PSI Awards:
Celebrating Excellence in Scientific Inquiry
PSI Conference Awards 2026
The annual PSI Conference was held on August 12th at Oregon Health & Science University, which brought together students, mentors, families, and supporters to celebrate a summer of learning, discovery, and research. This milestone event marked the first time the PSI community gathered in person to showcase student achievements, including poster presentations, lightning talks, and awards recognizing outstanding contributions.
The conference featured:
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Lightning Talks: Students delivered concise, impactful presentations highlighting their summer research and literature projects.
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Poster Presentations: Nearly 50 posters covered topics in biomedical research, engineering, neuroscience, genetics, and more, reflecting the intellectual curiosity and dedication of our students.
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Award Ceremony: Exceptional students were recognized for their creativity, scientific rigor, and presentation skills.
2026 PSI Award Recipients:
Ahead of the in-person gathering, PSI hosted a virtual conference on August 3, 2026 to ensure all students could share their work regardless of location or summer commitments. The live event took place online, with judging and Q&A conducted in real time.
2026 PSI Virtual Conference Awardees:
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Lightning Talks
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1st: Brianna Quiroz Alvarez
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2nd: Haoming (Aiden) Wu
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3rd: Keziah Ocholi
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Poster Presentations:
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1st: Yunah Kim
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2nd: Kriti Guthikonda
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3rdTie: Robin Sinha & Sophia Wang
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PSI Conference Awards 2025
The inaugural in-person 2025 PSI Conference, held on August 20th at Oregon Health & Science University, brought together students, mentors, families, and supporters to celebrate a summer of learning, discovery, and research. This milestone event marked the first time the PSI community gathered in person to showcase student achievements, including poster presentations, lightning talks, and awards recognizing outstanding contributions.
The conference featured:
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Lightning Talks: Students delivered concise, impactful presentations highlighting their summer research and literature projects.
-
Poster Presentations: Over 40 posters covered topics in biomedical research, engineering, neuroscience, genetics, and more, reflecting the intellectual curiosity and dedication of our students.
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Award Ceremony: Exceptional students were recognized for their creativity, scientific rigor, and presentation skills.
2025 PSI Award Recipients:
Ahead of the in-person gathering, PSI hosted a virtual conference on August 6, 2025 to ensure all students could share their work regardless of location or summer commitments. The live event took place online, with judging and Q&A conducted in real time. Read more by clicking on the student's name.
2025 PSI Virtual Conference Awardees:
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Lightning Talks
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1st: Swathi Ram
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2nd: Vrasti Jain
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3rd: Kaia Matthias
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Honorable mention: Ava Hsieh
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Poster Presentations:
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1st: Vrasti Jain
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2nd: Krrish Ravuri
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3rd: McKenzie Vo
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Honorable mention: Sophia Hong
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View selected research proposals from the PSI Class of 2025 here curated by Gwyn Gerber, PSI Cohort of 2025
PSI Conference Awards 2024
The 2024 Virtual PSI Conference, held on August 14th, showcased the impressive research of our PSI students through a series of lightning talks and poster presentations. As a cornerstone event of the PSI program, this event highlights the dedication and talent of high school students as they explore the world of biomedical research. Beyond celebrating their hard work, the conference provides invaluable feedback from experienced researchers who serve as judges, fostering an environment of continuous learning and growth. View the Full Agenda to learn more about the event's schedule and the students' remarkable projects.
Best Lightning Talk
Best Poster Presentation - First Place
Lewis Scholar
Lily Crow
Lily Crow (PSI Student; left) and Sofia Vignolo (PSI Program Coordinator; right) at TERMIS 2024
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PSI's DNA Day Essay Contest Winners & Honorable Mentions
The American Society for Human Genetics (ASHG) sponsors an essay writing contest for high school students. The winners are announced each year on National DNA Day. The PSI program has submitted student essays to this contest since 2010. Kudos to the PSI students listed below who have received recognition!