High School Students' Summer Research at Poly Ascends to Regional Finals in Prestigious Competition

Two exceptional area high school students who participated in Polytechnic’s Summer Research program at the Center for Youth in Engineering and Science (YES Center) reached the regional finals in the prestigious Siemens Competition for Math, Science, and Technology. Janet Hui of Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills, New York and Donglin (Lynn) Yi of Hunter College High School in Manhattan were named regional finalist at the Middle States Regional Finals held November 17 -18, 2006 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.

The two budding scientists worked under Jose Pinto, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, to design a new mathematical model to simulate Hepatitis C infection in order to improve drug therapy for patients. The team’s model could ultimately be used to help predict, personalize and improve interferon treatment on Hepatitis C patients.

The Siemens Competition was launched in 1998 to recognize America’s best and
brightest math and science students. About 1,600 high school students from around the country entered the competition this year. Up to thirty individual students and thirty teams of 2 or 3 students are chosen to compete at six regional competitions where they are judged by esteemed scientists at leading research universities.

For more information on Janet Hui and Donglin Yi’s project visit the Siemens Competition web site.