May 15, 2019
Nearly 150 students presented their research online in Sigma Xi's competition, The Student Research Showcase. The competition builds students' science communication skills so they can convey the value of their research to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Presenters submitted websites containing an abstract, video, and slideshow. Judges critiqued how well the students communicated enthusiasm for their projects; explained the significance of their research; used text, charts, and diagrams; and responded to questions.
The judges have made their selections for the 2019 division winners and top presenters by section.
High School Division Winner ($500 Award)
Nicholas Distefano, American Heritage School-Plantation
Cell Biology and Biochemistry Category
Analysis of Cholesterol Species in the Human Optic Nerve
Undergraduate Division Winner ($500 Award)
Natasha Shah, Quinnipiac University
Chemistry Category
Cation Effect on the Redox Properties of a Europium-Bridged Polytungstate
Graduate Division Winner ($500 Award)
Anthony Oppong-Gyebi, University of North Texas Health Science Center
Physiology and Immunology Category
Influence of Ovarian Hormone Deprivation Length on the Neuroprotective Effects of Genistein in Stroke
Overall Top Presenter (Additional $500 Award)
This is the first year that an overall top presenter has been named in the Student Research Showcase. The three division winners were eligible.
Nicholas Distefano, American Heritage School-Plantation
Cell Biology and Biochemistry Category
Analysis of Cholesterol Species in the Human Optic Nerve
People's Choice Award
Vote now for the $250 People's Choice Award. The public votes for the winner of this award, based on the merit of the presentation's video. All presenters are eligible to win. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. Pacific on May 22. See the 2019 presentations to make your selection.
Top Presenters by Section
Agriculture, Soil, and Natural Resources
Hope Alex, American Heritage School Boca/Delray
Using Dimeric Cationic Proteins Found in Moringa oleifera to Develop a Simple Method of Water Purification
Anthropology
Jennifer Caldwell, Howard University
Identifying Genetic and Bio-Cultural Associations amongst the Gullah Geechee and Affiliated Groups
Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Nicholas DiStefano, American Heritage School Plantation
Analysis of Cholesterol Species in the Human Optic Nerve
Chemistry (tie)
Philip Brous, Bronx High School of Science
Using a Quantum Equilibrium Ensemble to Uncover the Effects of Cage Flexibility on the Diffusion of Hydrogen Gas in Clathrate Hydrates
Jehil Mehta, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science
Development of a Novel Silver Triazole Metal-Inorganic Framework as Reusable Method of Cleansing Benzene Derivatives from Water
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Raiyna Villasenor, California State University, Sacramento
Egg Size Determines Fry Size in Substrate-Spawning Cichlid Fishes
Engineering (tie)
Leon Aharonian, Bronx High School of Science
PoMS: Posture Monitoring Shirt
A Comfortable Shirt that Uses Machine Learning to Generate Posture-Defining Coordinate Transforms Based on Electrical Resistance from Stretch Sensors
Roshini Balan, Holton Arms School
Harnessing the Signaling Power of Cancer Cells for Tissue Engineering
Raghav Ghanesh, Lynbook High School
Serene: An Assistive Biomedical System to Predict and Prevent Autistic Meltdowns
Environmental Sciences
Ankush Dhawan, Signature School
An Improved Method for Trace Level Quantification of Arsenic in Water
Geosciences
Elena Hochheiser, Taylor Allderdice High School
Constructing a Holocene History of Celestine Lake
Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
Clara Nguyen, Pine Crest School
Evaluating Health Consequences of Nail Salon Work in Vietnamese-Americans
Math and Computer Science
Supriya Roy, Mayo High School
Impact of Network Disruption on Optimal Pathlength and Transport Efficiency
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Esther Chai, Townsend Harris High School
Breast Cancer: Identification of GREB1 as a Potential Coactivator
Physics and Astronomy
Bryan Wang and Rishi Dange, The Harker School
Studying Metals in the Circumgalactic Medium by Post-processing Cosmological Galaxy Simulations
Physiology and Immunology
Anthony Oppong-Gyebi, University of North Texas Health Science Center
Influence of Ovarian Hormone Deprivation Length on the Neuroprotective Effects of Genistein in Stroke
Congratulations to all participants. Presenters will receive a certificate of participation. High school participants will be invited to submit a research manuscript to Sigma Xi's journal for pre-collegiate research, Chronicle of The New Researcher.
For more details about this competition, please visit the Student Research Showcase page.