Elmont Memorial High School senior Aafia Ahmed and H. Frank Carey High School senior Natalie Osorio recently presented their research at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio. ISEF, now in its 75th year, welcomed approximately 1,700 young scientists worldwide to compete for scholarships and prizes.
Aafia and Natalie qualified to attend this prestigious event due to their outstanding results at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. At ISEF, they presented their work to distinguished scientists in their fields, with Nobel Laureates and industry leaders serving as judges.
Aafia earned fourth place in the Cellular and Molecular Biology category for her work, “The Antioxidant Role of the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway on Methylmercury-Induced Toxicity in a Mouse Astrocyte Neuronal C8-D1A Cell Line.” Through her research, she explored the novel protective mechanism against methylmercury in a specific type of brain cell. Her fourth-place win awarded her $600.
Natalie earned a special award from the Drug, Chemical and Associated Technologies Association for her work, “Biophysical Investigations Into the Structure and Function of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Nitric Oxide Signaling System.” She focused on biofilms, a major cause of hospital-acquired infections, and investigated how altering the structure of the nitric oxide sending protein could be a promising treatment for biofilms. Her recognition from the Association awarded her $5,000.
