Rania Sophia Lateef, a senior at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School in Manassas, is a finalists in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search. She also attends The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park.
Stiff Competition
The prestigious Regeneron science competition had nearly 2,500 total applicants. Lateef was among 40 high school students chosen from 300 national semifinalists.
As a finalist, Rania has already received $27,000. She advances to a weeklong competition held March 6 to 12 which includes a rigorous judging process by leading scientists. The top 10 winners will be announced during a livestreamed March 11 awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The awards range from $40,000 to $250,000.
‘Passion and Commitment’
Lateef’s project is titled “Rhythms and Blues: Evaluating the Impact of Artificial Light Exposure and Circadian Disruption on Biobehavioral Systems in Drosophila melanogaster” (fruit fly). “Winning this award validates the work I’ve been doing in my own ‘basement lab’ and at my schools. It shows me that you do not need to be in a high-powered research setting or surrounded by multiple PhDs and post docs to conduct meaningful research. You just need passion and commitment,” Lateef said in a Prince William County Public Schools release.
Rania’s mother, Dr. Tara Lateef, added: “Who would have thought some fun sleepovers with fruit flies would stand up to the work in high-powered research settings and university labs. Yet Rania had her own steadfast determination and the relentless backing of her teachers and science mentors.”
Talent Search Alumni
Now in its 84th year, the Regeneron Science Talent Search is hosted by the nonprofit Society for Science and biotech company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. According to its website, the competition, “identifies extraordinary young minds who blend scientific talent, curiosity and bold leadership to drive meaningful change for society. Regeneron Science Talent Search alumni have gone on to win 13 Nobel Prizes, 23 MacArthur Fellowships, and have founded numerous world-changing companies, including Regeneron.”
In last year’s competition, Emily Ocasio, a senior at The New School of Northern Virginia, won a $175,000 prize for her study on media biases.
Feature image courtesy Regeneron Science Talent Search/Rania Sophia Lateef
