Before University of Virginia freshman Daniel Epstein attended his first college class, he traveled thousands of miles to study science at an Israeli institute.

This past summer, the Fairfax resident joined 72 other recent high-school graduates at the Dr. Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute. The program allowed them to conduct research at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. Epstein call the program his most memorable experience to date.

"I enjoyed every bit of the program, and would recommend it to anyone seriously considering science and looking for a good experience," Epstein said.

Epstein returned on Aug. 1 and is in Charlottesville as a freshman at the University of Virginia.

Before that, Epstein spent most of his life in Northern Virginia. Born in Chantilly on Jan. 14, 1990, Epstein lived there for 12 years until his family moved to Fairfax.

Epstein’s family consists of his sisters Sarah and Naomi and his parents Jeremy and Monica. Epstein said his parents helped him discover and apply to the Weizmann Institute program.

"I have a very tight-knit family, both immediate and extended," Epstein said. "My junior year of high school, my parents and I were looking up potential summer programs."
Epstein was too young for the Weizmann program at first and put the application aside and applied his senior year when he was old enough for eligibility.

However, Epstein began his scientific endeavors before then. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria. Aside from spending time with friends and playing video games, Epstein said he enjoys programming in his free time.

While Epstein had taken a few advanced science classes, he never participated in science fairs, unlike most of his fellow participants at the Weizmann program. In his senior year, Epstein and a group of peers conducted a project in robotics that aimed to create "a fully autonomous vehicle."

"Although the project didn't turn out quite that way, I still learned many valuable lessons in research and working in groups," Epstein said.

DURING his senior year, Epstein received a reply from the officials of the Weizmann program. After a phone interview, he was accepted to the program in early May.

The Weizmann program’s Web site states that roughly 80 participants from around the world are chosen each year to spend four weeks in the summer at the institute to work with the institute’s scientists and graduate students and conduct research. The program grants 20 American students scholarships, according to a press release from the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute. The scholarship includes travel costs to Israel.

Epstein offered multiple reasons for applying to the program. "First, I was looking for some sort of science research program," Epstein said. "Second, there the opportunity to travel to Israel, a country that I have strong ties to. I'm Jewish and have family there. Finally, to get an experience like I got without having to pay was unbelievable."

Jeffrey Sussman, vice president of public affairs of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute, said applicants must be recent high-school graduates with a proven dedication to science and are judged by their performance in science classes, teacher recommendations and academic merit.

"Some of the most talented students in the U.S. are attracted to the Weizmann Institute program," Sussman said.

EPSTEIN ARRIVED early to visit relatives until the program began in July. At the institute, students were assigned group projects.

"I worked on the Physics of Traffic Jams, which consisted of building a computer model to simulate a simple road scenario and analyze data on the flux of the road and other parameters," said Epstein.

Epstein worked with Beatrice Dittes, an 18-year-old woman from Dresden, Germany. Dittes said she and Epstein worked well together.

"I think Daniel is a really open-minded and congenial person," Dittes said. "You can have a good time working with him while still being efficient as he also cares for the project. Plus, we're a perfect match given he is a good programmer and I preferred the theoretical and analytical work."

Dittes and Epstein said they were satisfied overall with their project and the program.

"I wouldn't say that I live in a bubble, but never before, and probably never again, will I get to meet people from 14 other countries in such an extensive program," Epstein said.

As an engineering major at the University of Virginia, Epstein plans to continue his scientific career. He said he plans to attend graduate school and hopefully get a job in systems modeling.

"Overall, I feel as though science represents the future," Epstein said. "Yes, there will always be jobs for journalists, artists, etc., but in my opinion scientists are the ones shaping the development of the world."