Schools

Yorktown's Priya Mohindra Named Siemens Competition Regional Finalist

Yorktown High School senior Priya Mohindra is the only student in the Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties to be named regional finalist of the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology.

 science research program student Priya Mohindra is the only student from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties to be named a regional finalist of the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology. 

"We are thrilled with this news, and are so proud of the work that she has accomplished to have reached this point with her three-year research project," said Michael Blueglass, director of the Yorktown Science Research Program. 

She will present her research at Carnegie Mellon University on Nov. 18 and 19.

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"It is an indescribable feeling," said Priya, who was a regional semifinalist last year at the same competition. "I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it. I feel so honored to be able to represent Yorktown High School and our area at the Regional Finals. I’m really excited for the trip and look forward to presenting my research along with all of the other winners from this region. I hope to make new friends and learn about the other research projects as well."

Priya's research focuses on making Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, used for body scans, more specific in detecting cancer at the cellular level, rather than at the anatomical level. She said in recent years there has been an increasing drive to develop improved methods of imaging to simplify diagnoses and subsequent treatment decisions without sacrificing accuracy. 

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"I have always been intrigued with the idea of applying engineering to real world medical issues," she said and added that a few years ago, a close family friend was diagnosed with brain cancer and had to undergo radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

"Unfortunately the cancer wasn’t detected early as it was asymptomatic," Priya said. "Only when the cancer caused seizures, was an MRI scan of the brain performed to reveal its presence. This made me extremely interested in early cancer detection. I researched numerous imaging techniques from MRI scans to Quantum Dots and became fascinated with the idea of improving these modern imaging methods."

Through her research, Priya said she hopes scientists can create a standard library of different imaging agents that are modified with different antibodies (which will allow the agents to target different cancers).

"This will greatly simplify the lives of researchers when it comes to imaging studies or doctors when it comes to diagnosing patients," she said.

Priya's mentors throughout her research are Dr. Jason Lewis and Dr. Brian Zeglis of the radiation department at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

The Siemens Competition is administered annually by the College Board, awarding college scholarships for high school students ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 in individual and team categories for original research in math, science and technology.

More than 1,000 projects were received this year from throughout the United States. Of these, regional finalist will be called to compete at one of six regional competitions held over three consecutive weekends in November. Winners of the regional events are invited to compete at the National Finals in New York in December.

"Priya is a very dedicated, humble, hard working young woman," Blueglass said.

Apart from science research, Priya is the treasurer of the National Honor Society at Yorktown High School. She has a black belt in Taekwondo, a sport that she has been doing for more than 10 years.

Fore more information, including a complete list of semifinalists and regional finalists, is available at www.siemensfoundation.org.  


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