Irvington High Schooler Among 40 Regeneron Contest Finalists

TARRYTOWN, NY — The 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors, include Brooke Ann Dunefsky from Irvington High School.

Each finalist is awarded at least $25,000, and the top 10 awards range from $40,000 to $250,000.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Society for Science said the 2022 finalists were selected from more than 1,800 highly qualified entrants based on their projects’ scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientists and leaders.

The 2022 finalists' research projects span a diverse range of STEM-related subjects, showcasing a breadth of knowledge and depth of passion for science. Multiple students chose to explore the wide-ranging impact of COVID-19; for instance, one studied the effect of pandemic-related economic hardship on marital functioning, and another evaluated SARS-CoV-2 respiratory droplet spread to better inform public safety measures. Some students invented novel therapeutic tools, like a mind-controlled prosthetic limb and a device for rehabilitating stroke victims, while others explored topics related to climate change, including a new method for sustainable biofuels production. Still others dove into social and political issues, including an examination of voting behavior in the United States and influencer advertising on Instagram.

Dunefsky invented a biomedical device to speed the recovery of stroke patients with upper limb impairment. Her patented device applies the principles of neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to create new pathways when others are damaged – by having the patient make specific, repetitive arm movements of variable intensity. She made it for under $100. Her project was titled A Novel Device that Utilizes Neuroplasticity for the Rehabilitation of Stroke Victims.

She will participate in a week-long competition from March 9-16, where finalists will undergo a rigorous judging process and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards. They will also have an opportunity to interact with leading scientists and share their research during a virtual "Public Day" event on March 13.

The finalists are each awarded at least $25,000, and the top 10 awards range from $40,000 to $250,000.

The top 10 Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022 winners will be announced during a live-streamed awards ceremony on March 15. In total, more than $3 million in awards will be distributed throughout the Regeneron Science Talent Search, which includes awards to finalists as well as $2,000 provided to each of the top 300 scholars and their schools. Award winners use the prize money to advance their education and scientific research – a critical investment toward their future in STEM, and the country's future as a hub of innovation and progress.

"We are excited to welcome an exceptional group of Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022 finalists and continue our tradition of supporting the next generation of scientific leaders," said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Co-founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron, and a 1976 Science Talent Search finalist and winner. "Competing in the Science Talent Search was life-changing for me, and helped give me the inspiration and confidence to devote myself to a life of using science to help fight disease. We look forward to seeing how this year's finalists, with their demonstrated perseverance and creativity, continue to harness the power of science to address the many challenges facing society, and improve the lives of people around the world."

The Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science since 1942, is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Each year, around 2,000 student entrants submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study and are judged by leading experts in their fields. Unique among high school competitions in the U.S. and around the world, the Regeneron Science Talent Search focuses on identifying, inspiring and engaging the nation’s most promising young scientists who are creating the ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.

Program alumni include recipients of the world’s most coveted science and math honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes, 13 National Medals of Science, six Breakthrough Prizes, 21 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and two Fields Medals.

Regeneron, based in Tarrytown, became only the third sponsor of the Science Talent Search in 2017, increasing the overall awards distribution to better reward the best and brightest young minds. Through its 10-year, $100 million commitment, Regeneron nearly doubled the overall award distribution to $3.1 million annually, increasing the top award to $250,000 and doubling the awards for the top 300 scholars and their schools to $2,000 each to inspire more young people to engage in science.