Willowbrook senior named as semifinalist in Intel Science Talent Search

Willowbrook senior Sally Nijim has been named as a semifinalist in the 75th annual Intel Science Talent Search. According to the event's website at https://student.societyforscience.org/intel-sts, "the Intel Science Talent Search is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious pre-college science and math competition."

Nijim is one of 300 semifinalists in this event, which is hosted by the Society for Science & the Public and the Intel Foundation and Corporation. Semifinalists were selected from 1,750 entrants from 512 high schools in 43 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and six American and international high schools overseas.

To become a semifinalist, Nijim had to submit an application that consisted of an academic profile, her scientific research project/report and several essays. Entries were evaluated and scored by three Ph.D.-level scientists. Each qualified project was scored based on the online application questions, the Research Report and the overall scientific potential of the student. Nijim’s research project focused on the investigation of a nuclear pathway involved in a multitude of cancers, which acts as a novel target for cancer therapeutics as a means to significantly decrease cancerous tumor growth, avoid the cancer cell resistance that naturally results from the cancer drugs currently used and improve clinical prognosis and outcomes for cancer patients.

As a semifinalist, Nijim will be awarded a monetary prize. Willowbrook also will receive a monetary prize, which will be designated to further support excellence in science, math and/or engineering education.

Participants in the Intel Science Talent Search also are granted a variety of badges if they meet specific criteria, and Nijim was awarded the Entrant Badge, Scientific Research Report Badge, Student Initiative Badge and Semifinalist Badge.