Press Release - Society for Science 2026 Regeneron STS Scholars
Akshat Santhana Gopalan and Berkay Yilmaz were selected as 2026 Regeneron STS Scholars! This prestigious award is given to the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2026 (the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors). The Regeneron Science Talent Search provides students a national stage to present original research and celebrates the hard work and novel discoveries of young scientists who are bringing a fresh perspective to significant global challenges. The 300 scholars and their schools will be awarded $2,000 each.
Scholars were chosen based on their outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and exceptional promise as STEM leaders demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendations. The 300 scholars hail from 203 American and international high schools in 34 states, Washington D.C. and China.
Akshat Santhana Gopalan
Project Title: TARGen: Novel Target-Aware Deep-Generative Framework for De Novo Therapeutic Antibody Design Develops Antibodies Targeting the Dark Kinome
Berkay Yilmaz
Project Title: DNA Chalk: Calcium Carbonate-Functionalized DNA Tensegrity Triangle Crystals for Targeted Drug Delivery