Each year, students from our Science Research Program apply to outside science institutions that offer mentoring by scientists on real world projects and/or classes in areas of STEM. These experiences help our students further their content knowledge, gain hands-on experiences with new equipment and procedures, and expand their communication and presentation skills.
This year, our program had students accepted to programs at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Albert Einstein Montefiore, Brown University, Cambridge University, Hofstra University, Columbia University and the Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institute.
Senior Priya Persaud studied the Genomic Characterization and Clinical Relevance of TP53 Hotspot Mutations in Colorectal Cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering – the HOPP program.
Throughout her internship, Priya utilized three database programs to draw correlations between five hotspot mutations and the loss of tumor-suppressor abilities.
Senior Isabella Prada analyzed data from a 3-year retrospective study on the “Correlation of Cellular Differentiation in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast in Relation to HER2 Gene Amplification,” through Albert Einstein’s Montefiore H.S. Summer Program. The hope would be that one day the research can help people with HER2 gene amplification receive better treatment.
During a 6-week program at Hofstra University’s Summer Science Program, seniors Christina Wilson and Nidhi Parikh had the opportunity to learn more about the “Effect of Different Room Colors on Consumer Purchases Based on Neurological Activity.” This study focused on how colors can affect a business’s earning potential. Christina, along with junior Guranaad Kaur, were accepted to Columbia University’s prestigious Science Honors Saturday Program, where they both will be participating in advanced lectures and STEM this Fall.
Senior Kushpreet Ahuja worked on a 7-week virtual project through Columbia University International Youth Researcher’s Conference (IYRC). Kushpreet chose to write a research paper on, “Can Exercise Help Improve an Eating Disorder?”
Elizabeth George took part in an online neuroscience mentoring program, SCI-MI. This program consisted of classes, daily assignments and a final research project. Topics studied included clinical, computational and behavioral neuroscience. Her final paper was on the, “Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on People with Fibromyalgia as a Result of Childhood Abuse.”
Junior You Jun (Fred) Han studied at Brown University, where he participated in a 3-week program in the areas of Physics and Computing. Fred has also started an internship this fall through Cambridge University’s Centre for International Research. Under the mentorship of Dr. Jay Singh, Fred is “Simulating the Implementation of a Physical Finger Printing Server,” for Bluetooth and other wireless protocols. This project aims to provide an additional layer for much needed wireless security.
Senior Sahara John will be working this Fall at the Feinstein Institute on the problem, “How does CEACAM1 interact with the TGF-β/β-II spectrin signaling pathway to control obesity driven hepatocellular carcinoma?” She looks forward to using immunochemistry labeling process to examine liver tissue, in order, to understand the effects of protein (CEACAM) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.
