Photo by Travis Pratt

Urbana senior David Zhu was recently named a semifinalist in the Intel Science Talent Search.

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David Zhu wasn't expecting much when he submitted his research from a summer internship at Fort Detrick to the national Intel Science Talent Search.

Zhu, a senior at Urbana High School, had been urged by his father to enter the contest. His brother had also participated while he attended Urbana High six years ago.

"I was just entering it just to see how far I could really get," he said. "It was just more of an opportunity to see if I could get some money or not."

Zhu received the money in the form of a $1,000 scholarship.

He was one of 300 semifinalists chosen out of 1,839 entrants in the program.

The Intel Science Talent Search encourages students to tackle challenging scientific questions and develop the skills to solve the problems of tomorrow, according to a news release from the company.

Projects submitted for consideration cover all disciplines of science, including biochemistry, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, behavioral science, and medicine and health.

Zhu's project was based on the systematic evaluation of net charge in immunoglobulin G.

He wrote a computer program that analyzed different files of protein sequences and calculated the different charges each protein received.

The high school of each semifinalist also received $1,000 to further STEM education.

Urbana is using the funds to add new computer software in its new STEM computer lab, according to Principal Kathy Campagnoli.

"If it wasn't for donations from the community and great students like David, it wouldn't happen," she said.

Finalists in the program were notified Jan. 25, but Zhu was not named a finalist.

Despite not moving on in the competition, Zhu said he still plans to submit his research for consideration to be published in science journals.

He has been advised by his father it would be difficult for high school students to have the first author position in journals.

"We'll see how it goes," Zhu said.

The Urbana senior said he is considering Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University and the University of Maryland to study computer science.

Zhu is also the captain of Urbana's swim team and a member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society.

He said he enjoys computer science because of the creativity it offers him.

"It's not like math how there's always one right answer," he said. "Me and my friend, we could be trying to make a program two completely separate ways, but it's going to end up doing the same thing."

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Urbana senior recognized nationally for research