Introduction Rishab Jain, a young scientist from Portland, Oregon, and his amazing project at the Regeneron ISEF.

Read our blog for the full story and helpful resources.

Rishab Jain, a Harvard student who has achieved success in numerous international competitions has an entire YouTube channel dedicated to science research and winning ISEF: How to win 1st place at ISEF: https://youtu. be/sqfzvvn2GY0?si=Zd4wscHTlm57U02q How to design a winning poster: https://youtu. be/qWERHVs14uE?si=2NOerF2jhwBowSr8 How to come up with a research topic: https://youtu. be/AEgL_sjoE4o?si=gzf4Mxa-EVbBPkL8 How to get a research opportunity in a lab: https://youtu. be/tKmS4UZbfII?si=tJaAVQ-5Fcm2hnla How to find a research mentor: https://www. youtube. com/watch?v=tKmS4UZbfII Paid coaching for winning science fair: https://rishabacademy. com/stem The Regeneron ISEF: A Platform for Young Scientists The Regeneron ISEF is a prestigious competition that brings together the brightest young minds from around the globe.

These high school students compete in various categories, presenting their innovative research and projects.

The stakes are high, with millions of dollars in awards and scholarships up for grabs.

Rishab Jain’s Journey at Regeneron ISEF Project Overview In his award-winning project, Rishab delves into the world of synthetic DNA engineering with ICOR (Improving Codon Optimization with Recurrent Neural Networks).

Focused on enhancing codon optimization for efficient, low-cost, and high-efficacy recombinant vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing, Rishab's work addresses a critical issue in the industry.

PlayHow to Win ISEF (by 1st Place Winner) | Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair The AI-Based Model Rishab’s project revolves around an AI-based model designed to revolutionize drug production.

Specifically, he focused on the rapid and cost-effective production of drugs using synthetic DNA engineering.

Imagine a world where life-saving medications can be manufactured more efficiently, reaching those in need faster than ever before.

The Problem Traditional codon optimization techniques, while essential for improving heterologous expression in synthetic DNA sequences, often lead to imbalanced tRNA pools and metabolic stress.

This can result in cell toxicity and reduced expression, hampering the efficacy of recombinant vaccines.

The Solution Rishab has created a new codon optimization tool called ICOR, based on a recurrent neural network (RNN).

ICOR was developed using a genomic dataset of Escherichia coli, a commonly used cell factory.

It is designed to learn the sequential context of E. coli codon usage.

The architecture, which is based on Rishab's custom bidirectional long short-term memory, uses over 7,000 non-redundant, high-expression, robust E. coli genes.

This allows for a better understanding of complex codon interactions.

Optimizing Genetic Codes At the heart of Rishab’s work lies the optimization of genetic codes.

His AI model is trained to analyze and select the most effective genetic sequences for drug production.

By doing so, he aims to streamline the process, reduce costs, and accelerate drug development.

The Potential Impact Rishab’s project has far-reaching implications.

Here’s how it could impact the world: Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccines: During the pandemic, the need for rapid vaccine development became evident.

Rishab’s model could significantly speed up the production of vaccines, potentially saving countless lives.

Customized Medications: Tailoring medications to individual patients based on their genetic makeup is the future of medicine.

Rishab’s work contributes to this personalized approach.

Cost Efficiency: Traditional drug production methods are expensive and time-consuming.

Rishab’s AI model could make medications more affordable and accessible.

Performance: ICOR's performance evaluation involves 1,481 E. coli genes and a benchmark set of 40 DNA sequences with known heterologous expression.

When compared to five industry techniques, ICOR demonstrates statistically significant improvements.

Notably, it achieves a remarkable 236% enhancement in real-world expression.

This progress represents a substantial leap in addressing challenges encountered in current recombinant vaccine production methods. “I’ve been actually doing research in biomedical technology and biomedicine in general for the last four or five years now.

Maybe when I was four or five, a lot of my fondest memories come from playing around on the computer. ” ISEF and Science Fair Community: Rishab Jain Academy Rishab's Experience In a captivating series of videos, Rishab generously shares his remarkable journey and profound insights into the project.

From delving into the significance of synonymous codons to architecting ICOR's unparalleled framework, his passion and dedication shine through every step of the way.

These insightful videos provide a truly intimate and immersive look into his experiences throughout the project, adding a deeply personal touch to his extraordinary scientific endeavors.

Rishab presented his research project on a deep learning-based tool to improve vaccine manufacturing.

He won first place in the biomedical engineering category.

His tool utilizes the fact that there are multiple codons for the same amino acid.

By selecting specific codons, his tool can enhance protein expression, saving time and money in pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing.

Participating in ISEF offers many benefits.

It provides the chance to deepen knowledge and improve research skills.

Engaging with peers from diverse backgrounds and exploring innovative projects helps students expand their understanding of the STEM field and gain valuable insights.

Immersing in this intellectually stimulating environment allows participants to cultivate a broader perspective and enhance their problem-solving abilities.

With these benefits in consideration, Rishab urges students who are interested in participating in ISEF and research to grasp the opportunity, highlighting the significant influence it can have on their academic and personal development.

Engaging with this platform can propel students towards a future filled with endless opportunities and a greater understanding of the field of STEM. “When technologies like Google Home, Amazon Alexa started coming out when I was in like sixth, seventh grade,” Jain said, “that’s when the idea of AI started to fascinate me and I got interested in AI programming. ” Recognition and Awards at Regeneron ISEF Now, he’s being nationally recognized for his work using AI to substantially increase the number of synthetic genes that can be produced in E. coli bacteria to create a variety of drugs.

This award isn’t the end for Jain, however.

Instead, it’s just the beginning.

He wants to apply his algorithm to other types of cells beyond E. coli, and he ultimately wants to improve lives with his research.

Jain is currently studying at Harvard College (Medical School), with the goal of continuing his research and getting both an MD and a Ph.

D.

Rishab’s dedication and ingenuity did not go unnoticed.

At the Regeneron ISEF 2022, he received his second Regeneron Young Scientist Award, a well-deserved recognition for his groundbreaking work.

This award came with a prize of $50,000, a testament to the impact his project could have on global health. ”I’m interested in not only biology but medicine,” Jain said. “And that’s why I’ve been in this field of biomedical engineering and applying my skills from engineering to make an impact on a patient’s life. ” Resources for you to start working towards Regeneron ISEF!

For those inspired by Rishab's journey and eager to follow in his footsteps, he offers science fair and research coaching.

It will provide you an opportunity to delve deeper into the world of STEM and win at Science Fairs.

Rishab shares his winning strategies.

Whether you’re just starting or already doing great in student research, always appreciate your efforts.

Keep moving towards your goals, and good luck on your science journey!.