MADISON – Sai Sumedha Bobba, Dongwon Lee and Yewon Lee claimed top honors with their research projects at the North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

The College of Engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville hosted the 65th annual fair on March 12-13 at the University Fitness Center on campus.

Sai Sumedha Bobba won first place in the senior Biochemistry Division for her project, “Development of a Method Toward the Metabolic Monitoring of TCA Cycle Compounds Observed in Rat Urine Using NMR.” In addition, Bobba’s work was selected as one of three projects to progress to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Ariz. in May.

Dongwon Lee and Yewon Lee achieved a second-place finish in the senior Biochemistry Division for their project, “Organizing Bone Marrow Cryopreservation for Primitive Hematopoietic Stem Cells Compartment Studies Using Flow Cytometry Analysis.” In addition, the Lees will advance with their project to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix.

“I am going to study their work as a learner myself! These kids are incredible thinkers,” James Clemens teacher and sponsor Leah McRae said.

North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair is a scientific competition for students in grades 5-12. The fair’s objective is to offer an opportunity for students to showcase their independent research to the public and compete scholastically with their peers.

The regional fair is dedicated to promoting an interest in science exploration for today’s youth. Performing independent research, in the terms of a science fair project, stimulates interest in students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM.

For more information, visit sites.google.com/a/uah.edu/narsef.