66th Annual STS (2006-2007)
Finalists
Siyuan Liu

MICHIGAN
Siyuan Liu, 17, of Troy, entered the Intel Science Talent Search with a biochemistry research project focused on fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR), a class of molecules recently linked to brain disorders. To determine the effects of chronic stress and the administration of FGF2, a signaling molecule that binds to the FGFR molecules, Siyuan studied the frontal cortex tissue of rats that had or had not been exposed to randomized stressors (cold, noise, etc.), and/or injected with FGF2. His results showed that the expression of the receptors had been affected not only in quantitative levels, but also in the expression of different receptor subtypes. He believes his research adds to our knowledge of brain signaling molecules and their relation to neurological and psychiatric disorders, and may also aid in the development of therapeutic drugs. At Troy High School, Siyuan is a captain in varsity cross country and track, and an officer of the Science Olympiad and physics club. He is an award-winning violinist and the 2005 champion of the International Brain Bee, sponsored by the Society for Neuroscience. Born in China, he is the son of Dr. Jay Liu and Xueli Zhang and hopes to attend Stanford or Harvard.