Education
Education

DeKalb student wins $25,000 in national science competition

Lakeside High School student Zoe Weiss.
Lakeside High School student Zoe Weiss.
By Marlon A. Walker
April 9, 2019

A DeKalb County School District student recently was named a finalist in a national science competition, netting a $25,000 prize.

Zoe Weiss, a Lakeside High School senior,  placed in the top 40 in the annual Regeneron Science Talent Search. She was the first Georgia student finalist since 2014.

District officials said she was recognized for creating an algorithm to detect rare cell types from single-cell gene-expression data, which can help with early disease diagnosis.

The finalists traveled to Washington, D.C., last month to compete for more than $1.8 million in prize money.

Her algorithm detected rare cells in all examined cases, including one which could prove to be a new type of brain cell.

About the Author

Marlon A. Walker is an education reporter covering DeKalb County.

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