Maia Abed, a senior at Grapevine High School and 2025 National Merit Semifinalist, was one of 12 top high school science students from across the world selected to participate in the 2024 Summer Science Program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Maia’s team, which included two teammates, one from North Texas and another from California, completed experiments to create a novel macrocyclic compound from scratch to better understand the advancement of drug treatment, discovery, and creation. The Summer Science Program was started in 1959 and is one of the longest running pre-college programs that provides students the opportunity to work together in teams of three participating in hands-on experimental science and completing a real research project. Hear from Maia about her experience.
1. How did you get involved with the program?
I got involved with the program simply by researching prestigious summer science programs, and I was really intrigued by the description of high-level research promised by the program and its affiliates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and California Institute of Technology (Caltech). I did apply quite early in the year and found out in around March about my acceptance.
2. What was your project and how did you come up with it?
I didn't necessarily come up with my project except that I picked the program I wanted to participate in. I initially got into the astrophysics program before being accepted to the synthetic chemistry program, which only had 12 students and was in its first year in 2024. The research involved synthesizing novel macrocyclic compounds/drugs that could be used for medical uses (form the base of antibiotics, antifungals, immunosuppressants, and anti-cancer compounds) and also for dye bleaching purposes, which means they will potentially be applicable for ocean pollution caused by textile dyes. We spent four hours in the lab every day for six weeks before spending five hours in lectures for organic and inorganic chemistry, and then the rest of our days involved writing our research paper and completing practice problems. At the end, we presented a formal lab presentation and produced a publishable research paper.
3. What happens now with the project?
Since the research we did was publishable, it is in process of going through additional testing for its dye bleaching capabilities and further characterization before being published.
4. What field do you want to pursue after high school?
I want to pursue chemistry and international relations degrees before potentially going into research or diplomacy.
5. How has GCISD helped you with this pursuit?
GCISD has prepared me with a great scientific courseload. I am currently in my third year of chemistry and am able to continue an exploration of scientific labs and concepts with my peers here. My teachers, both in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and humanities, have been incredibly supportive and helpful in teaching me a variety of concepts to the highest degree.
Congratulations to Maia, who exemplifies GCISD’s priority of student achievement and post secondary preparedness.