Hi! I'm Benson Lu Huang, and I'm from Long Island, New York.
I'm a senior at Half Hollow Hills High School West and the school president.
I'm familiar with various software and hardware development tools, including Python for data analysis and machine learning, Arduino and Raspberry Pi for hardware prototyping, and CAD software for 3D modeling and manufacturing.
My work has won 3rd at the 2025 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the Live Más Scholarship by the Taco Bell Foundation, and two Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Awards.
In addition to being interviewed at UBS Arena as a New York Islanders Youth Hockey Ambassador and aired on MSNBC, I was recently featured on the Stony Brook University Statesman for my research. Check it out here!
In my free time, I play on my school’s Varsity hockey team, cook, and play violin. I speak English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Update: As of yesterday, I am also a Regeneron Science Talent Search 2026 Scholar!
PyTorch
TensorFlow
Swift
Fusion 360
Excel
Adobe Premiere
Arduino
Raspberry Pi
I developed a novel impedence-based sensor for robotic minimally invasive surgery called BLADE. This research presents the first real-time force sensor based on dynamic changes in bioimpedance values and introduces the first set of reliable, robust, and predictive models elucidating the previously unclear relationship between applied force and impedance. Submitted to the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Predecessor project placed 3rd in the Biomedical Engineering category at the 2025 International Science and Engineering Fair.
I investigated a protein called FABP5 within the brain's reward center to see if it could be a target for treating addiction. We found that this protein is located in glial cells—the brain's support cells—rather than in neurons. This discovery suggests that targeting FABP5 in these glial cells could be a new way to reduce drug withdrawal symptoms and addiction behaviors. This research contributed to a non-opioidal pain medication now in Phase 1 FDA Trials.
I propose a hypothetical drug called Kalirouna, a synthetic analgesic designed to provide potent pain relief without the risk of addiction. By chemically modifying Hydrocodone to add hydroxyl groups, we aim to increase the molecule's hydrophilicity and size, thereby preventing it from crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the central nervous system. Consequently, Kalirouna is designed to function exclusively in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), effectively blocking pain transmission while avoiding the dopamine release in the brain that leads to dependency. This research placed 2nd in the Medicine/ Health Category at the 2024 American Chemical Society Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting.
I serve as the President of our school's 3-team, 70-person robotics club. RISE is my alma mater team, on which I was also a builder. As a builder-President, I drove the engineering process through iterative design cycles and developed competition strategy. Our teams compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge, an annual robotics competition with over 99,000 students worldwide. RISE recently qualified for and will be competing in the Long Island Championships in April 2026.
I serve as the President of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Finance Association, global youth-led organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and change-makers. Our programs have reached 15,000+ students across 12 countries and have garnered $60k+ in sponsorships from our corporate partners (e.g. UN, Coca-Cola, Google). Our mission is to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit within today's youth through engaging competitions, insightful seminars, and impactful events.
As a hockey player, I advocate for inclusion in sports. I was named a New York Islanders Youth Hockey Ambassador and was interviewed at UBS Arena in front of a 10,000+ person live audience and 2M+ viewers on TV. I am also a strong advocate of science communication, especially regarding Gen Z. In 2024, I won Best High School Short Video in the Asian-American Scholars Forum (AASF) at Stanford University.
I frequently volunteer at my local community farm and food bank. Last year, I won the President's Volunteer Service Gold Award for 500+ hours of community volunteer service.
I was the CEO of Hawkeye, a third-party platform for teenagers to report and stay vigilant against potentially predatory, dangerous, and/or suspicious persons on social media apps. A MVP was launched to the App Store (supported by Microsoft + Stripe) and hit #6 featured on ProductHunt. Hawkeye was developed with a team of 4 engineers and designers at LaunchX Berkeley and was a Semifinalist in the Diamond Challenge.
