Lexington High School senior Allison Liu was recently selected as a Top 300 Scholar in the prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS).

Regeneron STS is a research-based science competition open to high school seniors who have conducted independent scientific research. For the competition, students must write an academic research paper and answer additional essay questions that are then judged by PhD-level scientists. 

Liu was selected from more than 2,000 other high school seniors. Liu’s research focused on immuno-oncology, specifically using synthetic biology techniques to reengineer T cells and effectively combat cancer. As a competition semifinalist, Liu and LHS will each receive an award of $2,000.

Liu has been interested in natural science since she was a child. She fostered this interest throughout high school, especially in her AP Biology class.

“AP Biology was a really great introduction to the molecular level concepts that animate life and that naturally led me to become more curious about biotechnologies and ways that scientists were leveraging various molecular level mechanisms to treat diseases,” Liu said.

Liu eventually developed a passion for molecular and synthetic biology and became interested in immunotherapy.

“I think that immunotherapy is a really fascinating intersection of science and engineering, since on one hand, you’re very much looking at this 3D biology perspective. But then you’re also applying an engineering perspective to think critically about what you can vary to reengineer these cells for stronger applications,” Liu said.

Liu then began to pursue research opportunities, conducting research at Boston University during the summer between her junior and senior years. Liu discovered Regeneron STS in hopes of continuing her research after the summer.

“I decided to do Regeneron STS because it encourages you to work on written communication by writing an academic research paper,” Liu said. “I hope to connect with other students who are interested in research.”

When writing her paper, Liu navigated the contrast between writing an academic paper for school and for independent research.

“Learning to speak the language of biology writing was difficult, but I’ve come out of this experience feeling a lot more prepared to tackle future science writing in college,” Liu said.

Ultimately, Regeneron STS was a valuable and validating experience for Liu and her journey in STEM. 

“I think that being recognized by Regeneron STS helped me build self-confidence in my work. This experience helped me gain familiarity with research methods, but also how to communicate that work to others,” Liu said.

Liu has also entered LHS’s science fair with her research project and tutored in STEM through the National Honor Society. She hopes to continue exploring biology in college and encourages other students interested in STEM to pursue their passions. 

“I think a lot of students might not connect with STEM because they feel it’s too theoretical. But if you can push yourself to apply what you’ve learned in the form of a research project, that can help ground what you’re learning in reality,” Liu said.