Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalist Named at Harborfields

Harborfields Central School District is proud to announce that on Jan. 9, senior Jacob Wax was named a semifinalist in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search Competition. Jacob is among 53 students from Long Island and only 300 nationwide to reach the semifinals.

Jacob’s project, “Investigating the Sensitivity and Specificity of Potentiometric Biosensor Mechanism through Bacteria and Bacterial Spore Cross-Testing,” came about while he was attending the Garcia MRSEC Research Project at Stony Brook University. During this seven-week program, Jacob had the opportunity to work with his mentor, Dr. Miriam Rafailovich of the university’s engineering department, and graduate students, who worked in concentrated areas of the program. With an interest in biology and engineering and the understanding that biosensors contain both, Jacob began his work on one area of the research, which he took from a larger project started in 2008. “The purpose of the project is to see if a biosensor (any mechanism in which a biological stimulus is turned into an electrical response) is able to determine whether or not certain bacteria are present in a sample,” explained the young researcher. “I am hoping to go back and develop more data and results.”

In recognition of his outstanding research project, Jacob was presented with $1,000, and an additional $1,000 will be applied toward furthering the district’s related programs.

“I am so honored to be representing Harborfields High School as a 2013 Intel Semifinalist,” remarked Jacob. “I am truly grateful for the encouragement and support I have always received from my family and all the wonderful teachers and administrators I have had at Harborfields. I am also so appreciative of my mentor, Dr. Miriam Rafailovich, and Yingjie Yu for helping me conduct my research at Stony Brook University. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to conduct such cutting-edge research, and I am excited to continue my work!”

From the group of 300 semifinalists nationwide, 40 finalists will be chosen to attend the Intel Science Talent Institute in Washington, D.C. in mid-March. In Washington, the finalists will participate in a final judging process and compete for national scholarships, including the top prize in the amount of $100,000. The 40 finalists will be announced on Jan. 23.

The district congratulates Jacob and wishes him well on the next level of the competition.

Photo Caption: Harborfields High School science research student Jacob Wax has been named a semifinalist in the 2013 Intel Science Talent Search Competition.