Nicholas Simone, junior at Holy Cross H.S. in Flushing, won first place in the 21st annual Research Poster Session for High School Students sponsored by the Chemical Education Committee of the American Chemical Society’s New York Section.

Held at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, New York, Simone competed with 100 other students from New York and New Jersey who attend schools such as, Stuyvesant H.S., Midwood H.S. and Union City H.S. The annual poster session event allows high school students from the metropolitan area to showcase their research topic and obtain acknowledgements on their projects. Simone’s research topic, which he is still actively working on, is Fungicide Maneb and Mancozeb Induce Senescence.

Simone’s research poster and oral presentation were judged by scientists who work in the fields of chemistry and academia.

During the spring semester of his freshman year, Simone applied to the Science Research in the High School Program, which is affiliated with the State University (SUNY) at Albany. During his sophomore year, Nicholas began working with Dr. Demi Cheng, from John Jay College, who came to Holy Cross to teach Simone about the topic they would collaboratively research.

In the summer, between his sophomore and junior years, Simone went to John Jay College five days a week to work on his project.

After winning the Research Poster rigorous competition, Simone continues to work with Dr. Cheng. His goals are to complete his research and – in the near future – study medicine in college.