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Four Plano ISD Seniors Named in Regeneron Science Talent Search Top 300

January 10, 2025

On January 8, the Society for Science & the Public announced the 2025 top 300 scholars in the 84th Regeneron Science Talent Search. These scholars were selected from 2,500 applications received from 795 high schools across 48 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and fourteen other countries - more than double the number of applicants from 2024, which was the highest number of entrants since 1969!

Four Plano ISD high school seniors were named to the Top 300. The students and their schools will be awarded $2,000 each. On January 23rd, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. From March 6-12 all 40 finalists will compete in Washington, D.C. for more than $1.8 million in awards provided by Regeneron.

Congratulations to:

  • Dev Arora, Plano West Senior High School, “A Novel Reinforcement-Learning Approach to Closed-Loop Blood Glucose Control Using Deep-Q Learning”

  • Prisha Bhat, Plano East Senior High School, “Genetic Augmentation of Oryza sativa To Increase Drought and Arsenic Tolerance Through Overexpression of Aquaporin Genes”

  • Manya Gummaraju, Plano East Senior High School, “Tinted Truths: Tartrazine-Induced Dysregulation of Retrotransposons and p53 Expression in Drosophila melanogaster Highlights Its Genotoxic Role”

  • Chloe Yehwon Lee, Plano East Senior High School, “Chemical Modification of Acetaminophen To Reduce Liver Toxicity and Enhance Drug Efficacy”

Regeneron Science Talent Search To Scholars

Scholars were chosen based on their outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and exceptional promise as STEM leaders. This year's top scholars hail from 200 American and international high schools in 33 states, Washington D.C., China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Switzerland.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search (Regeneron STS), a program of the Society for Science since 1942, is the nation’s most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Alumni of STS have made extraordinary contributions to science and hold more than 100 of the world’s most distinguished science and math honors, including the Nobel Prize and the National Medal of Science. Each year, 300 Regeneron STS scholars and their schools are recognized. From that select pool of scholars, 40 student finalists are invited to participate in final judging, display their work to the public, meet with notable scientists and compete for awards, including the top award of $250,000.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search provides students with a national stage to present original research and celebrates the hard work and novel discoveries of young scientists who are bringing a fresh perspective to significant global challenges. Program alumni include recipients of the world’s most coveted science and math honors, including Nobel Prizes, National Medals of Science, MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and Fields Medals.  

Top 40 finalists will be announced on January 23, 2025.