Saturday, June 21, 2025
Four Hewlett High School students were recognized for their work in science research at this year’s Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, a regional competition for the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair.
LISEF promotes three science research fairs, which host 70 schools, with the first place winners advancing to the International Science & Engineering Fair.
Emily Smukler took second place in chemistry at the fair and said she was incredibly proud to share her work with professionals in the field. She looks forward to continuing her research.
“I was incredibly thankful for the opportunity to present my research to professionals,” Smukler said. “I couldn’t wait to share my work and approach my project from new perspectives. I was also very proud to represent my school, lab, and family, who have all provided me with so much support in my research endeavors.”
Her project involved the use of DNA to form artificial nanostructures. Through various methods, she demonstrated that the DNA structure she created was stable and could accurately detect an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecule.
Smukler, a 2025 Regeneron STS regional semifinalist and a participant in the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, conducted her research at New York University, where she will start college this fall.
Ariel Greenberg, Abdullah Ashrafi, and Ariel River also earned top-three placements at the fair. Ashrafi placed second in physical science, and River secured third in translational medicine.
Greenberg earned second place for her work in plant biology, studying a mutant form of the fern Ceratopteris richardii, which shows greater development in the presence of salt and silver ions. She said she was grateful for the opportunity to present her research and grow as a biologist, especially after not having similar opportunities at her previous school, Shoreham-Wading River High.
“It was definitely a great achievement, because I came from a school that didn’t have these opportunities,” Greenberg said. “Dr. Bissoondial was amazing. I was behind in biology because of my old school, and he tutored me over the summer to help me get caught up in basic biology. Then he helped me put together this project and taught me specific techniques.”
Terrence Bissoondial, a science research professor at Hewlett High School, mentored Greenberg and River on their projects and said the work put in by all of the students could rival that of college-level research.
“Our students did an incredible job at LISEF,” Bissoondial said. “I am very proud of my students, especially those conducting research in class. Their work can rival that done at universities.”
Greenberg and Ashrafi were selected to take part in the second round of the New York Science and Engineering Fair on March 24 before the Herald went to press.
