Summer Science Fellows
Science Buddies Summer Science Fellows Program
Launched in 2011, the Summer Science Fellows program invites recent high school graduates, all of whom demonstrate their science acumen as finalists at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), to work with Science Buddies as summer interns. These top science students assist Science Buddies in a variety of roles, including project testing, volunteer outreach, and market research and analysis. In addition to getting hands-on experience working with a key K-12 non-profit organization, Science Buddies Summer Science Fellows collaborate on a group challenge and have a lot of fun!
2012 Summer Science Fellows: Danielle Nguyen, Sophie Kim, Ashley Bianco, Damon Kawamoto, Rose Leopold (Pictured from left to right) "Our inaugural group of 2011 Summer Science Fellows proved our hypothesis: ISEF competitors have exemplary work ethics and time management skills that make them wonderful assets for our small organization. I look forward to meeting and working with this year's Summer Fellows." —Kenneth L. Hess, President, Science Buddies |
What is the Summer Science Fellows Program?
Science Buddies' Summer Science Fellows program gives a small number of graduating top high school science students who have shown great promise as young innovators the opportunity for a meaningful, paid summer internship doing science-related work at Science Buddies. Fellows will develop and test videos, essays, FAQs, Project Ideas and kits. Real-world testing by young people for young people complements vetting by in-house scientists. Their efforts, diverse areas of interest and expertise, and enthusiasm for science help us further our commitment to K-12 science education.
The Summer Science Fellows work on individual projects in various areas of Science Buddies and also work collaboratively on a special group project. In addition, the fellows have the opportunity to attend seminars on real-world skills like networking and social media that will help them as they transition into college environments, begin interacting with the scientific community, and chart their individual career paths.
2012 Summer Science Fellows
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Ashley Bianco,
Morongo Valley, CA Ashley participated in Intel ISEF with her project, "Novel Genes and Mutations in Arabidopsis Thaliana." Ashley is a graduate of River Springs Charter School and will attend Emory University where she plans to major in biology with an emphasis on genetics. Ashley was also a semifinalist in the Intel Science and Talent Search (ISTS) and was named the 2012 David Schwartz Summer Science Fellow, an honorary title established in memory of the co-founder of Bio-Rad Laboratories. |
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Sophie Kim,
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Sophie participated in Intel ISEF with her computer science project, "Mathematical Modeling of Cancer Cell Proliferation After Radiotherapy." Sophie is a graduate of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School and will attend Stanford where she plans to major in biology. |
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Rose Leopold,
Santa Cruz, CA Rose participated in Intel ISEF with her Earth and planetary science project, "Morphological Disparity During the Ammonoid Recovery after the Permian Mass Extinction." Rose is a graduate of Pacific Collegiate School and will attend Northeastern where she plans to study biology and criminal justice, in preparation for a career in forensic science. |
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Damon Kawamoto,
Santa Cruz, CA A returning fellow from the 2011 Summer Science Fellows Program, Damon participated in Intel ISEF with her project, "Abundance Estimate of the Sacramento Chinook Salmon through the use of Genetic Data." Damon attends Brown University. |
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Danielle Nguyen,
San Diego, CA A returning fellow from the 2011 Summer Science Fellows Program, Danielle participated in Intel ISEF with her project, "Sonification: A Novel Approach to Data Representation." Danielle attends McGill University where she is majoring in biochemistry. |
2011 Summer Science Fellows
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Blake Marggraff,
Lafayette, CA Blake participated in ISEF with his project, "Treatment of Simulated Cancer Cells with Compton Scattering-Produced Secondary Radiation." Blake has been captivated by science ever since he heard about the atomic bomb when he was 10 and read for hours about nuclear science. Blake and his partner Matthew came up with the idea for their ISEF project by discussing what would happen when ionizing radiation interacts with different metals. Some of his hobbies are scouting, hiking, camping, and Tae Kwon Do. Blake will be attending Washington University in St. Louis in the fall. |
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Damon Kawamoto,
Santa Cruz, CA Damon participated in ISEF with her project, "Abundance Estimate of the Sacramento Chinook Salmon through the use of Genetic Data." From a very early age, Damon began building things and conducting science experiments. From these "toys," she realized that science was indeed fun and has been involved ever since. She thought of the idea for her ISEF project when she decided to do an independent study in her senior year of high school in Statistics and Computer Science and her teacher suggested that she look at fish populations. She had heard about salmon shortages in the ocean and decided that she would like to study that for a project. Besides science, she also loves tennis, cooking, and robotics. Damon will be attending Brown University in the fall. |
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Danielle Nguyen,
San Diego, CA Danielle participated in ISEF with her project, "Sonification: A Novel Approach to Data Representation." Danielle was immediately hooked on science at the age of 8, when she attended a special afternoon seminar in which she dissected squid. She and her partner brainstormed the idea for their ISEF project when they realized that they were having trouble interpreting and analyzing data sets that her partner had converted into different sound waves. In her free time, she enjoys playing the flute. Danielle will be attending McGill University in the fall. |
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Kyra Grantz,
La Selva Beach, CA Kyra participated in ISEF with her project, "The Effects of Ocean Temperature on Aerosol Particle Absorption." Kyra became interested in science at age 11 when her grandfather took her to shadow him behind-the-scenes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she was fascinated by all the aquatic wonders. Initially inspired to be a marine biologist, she took her interest in the ocean and read about the connection between aerosol particles and decided to study how the two seemingly unrelated ideas might somehow be related. Among her hobbies are basketball, swimming, theater production, volunteering at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and watching classic movies. Kyra will be attending University of Chicago in the fall. |
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Madeline Sides,
Davis, CA Madeline participated in ISEF with her project, "A Multipronged Investigation of the Amphibian Pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis." She got her start in science when she was a member of her elementary school Nature Bowl team and spent time after school going on field trips to study nature. Her ISEF project was inspired by a summer research internship in molecular microbiology where she tried to unravel the mystery of a certain amphibian pathogen. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, art, travelling, and various outdoor activities. Madeline will be attending Stanford University this fall. |
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Matthew Feddersen,
Lafayette, CA Matthew participated in ISEF with his project, "Treatment of Simulated Cancer Cells with Compton Scattering-Produced Secondary Radiation." He began his exploration of science when he met fellow project member Blake Marggraff and began to perform backyard science experiments. He and Blake got started on their ISEF project after reading about radiation shielding materials and decided to apply it to cancer treatments. His hobbies include karate, Frisbee, piano, drums, and robotics. Matthew will be attending the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign this fall. |
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