1 Hudson Valley Teen Among 40 Regeneron Contest Finalists

TARRYTOWN, NY — The 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2025, the country’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors, include 17-year-old Vivek Malik, from the Hackley School in Tarrytown.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Society for Science said the 2025 finalists were selected from over 2,471 highly qualified entrants based on their projects' scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientists and leaders. Finalists were selected by a national jury of professional scientists from a pool of 300 scholars, who were announced earlier this month.

Malik was recognized for his project titled, "Novel Characterization of Plexin D1's Role in Regulating the Macrophage Immune Response."

SEE ALSO: 18 Hudson Valley Students Named Regeneron Scholars

"Congratulations to this year’s remarkable finalists. Participating in the Regeneron – then Westinghouse – Science Talent Search was a moment of revelation for me — it opened my eyes to the possibility of using science to improve lives," said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder, Co-Chairman, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron, who was a top winner in 1976. "Regeneron now helps millions of people around the world facing serious diseases, which is a testament to what is possible when young scientific talent is nurtured. I see that same potential to transform our world in these finalists, and I look forward to their future contributions to science and to human health."

Finalists will participate in a weeklong competition in March, during which they will undergo a rigorous judging process that goes beyond their own research to encompass other scientific disciplines and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards. They will also have the opportunity to interact with leading scientists and share their research during a virtual "Public Day" event on March 9.

Each finalist is awarded at least $25,000, and the top 10 awards will range from $40,000 to $250,000.

The 2025 finalists represent 39 schools across 16 states. The full list of 40 finalists can be found here.

"We celebrate this exceptional group of Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists for their outstanding achievements," said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. "These young people represent the future of innovation. By nurturing the next generation of scientific and engineering leaders, we are investing in a stronger economy and a better tomorrow, fueled by scientific and technological breakthroughs."

The top 10 Regeneron Science Talent Search 2025 winners will be announced during a live-streamed awards ceremony on March 11. More than $3 million in awards will be distributed throughout the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Finalists may use their award prize money solely for educational purposes and can choose for those funds to be released directly to their college or university. The top 300 scholars, each of whom receive $2,000, may use their awards as they see fit; each of their schools are also awarded $2,000 to support math and science programs, a critical investment toward their future in STEM, and our nation's future as a hub of innovation and progress.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of the Society for Science since 1942, is the country's oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Every year, around 2,000 student entrants submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study and are judged by leading experts in their fields. Unique among high school competitions in the U.S. and around the world, the Regeneron Science Talent Search focuses on identifying, inspiring and engaging the nation's most promising young scientists who are creating the ideas that could solve society's most urgent challenges.

Many past winners continue to pursue innovation for the good of society and the planet, with program alumni receiving some of the world's most coveted science and math honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes and 23 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, as well as becoming the founders of many important science-based companies, such as Regeneron.

In 2017, Regeneron became the third sponsor of the Science Talent Search to help reward and celebrate the best and brightest young minds and encourage them to pursue careers in STEM as a way to positively impact the world. Through its 10-year, $100 million commitment, Regeneron nearly doubled the overall award distribution to $3.1 million annually, increasing the top award to $250,000 and doubling the awards for the top 300 scholars to $2,000 and their schools to $2,000 for each enrolled scholar to inspire more young people to engage in science.