61st Annual STS (2001–2002)
Finalists
Jacob Samuels Burnim

MARYLAND
Jacob Samuels Burnim, 18, of Silver Spring, submitted an engineering project to the Intel Science Talent Search, in which he analyzed the performance impact of shrinking random access memory (RAM) for computers from micrometer scale to molecular scale. Using a combination of classical and quantum mechanical methods, he calculated the properties of nanometer-scale devices and memory systems. His calculations suggest that molecule-sized circuit components will exhibit decreased capacitance and increased resistance. Even so, he suggests that some forms of this new memory should be able to function nearly as fast as present-day memory and store data at least 20,000 times more densely. At Montgomery Blair High School, Jacob is founding president of the computer club. Winner of numerous mathematics and computing awards, including the Caltech Signature Award, Jacob enjoys computer repair, reading (especially science fiction and fantasy) and basketball. He is also interested in computer viruses and artificial life -- computer simulations of living organisms. The son of Ira Burnim and Elizabeth Samuels, Jacob is considering a number of colleges, especially MIT.