Nira Goyal Named Science Talent Search Scholar

The Society for Science recently announced the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024, and Nira Goyal, a Martin County High School senior, earned a spot on the list.

Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious STEM competition for high school seniors.

Nira Goyal was selected as a top 300 scholar from 2,162 applications from 712 high schools across 46 states, Puerto Rico and 10 other countries. This year had the highest number of entries since 1969. She was awarded a $2,000 scholarship, with another $2,000 awarded to Martin County High School for her accomplishment.

Scholars were chosen based on their outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and demonstration of exceptional promise as leaders in science, technology, engineering and math.

Nira Goyal earned this esteemed recognition for her project, Quantification of Macrophomina phaseolina Survival After Organic Soil Treatments Under Multiple Temperature Regimes, in which she studied how to control the spread of the soil-borne fungus that impacts many crops.

Last year, Nira competed at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, TX, and won 2nd place in the Plant Science category for this project.

On January 24, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. The finalists will then compete for more than $1.8 million in awards during a week-long competition in Washington, D.C., taking place March 6-13, 2024.