Shana Schwartz of Hillside, New Jersey, a senior at Bruriah High School, is among the top 10 finalists in the Jerusalem Science Contest! The sole finalist from New Jersey, she is proud to represent Bruriah High School and the New Jersey community. Shana attributes her success in this project to her education at Bruriah, saying “my teachers have fostered my passion for science and limudei kodesh and have taught me to understand the natural world through a Torah lens.”

This competition perfectly synthesized Shana’s two passions. She read the assigned chapters on molecular biology from “Essential Genetics: A Genomics Perspective” by Daniel Hartl, and listened to numerous Judaic lectures on topics like GMO research during shemitah, and a genetic analysis on the story of Lavan’s sheep. Once Shana completed the seven tests and cumulative final on these topics, she conducted a comprehensive research project on the mitochondrial basis for heightened aneuploidy risks in women of reproductive age, incorporating the halachic ethics of mitochondrial replacement therapy.

As one of the finalists, Shana has the opportunity to present her research at the Walder Science Center in Chicago and wins a trip to Israel with the other finalists.