An Interview with an ISEF Champion

By Ana Gaztañaga

Garden City High School junior and science research student, Julia Cherchever, has reached new heights this past May with her astounding win at the 2023 International Science and Engineering Fair, officially obtaining her well-deserved win after months of rigorous work. Julia’s research project, “A Model for Reversal of Doxorubicin Induced Cardiotoxicity via Fisetin”, examined a revolutionary approach that could potentially protect chemotherapy patients' hearts from cell death. The first round of the hybrid 2023 NYSSEF competition consisted of a video entry, with the second part taking place at the New York Hall of Science in Queens Amongst the 180 round-two participants, Julia, along with 15 other projects, were selected to become ISEF finalists. The final round of the competition took place on May 14th in Dallas, Texas where Julia won her well deserved victory by winning fourth place in the world

Recently, ECHO had the honor to sit down and interview the ISEF champion Julia Cherchever herself, whose determination and ambition paid off at the end of the competition. Take a look:

Q: How did you come up with your research idea? Did you grab inspiration from anywhere?

Julia: After volunteering at my local hospital, and seeing patients suffer from the effects of treatment, I was inspired to find a way to limit the toxicity of cancer treatments. I chose the drug Doxorubicin after doing over 110 hours of literature review and finding that it is one of the most toxic drugs in cancer treatment that continues to still be used today

Q: Does your interest in chemistry extend beyond the competition? Is it something you aspire to pursue in the future, and if so, why?

Julia: Yes, I enjoy classes, such as chemistry and AP chemistry, and I feel like chemistry is the basis of many different fields, especially the field of life and the pharmaceutical industry. I aspire to pursue a degree in biochemistry so that I can explore both chemistry and how it connects to life.

Q: How long have you prepared for the competition? How do you feel now knowing that your hard work has paid off?

Julia: I spent over nine months preparing for my competition and being able to win states, and then get fourth in the world was probably one of the most gratifying experiences. All of the work that I put in that is currently making an impact on the world has finally paid off.

Q: Where did your interest in biochemistry originate and how did it develop to where it is now?

Julia: I've always been interested in biology and life processes. I was able to connect that to my love of chemistry after having taken chemistry and being able to leave the class with a better understanding of the world, as well as a better understanding of biology That really was the core of my interest in bio chemistry because it connected to rooms of science that I loved and biochemistry is truly the source of things such as food, life processes, drugs, medicines, and so much more

Q: Were there any figureheads (e.g. teachers, students, friends, family, etc.) that you looked up to that guided you with your research? If so, in what ways did they help?

Julia: Dr Gordon truly guided me throughout the entirety of my research, whether it was giving me advice on my ideas for experimentation or filling out forms He certainly enhanced my research skills while simultaneously guiding me through this arduous experience Additionally, Dr Foley was truly helpful when it came to the protein modeling portion of my project as she taught me many different new skills so that I was able to perform my research to a higher level.

Q: Do you have any advice for anyone thinking about following your tracks and participating in the research competition?

Julia: Yes, I think my biggest piece of advice would be that science has no boundaries. I worked on this project on my own, and in school to make it this far. I did not need the help of a large facility, or some sort of professional lab I was inspired by this topic and did everything that I could in order to pursue it and be able to make an impact on millions of cancer patients What I’m trying to say is that anyone can explore science and that science is all around us, waiting for us to take advantage of it and learn something from it. Science is more than a lab or special materials, but rather, it’s a creative process that allows you to better understand the world around you.

Q: How did it feel to compete against teenagers from all around the world? Were there any other projects at the competition that stood out to you?

Julia: It was amazing and inspiring all at once. It was amazing to see what kids from all around the world are doing. It was also inspiring because everyone had these very high-level projects that are shaping the world of science at such a young age.

Q: Now that you have won, what are your plans for the future (e.g. college, more research competitions, etc.)?

Julia: I definitely want to continue doing research because one of my goals in the future is to be able to make a global impact through the topic I love most, which is science

Q: What was your biggest take away from the competition and your journey in getting there as a whole?

Julia: My biggest take away is that when pursuing uncharted territory, resilience and perseverance is vital. Conducting research is truly difficult, especially when it is a topic that has not been done by anyone before. True research necessitates determination and love for your craft I feel that my research goes beyond science because it is also a product of my character and it is my character that helped me get along this journey