Jasleen Virk Earns 2nd Place at Somers Science Fair

On May 31, Jasleen Virk earned second place at the Somers Science Fair, held at Somers High School, where she presented her research on radiopharmaceuticals in prostate cancer.

Her project—rooted in a keen curiosity about clinical impact—focused on how different radiopharmaceuticals affect gene and protein expression in mice with two types of prostate cancer. “My topic was inspired by Dr. Spina’s research on radiopharmaceuticals and how they can make a huge difference in patients’ lives,” Jasleen shared. “So it’s important to study it.”

In preparation for the competition, Jasleen practiced her presentation several times a day in the week leading up to the event. She even rehearsed in front of friends to sharpen her delivery. “It was a little hard to not constantly look at the poster,” she said, “but by the end I was able to do it.”

The competition day itself was both exhilarating and affirming. Stationed next to a friend, Jasleen said the atmosphere felt warm and encouraging. “It was nice giving my presentation because people were really invested in it and wanted to understand it,” she recalled.

Beyond the technical learnings, Jasleen came away with a deeper appreciation for science communication. “One takeaway is that you can do the work to create the research, but it’s important to be able to explain it to others who aren’t necessarily familiar with your topic.”

She now looks forward to applying those insights in the lab: “I’m excited to work with the mice and see how true research is done.”

Though still early in her scientific training, Jasleen left a strong impression on her mentors. “With minimal guidance, she read deeply about radiopharmaceuticals to educate herself on the topic,” said Dr. Catherine Spina, who supervised her project. “In collaboration with myself and other members of the lab, she thought through her experiments asking important questions to refine her ideas and experiments.”

Dr. Spina added, “She is so deserving of her second place award. We are thrilled for her very early success and expect very big things for her as a scientist.”

Jasleen is now officially a Summer Student at the Spina Lab. Her photo joins a growing gallery of student accomplishments on the lab website—alongside this reminder: success in science is as much about the story you tell as it is the results you share.

Written by Joshie Amposta

Original Publish Date: July 16, 2025