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Senior Named Siemens Competition Regional Finalist

10/21/2016

Brandon Wang '17 was recently named a regional finalist in the 2016 Siemens Competition, the nation’s premier competition in math, science and technology for high school students. He is one of 10 students selected among 13 states in the Midwestern region.

Brandon submitted his biomedical research project as a University School Strnad Fellow to be considered for this prestigious recognition. He worked in a lab at Case Western Reserve University researching a specific cell-signaling pathway. His study focused on a specific cell membrane receptor protein and its affect on tumor suppression in prostate cells.

“While these are topics we discuss broadly in freshman and AP biology, the work Brandon did was on a much higher level,” said his Strand project advisor Erik Bunce, an Upper School science teacher. “Brandon spent many hours in the lab after school, on weekends, and over the summer. Being named a Siemens regional finalist is very impressive, but knowing how dedicated Brandon is, it didn’t surprise me at all.”

The Siemens Competition seeks to recognize and build a strong pipeline for the nation’s most promising scientists, engineers and mathematicians. Every year, students submit innovative individual and team research projects to regional and national levels of competition as they vie for college scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $100,000.

University School’s Strnad Fellowship program enables juniors and seniors with an outstanding ability and passionate interest in a particular area to pursue advanced independent projects of research or inquiry that are often complemented by special courses of study.

Brandon said he is interested in biomedical research, and that his Strnad project provided him with valuable experience in cancer research. “Understanding how normal prostate epithelial cells become cancerous can lead to better treatment and prevention of the deadly disease and reduce the pain and suffering of patients and their families,” he said.

This year, out of 1,600 projects submitted to the competition, 498 students were selected as semifinalists. Of this group, 96 regional finalists advanced to six regional competitions to be held in November. Individual and team winners of the regional contests earn the opportunity to compete in the National Finals held at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in December.

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Shaker Heights Campus

20701 Brantley Road
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
JUNIOR K – GRADE 8
Phone: 216-321-8260

Hunting Valley Campus

2785 SOM Center Road
Hunting Valley, Ohio 44022
GRADES 9 – 12
Phone: 216-831-2200

University School serves over 850 boys in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 on two campuses in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. The School’s mission is to inspire boys of promise to become young men of character who lead and serve. Dedicated faculty, rigorous curriculum, and experiential programs foster intellectual, physical, creative, and moral excellence. University School is a diverse and inclusive community where each boy is known and loved.