Independent Study Receives Accolades
As part of an Independent Study, junior Olivia Storti ’22 is researching the mechanisms of psychological and oxidative stress and their correlation to intracranial aneurysm pathogenesis—a topic inspired by her father, who suffered from an aneurysm two years ago. Olivia wondered why the number of Americans reporting stress, compared to those who have aneurysms are so divergent, and after reading extensively online, she found no direct report of a causal relationship between the two factors. So, she began formulating her own hypothesis, which developed into a research project. Her mentor and former AP Chemistry teacher, Mrs. Dawn Humphrey, notes, “Olivia is a very impressive young lady and an amazing budding scientist.” Throughout the process, Olivia has also received guidance from a Ph.D. researcher at Columbia University and a local neurosurgeon, who called her research “excellent and mature.” Keep up the great work, Olivia! #MercySTEM