Jiao '18 Named Finalist in 2017 Siemens Research Competition

Springs senior Ken Jiao '18 won a $25,000 scholarship on Dec. 5 at the national finals of the 2017 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology after earning top individual honors and an additional $3,000 scholarship at one of six regional competitions earlier this fall.

The prestigious competition, which was launched in 1999 by the Siemens Foundation, promotes student innovation and research by honoring individual and team research projects from across the country.

Jiao’s research project, entitled “Retain CHD7, an Epigenetic Regulator, in the Nucleus to Combat Breast Cancer Metastasis,” is shedding light on a potential way to determine if breast cancer cells are highly invasive, and how to inhibit them from spreading throughout the body.

"Kenneth’s research could bring scientists one step closer to developing a new biomarker for breast cancer metastasis and saving lives,” said regional competition judge Dr. Z. Jeffrey Chen, D. J. Sibley Centennial Professor of Molecular Biosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. "It's rare to see this level of progress achieved in an independent project. Kenneth’s work is phenomenal, and could help reveal the underlying mechanisms in breast cancer metastasis.”

“It's a huge honor to make it to the final round of this competition, which is like the Olympics of Science,” says Head of School Dr. Sharon Howell. “He has worked incredibly hard to get here, and we're excited for him and for us, since we will likely benefit from his research in the future.” 

Jiao began his research as a 10th grader after his mother experienced a breast cancer scare.  In May, he received 3rd place grand prize in the category of Cellular and Molecular Biology at the 2017 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles.

“I can’t even believe we are talking about a high school senior when I read about his work. I can’t imagine that there is a student anywhere who is more deserving of the honors he is receiving,” agrees Dr. Tanya Hyatt, Indian Springs School Dean of Academics and Science Department Chair.

Springs is no stranger to Siemens honors. In 2007 and again in 2010, a Springs student was among the 100 students nationwide named a state winner of the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement (AP) in the student category. In 2009, Springs was named one of only 50 schools in the nation—and the first independent school in Alabama—to earn a distinction for leading the state in AP Science and Math participation and performance.

Congratulations, Ken!

To view the national Winners' Ceremony, visit https://livestream.com/accounts/22461008/siemens2017.

For media coverage by Al.com, visit http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/11/alabama_teens_science_project.html.

For media coverage by the Shelby County Reporter, visit http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2017/11/16/springs-student-named-finalist-for-national-research-competition/ and http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2018/01/10/iss-student-sets-the-standard.

For media coverage by WBRC Fox News 6, visit http://www.wbrc.com/clip/13937310/indian-springs-student-competes-in-national-science-competition.