May 20, 2022

For Immediate Release

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA – Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society presented awards for its 2022 Student Research Showcase. The virtual competition included 220 student participants and over 200 total presentations. Monetary awards were given for the overall competition winner, the people's choice award, and first and second place winners in the high school, undergraduate, and graduate divisions. Additionally, honorable mentions were given to the top presenter in each research discipline category.  

The Student Research Showcase is an annual virtual competition aimed to build students' science communication skills so they can convey the value of their research to technical and nontechnical audiences. Participants submitted abstracts for entry into the competition in early spring. During a month-long evaluation period, students built websites, videos, and slideshows to present their research to a panel of judges and public audiences. Judges' evaluations were based on how well the students communicated enthusiasm for their projects; explained the significance of their research; used text, charts, and diagrams; and responded to questions. 

2022 Student Research Showcase Awards:

Overall Winner ($500)

Chloe Barreto-Massad
American Heritage School Boca/Delray
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
An Investigation of the Effects of Aerobic and Anaerobic Environments on Antibiotics Produced by Soil Bacteria

People's Choice Award ($250) – Sponsored by Shimadzu

Sofia Ferreira
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Prediction of photogrammetry-based habitat complexity using a trait-based approach on coral reefs in Guam

High School Division

First Place ($500)
Chloe Barreto-Massad
American Heritage School Boca/Delray
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
An Investigation of the Effects of Aerobic and Anaerobic Environments on Antibiotics Produced by Soil Bacteria

Second Place – ($250)
Likhitha Selvan
American Heritage School, Plantation
Physiology and Immunology
Unraveling the Mysteries of Inflammasomes in Alzheimer's Disease

Undergraduate Division

First Place ($500)
Elizabeth Leon
Nova Southeastern University Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Upregulation of Osteoclastogenesis by Phosphoglycerol Dihydroceramide-Containing Vesicle of Porphyromonas gingivalis

Second Place ($250)
Mary Margarette Sanchez
New York Institute of Technology
Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Dysplastic Cervical Pre-Cancerous Cells in Pap Smears can be detected by Convolutional Neural Network

Graduate Division

First Place ($500) - Sponsored by HappiLabs
Hannah Bulgart 
The Ohio State University
Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Neuronal Membrane Repair Defect as a Novel Mechanism Contributing to Alzheimer Disease

Second Place ($250) - Sponsored by HappiLabs
Zihan Gao
University of Toronto
Physiology and Immunology
Assessment of Short-Term Patient Outcomes for Varying Coronary Stent Devices Reported on MAUDE Database

Honorable Mentions—Top Presenters in each Research Discipline

Agricultural, Soil and Natural Resources
Quinn Hughes and Tyler Clair
Minnetonka High School
Using Monte Carlo Simulation to Optimize Vitamin C Production in Brassica oleracea using Abiotic Plant Stress

Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Frances Lum 
The Bronx High School of Science
Structure-based identification of scramblase candidates in the endoplasmic reticulum

Chemistry
Nishant Lahiri
Corning Painted-Post High School
Polyethyleneimine Impregnated Adsorbents for a Community-Based Carbon Capture and Sequestration Approach

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Sonja Michaluk
Carnegie Mellon University
DNA Barcoding for Freshwater Bioassessment: A Versatile Lab Extension

Engineering (tie)
George Cheng
Green Level High School
Continuous Oral-fluid Monitoring of Glucose (OMG) Device with Near Field Communication Capabilities

Nesara Shree
Jesuit High School
SOS.net - Introducing a Robust System to Harness the Power of AI for Search and Rescue Missions. 

Henry Zhao
Collingwood High School
Low-Cost Quadruped Robot with Rough Terrain Traversal, Obstacle Avoidance, and Autonomous Navigation

Environmental Sciences
Leisha Devisetti
The Harker School
Importance of Local Adaptation in California Poppies for Ecological Restoration

Geo-sciences
Milind Mait
Monta Vista High School
Geocentric Pose Analysis of Satellite Imagery Using Deep Learning

Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
Uma Nath
Bergen County Academies
Assessing Pain Behavior Using Facial Expressions from Individuals with Shoulder Pain: Developing a tool for correct diagnosis

Math and Computer Science
Adrit Rao
Palo Alto High School
AutoABI: Enabling Ankle-Brachial Index Prediction From Doppler Sounds Using Deep Learning for Peripheral Arterial Disease Diagnosis

Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Annabel Tiong
Northwood High School
Characterizing HBV Viral Particles propagated by 5 different host methods

Physics and Astronomy
Jessica Schonhut-Stasik
Vanderbilt University
Understanding Kepler's Superflaring G Dwarfs: Investigating Whether Superflaring Behavior can be Attributed to Unseen, Low-Mass, Companions

Physiology and Immunology
Sungjoon Kang 
Korea International School
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair