BHHS Senior A Top Winner In National Science Talent Search

ARMONK, NY — Byram Hills High School senior Brent Perlman was one of the top winners in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Perlman won 7th place and $70,000.

Perlman developed a process to produce oxygen in human cells by coculturing human stem cells with spinach chloroplasts, which produce oxygen through photosynthesis.

“Congratulations to Brent on winning seventh place in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2019,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News. “The world needs more brilliant young scientists like Brent, and we are excited to see how his work advances the field of medicine.”

In 2017, Tarryt0wn-based Regeneron became the third sponsor of the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors, now known as the Regeneron Science Talent Search following Westinghouse from 1942-1997 and Intel from 1998-2016.

“Congratulations to this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search top winners who embody true scientific and mathematical ingenuity,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron, and a 1976 Science Talent Search top winner. “We are always inspired by the work of these talented young people, and this year’s winners have impressed us with their curiosity and desire to improve the world around them. My experience as a winner in the Science Talent Search changed my life and was an important early step on my path to a life devoted to using the power of science to do good. I hope it has the same impact on these young scientists, since now more than ever, we need brilliant minds like theirs to find solutions to our world’s most pressing challenges.”

Forty finalists were honored March 12 at the annual Regeneron Science Talent Search awards gala. Regeneron provided awards totaling more than $1.8 million for the finalists, who were evaluated for their research projects, as well as their exceptional scientific and mathematical knowledge, problem-solving abilities and potential as future scientific leaders.

Program alumni include recipients of the world's most coveted science and math honors, including 11 National Medals of Science, five Breakthrough Prizes, 18 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, two Fields Medals and 13 Nobel Prizes.

The Westchester-based biotechnology company invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for 30 years by physician-scientists, it has seven FDA-approved treatments and numerous product candidates in development, all of which were homegrown in its laboratories. "We believe that scientists should be the world’s heroes and are committed to fostering the next generation of scientific talent through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education efforts," the company says.