The Role of Denatured Proteins and Diet in Parkinson's Disease

Profile

My name is Naaz Khan and I am a senior at Niles North High School. I am currently enrolled in my school's research class, SIRS (STEM Inquiry and Research). My goal for this class was to gain research experience and skills. I was able to conduct an interesting project on Parkinson's Disease which won gold at the Regional Science Fair and qualified me to compete at the State Science Fair. 

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Research Experience

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SIRs class, Niles North High School

Skokie, IL -- 2018-2019

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In this class, students have the opportunity to conduct research on whatever topic they'd like. This research begins at the start of the year and continues for the remainder of the year. They present their project at the Regional Science Fair and if they qualify, they can continue and improve their research for the State Science Fair. Students are guided by their teachers who provide support and resources. 

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Accomplishments

• Purple Honor Roll Student

• National Honors Society Inductee

• Won Silver at the Regional Science Fair, 2016

• Won Gold at the Regional Science Fair, 2019

• Won Gold at the State Science Fair, 2019

• Research Awarded by Southern Illinois University Physiology Department

• Research Awarded by Apple Dental Association

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Education

2015- Present, Niles North High School Student

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Completed Science Courses:

• Honors Biology 2015-2016

• Honors Chemistry 2016-2017

• Physics 2017-2018

• Health Careers 2017-2018

• AP Biology 2018-2019

• SIRs 2018-2019

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Skills 

• Public Speaking- In order to present my project to the judges, I had to learn the skills for public speaking such as enunciating my words clearly, projecting my voice, and making eye contact. 

• Designing a Board-  I had to create a visually appealing and informative display.

• Using a Micropepiter-  For my project, I had to use very precise measurements and had to utilize this tool to work with liquids.

• Conducting an Eliza Test:  I had to follow strict guidelines and timing to conduct the Eliza Kit testing. During this process, I learned about the properties of certain solutions, such as buffers, standards, etc.

• Sustaining Flies- My project used flies so I had to learn to keep them alive by creating the proper consistency of food and transferring the flies in a safe and efficient way. 

• Using a Centrifuge- The mixture of the flies had to be spun in a centrifuge so I had to learn the correct size of the tubes for the centrifuge machine.

• Using a Plate Reader-  To gain the results for the Eliza Kit, I had to insert the plate and use a plate reader program to gain results.

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