STONY BROOK, N.Y., January 25, 2005—Four high school students who worked with Stony Brook University faculty and in Stony Brook laboratories were among 40 students nationwide selected as finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search, the prestigious nationwide research competition. The four students represent 10 per cent of the 40 Intel finalists nationwide announced today, and half of the eight students from Long Island selected.
Stony Brook mentored 30 of the 300 Intel semifinalists announced earlier this month, making Stony Brook perhaps the largest incubator of Intel talent in the country. On Long Island, this number translates into 37 per cent of the 82 Intel semifinalists.
The four finalists who were mentored by Stony Brook faculty researchers were Jerrold Lieblich from Ward Melville High School, who worked with Professor Arthur Samuel in Psychology; Eric Meyerowitz from Northport High School, who worked with Research Assistant Professor Smita Mohanty in Biochemistry & Cell Biology; Irina Zaitseva from Centereach High School, who worked with Professor Miriam Rafailovich in Materials Science & Engineering; and Harley Zhang from Ward Melville High School, who worked with Professor Douglas Swesty in Physics & Astronomy.
“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.”
The compelling numbers reinforced Stony Brook’s reputation in developing the research talents of exceptional high school students. Last year, Stony Brook faculty mentored 36 Intel semifinalists, and it has mentored 141 Intel semifinalists over the past five years. Ward Melville High School had 12 Intel semifinalists, tying for the most of any one school in the country; 11 of the 12 conducted their research in Stony Brook laboratories.
All finalists are invited to Washington, D.C. in March, where they will compete for scholarships including a top prize of $100,000.
