Young Investigator Prize

Young Investigator Prize ($4000 in 2009)

University of Washington / Friday Harbor Laboratories

The UW / FHL Young Investigator’s Prize is awarded every year to a high school junior or senior showing exceptional promise in the fields of Science and Mathematics.  Regional students submit high school transcripts, two Letters of Recommendation (from teachers or scientists the applicant has previously worked with), and an essay describing their background and career goals.  The winner is selected by a committee of three University of Washington professors and is awarded a cash prize ($4000 in 2009).  The winner will spend the summer (10 weeks) as a full time research assistant in a UW / FHL Laboratory.

For more information, click on the image above.

2009 Winner:  Ms. Hannah Snow, junior, Friday Harbor High School.

As a 4.0 student at Friday Harbor High School, Hannah has maintained making the Principal’s Honor Roll since the start of her high school years while taking four Advanced Placement courses.  She has spent several years participating on Washington State’s Ocean Sciences “Orca Bowl” team.  A well-rounded student, Hannah plays the alto sax in her school’s Jazz and Concert band, she is the captain of the varsity soccer team, enjoys playing doubles tennis and is a member of the hiking club.  She also greatly contributes to her community through various volunteer projects such as Relay for Life, Kicks for Breast Cancer, and by coaching soccer camp for local elementary school students.   Hannah has also had the opportunity to work as a research assistant for Russel Barsh, a local scientist at Friday Harbor Labs and head of the KWIAHT Organization.  This included testing water quality for surfactant levels, doing bioassays, and doing wetland entomology.  As a Young Investigator Prize winner, Hannah worked with Emily Carrington during the summer of 2009.  She helped with research on the effect of temperature shifts on species interactions.  Specifically, Hannah helped with field and laboratory studies of the foraging patterns of intertidal whelks on their barnacle prey. 

2008 Winner:  Mr. Peter Duggins, junior, Spring Street International School.

Mr. Duggins is a 4.0 student at the Spring Street International School and a graduate of their unique program in Biotechnology and Immunology.  In the summer of 2007, Mr. Duggins worked as a research assistant in Neurophysiology for Dr. A.O.D. Willows (Professor Biology, UW).  This work on geomagnetic perception in Tritonia diomedia is part of an ongoing research program elucidating the neurophysiology and neural anatomy of this model marine invertebrate.  In 2008, Mr. Duggins worked with Dr Pedro Verdugo (Professor Bioengineering, UW) on carbon cycles in the ocean, particularly the biochemistry and microbial utilization of aquatic gels.  Mr. Duggins spent winter quarter (2008) studying in Southeast Asia and working on service projects including: construction of a micro-hydro power generator in a Karen refugee village (northern Thailand), and procurement of fire detection systems for Buddhist temples and monasteries (Bhutan).