Two seniors from Gunn High School- Joy Jin and Sharon Chen- both reached high honors in the Siemens Competition for Math, Science and Technology this fall. This story is excerpted from an article by Aayush Dubey that was published the Gunn Oracle on 11/17/14. Photos by the Gunn Oracle.
Gunn senior Sharon Chen
Senior Sharon Chen was named a Siemens finalist for her research project that examines processes in the brain using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Chen’s project, which was researched in collaboration with a graduate student from Stanford University, aimed to develop new detection technology that would incorporate MRI technology into Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a common scanner that identifies body conditions.
According to Chen, the new detector boards she helped create identify tumors using magnets instead of a radioactive dose, which is better for patients who are sensitive to radiation and provides clearer images on the PET system.
Chen’s project spanned a broad range of disciplines, including physics, electrical engineering, bioengineering and several other fields. “I had to learn new software, independently write code and design new circuitry and my own boards,” Chen explained. “Usually, computer engineering majors don’t even have this experience.”
Chen came away from the Siemens experience very excited about science and technology but not sure which path her career will take. “The lab members major in lots of different fields, and it has helped me see that there are different paths that people can take,” she said.
Chen presented her research at the finalists’ event at the California Institute of Technology on November 7-8, 2014.
Gunn senior Joy Jin
Gunn senior Joy Jin, reached the national semi-finalist level for her project, created with Dr. Hu Li at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), which helped identify stem cell markers for lung cancer.
“This effort is important because it’s looking for one of the first cancer stem cell markers identified in lung cancer,” Jin said.
Jin feels that her research experience will help her achieve her goals of becoming a surgeon and having an impact. “It’s really inspiring for me, because it makes me realize that if you persevere and have a hunger to figure stuff out, you can really make a difference.”
While Jin will not present her project at the Siemens competition because she was a semi-finalist, she has another opportunity at the Intel Science and Talent Search (ISTS), the nation’s most prestigious science research competition for high school seniors. This was Jin’s second try at winning the Siemens Competition; she made it to the finalist round in 2012 with another student from her previous high school, Leland HS in San Jose.
Congratulations to both of these amazing young women from Palo Alto Pulse!
It is pretty incredible to see the sophistication of research being done by 17 year olds! Congrats, Gunn!