Hewlett teen recognized for research

A gifted Hewlett resident who graduated high school two years early was recognized for his beautiful mind and scientific research with a $25,000 scholarship that will help pay for his college studies.

Eric Brooks, 16, was acknowledged by the Davidson Institute and earned a Davidson fellowship in recognition of his research on the genetic factors affecting metastic progression of prostate cancer.

Brooks worked in a New York University human genetics laboratory as a paid staffer alongside scientists with Ph.Ds. "It's a scientific community. We all respect each other regardless of who has a Ph.D." he said of his adult colleagues.

Headed to Yale University this fall, Brooks was one of 20 young people that the Institute thinks exemplify the extraordinary work that can be achieved by students who are "given opportunities to excel in the United States."

"Our goal is not to have any student left behind," said Jan Davidson, Ph.D., and co-founder of the Institute.

The Institute cites a national teacher survey which found that teachers believe that advanced pupils are lower priorities in their schools compared to low-achievers, according to a release explaining the impetus for granting the 20 fellowships.

For his project, "Racial Disparity in Prostate Cancer Characterized through Evolutionary Modeling of the Genome," Brooks studied patients with aggressive and less aggressive forms of the disease.

"My goal was to determine which genes control how serious prostate cancer is, and then from there, the next step is to actually come up with a test to determine if people have those genes," Brooks said. He will continue to be affiliated with the NYU lab even while at Yale.

Brooks was first recognized as gifted in middle school. He began as a researcher at the NYU lab when during those years — first as a volunteer, and eventually as a staffer.

The Hewlett High School senior traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Intel Science Talent Search competition in March of this year. He had not expected to place in the top 10, but left the nation's capital having taken fifth place in the prestigious competition.

"I am excited to be honored [by the Institute] for the great work I've done,"said Brooks, who added he is also looking forward to attending Yale University.

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