|
| |
Peter Hu
Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science student Peter Hu.
|
|
Medical breakthrough earns TAMS student $10,000 math, science and technology scholarship
DENTON (UNT), Texas -- A student at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at the University of North Texas has won a $10,000 scholarship for his work on developing a biocompatible material that can be used in protein drug delivery. Peter Hu, 18, of Denton, placed sixth at the National Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology on Monday in New York. The Siemens Competition is the nation's leading original research competition in math, science and technology for high school students. For his bioengineering research, Hu used polymer nanoparticles to create a protein drug carrier that can maintain a sustained drug release while preventing the protein from degrading inside the human body. This has long been a challenge for scientists. Therapeutic proteins are critical to treating many diseases. For example, cancer can be treated with interferons, diabetes with insulin and hemophilia with blood clotting factors. So with Hu's development, a diabetes patient could significantly reduce the number of insulin injections needed. "Bioengineering interests me because it has the potential to solve so many of the world's problems," Hu said. "I've had family members who have battled cancer and diabetes, which was my primary motivation in researching this topic." Hu's work was supervised by Dr. Liping Tang, a bioengineering professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. Before coming to TAMS, Hu attended Denton High School. Both of Hu's parents are physicists, which he said spurred his interest in science at a young age. Hu's father, Zhibing Hu, is a physics professor at UNT. "My parents were great influences in my love of science, and I was very involved in school science fairs," Hu said. The first project he remembers was an experiment to determine the speed of sound. He was 9. As vice president of the Junior Engineering Technical Society at TAMS, Hu is organizing a science demonstration team to promote interest in math and science among elementary and middle school students. In his spare time, he plays the piano and violin, as well as basketball and tennis. In addition to Hu, TAMS had three other regional finalists and 14 semifinalists honored in the Siemens competition. The competition field began with 1,348 students nationwide. TAMS is a two-year residential program at UNT that allows exceptionally talented students to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college while receiving the equivalent of high school diplomas. Students enroll in the academy following their sophomore year in high school, live in a UNT residence hall and attend UNT classes with college students. After two years, they enroll at UNT or another university to finish their bachelor's degrees. Last year, TAMS student Wen Chyan won the top prize at Siemens for his work engineering new polymer coatings for biomedical devices that could prevent common, and sometimes deadly, bacterial infections resulting from hospital stays.
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Sarah Bahari (940) 565-4835
Email: sarah.bahari@unt.edu
Latest News
UNT Military History Center to begin discussion series on Pearl Harbor Day
Dr. Brian Linn, Society for Military History, will present the inaugural lecture, The American Way of War -- The inaugural lecture of UNT's Military History Center Discussion Series on Dec. 7
War correspondent Anna Badkhen to discuss book at UNT
Anna Badkhen will read excerpts from her book and discuss her reporting method and the craft of writing as a war correspondent during her free lecture Dec. 1.
Funds from College Connection 2+2+2 Program allow pilot programs to improve transfer student success across Texas
UNT has been putting a $270,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's College Connection 2+2+2 Program to good use, expanding and strengthening its outreach to potential and current transfer students.
UNT Glee to present fall 2010 performance
UNT Glee, one of the first college and university glee clubs inspired by the televion show, Glee, will perform Dec. 1 and 2.
UNT dance students present "Synchronized Imbalances"
Dances inspired by the struggles of divorce, the comfort of a mom and the support of a community are among the originally choreographed works to be presented by students in the UNT Department of Dance and Theatre.
V. Lane Rawlins named sole finalist for UNT presidency
The UNT System Board of Regents approved the nomination of V. Lane Rawlins Nov. 12, beginning the 21-day period required by Texas law before they can officially appoint him to the presidency. Rawlins has been serving a one-year appointment as UNT president.
| 
