Junior Rhea Doshi was recognized for her achievements at the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair (CT SEF) with Head of the Upper School Lisa Loeb presenting her with a plaque commemorating a first-place CASE Award during a recent assembly.
The award recognized Rhea’s science fair research, which focuses on using gait analysis and blood biomarkers to help detect Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment at an earlier stage. The project previously earned Rhea two places at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where she represented Connecticut alongside students from around the globe.
“I didn’t really expect them to announce that, so I was really surprised, shocked, and honestly a little bit nervous,” Rhea said of being recognized at the assembly. “It means a lot to me, and I was so excited that we were able to share that with everybody.”
The plaque Rhea received was part of a larger CASE Award that she received following ISEF. Along with the plaque, the award included a monetary prize and an invitation to a dinner that took place on Tuesday, May 19, with scientists and other award recipients. Rhea said that one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was being able to meet scientists and professionals working in a variety of fields and receive feedback on her research.
“It was really fun to go meet other people who are highly respected and renowned in their fields of science,” she said. “To be among that group of people, to learn from them, to have them watch my presentation, give me feedback, and ask me questions, it meant a huge deal for me.”
Her family was also able to attend the award dinner, which Rhea said made the recognition and event particularly meaningful. “Having my parents and my sister there to see me get that award in front of those respected people was definitely a big deal for me,” she said. “They’ve been my biggest advocates and supporters.”
Rhea’s research has continued to develop since her CT SEF and ISEF successes. While her project originally combined motion analysis with blood biomarkers, she has recently been focusing more on the molecular biology side of the research and doing work with blood samples in a laboratory.
She is also working toward FDA 510(k) approval for the technology, a step that could help move her research toward use in more medical settings.
Beyond the research itself, Rhea has begun developing brain-health awareness programs and hopes to bring other students at KO together to work on this project. She is particularly interested in creating a brain-health ambassador program for students who want to learn more and work more in this field.
For Rhea, the plaque presented to her marked another milestone, but her work is continuing beyond the recognition. With new research underway and plans to involve the KO community in her work as well, Rhea is already looking toward what comes next for her project.
