61st Annual STS (2001–2002)
Finalists
Jennifer Christy Alyono

MARYLAND
Jennifer Christy Alyono, 17, of Potomac, entered the Intel Science Talent Search with an engineering project that seeks to simplify methods for detecting the presence of biological molecules. Such detection is essential in a number of medical applications, including diagnosis and treatment of diseases, identification of biohazards and research in life sciences. Conventional methods such as chromatography often require extensive instrumentation or bulky devices, but new biosensors being developed are smaller, less expensive and easier to use. Jennifer developed a novel hybrid bilayer membrane coating on a gold electrode that electrochemically detects molecules that can cause defects in biological membranes. At Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Jennifer is active in sports (diving, varsity coed volleyball and tennis teams), the science and math clubs, school publications and music. She plays the piano and violin, and sings in her church youth choir and school show choir. She reads both Chinese and Spanish, and also participates in Chinese opera. The daughter of Drs. David and Mary Alyono, Jennifer hopes to attend Stanford and become a doctor.