$150,000 award goes to Amber Luo (RSI ’21) in STEM competition
McLean, Va. (March 16, 2022) — The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) is pleased to announce that a CEE Research Science Institute (RSI) alumna is among the top 10 winners in the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition for high school seniors.
Amber Luo, Ward Melville High School, East Setauket, N.Y., a 2021 Research Science Institute (RSI) alumna, was awarded third place and $150,000 for developing a software, RiboBayes, which identifies key regions known as “ribosome pause sites” along a cell’s mRNA transcripts that regulate protein synthesis. Her tool reveals critical insights into how ribosome pause site expression is altered by diseases. By providing greater ability to locate and evaluate the key components of protein synthesis that occur at these ribosome pause sites, RiboBayes enables researchers to gain a more complete view of the mechanisms underlying a wide range of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancers.
Joann DiGennaro, CEE President said, “I am so very proud of Amber, who represents the future of U.S. global leadership in science and technology.”
Ms. Luo was selected from 1,804 highly qualified entrants to the Regeneron Science Talent Search, all of whom completed an original research project and an extensive application process. Three other 2021 RSI alumni were among the top 40 finalists: Max Bee-Lindgren, Decatur High School, Decatur, Ga.; Steven D. Liu, Shady Side Academy, Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Ella Wang, Basis High School, Chandler, Ariz. Twenty-four RSI alumni were among the top 300 scholars. See the full list of CEE alumni here.
The top 10 Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022 winners were announced during a live-streamed virtual awards ceremony on March 15. Regeneron awarded more than $3 million in total prizes through the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022, including $2,000 to each of the top 300 scholars and their schools.
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About Research Science Institute
CEE’s RSI is a summer science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program collaboratively sponsored with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that combines on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research. Students conduct original, cutting-edge research in state-of-the-art university laboratories, hospitals, and corporate research facilities. Students make oral and written presentations based on their research during the last week of the program. RSI is offered at no cost to all students competitively selected to attend. More information is at https://www.cee.org/research-science-institute.
About the Center for Excellence in Education
CEE, a 501(c) (3) charitable non-profit, was founded in 1983 by the late Admiral H.G. Rickover and Joann P. DiGennaro, President of the Center. The Center’s mission is to nurture high school and university scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and to encourage collaboration between and among scientific and technological leaders in the global community. CEE sponsors the Research Science Institute (RSI), STEM Lyceums, the Teacher Enrichment Program (TEP), and the USA Biolympiad (USABO). CEE programs are provided cost-free to participating students and teachers. The Center works closely with educational institutions, private foundations, corporations, government agencies, and individuals. For more information, visit www.cee.org.
Media Contact: Tom Flavell, (703) 448-9062 ext. 237
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