From the Editor, 2022

Dear Reader,

I am pleased to present volume twelve of Young Scientist, a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the publication of original research conducted by high school students.

Each article in the journal represents the individual research of a high school student. This year, we have contributions from twenty-three students working at Vanderbilt University, Harvard University, the University of California Irvine, Saint Louis University, and Hong Kong. Their research efforts are diverse, spanning topics such as neuroscience, earth and environmental science, civil engineering, primate studies, medicine and cancer biology, and even brewing.

Young Scientist would not exist without the dedication of many people. First, I would like to extend special thanks to the many Vanderbilt graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who volunteered their time to carefully review each article at least twice, ensuring the scientific quality of each article. Next, I want to recognize the faculty who welcomed these students into their research groups and those who mentored these young researchers outside of traditional laboratories as we continue back towards a more normal research environment. All of you are instrumental in guiding them along the path to becoming future scientists, engineers, and doctors.  Finally, I am grateful to the patrons who have generously supported Young Scientist and the Center for Science Outreach at Vanderbilt.

I hope that you enjoy this volume of Young Scientist and are inspired by the remarkable achievements of the students who contributed their work. To learn more about the journal or to participate in its production as an author, mentor, reviewer, or sponsor, please visit youngscientistjournal.org.

Lauren E. Buchanan, Ph.D.

Editor-in-Chief