Roslyn High School student Mahip Grewal was honored last Thursday by the Board of Education for research work that earned her a first place in the Cell Biology category at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair on March 10.
“It’s an honor to recognize an outstanding student. I’ve known you since you were young and I know how driven you were,” board President Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy said.
Grewal secured one of 20 Long Island slots at the International Science and Engineering Fair for her research project titled “Investigation of HCC Development Following Senescence in UHRF1 Overexpressing Zebrafish Livers.”
The study was an extension of her previous work at a laboratory in Mount Sinai Hospital, which looked at “liver cell division in zebra fish that over express human UHRF1, a gene that is highly expressed in HCC patients.
She said she discovered something never shown before in an animal model — that the liver cells can escape senescence, a tumor-suppressing mechanism.
“We are delighted with Mahip’s success,” said Allyson Weseley, Mahip’s research advisor at Roslyn High School. “She is a diligent and insightful researcher who richly deserves this honor.”
Grewal said she hopes her findings contribute to the development of liver cancer treatments that target epigenetic pathways.
Her first place finish will allow Grewal to attend this year’s International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Ariz.
There, Mahip will have the opportunity to present her findings to judges who are experts in her field.
“You’re a triple threat Mahip — you’re beautiful, smart and kind,” Ben-Levy said. “Wherever you choose to go to school, they’ll be lucky to have you.”
Three other Roslyn students also received awards at the science fair.
Nicolas Furci came in second place in the Behavioral Science category and also received a special award from the American Psychological Association.
Tawny Sit came in third in Physics, and Nathan Yang received an Honorable Mention in Behavioral Science.
