Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Society for Science named 40 finalists in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Amongst this year's finalists is Max Bee-Lindgren, a student at Decatur High School in Decatur, Georgia. 

The finalists were chosen based on their projects’ scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientists and leaders. They were selected from 300 scholars, named earlier this month by Regeneron and the Society for Science. 

Max Bee-Lindgren, one of the 40 finalists in the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Max is a senior at Decatur High School.

Max Bee-Lindgren, one of the 40 finalists in the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Max is a senior at Decatur High School in Decatur, GA.

Max's project deals with quantum systems, and more specifically, the energy states in these systems. "If you're holding a ball up, it can be at any height, so there's a continuous range of energies," explained Max. 

"Now imagine the ball is on a set of stairs. Each stair has a specific height, so the ball can only have certain energies. This is analogous to a quantum system, which also has discrete energies. However, these energies are really difficult to calculate. For my project, I modified a quantum computing algorithm that calculates these energies to allow it to isolate two energies instead of one. From this, I calculated the probability that the system moves between the two states (imagine the ball moving from one stair to another). These probabilities are really important in physics, especially in nuclear and atomic physics," they continued. 

Click here to watch Max's finalist video.

Max plans to use their finalist winnings to help pay for college, and is interested in investing their semifinalist winnings. Post high school graduation, they intend on learning as much physics as possible in undergraduate school and want to eventually pursue a doctorate degree. Through Georgia's dual enrollment program, Max has already taken college-level physics courses. 

Finalists will participate in a week-long competition from March 9-16, 2022, where they will undergo a rigorous judging process and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards. They will also have an opportunity to interact with leading scientists and share their research during a virtual “Public Day” event on March 13.

“Congratulations to the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022 finalists,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science, Publisher of Science News and 1985 Science Talent Search alum. “This year’s finalists have shown resilience and dedication in the face of so many obstacles in their educational pursuits. From the COVID pandemic to the harsh realities of climate change, these students have demonstrated their leadership and commitment to STEM innovation. As our world continues to heal and find ways forward, these students will be the key to solving global challenges not only today, but in the future.”