International Young Scientists Competition

1st Annual International Young Scientist Competition Winner Biosketches

Video TT 0:48 min.

Peter Guastella
Research Specialist
Manhasset Public Schools
Manhasset, New York

1^st Prize Winner: Ms. Celline Kim

Video TT 1:43 min.

Ms. Kim is a senior who would like to major in Biochemistry or Biomedicine once in college. Upon completing her studies, she would like to pursue a position in professional research and practice medicine at the same time. Her various honors in Science include 4th place at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair, 1st place at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, Semi-finalist at Siemens-Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition, and 1st place at the Rohm-Haas Invitational Science Fair. She is the recipient of the SUNY/National Institutes of Health research stipend (2008). As a 7th grader, Ms. Kim's research was published in The Medical Science Monitor, titled 'Morphine regulates gill ciliary activity via coupling to nitric oxide release in a bivalve mollusk: Opiate receptor expression in gill tissues'. Ms. Kim is an AP Scholar with Distinction. She is currently the captain of the Manhasset High School Fencing team and principal violist in her school orchestra, as well as a member of the New York Youth Symphony. Furthermore, she received 2nd place at the LISMA International Music Competition 2008.

2^nd Prize Winner Mr. Demitri Dedousis

Video TT 1:30 min.

Demitri Dedousis attends Manhasset High School (Class of 2010) where he has participated in Introductory and Advanced Science Research since freshman year. Through Science Research, Demitri’s work has been acknowledged with several awards, including first place in the Rohm Haas Science Fair and second place in the Long Island Science Congress. Demitri has had the opportunity to perform research in a wide variety of sciences, ranging from agriculture to population genetics. Most recently, Demitri was able to conduct yeast research at the Rest Laboratory of Stony Brook University under the Simons Program. Demitri resides with his family in Manhasset, N.Y. In his spare time, he enjoys trapshooting and sailing, as well as walking his two dogs, Apollo and Troy.

3^rd Prize Winner Ms. Johanna Lee

Johanna Meehyun Lee is a graduate of the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, New Jersey. She has a profound interest in the sciences, especially in biology, and this has led to her involvement in scientific research on diabetes. She was one of the winners at the North Jersey Regional Science Fair in 2008 and went on to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. She was also named an Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist in 2009. Additionally, she was a semifinalist for the National Chemistry Olympiad in 2008. She also enjoys playing the flute and was recognized at the regional and state levels. During the summer, she organized a music workshop for middle school students in order to raise money for schools that need funding for their music programs. This fall, she will be attending Harvard University, where she plans to major in the sciences. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career as a medical doctor.

Honorable Mention

Mr. Hyeondo Hwang

Hyeondo recently graduated from the Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology, a subschool of Bergen County Academies located in Hackensack, New Jersey. Hyeondo sparked his interest in biology research towards the end of his sophomore year and initiated a study on the effects of a well-known xenoestrogen on the human immune system. With the project entitled “Effects of bisphenol-A on the production of interleukin-2 and -6,” he was a symposium finalist at the 2008 North Jersey Regional Science Fair, where he also earned the First Place Award in the Environmental Science category and the In Vitro Biology Award. He participated in the Junior Science and Humanities Symposia and was selected as one of the top ten students to present the research project at Pollack Theater of Monmouth University. He was one of the two State Finalists at the 2009 sanofi-aventis BioGENEius Challenge and gave a poster presentation at the Northeast regional competition. While most of his work was done in the biotechnology lab in his high school, he interned at Fairleigh Dickinson University under the mentorship of a biology professor. He assisted with cell biology experiments involving skin cancer, P. leucotomos, and matrix metalloproteinases and co-authored a manuscript. In the coming fall, he will attend Macaulay Honors College at City College of New York, where he plans to major in biochemistry and further his enthusiasm for scientific research. He also has much interest in the field of medicine.

Ms. Jan Gong

Jan Gong, 16, is a student at Garden City High School. She is an excellent academic student with an unweighted GPA of 99. She enjoys Math and Sciences. She won first place for many math competitions. She also is a 2009 USAMO (United States of America Mathematical Olympiad) qualifier. Jan has achieved perfect SATs. She also earned a Perfect Score for the National Latin Exam in two consecutive years. She plays cello in the Symphonic Orchestra and is also an excellent pianist. She loves fencing and is the captain of the school fencing team. She has been a champion for two consecutive years in Nassau County Varsity Competition. She is hoping to study medicine in the future.

Mr. Bryan Tan

Bryan Tan is a graduate of East Islip High School attending Boston College's Honors Program in the fall. At East Islip, Bryan pursued his love of music, athletics, and academics. Concertmaster of his school's Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Pit Orchestra, he also participated in County, Long Island, and New York's All-State Music Festivals. Active in athletics, he was a member of his school’s Varsity Cross-Country, Winter Track, and Tennis teams. He took all the AP and Honors courses available to him through his school and was a member of numerous Honor Societies and Clubs. Outside of school he volunteered at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, tutored students in math, taught Kung-Fu at a Chinese Cultural Center, and organized a food drive. He was a National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar, NY Regents Winner, as well as a Finalist in the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. During his summers, he participated in John Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth (CTY) taking courses in Science, English, and Math. Enjoying the outdoors, he has also gone on two one-month backpacking expeditions through the US backcountry as well as Europe's Swiss Alps. One of his finest achievements was being selected as a 2008 Simon's Summer Research Fellow under Dr. Bassem Allam.

Mr. Edward Vargas

Edward Vargas was born to parents Eduardo Vargas Valcarcel and Yvanka Pachas Luetic on February 18 1993. He began his research on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as a high school freshman in the spring of 2008. Looking to find an association between Docosahexaenoic acid and the prevention of AD he looked to Nitric Oxide, a molecule known to have properties that decelerated the progression neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Other notable awards won in the field of science are 3rd Place at the Rohm Haas Invitational Science Fair (08 and 09), a finalist award at the Molloy College Science Fair, at the National Lexus Environmental Challenge his team won the 1st Prize; in mathematics he received 3rd place during the NCJML competition and he received a gold medal at the Long Island Math Fair. Currently Edward Vargas resides in the United States and attends Herricks Senior High School. His main interests are the sciences, philosophy, computers, politics, and soccer. He is unsure about which profession he will take on as an adult, but plans to major in one the sciences.

Mr. Akhil Sharma
	Akhil Sharma is going to be an 11th grader at Herricks High School in New York. In the past, he has won an Honorable Mention at the Rohm and Haas science competition, as well as participating and becoming a finalist in the Molloy College Science Competition. He plans to continue his research and enter various other competitions. His favorite hobbies are tennis, swimming, and writing.