Three University High School students have been named among the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
Founded in 1942, the Regeneron STS provides a vital platform for original research, reviewed and recognized by a national jury of professional scientists. These 300 scholars come from 200 American and international high schools and homeschools in 33 states, Washington D.C., Hong Kong, Malaysia and Switzerland. Past contestants have won the world’s top science and math honors such as the Nobel Prize and National Medal of Science.
The top 300 scholars were selected from nearly 2,500 entrants. Each student receives $2,000 with an additional $2,000 going to his or her school. David Knight, chair of the science department at University High School, said the money to University High School will be used to support after-school programs such as Science Olympiad.
The three scholars and their research topics are:
| Victoria Fang Project: A Novel AI- and Robotics-Backed Smart Sign Language Interpreter (ASLBot), Eliminating the Barriers of Communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals |
| Miles Hexun Project: Engineering of Formate Dehydrogenase for Recycling of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, a Noncanonical Redox Cofactor |
| Victor Li Project: Allo-DiffHopping: A Computational Approach for Allosteric Scaffold Hopping Using Conditional E(3) Equivariant Diffusion Model in Drug Design |
“These students have demonstrated extraordinary skill and perseverance in conducting original research that stands out on a national stage. Their achievements exemplify the spirit of inquiry and excellence that defines our University High School community,” said Knight. “We are incredibly proud of their hard work and contributions to the scientific community, and we look forward to seeing the impact of their research in the future.”
The contestants had to submit a written report on their research, teacher recommendations and a transcript as well as present their results in reports that resemble graduate school theses.
“It is evident that this work is a true labor of love for them, as they have dedicated a significant amount of time during the summers to not only advance their research but also develop their written materials,” Knight remarked. “Their commitment and diligent effort over the past three to four years are truly commendable.”
On January 23, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. The finalists will then compete for more than $1.8 million in awards during a week-long competition in Washington, D.C., taking place in March.