Vivek Patel Honored as Siemens-Westinghouse Semifinalist

Yorktown Central School District is proud to announce that Yorktown High School senior Vivek Patel has been recognized as a Siemens-Westinghouse Semifinalist for his research on "Generating Sox2-CreERTM transgenic mice to temporally control gene targeting in the developing and adult mouse Central Nervous System stem cells and progenitors"

Of the 1893 students in competition submitting over 1205 projects, Vivek is one of the hundred brightest High School students still in contention for the this prestigious scholarship in original research.

Vivek explains his research saying “today, gene function in humans is understood through gene manipulation in mice. This is oftentimes difficult for varying reasons. My research involved creating a line of mice that scientists could use to surmount some of the difficulties in order to  understand gene function in the brain. In addition to understanding how the brain develops, the line also allowed genetically-attributed central nervous system disorders and malformations to be studied.

The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology is administered by the College Board and it recognizes high school students who can achieve national recognition for their science research projects. The winners will be announced as a webcast on December 8, 2008, at 9:30a.m. ET from the National Finalist Award Presentation at New York University.