HHH High School Seniors Named Intel Semifinalists

The Half Hollow Hills Central School District is very proud to announce the Semifinalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search 2013.  Half Hollow Hills High School Students Puja Bansal, Tammy Jin, Jonathan Kim, Rohan Goyal, Abhinav Patil, and Robert Tannenbaum were among 300 students from over 170 high schools across the country named Intel Semifinalists.

• Puja Bansal submitted a project titled, “Three Dimensional Molecular Imprinting for the Detection of Viral Pathogens”.  She worked at Stony Brook University under Dr. Miriam Rafailovich.  Puja is 17 years old.
• 17 year old senior at High School East, Tammy Jin, submitted a project titled, “Variable M3-S2 Linker Tension Modulates N-Methyl D-Aspartate Receptor Activity in a Subunit Specific Manner”.  Tammy worked with Dr. Lonnie Wullmuth at Stony Brook University.
• Jonathan Kim, also 17 years, old worked at The Rockefeller University in the laboratory of Dr. Elaine Fuchs.  The project he submitted was called, “Determining the Cell Cycle Stage of Cells in Developing Hair Follicles”.
• Rohan Goyal, is a 16 year old senior who submitted a project titled, “Human Immunodeficiency Virus Induces Pro-Apoptotic Features in Renal Cells through the Down Regulation of Vitamin D Receptor”.  Rohan worked at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research under Dr. Pravin Singhal.
• 17 year old senior Abhinav Patil, submitted a project titled, “Geometric Phase as a Systematic Error in the Proton EDM Experiment”.  Abhinav worked with Dr. Yannis Semertzidis at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
• Robert Tannenbaum, 17 year old East Senior worked with Dr. Jie Lian from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  The project that Robert submitted his called, “Enhancement of Graphene-based Supercapacitor Devices in Both Symmetric and Asymmetric Electrochemical Cell Environments”.

“The accomplishments of these students are amazing,” commented Mrs. Kelly Fallon, Superintendent of Schools for Half Hollow Hills. “The fact that their knowledge and research in the various fields of science actually benefit the world is phenomenal.  The entire Half Hollow Hills Community applauds these students on their outstanding achievements.”

Dr. Michael Lake, the Director of Academic Research for Half Hollow Hills further noted that three students were also named Semifinalists in the prestigious Siemens Competition, which were announced in October; Tammy Jin, Abhinav Patil and Robert Tannenbaum.  “This is a very impressive feat to be a double competition winner”, Dr. Lake stated“.

As the nation’s oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition, the Intel Science Talent Search brings together the best and brightest young scientific minds in America to compete for $1.25 million in awards.  Each Semifinalist receives a $1,000 award from the Intel Foundation with an additional $1,000 going to his or her respective school, resulting in $600,000 in total semifinalist awards.  Finalists will be announced on January 23, 2013 in Washington, D.C.

The award-winning Half Hollow Hills Central School District of Huntington and Babylon provides educational services for students in grades Kindergarten through 12, and takes pride in being a Triple A District – achieving excellence in Academics, Athletics and the Arts.

Pictured (from left to right): Tammy Jin, Rohan Goyal, Puja Bansal, Abhinav Patil and Robert Tannenbaum

Missing from picture is Semifinalist Jonathan Kim