Awardees: 2020
Congratulations to our 2020 Grand Prize Senior Division Awardees
JiWoo Chung
First Place | Shaker HS
Project Title: Enhancing Transient Transfection Methods Using DMSO Treatment in HEK 293 Cells
Hannah Shell
Second Place | BH-BL HS
Project Title: Expression of c-MYC in Human Endothelial Cells Results in Abnormal Vascular Morphogenesis and Metabolic Reprogramming
Henri Prevost
Third Place | Warwick Valley HS
Project Title: Assessing Toxic Airborne Nicotine Concentrations From Use of Electronic Vapor Products (EVP) in Public Middle and High School Bathrooms to Quantify Youth Exposure
Jadyn Caruthers
First Honorable Mention | Taconic Hills HS
Project Title: An Investigation into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Expression as it Relates to Military Rank
Amol Kumar
Second Honorable Mention | Guilderland HS
Project Title: Challenges and Solutions for Computer Recognition of Diverse Spoken Contact Names
Eliza Hogan
Third Honorable Mention | Hudson Falls HS
Project Title: The Quantitative Effect of Colchicine on the Inhibitory Growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans
Congratulations to our 2020 Grand Prize Junior Division Awardees
James Lian, Arin Khare, Kai Vernooy
First Place | Iroquois MS
Project Title: Hacking the Election: Measuring and Solving Gerrymandering in Today’s Political System
Sophia Boice
Second Place | Greenwich CSD
Project Title: The Effect of Various Agricultural Byproducts as Deicers on Seed Germination
Andrew Calderon, Ishan Khambete
Third Place | Shaker Jr HS
Project Title: What Angle Between the Branches of a Tree is Best Suited for Sun Collection?
Owen Compani
First Honorable Mention | Broadalbin-Perth MS
Project Title: Move It! Enhancing Vehicle Traffic Patterns at a Big-Box Store.
Simone Waters
Second Honorable Mention | Greenwich MS
Project Title: Bacterial Composting: The Effect of Added Bacteria on Compost Efficiency
Honora LaRock
Third Honorable Mention | Greenwich CSD
Project Title: Mycoremediation, Testing the Effectiveness of Pleurotus Ostreatus to Remediate Glyphosate Contaminated Soils
Regional Awardees Senior Division
Albany Molecular Research (AMRI)
Ava Herzog, Saratoga Springs HS
Project Title: The Effect of the rd1 Mutation on Circadian Locomotor Activity and Nesting Behavior in Mice
ASM (American Society for Microbiology)
Olivia Biasetti, Saratoga Springs HS
Project Title: The Effect of Increased Humidity Levels on the Fungus: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Brown League Sports Award
Joey Laurer, Saratoga Springs HS
Project Title: Predicting Potential for Baseball Pitchers’ UCL Damage Through the Correlation of Elbow Stress to Leg Strength
Dudley Observatory
Anavi Parikh, Shaker HS
Project Title: Analyzing Astronomical BHB Star Data
GCRSEF Excellence in Computer Science Award
Andrew Huang, Shaker HS
Project Title: English Helper: an AI-Based, Interactive and Personalized American Accent Tutor for Everyone
Linda Austin DNA Science and Technology Award
Isaac Murrell, Nyack HS
Project Title: The Utilization of CRISPR Sequences in E. coli to Reveal Point of Origin
Momentive Performance Materials
Simran Arneja, Monroe-Woodbury HS
Project Title: The Effectiveness of Scalability and Material Capabilities in Soft Microrobotics Actuators
National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Science Research Award
Annika Berlin, Rondout Valley HS
Project Title: Examining the Role of Val/Met Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Female CRISPR Rat Models
National Grid
Rohan Menon and Ian Vernooy, Niskayuna HS
Project Title: Aquametric – Distributed and Low-Cost Stream Monitoring
Nuclear Society
Robert Morabito, Newburgh Free Academy
Project Title: Developing a Novel Approach for Energy Sourcing for a Thermoelectric Cooler Based Atmospheric Water Generator Using a Microbial Fuel Cell Based Upon Wastewater
Jane Golub Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation
Amol Kumar, Guilderland HS
Project Title: Challenges and Solutions in Computer Recognition of Diverse Spoken Contact Names
Regeneron Award
Xiangwan Sun, Bethlehem Central HS
Project Title: Pseudomonas Aerugionosa Antigen Expression and Purification
RPI $40,000 Scholarship
Amol Kumar, Guilderland HS
Project Title: Challenges and Solutions in Computer Recognition of Diverse Spoken Contact Names
SI Group Award
David Gabriel, Greenwich Central HS
Project Title: An Investigation into the Properties of Varicolored Copper (II) Oxide Nanoparticle Doped Silica Aerogels.
STANYS Eleanor M. Reed Research Excellence Award
Shiyuan (Jessica) Zhang, Emma Willard
Project Title: Plant Diseases Detection and Treatment Based on Convolutional Neural Network
Walter Eppenstein Astronomy/Physics Award
Aya Habbas, Nyack HS
Project Title: The Orbital Parameter Distribution of Primordial Black Holes
Regional Awardees Junior Division
Albany Molecular Research
Arisha Khawaja and Audrey Smith, Shaker Jr HS
Project Title: Mineral Sunscreen vs Chemical Sunscreen
American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Eastern Branch
Simone Waters, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: Bacterial Composting: The Effect of Added Bacteria on Compost Efficiency
Cullen Blake/Deena Mousa Excellence Award
Sara Oakley and Kaiya Fraley, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: What Is a Healthy Natural Remedy for Preserving Fruit such as Apples?
Momentive Performance Materials
Zahi Ladkhan, Shaker Jr HS
Project Title: Will the Use of Conductive Paint Around a Bed Reduce the Amount of Sleepwalking Injuries?
National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)
Honora LaRock, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: Mycoremediation, Testing the Effectiveness of Pleurotus Ostreatus to Remediate Glyphosate Contaminated Soils
National Grid
Elizabeth Marci, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: The Effect of Artificial Light on the Growth of Soybeans
Nuclear Society
Andrew Calderon and Ishan Khambete, Shaker Jr. HS
Project Title: What Angle Between the Branches of a Tree is Best Suited for Sun Collection?
Price Chopper Golub Foundation
Sana Bargeer and Sarah Nune, Shaker Jr. HS
Project Title: Fruit Dispute
Regeneron
Jack Fortier, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: The Effect of Bacteria on our Clothes from Dryers
SI Group Award
Arjen Davidson and Joseph Skiff, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: Flocculation Water Treatment
STANYS Eleanor Miller Reed Science Research Award
Ava Aierstok and Eli Buretea-Bloom, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: The Effect of Road Salt on Early Cabbage Growth and Germination
ISEF Awardees Senior Division
American Meteorological Society
Rohan Bagchi, Shaker HS
Project Title: Assessing Cyclone Damage Potential for Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Using a Convection-Permitting Pseudo-Global Warming Simulation
American Psychological Association (APA) and Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS)
Liam Epstein, Saratoga Springs HS
Project Title: The Relationship Between Temperament and Implicit Language Aptitude
ASM International Foundation Outstanding Materials Award
Anthony Bruno, Monroe-Woodbury HS
Project Title: Report on the Thermal Conductivity of Gold Nanostar Based Nanofluids
Mu Alpha Theta
Patrick Dai and Labesh Baral, Shaker HS
Project Title: A New Approach to Gradient Descent
Nasa Earth Systems
Annabelle Bangs, Nyack HS
Project Title: The Influencers of Albedo and the Impact of Albedo on Surface Temperature
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Logan Plowinske, Columbia HS
Project Title: The Effect of Oxybenzone on the Health of Freshwater Organisms
Regional Ricoh Sustainable Development Award
Shravan Ranganathan, Monroe-Woodbury HS
Project Title: Effect of Cancer Treatment on the Cognitive Functioning and Quality of Life of Cancer Patients
Society for In Vitro Biology
Agnes Yang, Shaker HS
Project Title: Development of an Anti-Synuclein Intrabody for the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and Spinal Cord Injury
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Rachel Lee, Saratoga Springs HS
Project Title: The Effects of Varying Levels of Shungite on Water Purity
Jennifer Callan, Rondout Valley HS
Project Title: The Deletion of the arcA Gene from Escherichia coli LSBJ CRP* for the Improved Production of Polyhydroxydecanoate (PHA)
Katherine Hardy, Rondout Valley HS
Project Title: A Preliminary Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in the Esopus Creek: An Ashokan Reservoir
US Metric
Anna Lansford, Saratoga Springs HS
Project Title: The Effect of Pre-Earthquake Positive Air Ionization on the Movement and Behavior of Lumbricus terrestris
USAID From the American People
Mikayla Washburn, Hudson Falls HS
Project Title: The Effect of Color Worn by a Handler on the Heart Rate of a Horse
US Air Force
Rohan Menon and Ian Vernooy, Niskayuna HS
Project Title: Aquametric – Distributed and Low-Cost Stream Monitoring
U.S. Navy & Marine Corps
Hayden Butterfield, Columbia HS
Project Title: The Comparison Of Boron And Carbon Fiber In Composite Materials
Jadyn Caruthers, Taconic Hills HS
Project Title: An Investigation Into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Expression As It Relates to Military Rank
Nathan Wang, Shaker HS
Project Title: Deep Learning Based CT Thermometry for Thermal Tumor Ablation
Yale Science & Engineering Association Inc
Saad Aloraifi, Shaker HS
Project Title: Univeresal Water Based Dumbell
ISEF Awardees Junior Division
American Meteorological Society
Kylie Lundberg, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: The Effect of Climate Change on The Transmission of Sunlight Through an Algal Bloom
Association of Women Geoscientists
Sophia Boice, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: The Effect of Various Agricultural Byproducts as Deicers on Seed Germination
DoD STEM Leadership Prize
Ava Aierstok and Eli Burettea-Bloom, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: The Effect of Road Salt on Early Cabbage Growth and Germination
Lemelson Early Inventor Prize
James Lian, Arin Khare, and Kai Vernooy, Iroquois MS
Project Title: Hacking the Election: Measuring and Solving Gerrymandering in Today’s Political System
US Metric
Caroline Kelly, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: The Effect of Different Lengths of Exposure in 100% Acetone on the Biodegradation of Microplastics
US Air Force and Reserve
Zahi Ladkhan, Shaker Jr. HS
Project Title: Will the Use of Conductive Paint Around a Bed Reduce the Amount of Sleepwalking Injuries?
Owen Compani, Broadalbin-Perth MS
Project Title: Move it! Enhancing Vehicle Traffic Patterns at a Big-Box Store
US Navy
Noah Davis, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: Building a Better Knee
Zahi Ladhkan, Shaker Jr HS
Project Title: Will the Use of Conductive Paint Around a Bed Reduce the Amount of Sleepwalking Injuries?
Caroline Kelly, Greenwich CSD
Project Title: The Effects of Different Lengths of Exposure in 100% Acetone on the Biodegradation in Microplastics