Student Spotlight | Maria Pojoga Advances to International Science Fair Competition
Thinking big + Winning Big
We are proud to spotlight junior Maria Pojoga who recently won the Red River Regional Science and Engineering Fair and is now advancing to the international level of competition, earning a scholarship from Midwestern State University in the process.
Her award-winning project explored neuroscience, focusing on how neurons in the brain’s visual cortex (V1) respond to images we may not consciously remember seeing. Using previously published research conducted in Houston on macaque monkeys, whose brains closely resemble human visual systems, she analyzed how neurons react to familiar (“exposed”) versus unfamiliar (“unexposed”) images shown for just milliseconds in peripheral vision.
In the study, monkeys were trained to focus on a central dot while images flashed briefly off to the side. By measuring neural responses and comparing them to the monkeys’ reactions, researchers found they could often predict behavior based on how quickly neurons fired, sometimes before the brain had fully processed the image.
“The neuron reacts quicker than the rest of your brain,” she explained. “You might not consciously remember seeing something, but your neurons did.”
The implications are far-reaching. The phenomenon helps explain everything from why a catchy song gets stuck in your head to the long-debated theory that ultra-brief advertising images can influence consumer behavior without conscious awareness.
The research project holds personal significance for Maria. The original study began before she was born, and her father was directly involved in the research while their family lived in Houston. Today, he continues analyzing neural data and publishing findings related to the work.
“He’s like my mentor,” she said. “He helps me understand what to look for in the research and how to analyze it.”
Looking ahead, Maria plans to major in biology and pursue a career in medicine. While her interests have ranged from surgery to marine biology, she is currently leaning toward oncology.
Balancing advanced research, rigorous SAT preparation, and her academic coursework requires discipline. She dedicates significant time each week to study, including tutoring sessions and workshops, all while maintaining a strong academic standard at CA.
Her hard work has already paid off, and now she will represent Christ Academy on an international stage.
We are incredibly proud of her curiosity, discipline, and academic excellence. Please join us in congratulating her as she advances to internationals! We can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next.