WVHS Science Research program students wrap up another year

Eleven students presented projects in the WVHS atrium on Monday evening, June 10, for this year’s WVHS Science Research Symposium. The students are all part of the high school’s rigorous three-year Science Research Program, which provides WVHS students with the opportunity to participate in the scientific research community, engaging in authentic research of their own design.

The students were joined in the atrium for a Q&A session by a large crowd of administrators and faculty, mentors, friends and family. Following the Q&A, the crowd gathered in the auditorium for presentations by three of the participants, including seniors Zachary Johnston and Ava Gell.

See a gallery from the event below this story.

Ava, the WVHS Class of `24 salutatorian, is headed to Brown University in the fall.

Zachary will be attending Binghamton University.

The Science Research Program is recognized by the New York State Board of Regents. It is a component of the University in the High School program and offered in partnership with SUNY Albany. Over the program’s three years, students not only develop advanced research skills, but life skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication, time management and public speaking.

To complete the program, participating students must complete the following:

• Select and investigate topic of interest
• Develop skills in research protocol
• Read and summarize peer reviewed journal articles and critique professional scientific papers
• Practice formal presentations of peer reviewed articles or independent research
• Maintain a professional laboratory notebook
• Build a scientific portfolio
• Communicate with professionals
• Design and conduct original research
• Discuss and analyze results at symposia
• Write a final research paper

Current WVHS Science Research Program Students 

• Reese Berman
  Topic: Stress in Secondary Scholars
  Mentor: Dr. Mark Leary; Duke University
• Ashley Fitzgerald
  Topic: Therapeutic Treatment for Epilepsy
  Mentor: Dr. Detlev Boison, PhD; Rutgers Department of Neurosurgery
• Evan Grundfast
  Topic: Diagnosis of Prion Disease
  Mentor: Dr. David Jaeger, MD, PhD; Crystal Run Healthcare Neurology
• Abigail Kadus
  Topic: Effect of Regular Caffeine Consumption on Adolescent Sleep Habits
  Mentor: Dr. Arturo Arrona-Palacios, PhD; Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical
• Olivia Martino
  Topic: Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Acne
  Mentor: Dr. Rashek Kazi; Dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Angie Ortiz
  Topic: Winter Temperatur Tolerance in Winter Pea: An Experimental Design Study and Carbon Sequestration in Apple Orchards: a Literature Review
  Mentors: Dr. Solveig Hanson, PhD; Research Assistant at Cornell University. Dr. Yiqui Luo, PhD; Professor at Cornell University
• Caroline Rourke
  Topic: Assessment of the Public’s Perception of the Usage of CRISPR Technology
  Mentor: Dr. Evan Merkhofer, PhD; Asst. Professor, Mount St. Mary Department of Biology
• Charlotte Wendt
  Topic: Long Gap Esophogeal Atresia and Its Effects on Myelination in the Brain
  Mentor: Dr. Dusica Bajic; Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard University
• James Curtis
  Topic: Exoplanet Transits
  Mentor: Dr. Neil Comins, PhD; Professor, University of Maine