Science & Scholarship Committee
DCAT Awards Scholarships to Student Scientists at the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair
Robbinsville, New Jersey May 17, 2022 —The Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association (DCAT) has awarded $15,000 in scholarships to select projects of student scientists who participated in the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. The event, which provides a global stage for the best and brightest young scientists and engineers around the world, was held both virtually and in person in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 7–13, 2022.
Regeneron ISEF 2022 brought together 1,750 high school students from more than 49 states and 63 countries, regions, and territories across the world to showcase their independent research and compete for an average of $8 million in total prizes.
The DCAT Science & Scholarship Committee facilitated DCAT’s participation as a Special Awards Organization at Regeneron ISEF. DCAT’s participation allows the organization to invest in the bio/pharmaceutical industry’s future by supporting young scholars who represent the geographic regions and areas of study reflected in the global membership of DCAT.
Winning Projects
A task force of the DCAT Science & Scholarship Committee reviewed students’ abstracts and presentations and selected projects in the areas of cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, and microbiology. The student (s) of those projects received scholarship funding from DCAT to support their future education.
Joyce Essuman, a senior at Nicolet High School in Glendale, Wisconsin, was recognized for her project, Assessment of Alternative Antimicrobial Substances on Staphylococcus epidermidis. Her work focused on anti S. epidermidis properties of clove and thyme extracts as alternative to Pen V.
Anouska Seal, a junior at Paul J. Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Florida, was recognized for her project, A Novel Approach to Bone Implant Infection Therapeutics Leveraging Proteins Derived From Lactobacillus acidophilus and Modulating Anti-Inflammatory Gene Expression. Her work focused on antimicrobial properties of ammonium sulfate extraction from Lactobacillus acidophilus on Staph. aureus.
Seymour Haque, a senior at Florida Atlantic University High School in Boca Raton, Florida, was recognized for his project, Investigating the Binding Interactions of Small-Molecule Inhibitors to PLKs Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations. He investigated the inhibition of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK-1) by studying the protein-ligand interactions between PLK-1 and four small molecules using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations.
Tae hoon Kim, Joonsung Lee, and Woojin Park, all seniors at the Korea Science Academy of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in Busan, South Korea, were recognized for their project, Novel Approach to Sensitive Protein Quantification – quantification of His-tagged green fluorescent protein by binding with metal organic framework-coated quartz crystal microbalance. They investigated the known interaction of His-tag with metal ions (protein purification).
Minjae Kim, Jungho Kim, and Sanghyun Park, all seniors at Korea Science Academy of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in Busan, South Korea, were recognized for their project, Gene Expression Mechanism of Alternative Sigma Factors SigE and SigB Inducing Rifampicin Resistance in Mycobacterium Smegmatis. They studied the antibiotic resistance of tuberculosis in its dormant state. They analyzed the RNA sequencing data of aa3 cytochrome C, sigB and sigE deletion mutants. They then conducted beta-galactosidase assays and qRT-PCR on these mutants. They found out that respiratory stress caused by aa3 cytochrome C mutation leads to overexpression of sigE, which leads to the overexpression of SigB, which regulates several rifampicin resistance-related genes.
About DCAT
The Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association (DCAT) is a not-for-profit, global business development association whose unique membership model integrates both innovator and generic drug manufacturers and suppliers of ingredients, development and manufacturing services, and related technologies. We are committed to provide programs, events and services that help our members meet their business objectives, expand their network of customers and suppliers, and gain insight into industry trends, markets, and those issues impacting pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. With over 400 corporate members, DCAT is headquartered in Robbinsville, New Jersey.
