This year, mentored by science teacher Andrea Durbin, a small group of West Babylon Senior High School students met afterschool to conduct hands-on, cutting-edge research. These nine students – Joel Colas, Julian Cruz, Erin Fider, Melanie Jastrzebski, Maria Moreno Lopez, Dheera Misra, Nandini Ramesh, Nicole Rex and Saad Syed – became part of the Student Participants for Advanced Research and Knowledge program at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Students immersed themselves in structural biology, exploring the three-dimensional structure of a protein found in the bacteria Burkholderia cenocepacia. Proteins are macromolecules that help build various parts of an organism. Though we know how proteins work, their appearance is not completely understood. Deciphering their structure can aid scientists in understanding their function and how they affect our well-being.
In conjunction with Eastport-South Manor High School, Islip High School and Longwood High School, West Babylon students began the two-year endeavor to discover this protein's shape by utilizing Brookhaven National Laboratory's National Synchrotron Light Source II. Using incredibly powerful X-rays, students took “pictures” of their protein using protein crystallography. Interpreting these images can take months, though once completed, the known 3D shape would then be published on an international database for scientists across the world to use.
On May 21, more than 200 students from 19 different school districts gathered at Brookhaven National Laboratory to present their research at a poster presentation. These students represented those involved in the SPARK program, a “Day in the Life” as well as many other programs affiliated with Brookhaven National Laboratory. Students presented their research to their peers and guests during the symposium.
Date Added: 6/9/2025