4 Syosset Students Named Regeneron Contest Semifinalists

Syosset NY

07 January, 2022

1:34 PM

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SYOSSET, NY — Four Syosset High School seniors were named semi-finalists in the 2022 Rengeneron Science Talent Search. They are among just 300 students nationwide who were selected for the honor. The semifinalists, know as scholars, were chosen from among more than 1,800 applicants for the program. The Scholars come from 37 states, as well as China, Switzerland. and Singapore. As scholars, each student will receive a $2,000 scholarship, as well as $2,000 for their school. "Amid an unprecedented and ongoing global health crisis, we are incredibly inspired to see such an extraordinary group of young leaders who are using the power of STEM to solve the world's most intractable challenges," said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science, publisher of "Science News" and a 1985 Science Talent Search alum. "The ingenuity and creativity that each one of these scholars possesses has shown just how much intellectual curiosity and passion can thrive, even in difficult times." The Syosset students are Sabrina Chen, Ethan Chiu, Rohan Ghotra and Eric Huang. Chen completed her project "Negative Charges at T168, S169, and/or S170 of ECM11 Promote Wild-Type Meiotic Progression and Synapsis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cells" under the direction of Dr. Nancy Hollingsworth at Hollingsworth Laboratory, Stony Brook University. The importance of Ecm11 and its negative charges in accurate meiotic progression and synapsis were evaluated by mutating the amino acids on the three phosphosites in yeast, or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Chiu completed his project "Developing a Self-Formed Ectodermal Autonomous Multi-Zone Organoid Model Using Human Stem Cells to Examine the Effect of Doxycycline Treatment in Uveal Melanoma" at the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai under the direction of Dr. Timothy Blenkinsop. He studied Uveal Melanoma (UM), the most common deadly eye cancer, and examined the effect of an antibiotic on the genes involved in tumor proliferation. Ghotra worked under the direction of Dr. Peter Koo at the Koo Laboratory, Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on his project, "Uncovering Motif Interactions from Convolutional Attention Networks for Regulatory Genomics." He studied computational modeling, in particular artificial intelligence, which is frequently employed for DNA analysis. Ghotra developed a novel pipeline (GLIFAC) for extracting interactions between protein binding sites in the DNA. The proposed technique uses global correlations to statistically validate all local interactions, thus improving accuracy. Huang's project "Compliant and Aerodynamic Characteristics of a 3D Printed Variable Chamber Aircraft Wing," was completed at Syosset High school under the direction of Ms. Erin O'Rourke. He used 3D printing plastic to create a small-scale airplane wing capable of bending when a force was applied. Such a design is beneficial because the wing can alter its aerodynamic characteristics to maximize its efficiency depending on the scenario. For example, the wing can be set to full-camber during takeoff to maximize lift and can be set to minimum-camber during cruising to minimize drag. "Being named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar is a remarkable accomplishment," remarked Syosset High School research facilitator Veronica Ade. "These students have worked tirelessly throughout their high school careers. I am impressed by their perseverance and am so proud of their accomplishments." The scholars from Long Island are: Jacqueline Atchley, Paul D. Schrieber High School, Port WashingtonAurrel Bhatia, Bethpage High School, BethpageMichelle Brown, John F. Kennedy High School, BellmoreLawrence Chai, Mount Sinai High School, Mount SinaiKarly Chan, William A. Shine Great Neck South High School, Great NeckSara Chan, Jericho Senior High School, JerichoSabrina Chen, Syosset High School, SyossetCaitlin Chheda, Herricks High School, New Hyde parkEthan Chiu, Syosset High School, SyossetJonathan Chung, Smithtwon High School, East Saint JamesLindsay Fabricant, Roslyn High School, Roslyn HeightsAbraham Franchetti, Paul D. Schreiber High School, Port WashingtonRohan Ghotra, Syosset High School, SyossetAanya Goel, Herricks High School, New Hyde ParkMaya Groothuis, Roslyn High School, Roslyn HeightsBella Guerra, Sacred Heart Academy, HempsteadReem Hamdan, Plainedge High School, North MassapequaEric Huang, Syosset High School, SyossetJeremy Kotlyar, William S. Shine Great Neck South High School, Great NeckEthan Labelson, Friends Academy, Locust ValleyRachel Lee, Manhasset High School, ManhassetAbigail Lev, Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, PlainviewBrandon Lin, John F. Kennedy High School, BellmoreRicardo Lopez, Brentwood High School-Ross Center, BrentwoodRoberto Lopez, Brentwood High School-Ross Center, BrentwoodChristopher Luisi, John F. Kennedy High School, BellmoreAmber Luo, Ward Melville High School, East SetauketEvie McCreery, North Shore High School, Glen HeadSoyoun Moon, Commack High School, CommackGabi Oliva, Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, PlainviewRoshni Patel, Herricks High School, New Hyde ParkShivani Patel, Manhasset High School, ManhassetChristopher Prainito, John F. Kennedy High School, BellmoreJanice Rateshwar, Jericho Senior High School, JerichoDesiree Rigaud, John F. Kennedy High School, BellmoreVarsha Saravanan, Hauppauge High School, HauppaugeOlivia Schmidt, Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, PlainviewSarah Schubel, Smithtown High School, East Saint JamesHarshita Sehgal, Roslyn High School, Roslyn HeightsShannon Su, John F. Kennedy High School, BellmoreLexi Vesselinov, Paul D. Schreiber High School, Port WashingtonEthan Wang, Jericho Senior High School, JerichoIsabel Wang, William A. Shine Great neck South High School, Great NeckGene Weng, Sayville High School, West SayvilleOlivia Yeroushalmi, John L. Miller Great Neck North High School, Great NeckHailee Youn, Roslyn High School, Roslyn HeightsRenee Zbizika, John L. Miller Great Neck North High School, Great NeckAllison Zhang, Manhasset High School, ManhassetBilly Zhang, Ward Melville High School, East Setauket