Sarine Gayaneh Shahmirian
California
Sarine Gayaneh Shahmirian, 17, from Northridge, entered an Intel Science Talent
Search chemistry project that may contribute to the development of new cancer
treatments. Scientists use transition metal-stabilized organic cations to create
enzyme inhibitors that prevent the formation of cancer agents. Reactions
involving these substances have used strong acids that are unsuitable for
processes involving complex biomolecules. Sarine developed a novel method to
react these cations under neutral conditions, allowing their use with
acid-sensitive compounds. Sarine's presentation at the regional division meeting
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science received the division-wide President's
Award for best paper. At Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills, Sarine is
founder and head of the Future Doctors of America Club and the school's science
magazine. She is an accomplished classical pianist and volunteered in Armenia,
rebuilding homes and protecting the environment. The daughter of Varaz and
Karina Shahmirian, she hopes to attend Harvard or Princeton and ultimately join
Doctors Without Borders.
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