Last Thursday, the school library buzzed with more than just the usual chatter–it rang with the excitement of scientific discovery. The annual Dr. Helen Coyle Science Research Symposium brought together some of Tenafly High School’s brightest student researchers to present their cutting-edge projects to an audience of peers, teachers, and guests. This event highlighted months (and in some cases, even years) of hard work, creativity, and deep inquiry into pressing scientific questions.
This year’s guest speaker was Dr. Elad Firnberg, his presentation coordinated by the senior students of the Science Research Program. After completing his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at the Cooper Union and his PhD in Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, he devoted his life to studying protein evolution. He then co-founded Revolve Biotechnologies, a startup company that commercializes a technology for building synthetic DNA libraries. Throughout his life, he has served as a role model to many and continues to make groundbreaking contributions with his research.
The symposium began with impressive presentations from three senior researchers, one from each of the science research classes. Nikhil Jathavedam (’25), a student from Ms. Firnberg’s class, spoke about his research regarding T cells. From Mrs. Subramaniam’s class was Liam Tenenbaum (’25). Liam demonstrated how artificial intelligence and image analysis can be used to identify unique aspects of cancer cells in order to determine a more effective and personalized treatment. The last of the presenters was Ananya Anchlia (’25), from Mr. Brandstaedter’s class, who presented the impact of iron supplementation on gut health.
Seniors expressed their gratitude to their teachers as they would move on to the next chapters of their education. Anchlia described her years as requiring “a lot of hard work, but the summer hours and the time spent preparing for competitions truly pay off.” She said she was grateful to be part of the program and for the guidance of the dedicated Science Research teachers.
Students from all grade levels waved a bittersweet goodbye to a cherished member of the program, Ms. Firnberg. Kavya Chettur (‘25) bids Ms. Firnberg a special farewell: “She was my teacher throughout all three years of the program. She is retiring this year, and we as seniors are also graduating from the program and moving on to a new chapter. I will always cherish the friendships I made in that class and miss the moments we spent snacking, chatting, and laughing.”
Left with a new sense of wonder, the audience began touring the poster gallery, a dynamic and interactive space where all student researchers stood beside their corresponding posters. Each poster, put together by hand and with the care of the students, summarized the projects worked on by students throughout the school year. The gallery turned into a hub of conversation, with students, teachers, and guests weaving through rows of posters, pausing to ask questions, offer comments, and learn more about each project in detail. Topics ranged from CRISPR-deletion of SNPs to 3D-printed models of devices designed for water and air.
Jathavedam expressed his appreciation for the class as “one of the best programs Tenafly High School has to offer,” while Kailyn Cho (’25) offered her advice: “It helped improve my presentation skills and dive deeper into topics that I’m interested in. I think this is a great class for students interested in exploring a passion in research, and it gives you opportunities for hands-on learning with experts in the field.”
As the posters came down and the crowd slowly dispersed, one thing was clear: the future of science is bright, and it’s right here in our school. Congratulations to all presenters for their dedication and inspiring work, and Ms. Firnberg for her last year as a teacher at Tenafly High School.
