Two SHS Students Named Semi-FInalists in This Year's Intel Science Talent Search

Scarsdale High School Science Teacher Beth Schoenbrun announced that not one, but two students in the high school’s science research program have been named semi-finalists in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search. SHS Seniors Archana Ram and Zubin Koticha were two of 300 students selected as semi-finalists in the 2014 competition. From this select pool, 40 finalists will be invited to Washington, DC in March to participate in final judging, display their work to the public, meet with notable scientists, and compete for the $100,000 award. The announcement of the finalists will be made on January 22.

Zubin Koticha’s winning research project is in the field of economics and examined risk tolerance for those managing money from different sources. His study is titled, "Monetary Risk Preferences as Influenced by Source of Money and Salience" and he explained, "My research examines the risk preferences of individuals managing their own money, others' money, and borrowed money. Allegedly, the financial crisis was catalyzed by an excessive amount of risk taken on the part of money managers (individuals who invest money on behalf of other people.) I aimed to determine whether this was true from the perspective of psychology. I found that the way the financial system is set up lends itself to extreme risk-taking in good economic times and excessive risk aversion in bad economic times.”

He continued, “As a lover of the science of Economics, I was filled with shock when I was named a semifinalist; I thought it was only going to be biologists, chemists, physicists, and mathematicians. I am grateful to Intel for realizing the vast value of Behavioral Economics, which is uncharted territory that needs to be traversed.

Trust me, I couldn't do it myself. I know it's cliche, but it was all because of my parents, my mentor, and Ms. Schoenbrun."

We asked Koticha where he got the inspiration for his idea and he told us that he has had a passion for economics since sixth grade and reads the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal.  He will continue his study of economics in college and is considering a career in academics. Koticha is also a violinist, a composer and “lover of Bach” and draws parallels between his passion for economics and music, saying they both are intellectual and creative pursuits.

Archana Ram was awarded for her molecular biology research that focused on the regeneration of heart muscle tissue.  Her study is titled "Cyclin A2 Mediates Dedifferentiation and Subsequent Mitosis in Postnatal Cardiomyocytes" and was done under the direction of Hina Chaudry at Mt. Sinai. According to Ram, "My work supports the notion that heart muscle cells, under the influence of a protein called cyclin A2, become younger (like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and are able to divide, which lets them repair the cellular damage caused by heart attacks. I'm so honored to be a semifinalist (I still can't believe it!) and am so grateful to everyone who's helped me with my work. It's been a long three years of work and I'm so glad that my efforts were recognized."

Ram’s inspiration came from a book about cardiac regeneration that her father brought home. She felt fortunate to be able to work in Dr. Chaundry’s lab for the past two summers where she made tissue cultures from mouse heart cells. During the school years she spent a minimum of five hours per week on her research study.  She plans to study both science and math in college. Ram is also a photographer who has created her own photo blog.

Teacher Beth Schoenbrun said,  "I am very proud of all of our science research seniors who went through the process of entering Intel STS.  In addition, I extend my congratulations and best wishes to Archana and Zubin for having been chosen, and I wish them luck in the next (Finalist) round."

Here is the link to Archana's blog: archanaram.tumblr.com