NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Three students from the Science Research Program will compete in the prestigious, highly competitive Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held globally.
Isabelle Balachandran, Amanda Cao and Natalia McMorris — all juniors — earned a place in the contest when they won first place in their categories in the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF). They were among 25 New Rochelle High School students who won a total of 31 WESEF prizes in results announced March 23.
“This is an incredible achievement,” said NRHS teacher Jeff Wuebber, who administers the school’s Science Research Program. “ISEF is the Olympics of high school science. It draws the best of the best from all over the world. Only 1,800 kids from the planet get to do this.”
ISEF judging will take place May 3-6 via video conferencing. Awards ceremonies and other events are May 16-21. The competition is a program of the Society for Science, an organization devoted to scientific literacy and science education.
The New Rochelle winners attributed the WESEF honors to the intelligence and the work ethics of their classmates and their teacher.
“I’ve seen all the work that goes into it and all the work that Mr. Wuebber puts into us,” McMorris said. “Everyone is willing to put in that time to see the results. I am happy every single day that I am in such an amazing program.”
In Science Research, students find mentors in colleges, universities or science-oriented companies to guide them in a research project they execute on their own. The NRHS program is growing and earning more awards in recent years. This is the first time any of the program’s students made it to ISEF.
“We are incredibly proud of the Science Research Program, our amazing students and their accomplishments,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero. “From winning numerous awards to having research published in an international journal, and now making it to the apex of contests, the students, and Mr. Wuebber are bringing immense pride to the entire New Rochelle community.”
WESEF President Michael Blueglass said it has been gratifying to watch the New Rochelle Science Research Program grow into a force to be reckoned with in regional and even international competitions.
“It has been so rewarding to see the New Rochelle Science Research Program finally grow to the level it deserves under the guidance of Jeff Wuebber,” Blueglass said. “The numerous, talented, intelligent students of the New Rochelle program under Mr. Wuebber’s guidance have now risen to the top echelon in one of the most competitive regions in the country.”
The first-place winners’ projects touched on cancer research, COVID-era stress and perceptions of men and women in medicine. McMorris took first place in behavioral science for her research that sought — and found — specific predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that are influenced by the stress of the COVID-19 era.
“Maybe we can get to the point where we can avoid PTSD from developing in its entirety,” she said. “If we can find these individuals sooner, then we can treat them early on.”
Cao also won first place in behavioral science — categories can have more than one winner depending on how many students enter — for her analysis of more than 3,000 data points weighing whether patients’ online reviews of physicians showed a gender bias. She found that while male doctors receive more reviews than female doctors, there was no difference in the perception of the doctors’ abilities.
“In terms of the content, such as the physician’s ability to answer questions, and the skill-based categories, there was no difference,” she said.
Balachandran’s research helped identify types of cancer that might respond well to a specific form of treatment alternative to chemotherapy and radiation. She won first place in the Medicine and Health category for her analysis of data identifying three types of cancer in which the cancerous tissue showed a higher prevalence of a specific protein targeted by the alternative treatment.
As the three prepare for the international contest, Wuebber said he will call on scientists in the New Rochelle community help with another practice night, like the one held via Zoom on March 4, but with higher stakes.
The WESEF winners were still basking in the thrill of having made it to ISEF. Cao noted that the students excelled in a competition made more challenging because of the unusual situation.
“We were able to push past the technical difficulties and have a really successful week,” she said. “It definitely shows the perseverance of our program and the passion of the students — and of Mr. Wuebber, of course!”
Balachandran said she was eager to keep moving forward.
“I’m just grateful,” she said. “I’m really excited to continue my research with the other two amazing students that I am moving on with.”
Full list of WESEF award winners from New Rochelle High School
Westchester Science & Engineering Fair 2021
Awards for New Rochelle High School Science Research Program
Sabrina Lin — American Psychological Association Award for outstanding research in psychological science
Rachel Fox — Association for Women Geoscientists Award for female students whose projects exemplify high standards of innovativeness and scientific excellence in the geosciences
Sarah Athir — Association for Women Geoscientists Award for female students whose projects exemplify high standards of an innovativeness and scientific excellence in the geosciences
Jackie Ceja — NASA Earth System Science Award for projects that offer insight into Earth’s interconnected systems
Sarah Athir — NOAA Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award for projects whose research emphasizes NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship
Leyla Selman — NOAA Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award for projects whose research emphasizes NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship
Julia Yang — Society for In Vitro Biology Award for 11th grade students with outstanding research in plant or animal in vitro biology or tissue culture
Nina Pena — United States Air Force Award for outstanding projects in engineering, mathematics, computer science, life science, and/or physical science
Jessica Shapiro — Critical Behavioral Science Achievement Award for exceptional accomplishment in behavioral science
Yaffa Segal — Dr. Rhea Jezer Energy21 Student Scholar Prize for an exceptional project in earth science, environmental science or
engineering
Qualifies to present at Energy21 symposium
Zoe Wilson — 4th Place in Behavioral Science
Jack McCormick — 4th Place in Behavioral Science
Sara Fryxell — 4th Place in Cellular & Molecular Biology
Rachel Rivera — 4th Place in Cellular & Molecular Biology
Andrew Schomber — 4th Place in Chemistry
Julia Yang — 3rd Place in Cellular & Molecular Biology
Fatima Gonzalez — 3rd Place in Cellular & Molecular Biology
Kieran Freed — 3rd Place in Engineering
Ella Harshman — 3rd Place in Medicine & Health
Akshara Koottala — 3rd Place in Neuroscience
Alessandra Pappalardi — 2nd Place in Behavioral Science
Lily Spertus Newman — 2nd Place in Behavioral Science
Brittney Benjamin — 2nd Place in Cellular & Molecular Biology
Hayden Roberge — 2nd Place in Medicine & Health
Amanda Cao — 1st Place in Behavioral Science
Natalia McMorris — 1st Place in Behavioral Science
Izzy Balachandran — 1st Place in Medicine & Health
Alessandra Pappardi — Grand Prize: Genius Olympiad Finalist
Amanda Cao — Grand Prize: ISEF Finalist
Natalia McMorris — Grand Prize: ISEF Finalist
Izzy Balachandran — Grand Prize: ISEF Finalist