This summer, Hauppauge High School student Kenza Sadiq participated in the High School Research Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility. She had the privilege of working alongside professional scientists on two highly interdisciplinary and forward-looking research projects— one in the field of physics, and the other in biomedical science.
Her primary project involved developing a Python-based instrumentation and data acquisition platform for low-grade avalanche diodes, using a Keithley source-measure unit. This system performed high-resolution electrical characterization, enabling researchers to extract nanoscopic current fluctuations during voltage sweeps, and gain deeper insights into avalanche breakdown behavior. This technology has profound implications for the future of medical imaging, quantum sensing and low-cost radiation detection, and is part of a growing effort to modernize scientific tools used across national labs and research hospitals.
In parallel, she also collaborated with Dr. Alexei Soares, a leading crystallographer and scientist known for his groundbreaking work in protein structure at the NSLS-II beamline. Together, they studied the rabies virus glycoprotein with the long-term goal of supporting the development of next-generation antiviral therapies. This work combined molecular biology, structural imaging and disease-focused research.
“Thank you for your continued support of science and research programs in our school,” said Kenza, addressing Hauppauge’s leadership. “Opportunities like this have been transformative, and I’m excited to bring back what I’ve learned to inspire others in our academic community.”
