Two local high school students named competition semi-finalists Regeneron Scientific Talent Search 2025 for the research they conducted as part of the Hofstra University Research Program Summer Scientific Research Program (HUSSRP). Four other Regeneron semifinalists were also HUSSRP participants.
The Regeneron Program is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school students.
Alaina Pinto from the Wheatley School worked with Hofstra Associate Professor of Biology Michel Dorès during the summer of 2023 on his project “Visualization of the impact of interleukin-32 on tight junction integrity and nuclear morphology of glioblastoma metastases in human endothelial cells”.
Eric Reillystudent at Lynbrook High School, participated in HUSSRP in 2024. His project, “Visible Light-Induced Photocatalytic Oxidation of Aromatic Alcohols to Carbonyls and Peroxides Using Green Chemistry Principles,” was conducted under the mentorship from Hofstra Associate Professor of Chemistry Yalan Xing.
“The HUSSRP provides a great opportunity for high school students to access independent research experiences,” said Dr. Dores. “As a mentor, it is very rewarding to work with students like Alaina to develop your own hypothesis-driven research project. »
Pinto and Reilly are among 300 young scholars from 200 U.S. and international high schools and home schools in 33 states, including Washington DC, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Switzerland, to be recognized as Regeneron Semifinalists. The researchers and their schools received $2,000.
Dr. Xing said it was “incredibly gratifying” to see Reilly recognized by Regeneron for his work on visible light-induced photocatalysis. “Mentoring students like Eric is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job because it highlights the potential of future scientists and the importance of collaborative discovery,” she said.
For almost two decades, the HUSSRP, led by Gail Benningtonassistant instructor of Geology, environment and sustainability at Hofstra, offered research-oriented high school students the opportunity to work with Hofstra’s science and engineering faculty from early July to mid-August. This year, the program co-directors will be assistant professor of chemistry Daniel Millerand laboratory director and assistant associate professor of chemistry Wendy Hom.
“HUSSRP students work directly with faculty who excel in training emerging researchers in cutting-edge techniques across multiple scientific disciplines,” added Dr. Dores. “Our students have the opportunity to design and carry out their own experiments while we guide them in analyzing and interpreting the data. I believe this process is essential to success as a Regeneron researcher.
Society for Science, the organization behind the Regeneron Science Talent Search, selects semifinalists based on their exceptional research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and their exceptional potential, as STEM leaders demonstrated by submitting their applications. original and independent research projects, essays and recommendations.
According to News dayLong Island produced more Regeneron Scholars this year than any other region in the country.