Davidson Fellows - Class of 2012

2012 Davidson Fellow Laureates

$50,000 Scholarship Recipients

David Ding Albany, CA Category: Mathematics Project Title: “Infinitesimal Cherednik Algebras of gl_n.” ____ ____ ___ ___ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

Manoj Kanagaraj Chino Hills, CA Category: Science Project Title: “A Novel Mechanism for HER2 Targeted Drug Resistance: The Role of t-DARPP in a Compensatory Signaling Shift Between the EGFR and HER2 Pathways"

David (Fengning) Ding studied infinitesimal Cherednik algebras which are deformations of a certain symmetry algebra. This could shed light on how a deformation could change the well-understood representation theory, and prove useful in describing the symmetries of mysterious phenomena such as super-symmetry. More >

_

Manoj Kanagaraj developed a model identifying how the protein t-DARPP confers drug resistance to HER2-targeted breast cancer drugs such as Herceptin, by activating an alternate signaling pathway to sustain tumor cell survival. Approximately 50-70% of HER2 breast cancer tumors become resistant to Herceptin within a year. More >

---

Sara Volz Colorado Springs, CO Category: Science Project Title: “Enhancing Algae Biofuels: Investigation of the Environmental and Enzymatic Factors Effecting Algal Lipid Synthesis”

Michael Yan Pepper Pike, OH Category: Science Project Title: “Genetic Mutation of LRRK2 Causes Autosomal Parkinson’s Disease by Disrupting Mitochondrial Dynamics"

Sara Volz sought to increase the oil produced by algae to make algae-derived biofuels more feasible. Her work focused on developing algae as an effective oil source for biodiesel, by finding and characterizing ways to stimulate algal oil production through environmental and genetic means. More >

_

____

Michael Yan found that mutations in LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) cause Parkinson’s disease by physically interacting with DLP1 (dynamin-like protein 1), a protein that promotes mitochondrial fission, thereby causing excessive fragmentation. Identification of this biomechanism provides a therapeutic target to curing Parkinson’s disease pathology. More >

2012 Davidson Fellows

$25,000 Scholarship Recipients

Nathan Chan Burlingame, CA Category: Music Project Title: “The Importance of Passion” ____ ____ ___ ___ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

Ashley George Port Jefferson Station, NY Category: Science Project Title: “Creating a Framework for a Flexible, Biodegradable, and Biocompatible Gelatin-Chitosan Biosensor"

Nathan Chan created a cello portfolio that is a commentary on what it means to be successful and how one finds success. As a musician who has thrived through the passion and love of his craft, Nathan believes that the pursuit of one’s passion is a key factor in finding success in life. More >

___

Ashley George created a flexible, biocompatible and biodegradable gelatin-chitosan gel substrate suitable for a low toxicity, bio-friendly biosensor. Biosensing is critical to all areas of scientific research but has been hindered by the lack of a low toxicity, biodegradable substrate. More >

---

Philip Cody He Okemos, MI Category: Science Project Title: “A Novel Role of an Actin Capping Protein in Plant Immune Signaling”

___________

Duligur Ibeling Osseo, MN Category: Science Project Title: “The Metallicity-Dependent Transition between White Dwarfs and Type II Supernovae"

Philip Cody He focused on how intracellular signaling in plants works to produce an effective immune response against bacterial pathogens. Arabidopsis thaliana Capping Protein is the first actin binding protein that has been shown to be required for the expression of an immune protein in plants. More >

Duligur Ibeling determined the mass boundary between a star becoming a supernovae or white dwarf based on the star’s initial condition, thus improving understanding of supernovae which produce most of the heavy elements, including those necessary for life. More >

---

Ryota Ishizuka Cos Cob, CT Category: Science Project Title: “Optimization of a Microbial Fuel Cell to Drive a Bioelectrochemically Assisted Wastewater Treatment”

Nina Lu Rockville, MD Category: Science Project Title: “Determination of Binding Energy Hotspots on a Broadly-Neutralizing Antibody against HIV-1"

Ryota Ishizuka fabricated a novel dual hydrogen production and water purification device using wastewater as its sole fuel source. His device continuously generates renewable energy and eliminates 95% of organic pollutants in the wastewater, paralleling traditional wastewater treatment plants. More >

____

Nina Lu researched the atomic-level interaction between HIV and the broadly neutralizing antibody VRC01 by identifying nine key amino acids that contribute to VRC01’s ability to potently bind to 91% of circulating HIV strains. This research will inform potent next-generation anti-HIV therapeutics and vaccine. More >

---

Naomi Shah Portland, OR Category: Science Project Title: “An Experimental Study of the Impact of Airborne Pollutants on the Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) Rate of Asthmatic Subjects PLUS A Novel Risk Assessment Model to Predict the Adverse Effect of PM10 and TVOCs on the PEF Rate of Asthmatic Patients”

_____

Lijia Xie Lansdale, PA Category: Science Project Title: “Location Matters—Specificity of the Methylated RASSF1A Gene as a Biomarker for the Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinomas"_____ _____ ______ _____ ____ ____ ____ _____ _____ _____ _____ ______

Naomi Shah determined the relationship between indoor pollution and the lung health of asthmatic patients, and developed a mathematical model for more targeted treatment. She also developed a biofilter that removes pollutants before they enter indoor space where we spend over 90% of our time. More >

_

Lijia Xie investigated a tumor suppressor gene and its usefulness as a biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or liver cancer. He then developed a test that is able to detect and differentiate cancerous and noncancerous tissue with greater sensitivity than current methods. More >

$10,000 Scholarship Recipients

Saumil Bandyopadhyay Glen Allen, VA Category: Science Project Title: “A Novel Frequency-Selective Detector of Light and ß Radiation Implemented with Self-Assembled Quantum Wires: An Application of Quantum-Mechanical Wavefunction and Density-of-States Engineering”

_

Alexander Chen Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Category: Science Project Title: “A Maximum Power Point Tracking Hardware with an Improved Hill Climbing Algorithm" ____ ______ _____ ____ ______ ______ _____ ______ ______

Saumil Bandyopadhyay invented a universal photon and particle detector built with semiconductor nanowires that detects the entire electromagnetic spectrum as well as single beta-radiation particles. His research has applications in mine detection, car collision avoidance systems, astronomy, homeland security, and cancer treatment. More >

Alexander Chen developed and implemented a computing algorithm in a microcontroller to automatically optimize the operating voltage of a photovoltaic panel to track changes in sunlight intensity and ambient temperature. More >

---

Sitan Chen Suwanee, GA Category: Mathematics Project Title: “On the Rank Number of Grid Graphs” ____ _____ _____ _____ ______ _______ ______

_

Ioana Grosu Troy, MI Category: Philosophy Project Title: “Consciousness and the Hard Problem: Discovering the Mind"

Sitan Chen studied grid graphs, a class of graphs linked to circuit design, and found formulas for unknown rank numbers. His results show how to design smaller, more cost-effective circuits, how to optimize searching for data corruptions in computers, and assembling complex products using parallel computing. More >

___

Ioana Grosu investigated emergent dualism”, which considers that consciousness is an emergent property, arising from a sufficiently complex system. Her findings contribute to a better understanding of consciousness and have implications in fields ranging from medicine to artificial intelligence. More >

---

Xiaoyu He Acton, MA Category: Mathematics Project Title: “On the Classification of Universal Rotor-Routers”

_

Bryan He Buffalo, NY Category: Technology Project Title: “A Simple Optimal Binary Representation of Mosaic Floorplans and Baxter Permutations"

Xiaoyu He studied the rotor-router model which simulates random, unpredictable behavior in networks with periodic, predictable behavior. He focused on the question of which rotor building blocks could build every type of rotor-router network and found that certain rotors, because of their symmetries, cannot build everything, but proved that most of the other, asymmetric ones can. More >

__

Bryan He designed an optimal binary representation of mosaic floorplans used in the process of creating layout designs during very-large-scale integration. This compact coding of mosaic floorplans allows more efficient floorplan algorithms to be created. More >

---

Kamden Hilliard Mililani, HI Category: Literature Project Title: “Reflections on Everything There Ever Was”

_

Ian McKeachie Reno, NV Category: Literature Project Title: “ Attitudes of Existence"

Kamden Hilliard wrote a portfolio of work that not only explored the concept of completeness, but personal completeness. He explored mental illness and other marquee issues while respecting the entirety of human experience attempting to touch the corners of humanity. More >

_

____

Ian McKeachie examined humanity’s relationship with death. Death is not present in literature to make life seem nobler, he argues, but to make the reader uncomfortable. This discomfort turns the reader’s attention inward, and forces people to reconsider their attitudes towards their own existence. More >

---

Vaishnavi Rao San Diego, CA Category: Science Project Title: “Activity-dependent Regulation of Nitric Oxide Expression: Novel Form of Neurotransmitter Plasticity”

_

Anand Srinivasan Roswell, GA Category: Technology Project Title: “"Doc Ock" - Development of Novel Filtration Techniques to Facilitate Accurate Pattern Detection in EEG Signals"

Vaishnavi Rao examined the plasticity of gaseous neurotransmitter nitric oxide, which is involved in regulation of vital body functions. By altering electrical activity she induced neurotransmitter plasticity in the form of nitric oxide regulation. This approach shows potential for non-invasive treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and stroke. More >

__

Anand Srinivasan designed a filtration algorithm that allows, on average, 15% more accurate pattern classification in electrical signals produced by the brain, with applications in brain-computer interfaces, and speech recognition and data transmission. More >

 

2012 Davidson Fellows Honorable Mentions

Literature Miss Angelica Modabber New York, NY A Gathering of Moments Mathematics Mr. Mitchell Lee Oakton, VA A Counterexample to a Correlation Inequality Music Miss Kimberly Hou Arlington, VA Realizing the World's Love for Classical Music   Miss Ariel Kent San Francisco, CA Raising Awareness of Dyslexia Through Music   Miss JiEun Lee  New York, NY La Vie en Musique: Living My Life for Music Miss Min Joo Yi Bellevue, WA Healing Lives through Music Science Miss Rebecca Alford Commack, NY The Membrane Mutational Effect Classifier (MMEC): A Novel Structure Based Approach to Predicting the Functional Effects of Mutations in Membrane Proteins Mr. Felix Angelov Skokie, IL Investigating the Effects of Butyryl-L-Homocysteine Thiolactone and Homoserine Lactone Octadecanoyl-L on Quorum Sensing in Vibrio Harveyi as Expressed Through the Presence/Absence of Luminescence Mr. Ben Bartlett Lexington, SC Unidirectionalization of Particulate Distributions in Isotropic D+D He3+n Reactions Utilizing Differential Ion Velocities Miss Sarah Chapin New Hyde Park, NY Computer Aided Drug Discovery: Structure-Based Design and Evaluation of Small Molecule Botulinum Neurotoxin Inhibitors

__

Science (cont.)  Miss Maria Grimmett Jupiter, FL Sulfamethazine Removal from Aqueous Solution using Purolite Hypercrosslinked Adsorbents Mr. Jack Huang Allentown, PA From Dusk to Dawn: Contact Lenses in the Night Tear Proteome Mr. Yinan Kang Collegeville, PA New Mathematical and Computerized Methods for the Structural Elucidation of Bioactive Steroids Mr. Nathan Kondamuri Dyer, IN A Novel Biofuel Cell Incorporating Photosynthesis to Efficiently Create Sustainable Electrical Energy Mr. Rahul Mukherjee Rochester, MN Restoration Of The Great Lakes: A Genetic Study On Zebra And Quagga Mussels To Unfold The Mystery Of Calcium Based (Ca2+) Invasion And Its Survival Miss Katherine Picchione Albany, NY Production of Biogas Energy: Design of a Safe Anaerobic Digestion and Gas Compression System to Create Energy from Organic Waste and Food Waste Via Methanogenic Processes Miss Sofia Rafikova Evans, GA Measuring Amount of Detergent in Bodies of Water Near Big and Small Cities Miss Sulekha Ramayya Palos Verdes, CA Increasing the Efficiency of Energy Extraction from Landfill Gas Technology Mr. Arjun Balasingam San Jose, CA Minimizing the Variability-Induced Power Overhead in Nanoscale SRAMs: Redundancy and Resiliency for Extremely Energy-Constrained Computing Mr. Andrew Feldman Freehold, NJ Acoustic Imaging Using Optimized Beamforming Techniques

Back to Davidson Fellows Home