Working with Foundation Researchers Helps High School Student Reach Intel Semifinals
While most high school seniors are looking forward to prom, Ben Silver was conducting his first major independent research project. Ben is enrolled in a three-year science research class at Suffern High School. Interested in studying the workings of the brain, Ben chose neuroscience for his project and began his quest for a mentor.
“Choosing Kessler Foundation was easy,” Ben said. “Everyone I spoke to was incredibly nice, knowledgeable, and open to the possibility of me conducting research at the Foundation.”
In the summer of 2011, Ben spent three weeks at Kessler Foundation learning about the work being done in Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Research. He observed cognitive testing, MRI scans and how data are collected for studies of multiple sclerosis (MS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Ben learned about the importance of the brain’s white matter, less often studied in brain research, which has traditionally focused on the brain’s gray matter. In simple terms, gray matter functions like computers; white matter is comparable to the cables that connect or network computers.
The following summer, he spent five weeks at the Foundation conducting MS research involving a new neuroimaging technique, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTI is well suited for studying the effects of MS and TBI on white matter. Scientists worked with Ben to formulate a hypothesis and analyze data. He discovered that in patients with MS, awareness declined as their brain’s white matter deteriorated.
Ben earned a semi-finalist spot and $1,000 in the Intel Science Talent Competition for his project, entitled, "The Relationship between White Matter Integrity and Self-Awareness in Multiple Sclerosis using Diffusion Tensor Imaging.” The Intel Science Competition encourages students to pursue ambitious scientific questions and develop skills to solve the problems of tomorrow. Participants are judged on their original scientific research and their achievement and leadership, inside and outside the classroom. Out of more than 1,700 high school students from around the nation entered in the competition, only 300 semi-finalists were chosen.
“Being a semi-finalist is incredibly exciting,” he exclaimed. “The Intel competition is so highly respected, and to see my own name and project up on the list of semi-finalists is an honor. It's great to know that all of the hard work over three years was worth it. I couldn’t have done it without the guidance from the researchers at Kessler Foundation.”
“Ben is an eager and intelligent young man,” said Helen Genova, PhD, research scientist at Kessler Foundation. “He grasped concepts immediately, and brought his own scientific ideas to the table. His achievements are well-deserved and are just a preview of what’s to come in his academic and scientific career.”
His experience at Kessler Foundation confirmed his interest in working with the brain. Ben has time to decide if he wants to pursue his interest through medicine or research, but he plans to enter a combined MD/PhD program so he has a wider range of career opportunities. We wish Ben success in his chosen career of scientific research.
