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Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Scientific Inquiry

PSI Conference Awards 2026

PSI 2026 Conference Booklet
PSI Conference

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. The in-person conference was supported by the Vollum Institute and the OHSU Neuro-Oncology Blood-Brain Barrier Program. This milestone event showcased student achievements, including poster presentations, lightning talks, and awards recognizing outstanding contributions.

Read OHSU News coverage of the 2026 PSI summer program and conference PSI Conference

2026 In-Person Conference Winners

Yunah Kim

Best Lightning Talk - First Place

Yunah Kim

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Brianna Quiroz Alvarez

Best Lightning Talk - Second Place

Brianna Quiroz Alvarez

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Haoming (Aiden) Wu

Best Lightning Talk - Third Place

Haoming (Aiden) Wu

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Kriti Guthikonda

Best Lightning Talk - Honorable Mention

Kriti Guthikonda

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Brian Wei

Best Poster Presentation - First Place

Brian Wei

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Leona Lee

Best Poster Presentation - Second Place

Leona Lee

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Keziah Ocholi

Best Poster Presentation - Third Place

Keziah Ocholi

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Yunah Kim

Best Poster Presentation - Honorable Mention

Yunah Kim

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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 Virtual Conference Awardees:

Lightning Talks

  • 1st: Brianna Quiroz Alvarez
  • 2nd: Haoming (Aiden) Wu
  • 3rd: Keziah Ocholi

Poster Presentations

  • 1st: Yunah Kim
  • 2nd: Kriti Guthikonda
  • 3rd (tie): Robin Sinha & Sophia Wang

PSI Conference Awards 2025

PSI 2025 Conference Booklet
Students, families, mentors, and supporters gathered at the 2025 in-person conference

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. The in-person conference was supported by the Vollum Institute and the OHSU Neuro-Oncology Blood-Brain Barrier Program. 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.

2025 In-Person Conference Winners

Kaia Matthias presenting her poster.

Best Lightning Talk - First Place

Kaia Matthias

Kaia presenting her poster.

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McKenzie practicing her lightning talk.

Best Lightning Talk - Second Place

McKenzie Vo

McKenzie practicing her lightning talk.

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Swathi presenting her poster.

Best Lightning Talk - Third Place

Swathi Ram

Swathi presenting her poster.

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Vrasti's mom, Sofia (PSI director), and Vrasti proudly showcasing her many well-earned awards.

Best Lightning Talk - Honorable Mention

Vrasti Jain

Vrasti's mom, Sofia (PSI director), and Vrasti proudly showcasing her many well-earned awards.

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Vrasti presenting her poster.

Best Poster Presentation - First Place

Vrasti Jain

Vrasti presenting her poster.

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Aryan presenting his poster.

Best Poster Presentation - Second Place

Aryan Iyer

Aryan presenting his poster.

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Misha receiving best poster (third place) award alongside Sofia (PSI director) and Dr. Barajas.

Best Poster Presentation - Third Place

Misha Nasarpuri

Misha receiving best poster (third place) award alongside Sofia (PSI director) and Dr. Barajas.

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Maryam presenting her poster.

Best Poster Presentation - Honorable Mention

Maryam Al-Medyadi

Maryam presenting her poster.

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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 Virtual Conference Awardees:

Lightning Talks

Poster Presentations:

View the 2025 virtual conference program

PSI Conference Awards 2024

Full Agenda
PSI Conference

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.

Lily Crow (PSI Student; left) and Sofia Vignolo (PSI Program Coordinator; right) at TERMIS 2024

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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Rashaad Ahsan

Best Poster Presentation - Second Place

Rashaad Ahsan

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Sonya Adjallah

Best Poster Presentation - Third Place

Lewis Scholar
Sonya Adjallah

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Naomi Robinson

Best Poster Presentation - Honorable Mention

Lewis Scholar
Naomi Robinson

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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!

2010

2nd Place: Patreece Suen
Teacher: Richard Rosenbaum
School: Tualatin High School, Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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2010

Honorable Mention: Jiahui Zhang
Teacher: Richard Rosenbaum
School: Lincoln High School, Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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2013

Honorable Mention: David Quin
Teacher: Richard Rosenbaum
School: Lake Oswego High School, Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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2015

2nd Place: Sagan Ghim
Teacher: Tammy Martin & Richard Rosenbaum
School: Wilson High School, Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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2016

Honorable Mention: Zanzan Brink
Teacher: Richard Rosenbaum
School: Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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2016

Honorable Mention: Arjun Somayazulu
Teacher: Richard Rosenbaum
School: Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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2019

Honorable Mention: Emma Gurcan
Teacher: Tammy Martin
School: Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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2020

Honorable Mention: Claire Ku
Teacher: DreeAnna Morris
School: Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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2020

Honorable Mention: Jonas Schwab
Teacher: DreeAnna Morris
School: Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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2021

Honorable Mention: Kevin Lei
Teacher: Hayleigh Ast
School: Oregon Health & Science University, Partnership for Scientific Inquiry Program

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