Algae research leads to $100K Intel Science Talent Search win

In Colorado, Sara Volz of Colorado Springs won the top award of $100,000 in the Intel Science Talent Search for her research of algae biofuels. Algae produces oil that can be converted into a sustainable, renewable fuel; however, the fuel can be costly. Sara used artificial selection to establish populations of algae cells with high oil content, which are essential for an economically feasible biofuel. Sara, who built a home lab under her loft bed, sleeps on the same light cycle as her algae. Science Talent Search alumni have, over the past 72 years, gone on to win seven Nobel Prizes, two Fields Medals, five National Medals of Science, and 11 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships.

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