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The two minute video, published on The New York Times' website, highlights McQuaid and his research project for the Intel contest. McQuaid conducted a biochemistry research project that studied the degradation of KLF6, a protein that causes cell death and is associated with the formation of cancer cells.
"A lot of people say this isn't normal for a high school kid to be doing this kind of work," McQuaid said in the video. "To a certain extent I guess they're right, I've always been interested in cancer research and that was precipitated by losing a cousin of mine to lung cancer."
McQuaid was chosen as one of 40 finalists out of more than 1,700 high school students from around the country in the Intel contest. McQuaid traveled to a reception in Washington D.C. last week where a winner was announced. Sara Volz, 17, from Colorado Springs, Colo., took home the grand prize of $100,000.
The Intel Science Talent Search competition is one of the most prestigious competitions in high school education. Alumni of the Intel Science Talent Search have gone on to win sven Nobel Prizes, two Fields Medals and five National Medal of Science Awards.
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