BioME Student Showcase 2019
On April 25, 2019 we hosted our first annual BioME Student Showcase at the University of Southern Maine. 11 college students and 13 high school students presented their original biotech research in competition for cash and academic prizes.
The Showcase began with the high school poster competition, where judges and attendees viewed posters and conversed with students about their research. College students then had the chance to present their research through a 3 minute pitch in the Hannaford Hall Auditorium. Each pitch was followed by in-depth questions from the judges to display their knowledge of the subject. After a quick lunch break, attendees and contestants gathered back into the auditorium for the winners announcement and award presentations.
BioME Student Showcase top finalists
College finalists
- 1st Place Award – Katalin Gosling, University of New England
In-Vitro Model for Brain Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier: Establishing a Possible Alternative Route of Administration for CNS - 2nd Place Award – Bethany Fortier, University of Southern Maine
The Effect of Methionine Restriction on the Thermogenic Phenotype of Perivascular Adipose Tissue - 3rd Place Award – Rachelle Mendola, University of Southern Maine
The Effects of Exosome Clearance from Beige Adipocytes
High school finalists
- 1st Place Award –Melissa Tian, Bangor High school
The Effects of Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition on Endo and Ecto Mycorrhizae in Red Spruce (Picea rubens) and American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Roots from Bear Brook Watershed in Maine - 2nd Place Award –Abigail McNally, Stearns High School
Modifying Insulin to Withstand Stomach Conditions - 3rd Place Award –Anthony Caccese, Bangor High School
Designing an Autonomous Braking System for a Rollator Walker
Melissa Tian will represent Maine in the BioGENEius Challenge, a prestigious international biotech competition for grades 9-12 at the Bio International Convention in Philadelphia, PA. BioME is proud to be the official local partner of the BioGENEius Challenge.
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 first annual BioME Student Showcase was sponsored by Maine Technology Institute.
Contestants
High School Contestants
Designing an Autonomous Braking System for a Rollator Walker, Anthony Caccese, Bangor High School
Biofuel Generation Through Myriophyllum Spicatum, Meaghan Caron, Bangor High School
Control of Circadian Rhythms: Regulate Sleep Patterns Observable in Drosophila melanogaster, Yu Dong, Gould Academy
Providing an Efficient Solution to Our Plastic Pollution Problems, Adam Elkadi, Bangor High School
Testing the Effectiveness of Mycorrhizae in the Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals from Stormwater, Amara Ifeji, Bangor High School
Anxiety and Depression Related Behaviors in Pregnant Female Mice Following Psychological Stress, Esther Lang, Gould Academy
Modifying Insulin to Withstand Stomach Conditions, Abigail McNally, Stearns High School
Developing a Fiji Program for Automated ImageJ – Based Analysis of Cardiomyocyte Contractions, Ijeoma Obi, Bangor High School
Vaping Effects on Fruit Flies, Abigail Paige, Dexter Regional High School
Method to Increase Polystyrene Mass Converted by Biodegradation using Pseudomonas putida, Emmaline Raven, Greely High School
Optimizing and Engineering 3D Printed Microfluidic Device to Model a Lab-on-a-Chip, Ibrahim Saleh, Greely High School
Exploration of growing spinach (Spinacia oleracea) in varying concentrations of folic acid on the biomass (g) of the plants with a discussion of anencephaly, a folic acid deficiency disease, Erica Schlichting, Gray-New Gloucester High School
The Effects of Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition on Endo and Ecto Mycorrhizae in Red Spruce (Picea rubens) and American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Roots from Bear Brook Watershed in Maine, Melissa Tian, Bangor High School
College Contestants
The Effect of Methionine Restriction on the Thermogenic Phenotype of Perivascular Adipose Tissue, Bethany Fortier, University of Southern Maine
Assessing the biocompatibility of naturally derived polymers available in Maine, Daniel Lesko, University of Maine
The Fidelity Solution, Mark Lambrecht, University of Maine
In-Vitro Model for Brain Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier: Establishing a Possible Alternative Route of Administration for CNS, Katalin Gosling, University of New England
A Vital Sign Monitor to Predict Cardiac Events in Firefighters, Tyler Hine, University of Maine
The Effects of Exosome Clearance from Beige Adipocytes, Rachelle Mendola, University of Southern Maine
Using Smartphone Data to Characterize Physiological and Subjective Responses to Sadness, Colin Bosma, University of Maine
Chemotaxis: A Proposal for Chronic Inflammation Drug Therapy Research, Jacob Donahue, University of Southern Maine
Implications of sensory nerve sprouting for chronic pain, Samantha Dinsdale, University of New England
ENVx – Manipulation of Viral Envelop Protein Diversity, Rakitha Malewana, Husson University
Optimization of a Screening Approach for Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Development, Emma McCormac, University of New England
