4 Intel Finalists, Simons Summer Research Participants Mentored by SBU Faculty

When the Intel Science Talent Search finalists were announced this week, the Stony Brook University community had reason to celebrate: Four of the 40 finalists were Simons Summer Research Program participants who were mentored by Stony Brook faculty members and graduate students.

In a statement on Friday, Stony Brook President Dr. Samuel L. Stanley Jr. congratulated both the students and the faculty members on their achievements.

"Stony Brook University consistently mentors and develops some of the top high school research talent in the nation,” he said. "... This continued success is a testament to the vast opportunities provided by Stony Brook and the quality of research, education and discovery that happens here every day."

Earlier this month, it was announced that 35 of the 300 Intel semifinalists were mentored at SBU.

Dr. Matthew Dawber of the Department of Physics and Astronomy mentored Kevin Chen, a student from Fremont, California; Dr. Carlos Simmerling in the Department of Chemistry assisted Mayuri Sridhar of Kings Park; Dr. Gregory Zelinsky in the Department of Psychology mentored Michael Zhang of St. James; and Dr. Iwao Ojima of the Department of Chemistry, who has previously mentored several Intel and Westinghouse scholars at Ward Melville High School, served as mentor to Raghav Tripathi, a student from Portland, Oregon.

These four Intel finalists will compete with 36 other nationwide scholars for $630,000 in awards in March during a weeklong event in Washington, D.C.

Last year's Intel winner, Nithin Tumma, was mentored by SBU's Dr. Berhane Ghebrehiwet.