65th Annual STS (2005-2006)
Finalists
Eric Allan Meyerowitz

NEW YORK
Eric Allan Meyerowitz, 17, of Northport, analyzed two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra to determine the structure of two neuropeptides for his Intel Science Talent Search project in biochemistry. In past studies of allatostatins (a family of neuropeptides believed to play a key role in the development and reproduction of insects and crustaceans), Eric had learned that Allatostatin-5 and Allatostatin-8 had nearly opposite functions but very similar amino acid compositions. To find the structural reason for their disparate functions, he designed and performed NMR experiments and restricted molecular dynamic (RMO) simulations. He is first author of the resulting manuscript that will be submitted to the Journal of Neuroscience. Eric believes he has made a significant contribution to our understanding of how a family of neuropeptides can elicit multiple functions, and that the new model, which his evidence supports, may extend to other systems as well. Eric is first in his class of 449 at Northport High School, where he plays varsity tennis and belongs to the community service club. The son of Steven Meyerowitz and Dr. Joanne Figueiredo, he hopes to study at Harvard or Columbia.