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Aashritha Penumudi of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has been selected as one of 40 finalists in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search.
Penumudi, the only finalist from Virginia, advanced from a group of 300 scholars announced in the prestigious national pre-college science competition. Her selection marks the third consecutive year that a TJHSST student has reached the finalist stage.
Her project is titled “A Novel Approach to Understanding the Structural Basis of Ribosome Stalling by AMD1 and Cellular Arresting Peptides.”
Each finalist will receive at least $25,000 and travel to Washington, D.C., in March for final judging. The students will also present their work publicly, meet prominent scientists and compete for additional awards, including a $250,000 top prize.
The winners will be announced March 10.