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Three GNPS Students Named Regeneron STS Scholars

Three students from the Great Neck Public Schools have been named 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Scholars. John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School seniors Sophia Li and Kian Soleymani, and William A. Shine-Great Neck South High School senior Arnav Pemmaraju are among the top 300 Scholars in the nation’s most prestigious science competition.

“We are incredibly proud of our three Regeneron Scholars and their science research advisors,” praised Superintendent Dr. Kenneth R. Bossert. “I applaud our Scholars for their passion and perseverance, as well as their mentors, families, and teachers who supported them throughout the discovery process.”

Great Neck’s Scholars are among 300 semifinalists nationwide, selected from an applicant pool of nearly 2,600 entrants. Each Scholar will receive $2,000 with a matching amount for their school. Scholars and their project titles are:

  • Sophia Li, North High: “Closing the Shade Gap: Advancing Environmental Equity Through Understanding Tree Canopy Disparities in Redlined Communities With i-Tree”
  • Arnav Pemmaraju, South High: “CRE-LogicSim: A Surrogate Modeling Framework for Interpreting Cis-Regulatory Element Function in Deep Sequence Models”
  • Kian Soleymani, North High: “AI-Powered Conversational Tool for Early Stage Cognitive Decline”

North High science research faculty members are Christopher Bambino, John Cimilluca, Catherine Leong, Alison Widawsky, and North High research director/senior research teacher/science department chair/district research facilitator Jessica York. South High science research faculty members are senior research advisors Loriana Demirciyan, Nicole Spinelli and Dr. James Truglio, and the science department chair is Courtney Knacke.

“Congratulations to the top 300 scholars in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science and Publisher, Science News. “Their research highlights the creativity, rigor and determination that’s pushing forward the future of scientific discovery. We are honored to recognize their achievements and support their continued pursuit of STEM excellence.”

The Regeneron competition is the former Westinghouse and then the Intel Science Talent Search. The Talent Search, begun in 1942, is the nation’s oldest, and often considered its most prestigious, science and mathematics competition for high school seniors. It is owned and produced by Society for Science. On Jan. 21, 40 of the top 300 Scholars will be announced as Finalists and will advance in the national competition.

 

North High science research faculty standing behind Regeneron STS Scholars Sophia Li and Kian Soleymani who are seated at a lab table in a science classroom

(Standing, L-R) Christopher Bambino, Alison Widawsky, Jessica York, John Cimilluca and Catherine Leong congratulate North High School’s Regeneron STS Scholars Sophia Li and Kian Soleymani (seated).

 

South High science research faculty stand behind Regeneron STS Scholar Arnav Pemmaraju who is seated at a lab table in a science classroom

(Standing, L-R) Courtney Knacke, Dr. James Truglio, Loriana Demirciyan and Nicole Spinelli congratulate South High School’s Regeneron STS Scholar Arnav Pemmaraju (seated).