Two Bergen County Academy Seniors Named Regeneron Science Talent Search Finalists

Two Bergen County Academies seniors been named to the list of 40 National Finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Forty finalists were selected based on the scientific rigor and world-changing potential of their research projects.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science & the Public since 1942, focuses on identifying the next generation of scientists and engineers who will provide critical leadership in solving some of the world's most pressing challenges while shaping the future of research and development for our nation and the world.

Indrani Das and Jacy Fang will receive at least $25,000 by the Regeneron Science Talent Search for being named finalis, upon completion of finals week, and previously received $2,000 for being named as Scholars In addition, the Bergen County Academies has also received $2,000 for each Science Talent Search scholar at its school. This year’s finalists will compete for more than $1.8 million in top awards – more than half of the Regeneron Science Talent Search total annual award distribution of $3.1 million. The top 10 awards range from $40,000 to $250,000 for the first-place winner. Winners will be announced at a formal awards gala at the National Building Museum on March 14.

Indrani who lives in Oradell and Jacy who is from Ridgewood will now go to Washington, D.C. from March 9-15 to undergo a rigorous judging process to determine the top 10 winners. They will also have the opportunity to meet with national leaders and share their projects with the public at the National Geographic Society

“Regeneron is proud to recognize the top 40 Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. These talented young scientists are already exploring life-changing solutions for the world’s problems and are poised to lead innovation for future generations,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of my fellow Science Talent Search alumni who have gone on to become notable scientists and entrepreneurs, underscoring the critical role the program can play in launching a prominent scientific career.”

“These 40 young scientists, engineers and mathematicians are poised to be the next generation of leaders in business and academia,” said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science & the Public and publisher of Science News. “Science breeds curiosity, enabling innovators to develop solutions that will help solve our world’s most pressing challenges. We are proud to celebrate 75 years of recognizing new innovations and research demonstrating the outstanding capabilities of young minds.” The Society has produced and organized the Science Talent Search since it was founded in 1942.

Regeneron Science Talent Search 2017 Fast Facts

• Regeneron Science Talent Search 2017 finalists are from 34 schools in 17 states. Sixty-two percent of this year’s finalists are male, while 38 percent are female.
• Forty finalists were selected from roughly 300 scholars and more than 1,700 entrants based on the originality and creativity of their scientific research, as well as their achievement and leadership both inside and outside of the classroom.
• Finalist projects cover multiple disciplines of science, including behavioral and social science, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, computational biology and bioinformatics, earth and planetary science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, medicine and health, materials science, physics, and space science.
• Finalists’ research projects include a machine learning tool to detect small cell lung cancer; a computational model demonstrating the effect of carbon tax policies on the global agricultural economy; and a high-performance biodegradable battery for transient electronics.
• For a list of this year’s finalists, visit https://student.societyforscience.org/regeneronsts-finalists-2017.