FORSYTH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS-2003

• Jason Hu, of Brighton, a junior at Boston Latin Academy, developed a computer program to analyze codon usage frequency—a technique that, he believes, can be used in the DNA sequencing process to determine the presence of particular bacteria. Although Jason has lived in the US for only four years, he won a first place award in the 2003 Massachusetts State Science Fair. Of his first summer working in a Forsyth lab, with bioinformatics expert Tsute (George) Chen, PhD, he says, "Learning what’s in the book is not the way of science. You can’t learn this in school." In his free time, Jason enjoys swimming and reading.

• Thomas Huynh, of Roslindale, a senior at Boston Latin Academy, studied crystallography of calcium phosphates, with the ultimate goal of understanding how scientists might one day regrow tooth enamel. In the last two summers, he has worked in the laboratories of Henry Margolis, PhD, Chair of the Department of Biomineralization, and Elia Beniash, PhD, a departmental staff member, on problems of calcification. In 2003, Thomas won a second place award in the Massachusetts State Science Fair and was a delegate to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, in Cleveland. In his free time, Thomas enjoys tennis, soccer and other sports, and environmental projects.

• Marcin Rybnik, of Dorchester, a junior at John D. O’Bryant High School, has been submitting his work to science fairs on such topics as plant bacteria and sickle cell anemia since he was 13. In 2003, his first summer at Forsyth, Marcin worked with Immunology Department Chair Martin Taubman, DDS, PhD, using DNA detection methods to assess the effectiveness of certain vaccine formulations in preventing periodontal infections. In his free time, Marcin enjoys building and racing go-carts.

• Greg Warot, of Dorchester, a senior at Boston Latin Academy, studied the effects of green tea compounds on periodontal disease. His mentor was Toshi Kawai, PhD, of the Department of Immunology. In 2003, Greg won first place awards in both the Boston and Massachusetts State Science Fairs. In May, he represented Massachusetts at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair-Cleveland and won third prize. In his free time, Greg runs a Polish scouting organization, and with his two sisters, a Polish dance organization that performed at Lincoln Center, this spring.

• Yan (Emily) Yuan, of West Roxbury, a junior at Boston Latin Academy, worked for the second summer with Michael Levin, PhD, a cytokine biologist seeking to discover when and how cells "know" where to form bodily organs. This year, Emily worked on the molecular mechanisms of memory—more specifically, on the question of how sections of flatworms "remember" and respond to operant conditioning even when they are cut apart and the brain remains in another section. In May, Emily won a first place award in the Massachusetts State Science Fair Competition. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, working on her school magazine, and serving as copy editor for her school newspaper.

Other EOP students include: Carine Belizaire of Mattapan, a junior at Madison Park High School who worked with librarian Susan Orlando, MSc on a research project about AIDS and oral health; Samreen Cheema, of Brighton, a sophomore at Fenway High School who worked on building a computer under the guidance of Ardo Panian of the Forsyth Office of Computer and Network Technology, Mary Janvier of Dorchester, a junior at John D. O’Bryant High School, who worked with Subbiah Yoganathan on a health survey of laboratory animals; and Amanda Lovell of Dorchester, a participant in a BPS tutorial program and a senior at Mt. Saint Joseph Academy, who worked with molecular geneticist Anne Tanner, BDS, PhD, on a longitudinal study of the development of periodontal disease.

Two students worked as unpaid interns: Paul Eder-Mulhane, a junior at Milton High School, worked with Dr. Fred Correia of the Department of Molecular Genetics in researching effects of ecological conditions on certain gingival bacteria; Jonathan Fine, a 2003 graduate of the Weston High School who is now a freshman at Boston University, studied novel ways to manage periodontal disease. He was mentored by Nikos Soukos, DDS, PhD, of the Department of Periodontology.

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