Lynbrook Students Submit Intel Papers

After months of painstaking research, an impressive total of 12 seniors in the Lynbrook High School Science Research program have submitted research project reports to the Intel Science Talent Search, the nation’s most prestigious science research competition for high school seniors.

Semifinalists will be announced on Jan. 9. Over the past 13 years,  seven semifinalists from Lynbrook High School have been named. This year’s contenders — Maxwell Brown, Zoe Daniels, Dana Fader, Jordan Goldsamt, Tess Lewin-Jacus, Stephanie Mertz, Olivia Mooney, Rose Paskoff, Nicolai Tayco, Edward Tischler, Olivia Watman and Brandon Wong — all hope to be among the next to join this select group of semifinalists who will compete for $1.25 million in awards as they bring honor to their school.

These dedicated young scientists worked for countless hours on independent science research projects in their high school science lab and in famed research facilities such as Weill Cornell Medical Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. Delving into the fields of aeronautics, environmental engineering, biomedical research and social sciences, a number of students worked side by side with mentors who are conducting similar research in their own professional labs.

Stephanie’s studies of gene regulation in kidney cell carcinoma took her all the way to the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Brandon spent the summer at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he conducted research on the role of intracellular receptor movement in leukemic cell culture.

Closer to home, Zoe and Olivia both worked at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. Zoe designed new treatments for inflammatory collagen diseases and asthma using genetic engineering. Olivia studied physician and patient concordance of perception of treatment for rheumatic diseases. Dana investigated bioengineered disk replacement therapy at Weill Cornell Medical Center. Nicolai conducted a study of signaling pathways and disease at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Traveling to the Icahn Research Institute at Manhattan’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Tess studied the role of mutation in the development of schizophrenia. Rose developed a systematic guide for clinicians to determine if an exercise program would be beneficial to elderly patients with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Maxwell, Jordan and Olivia developed their research at the Lynbrook High School science lab. Maxwell used computer modeling to develop effective, cost-efficient and environmentally safe power from a water turbine. Jordan constructed a model to study stealth technology in aircraft. Edward studied the aerodynamics of the human wingsuit, a flying apparatus that is used in military applications and for sport. Olivia conducted a study of the factors that predict kidney transplant outcomes.

Under the guidance of science research teacher David Shanker, all of these students spent their junior year developing background information, reviewing literature, reading professional journal articles and contacting potential mentors to develop summer internships.

“By competing in the Intel, students learn how to conduct research on a professional level,” said Shanker. “They also make important professional connections that will help them as they go on to earn advanced degrees, whether they choose to pursue research careers or follow some other path of study.”