Jeffrey Ling, a Palo Alto High School junior, won a $10,000 scholarship from the Siemens National Competition in Math, Science and Technology for competing in the National Finals. The National Finals were held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., this past weekend. Ling competed in a team with junior Helen Jiang of Gunn High School. Ling and Jiang’s research had already earned them a $6000 scholarship for winning the regional Siemens Competition, which took place in early November. Their win qualified them to travel to Washington, D.C., on Dec. 1 for National Finals. At the National Finals, they presented their project and answered questions in front of a panel of professional scientist judges. The pair researched necrotizing enterocolitis, a disease that causes the death of tissue in the bowels of infants and analyzed data in order to help doctors with treatment of the disease. Regional judge Brian Williams said their work was done at an “exceptionally high level” and complimented their accompliments. Judges were particularly impressed with Ling and Jiang’s plans to make their diagnostic tools available through smartphones to doctors. The competition ended on Dec. 5, with the Palo Altan team placing 6th. Ling and Jiang earned a $10,000 scholarship for being finalists. A total of 6 regions competed. Although Ling’s team did not take home the $100,000 grand prize, he looks back on his experience positively. “At Nationals, you get to meet a lot of cool people and they’re all really focused and smart people and really funny,” Ling said. “The whole research thing is really awesome.” He looks forward to continuing research work when he is not busy with junior year and encourages others to pursue their interests in research as well. “Everyone should have a chance to do research at some point if they’re interested in science and math,” Ling said. “It’s a good experience.”