For his research on “Cryptographically Secure Proxy Bidding in Ascending Clock Auctions,” Montgomery Blair High School senior Andrew Komo won first place nationwide in this year’s Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology. The prize comes with a $100,000 scholarship.

 

The Maryland high school student was mentored by Professor Lawrence Ausubel, an expert in auctions, market design and microeconomic theory.

 

“Andrew’s project uses advanced cryptographic techniques to enable bidders to place bids that are tamper-proof and leak-proof,” explained Ausubel. “For example, it prevents the auctioneer from colluding with a bidder by leaking information to the bidder’s competitors.”

 

For his project, Komo has also been named one of 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, a second nationwide STEM competition for high school seniors. Finalist status ensures him at least another $25,000 scholarship. The top prizes will be decided in March.

 

This was the first time that Professor Ausubel has mentored a high school student. However, he is no newcomer to national science contests—when he was in high school, he was a finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, the predecessor to the Regeneron competition.