Smithtown HS East Lands 3 Regeneron Semifinalists

SAINT JAMES, NY — Smithtown High School East students Daanish Bassi, Jolene Cao and Richard Chai were all named top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Smithtown Central School District announced.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the nation’s most prestigious pre-college science and mathematics competition. It recognizes the best and brightest young scientists for demonstrating exceptional scientific leadership potential.

"We are incredibly proud of Jolene, Richard and Daanish for this remarkable achievement," said Dr. Stephanie O’Brien, Smithtown School District's director of science. "Their innovative research projects demonstrate a deep passion for science and a commitment to exploring the unknown."

Maria Zeitlin, the ThINK Discovery Science research program coordinator, lauded the students’ accomplishments, as well.

"We are over the moon to have multiple winners and each one is so deserving!" she said. "Their research in the fields of biochemistry, material science, and chemistry is precise, intellectual, and relevant in a world that is hard-pressed for creative solutions to global issues."

Bassi’s research, "Assessing Novel RIPK2-MKK7 Interaction Inhibitors in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines," in the lab of Dr. Wei Yang, investigated the sequence of activities in a molecular pathway to find a target for stopping the spread of cancer cells.

Cao’s research project is titled, "Synthesis of Stable and Magnetically Responsive
Magnetite/Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots for Programmable Light
Polarization." It was conducted in the lab of Dr. Yadong Yin, where she investigated perovskite quantum dots, tiny crystals at the quantum level used in the fields of energy, healthcare, and computers, that suffer from instability.

Chai’s research, "Optimizing the Nitro-Oxidation Process to Convert Lignocellulosic Waste into Fertilizers and Nanocellulosic Materials," was researched in the lab of Dr. Benjamin Hsaio. She improved upon a chemical process, converting discarded plant matter into a usable, biodegradable materials for both filtration and fertilization by improving its safety and accessibility.