TAMS students honored in science competition

Three Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science students were named semifinalists and another TAMS student was named a regional finalist in the 2003 Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science & Technology.

TAMS is a two-year residential program at UNT that allows talented students to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college while earning the equivalent of high school diplomas. Students enroll in the academy following their sophomore year in high school, live in a UNT residence hall and attend UNT classes with college students. After two years, they enroll at UNT or another university to finish their bachelor's degrees.

Joe Chen from Cypress, Jonathan Chin from Austin, Shaheen Shawn Ranjbaran from Irving and Anita Shankar from Clear Lake were among 26 Texas students honored in the competition, which was established in 1999 and is funded by the Siemens Foundation. The competition recognizes high school research in mathematics and science. Students may submit individual projects or projects conducted with one or two other students.

Chen is also among five Texas students named regional finalists after first being named semifinalists. As a regional finalist, he received a $1,000 scholarship.

For his project, Chen worked in the laboratory of Oliver Chyan, UNT associate professor of chemistry. His research focused on placing a thin film of copper on iridium metal substrates used in microchips in integrated circuits. The iridium layer provides a novel barrier material to allow for nanoscale control, which will improve the integrated circuit fabrication process and may also improve biological microelectrodes.

Chen, who previously attended Cypress Fairbanks High School, entered TAMS in August 2001. At TAMS, he is on the executive board of Future Business Leaders of America and is a member of Mu Alpha Theta math club. He was named to the TAMS Director's Honor Roll for having a perfect grade point average.

Chen plans to attend Stanford University after graduating from TAMS in May. He will major in electrical engineering.

Chin attended LBJ High School in Austin before entering TAMS in August 2001. For his project, Chin worked in a research laboratory at the University of Texas Department of Microbiology. He studied Mre11, a binding component of DNA, and tried to determine if it is used in the processing and repairing of DNA double-strand breaks.

At TAMS, Chin is a member of the TAMS Medical Society, Mu Alpha Theta math club, Dull Roar Music Society, the TAMS Billiards Club and HOPE, a community service organization. He was named a National Merit Commended Student and is on the Dean's List.

Chin plans to major in biomedical engineering or biology after graduating from TAMS in May. He has not yet decided on a university or college.

Ranjbaran attended the North Hills School in Irving before entering TAMS in August 2001. For his research, he worked in the laboratory of Witold Brostow, UNT Regents Professor of materials science and engineering. He tested the compositions of polymeric materials that are used in manufacturing industries, studying their reaction to different levels of stress that occur in the environment and industry, such as scratches. He also tested the characteristics of polymers that he designed through computer simulations.

At TAMS, Ranjbaran is treasurer of the Student Council, a member of Mu Alpha Theta math club, a committee head for the TAMS basketball team and the founder of the TAMS Chess Club. He received a Student Life Award for his work in Student Council and is on the Dean's List.

After graduating from TAMS in May, Ranjbaran plans to major in computer science and engineering and perhaps earn a master of business administration degree to start his own computer design company. He has not decided on a university or college.

Shankar attended Clear Lake High School before entering TAMS in August 2001. She conducted her research at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston last summer. She studied osteopenia, or low bone density, in astronauts. After culturing bone cells, she discovered that the bone loss in astronauts may be caused by altered proteins occurring during microgravity conditions such as those in space.

At TAMS, Shankar is the vice president for the Fellowship for the Advancement of Cultural Education Among Students, secretary of the TAMS Medical Society and a senior mentor. She was named to the TAMS Director's Honor Roll for having a perfect grade point average.

Shankar plans to major in cell and molecular biology and Spanish after graduating from TAMS in May. She has not yet decided on a university or college.

BY NANCY KOLSTI nkolsti@unt.edu

Other web references

• Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science web site

Other featured articles in this issue

• Rep. Burgess announces $3.1 million for Center for Advanced Research and Technology
• Latest UNT IDs serve as debit and ATM cards
• E-trans offers many benefits
• Holiday giving continues on campus
• Winter weather brings possibility for closures
• UNT creates Center for Psychosocial Health
• Council focuses on daycare
• Women’s Studies Program sponsors new book club
• UNT Moot Court teams take first, second place at statewide tournament

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