration through the blood brain barrier may have on infantile spasms, a form of epilepsy. This dynamic duo worked together at New York Medical College this past summer.

The International Science and Engineering Fair took place in Los Angeles from May 14-20. The students qualified for the trip when they competed in the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair in March.

(Students, from left to right: Sarah Hoffman, Chinmai Deo, Michelle Zhang, Lior Raz-Farley.)