ASPIRE students have once again raised the bar for science research! In November, seven Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering students were selected to present to top researchers from around the world at the International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE) in Washington, D.C. 

The King contingent was made up of  Dillon Maltese ’26, Bruno Reinhoefer Ribeiro ’26, Maddie Scanlon ’25, Vito Scutari ’26, Zach Louizos '25, Parker Hayashi ’25, and Leon Wang ’26. While Zach was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict, all other students presented at the prestigious event, which blends a professional research conference with a competition.

“IFoRE is a unique competition because it gives the students a sense of what a professional conference full of research sharing and collaboration is like while attending a number of keynote and plenary sessions of talks given by professional researchers,” said Director of Science Research Victoria Schulman, noting that the four-day event is a valuable addition to the ASPIRE program, offering students opportunities to learn and benefit from networking. 

Parker’s project, "LungSCOPE," an algorithmic device that accurately predicts the occurrence of lung cancer in humans, earned him both the Top Oral Presenter Award for the high school category and the Interdisciplinary Award for Human Health. The interdisciplinary awards combined competitors from high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. While all six students presented their work at the event, Parker and Maddie were selected to give oral presentations.

"Having all eyes in the room on me was a new experience, and I appreciated the opportunity to prepare for this challenge and grow my skill set,” said Parker. “Many of the other attendees were past participants of the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which is something I am striving for. It was really great to network with them and ask their advice, and after winning at IFoRE, I felt like I belonged in this high-achieving group of students, which was a big confidence boost for me."

Dillon Maltese '26 won the Interdisciplinary Award for Engineering for his voice-controlled robotic arm and surgical assistant. The machine was designed to assist surgeons in completing operating room tasks in hopes of reducing surgical mistakes that lead to injury and sometimes death. Dillon said he was inspired by discussions with scientists working on groundbreaking projects, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, the development of innovative products and apps, and new approaches to treating various diseases.

“There were also lots of networking opportunities and intriguing presentations by doctors about ongoing science research,” Dillon said, adding that his favorite presentation explored nanotechnology. “I loved getting to meet all of the people there, and in fact, one of my judges was the head of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Florida, so I also received some good advice from him.”

As part of their interdisciplinary award packages, Parker and Dillon earned scholarship money and lifetime memberships in Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society.

“Some of this year's inductees into this Honor Society were inducted based on lifetime achievements,” said Schulman, underscoring the esteem of this recognition. “It is very hard to get inducted, but our ASPIRE students earned their way in early! This will be incredibly helpful for their careers going forward.”  

After listening to Dr. Cesar de la Fuente, a Spanish-born professor at the University of Pennsylvania, deliver a keynote presentation on how his lab is using AI to analyze the genetic structures of extinct animals in search of gene strands that could be used to create antibiotics, Vito sought him out.

“His research really interested me, so I looked for him at the networking reception that night,” said Vito, whose research, “Comprehensive Assessment for Executive Dysfunction (CAED),” includes a tablet-based video game designed to help diagnose individuals with traumatic brain injuries. 

A native of Argentina, Vito used his fluency in Spanish to connect with the researcher. “We talked about our projects, and I explained some of my background as to why I'm passionate about my project,” said Vito. “He gave me college advice and invited me to reach out to him about future internship opportunities with his lab group."

Vito followed up on the invitation and is finalizing details for a spring and summer internship position in the de la Fuente Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. Outcomes like this, geared toward future careers, are central to Schulman’s strategy with the ASPIRE program.

“A great perk of the conference was that all the students got free professional headshots taken that they can now use for their LinkedIn profiles, email icons, and resumes,” said Schulman. “Although it's always great to bring home some wins for King, the intangible benefits the students received by participating at IFoRE solidified just how important this programmatic addition was for the ASPIRE program. We will definitely be attending in all future years as well!"

Schulman looks forward to returning to IFoRE next year and continuing to provide students with tools and experiences that launch future scientists into the global research community. The exposure to cutting-edge science and the invaluable networking opportunities offer a strong foundation for the students’ continued growth as researchers and innovators, reinforcing the ASPIRE program’s commitment to developing leaders in science.

The ASPIRE program is supported by the Advanced Mathematics and Science Study Program endowed fund established in 2018 by Margharet, Frank, Bea, and William Nash to support select students with demonstrated ability and interest in achieving true excellence within science, technology, engineering, or mathematics in global competition preparation, or laboratory research experiences.