Holmdel HS Senior is Intel Science Talent Search Semi-Finalist

Ryan Edward Wood, a senior at Holmdel High School, has been named a semi-finalist in the prestigous Intel Science Talent Search (Intel ISEF).

His paper was entitled, "The Effect of Charge Remote Functionalities on Mass Spectrometric Collision-induced Dissociation Fragmentation of Sulfonate Anions." 

For his exceptional research, Wood wins  $1,000 for himself, as well as $1,000 for Holmdel High School to be used to enhance science, math, and engineering education. 

He was one of 300 Semi-finalists selected from among 1,744 applicants in the 2011 competition. Nearly 500 high school, in 42 states, participated. 

Included among New Jersey winners was Janie Jia Gu, 17, of Morganville, a student at High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ. Her paper was about improving the sensitivity of an atomic magnetometer

The other New Jersey students represent high schools in North Brunswick, Lawrenceville and Madison. There were three from Hackensack's Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology; three from Hackensack's Academy for Medical Science; and four from Millburn High School. 

The announcement was made Wednesday on the contest sponsor's website, the Society for Science & The Public.

 On Jan. 26, 40 finalists will be named. They wil go to Washington, DC in March for final judging. They will display their work to the public, meet with notable scientists, and compete for the top award of $100,000.

The Intel Talent search is a science competition open to high school students. Honorees are among science's greatest contributors, and include seven Nobel Prizes and four National Medals of Science winners. 

Wood has been under the guidance of High School Chemistry teacher Josephine Blaha, who also runs the Science League.