2 of 40 Finalists of National Intel Science Research Competition Mentored by Stony Brook Faculty

STONY BROOK, N.Y. - Two high school students, Daniel Katz and Rebecca Kaufman, who worked with Stony Brook University faculty and in Stony Brook laboratories, were selected as finalists in the 66th Intel Science Talent Search. The 40 Intel finalists were announced on January 31 st by Science Service, which runs the competition, and the competition's sponsor, Intel Corp.

Daniel Katz, from Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, Cedarhurst, participated in the Research Scholar Program at the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces. The program offers the opportunity for high school students to perform research on the forefronts of polymer science and technology. Daniel worked with Dr. Miriam Rafailovich, from the department of Materials Science & Engineering, on the project entitled "Platinum Nanoparticles: From Hydrogen Storage to Cancer Treatment".

Rebecca Kaufman is from Croton-Harmon High School , Croton-on Hudson . She participated in the Simons Summer Research Program, which gives academically talented high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to engage in hands-on research in science, math or engineering at Stony Brook University . Rebecca worked on the project entitled, "Androgen Modulation of Cognitive Functions Relevant to Schizophrenia in Rats," with Dr. Mary Kritzer from the department of Neurobiology and Behavior.

The two students, with 38 other Finalists, were chosen from a pool of 300 semifinalists. Among the semifinalists, a total of 21 students were mentored by Stony Brook faculty, making up six per cent of the semifinalists nationwide, and 34 percent of Long Island 's 64 semifinalists. The semi-finalists were among 1705 entrants representing 487 high schools in 46 states, the District of Columbia , Puerto Rico , and five overseas schools.

The 21 semifinalists mentored at Stony Brook did research with faculty mentors from the departments of Anesthesiology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Dermatology, Ecology and Evolution, Materials Science and Engineering, Neurobiology and Behavior, Physics and Astronomy, Physiology and Biophysics, Psychology, and/or Urology.

"Our extraordinary faculty researchers are generous with their time and their resources," said Shirley Strum Kenny, President of Stony Brook University. "They are truly helping to develop these gifted young students into the scientists of tomorrow."

Over the past 6 years, Stony Brook faculty members have mentored 160 Intel semifinalists. The compelling numbers reinforce Stony Brook's reputation of being one of the leading developers, and mentors of high school students in the nation and the surrounding region.

The high schools of Semifinalists received an award of $1,000 for each student, and students were provided with a certificate of accomplishment. Meanwhile, the 40 Finalists will attend the Science Talent Institute in Washington , D.C. from March 8-13, 2007. During their trip to Washington , they will participate in a final judging process and share in $530,000 in scholarships. The top prize of a $100,000 scholarship will be announced at a black tie banquet and awards ceremony on March 13, 2007.