6 Greenwich Students Named Scholars In Regeneron Science Talent Search

GREENWICH, CT — This week, Regeneron and Society for Science announced the 300 students named as scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

Among the scholars are six Greenwich students: Stephanie Chang; Angie Fogarty; Isabella Gega; Ambika Grover; Ronit Gupta from Greenwich High School; and Jennifer Carmen Di Capua from Sacred Heart Greenwich.

The students and their project titles are:

• Chang: A Multi-Omics Approach to Host-Microbe Interactions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Targeted Cell-Type Discovery.
• Fogarty: Rapid, Visual Detection of Illicit Substances in a Variety of Environments via Competitive, Amine-Responsive Fluorophores.
• Gega: Synthesis of Polysaccharide-Encapsulated Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites To Stimulate Plant Growth and Promote Phosphorus Absorption.
• Grover: Design of a Novel, Dual-Functioning, Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Factor XI-Inhibiting Anticoagulant Therapeutic for Rapid Ischemic Stroke Treatment.
• Gupta: Design of a Rapid, Lateral Flow COPD Diagnostic via Detection of Cyto-Keratin 19 Biomarkers.
• Di Capua: Facilitating Healthcare Access for Latinx Immigrants Using a Novel Smartphone App, Salud por Todos.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,949 applications from 627 high schools across 48 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and four other countries.

Each selected scholar receives a $2,000 award with an additional $2,000 going to their respective school, resulting in $1.2 million in total scholar awards from Regeneron.

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 demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendations.

The 300 scholars hail from 194 American and international high schools in 35 states and China.

"Congratulations to the top 300 scholars in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search," said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO, Society for Science and Publisher, Science News in a news release. "The enthusiasm and quality of projects from this year's participants were just outstanding. Each year, I am tremendously impressed by the ingenuity that the students bring to the competition. Their hard work, creativity and perseverance should be applauded."

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, 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 March 9-15.