By Khalida Sarwari
Ruchi Pandya, a Lynbrook High School senior from Saratoga, won the Regional Siemens Competition held at the California Institute of Technology on Nov. 7-8 and is one of six high school finalists in the nation.
Ruchi has been invited to present her work at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. from Dec. 5-8.
Ruchi, 17, was selected to participate in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology based on her project titled “Development of a Carbon Nanofiber Electrode Based Biosensor for Cardiac Health.”
In this project, Ruchi worked to find a cost-effective, efficient and reliable diagnostic tool for detecting the presence of increased concentrations of proteins in the bloodstream of a cardiac arrest patient. The techniques currently being used for detecting the concentrations of these proteins are determined through lengthy and costly procedures, whereas her research has the potential to bring the cardiac health diagnostic market to the home, providing quick and accurate protein detection mechanisms just as insulin monitors have transformed the diabetic assistance market, she said.
“It’s really an exciting and kind of busy time,” said Ruchi, who was working on a project with a friend when she received the news via a phone call. She said she was surprised to learn that she was selected as a regional finalist.
“I was half screaming on the phone; I was dancing around,” she said. “I was really happy that my work was recognized at such a high level.”
Though she’s still too young to know which career path she wants to pursue, Ruchi said she can see herself in a STEM career. Her interest in nanoparticles can be traced back to her sophomore year, when she was working on a project at Stanford University to develop a water purification filter using photo-activated nanoparticles that could potentially serve as a clean, eco-friendly and inexpensive solution to water problems in the developing world.
“That’s what showed me the power of nanoparticles,” said Ruchi. “I was shocked at how effective the nanoparticles are in mitigating pathogens.”
From that project, she learned how to apply her understanding of nanoparticles in the realm of health diagnostics. A further impetus to pursue this research was the fact that cardiac arrest causes approximately one-third of the deaths in the world and that South Asians especially have a tendency to be at risk for heart illnesses and diseases, Ruchi said.
“I’m Indian, so I was looking to see if there’s something I can do to mitigate that,” she said.
The Siemens competition is a nationwide technical science research competition that recognizes talented high school students who challenge themselves through science research. The competition allows students to achieve national recognition for science research projects that they complete in high school, according to the organization. This year, 60 students were selected as regional finalists out of more than 4,500 entrants across the country, and only six are named national finalists.
For a complete list of regional finalists, visit siemens-foundation.org/pool/2014_competition/2014_regionalfinalists_final.pdf.
Link: Lynbrook’s Ruchi Pandya wins Siemens Regional Competition
