BioME Student Showcase 2023
This spring, BioME held the fifth annual Student Showcase, providing students with an opportunity to demonstrate their presentation skills and share their passion for life science research.
The BioME Student Showcase is an exciting opportunity for aspirational scientists to showcase their passion for research and bioscience. Each year, Maine high school and college students present their original life science-focused research projects in competition for cash and academic prizes.
On May 3, 2023, BioME organized the fifth annual BioME Student Showcase at Bangor Arts Exchange in Bangor, ME. A panel of judges, industry experts, and mentors were present to evaluate the presentations of 8 college and 12 high school students selected for their original biotech research.
The Showcase began with the high school poster competition (Maine BioGENEius Challenge). BioME is the official local partner for the BioGENEius Challenge, a prestigious international biotech competition for grades 9-12. Each high school student presented their poster, discussed their research, and answered questions from the judges. Later in the day, college undergraduate and graduate college students presented their research or bioscience business plan through a 3-minute pitch, followed by an in-depth question and answer session to showcase their knowledge of the subject. After a pizza break, attendees and contestants convened for the winners announcement and award presentations.
BioME Student Showcase top finalists
College finalists
- 1st Place – Cory Diemler, University of Maine
TREM2 Microglia: An Alternative Therapeutic Target for Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration - 2nd Place – Avery Bond, University of Maine
Blocking host-cell calcium signaling pathways: a potential antiviral target for JC polyomavirus infection and beyond - 3rd Place – Junie Fong, University of Maine
Creating Efficient Anti-Bacterial Surfaces on Catheters with Antibiotic-Free Liquid Coatings - 3rd Place – Katherine Ashley, University of Maine
Repurposing lobster shell waste as a disease suppressive soil amendment in potato production
This year, we had a tie for 3rd place! BioME and judges felt that both presentations deserved recognition and decided to present two 3rd place awards.
High school finalists
- 1st Place – Emma Markowitz, Maine Home School
An Antimicrobial Bacterial Cellulose – Manuka Honey Loaded Dressing for the Active Treatment and Monitoring of Wounds - 2nd Place – Abigail Gardner, Baxter Academy for Technology and Science
Detection of Polymorphisms in the COL5A1 and TNC Genes Amongst a Variety of Different Horse Breeds for a Risk of a Genetic Predisposition to Equine Superficial Digital Flexor Tendinopathy - 3rd Place – Alexander Busko, Bangor High School
The Development of a Pour-Through Oil-Water Column Filter to Effectively Extract Microplastics from Water
First place high school recipient, Emma Markowitz, will represent Maine in the virtual BioGENEius Challenge, a prestigious international biotech competition for high school students. The competition will be shown at the BIO International Convention in Boston, MA.
The BioME Student Showcase started as an initiative in 2019 to support innovation and commercialization of student ideas in Maine, as well as connect current students with potential future employers and entrepreneurial resources in the state. The event was sponsored by Maine Technology Institute, Consigli, The Jackson Laboratory, The Roux Institute, Puritan Medical Products and FocusMaine.
BioME Student Showcase Judges
Gary Goodrich – Past President of the Bioscience Association of Maine Board of Directors
Stephen Pelsue, PhD – Manager of Discovery, Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc.
Jessica Davis-Knowlton, PhD – Senior Research Scientist, BBI Solutions
Caitlin Howell, PhD – Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Maine
Contestants
High School Contestants
Nanovesicles in Broccoli Sprouts as a Naturally Potential Medicine for the Targeted Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Albert Bai, John Bapst Memorial High School
Digitally-Developed Denticulations: 3D Printing Inexpensive Replacement Teeth, Zafir Bashir, Bangor High School
Innovation of Modern Prosthetics for Low Income Communities, Jasper Bennett, Bangor High School
The Development of a Pour-Through Oil-Water Column Filter to Effectively Extract Microplastics from Water, Alexander Busko, Bangor High School
The Effect of Stormwater Runoff on E. Coli Concentration in the Arctic Brook, Youssef Elhefnawi, Bangor High School
Detection of Polymorphisms in the TNC and COL5A1 Genes Amongst a Variety of Different Horse Breeds for a Risk of a Genetic Predisposition to Equine Superficial Digital Flexor Tendinopathy, Abigail Gardner, Baxter Academy for Technology and Science
Using immunofluorescence to identify progenitor populations in pancreatic neoplasia, Katherine Gell, Hancock County Technical Center
The Effect of Wood-Burning Stoves on Air Quality in Homes, Kierith Gentilini, Cape Elizabeth High School
Using eDNA Technology to Detect Osmerus Mordax Populations in Casco Bay, Joshua Hicks, Baxter Academy for Technology and Science
An Antimicrobial Bacterial Cellulose-Manuka Honey Loaded Dressing for the Active Treatment and Monitoring of Wounds, Emma Markowitz, Maine Home School
The Effects of Temperature on the Output of CO Produced by Saccharina latissima, Kelsey Payson, Medomak Valley High School
Transforming Medical Imaging-Based Healthcare with NSACA: Neuro-symbolic AI Enhanced Diagnosis and Communication in High-Risk Diseases, William Xu, Bangor High School
College Contestants
Scalable Cross-Linking to Reduce the Rehydration-Induced Plasticity of Porous Cellulose Materials for Biomedical Applications, Cameron Andrews, University of Maine
Repurposing lobster shell waste as a disease suppressive soil amendment in potato production, Katie Ashley, University of Maine
Blocking host-cell calcium signaling pathways: a potential antiviral target for JC polyomavirus infection and beyond, Avery Bond, University of Maine
Testing Heat Tolerance in Zooxanthellae, Savanna Deer, University of Maine
TREM2 Microglia: An Alternative Therapeutic Target for Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration, Cory Diemler, University of Maine
Creating Efficient Anti-Bacterial Surfaces on Catheters with Antibiotic-Free Liquid Coatings, Junie Fong, University of Maine
Hyperinflammation and the NLRP3 Inflammasome: Understanding the Role of the Immune System in the Viral Response, Ken Forastiere, University of Maine
Hybrid Power Spectral and Wavelet Image Roughness Analysis, Basel White, University of Maine
Thank you event sponsors
