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Davidson
Fellows are students under the age of 18 who have completed a
significant piece of work in science, mathematics, technology, music,
literature, philosophy or outside the box. The work of a Davidson Fellow must have the potential to make a
positive contribution to society. Since 2001, 146 Davidson Fellows
have been recognized by the Davidson Institute and each Fellow has
received a $50,000, $25,000 or $10,000 scholarship.
Positive contributions to society
made by the 2009 Davidson Fellows include:
- Developing a
system to identify bone marrow donors in a fraction of the time
and cost than previous methods; potential for use with organ
transplants.
- Researching
methods of identifying low-energy paths for spacecraft.
- Designing
computer simulations to determine how various patterns affect an
epidemic’s spread across a social network.
- Studying an
enzyme in the bacteria that causes staph infections with results
that could lead to new antibiotics.
- Celebrating
mankind’s best achievements through music.
- Creating a
literary portfolio exploring different facets of distance in
writing.
- Studying
arsenic metabolism in Bangladeshis to find ways to treat longtime
exposure.
- Researching
a molecular mechanism showed to influence breast cancer cell
proliferation & migration.
- Creating a
metamaterials negative index refraction lens with applications in
stealth technology and radio frequency signal switching.
- Developed a
data storage technique by exploring nanofabrication methods for
spintronics with applications in nanotechnology and
nanolithography.
- Exploring
the foundation of evil through a graduate-level philosophy
portfolio.
Contributions
of Davidson Fellows recognized since 2001 include:
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Inventing a new type of solar panel
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Improving the mathematics of digital
signal representations used in cell phones and music players;
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Designing a computer model to aid
physicians in patient diagnosis;
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Research in the field of number
theory, with results that have broad implications in cryptography,
specifically to protect against identity theft.
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Used antimicrobial properties from
bees’ honeystomachs to create a preventative measure protecting
honeybees from the fatal American Foulbrood Disease (AFB), which
affects the pollination of billions of dollars in agriculture crops
worldwide.
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Developed a new drug delivery method
to increase the efficiency of chemotherapy treatments, thereby
controlling tumors in areas where surgery is not an option.
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Developed an effective method of
treating malignant glioma, the deadliest form of brain cancer,
combining chemotherapy and gene therapy.
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Researched the physics of dust
particles to aid in the design of exploration and support systems for
Martian spaceflight missions.
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Investigated the relationships of
specific proteins in the human immune system in order to develop more
effective treatments for HIV patients.
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Researched the effects of residual
pesticides on human breast cells and neurons
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Performed advanced musical
compositions for piano, cello and violin at Carnegie Hall and the
Kennedy Center
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Created a literary portfolio focused
on deepening our understanding of human responses to grief
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Discovered new insights in how DNA
“bends” under certain circumstances to form RNA, providing a
foundation for future research in nanotechnology and biocomputation.
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Confirmed the existence of a
super-massive black hole in a neighboring galaxy found by analyzing
NASA data studying the amount of radiation emitted from Centaurus A.
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Discovered a biological connection
as to why people gravitate toward religion.
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Developed mathematical modeling of
gasoline sprays to reduce automobile emissions.
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Utilized the herb fenugreek as a
cost-effective, safe and natural way to preserve fruits and
vegetables, and as a non-toxic water purifier.
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