Woodbridge High is proud to recognize the achievements of students at the IUSD 44th Annual Science Fair. Several schools, including Woodbridge High, participated in the science fair and demonstrated their outstanding passion for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These students showcased their exceptional projects in three different categories: physical, life and engineering.

Sophomore James Vaisman competed in the engineering category, displaying his group project aimed at diagnosing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a disease that causes the loss of nerve cells within the brain and spinal cord.

“We created a new way of testing for ALS through the use of a Lateral Flow Immunoassay…then created a learning model that can intake test results, patient background data and cell analysis,” Vaisman said.
His inspiration for the project came from the fact that ALS is an often overlooked disease in research because of its rarity.

“ALS being a neurodegenerative disease is also what makes research into it extremely interesting. Trying to understand its effects on motor neurons was an enjoyable challenge,” Vaisman said.

Vaisman previously participated in the science fair in fifth grade, but this year marks his first entry in his high school career and makes it a special moment for him “We started the project around early August and [are] still going now. We hope to do well at the [Orange County Science and Engineeing Fair] OCSEF,” Vaisman said.

Vaisman and his group, sophomores Aryan Panda and Irfan Syed, won second place and advanced to the OCSEF, signifying Vaisman’s first time receiving an award.

Junior Timothy Lim entered in the life category, presenting his project identifying genes that could be used to treat lung cancer.

“My project found a potential gene that could be targeted to treat lung cancer by comparing the mutational frequencies of different genes found in tumors,” Lim said.

Lim’s inspiration for the project came from his passion for biology as well as the death of a beloved YouTuber Technoblade.

“The main reason why I went into cancer research is because of the passing of Technoblade to cancer. He was a YouTuber that I used to watch until he passed from sarcoma…that really deepened my interest in cancer [research],” Lim said.

Technoblade’s content was based on the popular game Minecraft, and he was an extremely influential figure in the Minecraft community.

What started as just watching YouTube videos turned into something bigger for Lim. Losing someone he looked up to sparked a genuine passion for cancer research, pushing him to learn more and make a difference.

Competing in the science fair for the first time was a huge step and earning an honorable mention was just the beginning. More than just an award, it was proof that his dedication and curiosity were leading him in the right direction.

Junior Chloe Yang participated in the physical category with her friend Chloe Chen from Portola High. They created a project that discovered the effects of dielectrophoresis (DEP) and how it can be used to guide microparticles.

“DEP affects how super tiny particles are attracted to negative and positive parts of an electric field. When DEP is applied at different frequencies, it affects which part of the field the particles are attracted to,” Yang said.

Yang and Chen then conducted experiments to determine the effects of different frequencies and types of DEP.

“In our project, we investigated the effects of extremely high and extremely low frequencies on microparticles as well as how frequencies affect positive versus negative dielectrophoresis,” Yang said.

Their inspiration for this project stemmed from their interest in medical and biomedical research.

“Through this project, we’ve learned the importance of research and how much it can help people,” Yang said.

Exploring the use of DEP can potentially help people fight and separate cancer cells.

During their time spent finishing the project, they studied for a few weeks in a lab at University of California, Irvine (UCI), with Dr. Lawrence Kulinsky.

“For two straight weeks, we spent half the day in Dr. Kulinsky’s lab,” Yang said.

Throughout their time at the lab they tested the effects of DEP on the movement of microparticles and learned new equations.

“He taught us new equations and derivations, as well as helped us have a hands-on experience exploring the effects of DEP on microparticle movement,” Yang said.

Despite it being her first time participating in the science fair with her partner, they won second place and advanced to OCSEF.

“I’m very excited to move onto OCSEF with other students and their amazing projects,” Yang said.

The impressive projects showcased by Woodbridge High students are a reflection of their dedication, creativity and hard work.

Each student tells a story of perseverance—countless hours spent researching, problem-solving and refining their ideas. But beyond just individual success, these projects inspire others, showing younger students what is possible when passion meets effort.

Each student sets a standard of excellence, not just in academics but in pushing boundaries and thinking outside the box. As each new group of students takes on the challenges at the science fair, they keep the innovative Warrior spirit alive.