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Overcast Hewlett trio triumphant in Molloy science fair
Julia Igaunis, Yeraz Melconian and Zarina Wadiwala recently brought their research from the biotechnology classroom at Hewlett High School to Molloy University, emerging victorious at the Kathy Belton Science Fair.
The sophomore trio competed in the 19th annual science fair at the university’s Wilbur Arts Center on Hempstead Avenue in Rockville Centre on March 15. The students placed first in the biochemistry category, where they were up against five other teams from Copiague, Floral Park, Garden City, Kellenberg Memorial and Massapequa.
“We’ve only been in our biotechnology class and saw all the projects here, which was a limited number,” Wadiwala said. “Being able to go to the competition and see all these amazing projects, while also showcasing our ability to the judges, was a really memorable experience.”
The trio studied the enzyme “target of rapamycin,” also known as TOR, which aids in the development of living things, with their focus being plants.
They applied what they learned to ceratopteris richardii, a semi-tropical aquatic fern found in Florida, Igaunis said, and identified a unique form of the TOR gene, which they found to be essential in the plant’s development.
“It was very interesting,” Igaunis said. “We found a new form of the protein is in the fern that we studied.”
Terrence Bissoondial, the students’ mentor, teacher and science research coordinator at Hewlett High School, was thrilled to hear of their feat, which earned them “bragging rights,” he said.
“It’s always very wonderful for them to see that as long as you come up with something innovative, how wonderful it is to do well,” he said.
The three students are enrolled in the science research course, which Bissoondial teaches for all levels, but Igaunis, Melconian and Wadiwala are in the sophomore specific class.
Bissoondial taught the class the foundation for biochemistry and molecular biology at the start of the school year and then developed research topics, which the students took on with his guidance.
“My job, after giving them the research problem, is mainly to make sure that there’s no harm, and they safely apply everything,” he said. “So, they are now executing the project — I help them in terms of getting supplies, making sure everything is properly disposed. Afterwards with their research, I help them with just showing them where they could find some resources.”
During the science fair, Igaunis, Melconian and Wadiwala presented their research to judges and answered questions about the TOR enzyme. Throughout the research process, Igaunis specialized in data analytics, Melconian in background information about TOR and Wadiwala on RNA sequencing of the enzyme.
“I feel like once we started getting in the groove of presenting to the judges and showcasing all the information we learned, I think it got sort of exciting towards the end to see those results of how everything turned out,” Melconian said.
Jodi Evans, chairperson and lab director for the department of biology, chemistry and environmental studies at Molloy, said judges follow specific criteria.
“We look at their hypothesis, we look at their data, we look at their poster — how neat, how organized it is,” Evans said.
The School of Arts and Sciences at Molloy, established in 2018, hosts the 9th- and 10th -grade Long Island-based science fair each year, along with debates, musical productions and a philosophy conference, among other events. This division of Molloy has various undergraduate programs, such as art, biology, chemistry, criminal justice, legal studies, psychology, theology and religious studies.
“It continues to engage them in science — when they come you can see how they’re nervous but excited, they’re so enthusiastic about their projects,” Evans said. “It gives them the opportunity to learn how scientists disseminate the research of their work.”
Igaunis, Melconian and Wadiwala all plan to continue with research, with Melconian aiming to study topics related to engineering rather than biochemistry.
