Franklin Awarded Scholars 2023

Franklin Academy is proud to recognize the Franklin Awarded Scholars 2023, a group of exceptional students whose research projects demonstrated curiosity, creativity, analytical thinking, and strong academic potential.

The 2023 awarded scholars explored a wide range of research topics across biomedical science, artificial intelligence, engineering, environmental studies, social science, psychology, economics, public policy, and the humanities. Their work reflects Franklin Academy’s commitment to helping students pursue meaningful academic inquiry and develop the skills needed for advanced research.

Through their projects, these students examined real-world questions, applied critical thinking, and strengthened their ability to communicate complex ideas. Franklin Academy is honored to celebrate their achievements and the intellectual effort behind each research project.

The following students were recognized as Franklin Awarded Scholars 2023 Award Winners for their outstanding research performance and project outcomes.

Angie Hou — 1st Place
Research Topic: Identification of a Target Gene Panel for MERFISH in Autism-Affected Human Thalamus

Jingwen Zheng — 1st Place
Research Topic: On Wind Energy Circuits: Performance Comparison and Enhancement

Bryan Gao — 2nd Place
Research Topic: A Waste of Depth in the Ocean of Knowledge

Nicholas Wang — 3rd Place
Research Topic: Attitudes Towards and Detectability of AI Impressionist Artwork

Caroline Li — 4th Place
Research Topic: Analysis of How Readers Evaluate Speculative and Literary Fiction

Che Wen — 5th Place
Research Topic: Constructing Gene List from Mouse Brain scRNA-seq Dataset for Cell Types Classification and MERFISH Sequencing

The 2023 award-winning projects highlight the depth and variety of student research at Franklin Academy. From gene panel identification and MERFISH sequencing to wind energy systems, AI-generated artwork, and literary analysis, these students pursued topics that required both technical understanding and original thought.

The following students were recognized as Franklin Awarded Scholars 2023 Semifinalists for their strong research work and meaningful contributions to their chosen areas of study.

Valentina Deng
Research Topic: Student research recognition in the 2023 Franklin Awarded Scholars program

Alexander Chen
Research Topic: Analyzing Predictive Factors for Early Onset Multiple Sclerosis through Machine Learning Models

Katelyn Shen
Research Topic: Examining the Relationship between Trait Anxiety and Aversive Learning

Lucia M. Liu
Research Topic: Know Keto or No Keto? Meta-analysis of the Ketogenic Diet

Jeffrey Tang
Research Topic: Design and Cost Optimization of Fuel Pipe in Rocket Engine

Kenneth Chen
Research Topic: Rocket Engine Design: Exploring Optimal Materials for Efficient Cooling Channels

Jasmine W. Wu
Research Topic: Panel-Based Bisulfite Sequencing Aids in Diagnosis and Treatment of Epigenetically Induced Colorectal Cancer

Ricky Hu
Research Topic: A Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting Chess Game Outcomes

Adora Xiao
Research Topic: Student research recognition in the 2023 Franklin Awarded Scholars program

Munan Cheng
Research Topic: Analyses on the Mental-Health Issues of High School Students

Ariel Zhou
Research Topic: Analyses of Asian-American and Asian Diabetic Patients

Tony Qu
Research Topic: Effectiveness of Instance Segmentation and Relative Volume Estimation for Food Calorie Estimation

Ella Li
Research Topic: Sleep Patterns, Academic Performance, and Dreams

Sam Yan
Research Topic: History of India’s Patent Regime and Lessons for the US in Combating Evergreening

Irene Chen
Research Topic: Curating an Optimal Gene Target Panel for Spatial Transcriptomics Experiments in an Alzheimer’s Diseased Mouse Brain

Yuk Lam
Research Topic: Student research recognition in the 2023 Franklin Awarded Scholars program

Heyuan Lin
Research Topic: Economic Progress and Social Cost

The semifinalist projects demonstrate strong academic range and real-world relevance. Students explored topics such as machine learning in healthcare, mental health, rocket engineering, nutrition science, intellectual property policy, biomedical sequencing, food calorie estimation, and economic development.

Research gives students the opportunity to go beyond standard classroom assignments and engage deeply with questions that matter. A strong research project requires students to identify a topic, study background information, evaluate evidence, organize their ideas, and present conclusions in a clear and thoughtful way.

For students, this process builds important academic habits. They learn how to ask better questions, refine their thinking, and communicate ideas with precision. They also gain experience with long-term project management, problem-solving, academic writing, and independent learning.

The Franklin Awarded Scholars 2023 represent the value of student-driven inquiry. Their projects show that young scholars can explore advanced topics when they are given the structure, support, and encouragement to pursue meaningful research.

One of the most impressive aspects of the 2023 awarded scholar list is the broad range of academic fields represented. Students pursued research in STEM, medicine, artificial intelligence, psychology, engineering, literature, economics, public policy, and social science.

This interdisciplinary range reflects Franklin Academy’s belief that research should help students connect personal interest with academic exploration. Some students focused on biomedical research and gene sequencing, while others investigated renewable energy, aerospace engineering, AI detection, literature, chess algorithms, nutrition, mental health, and economic systems.

The 2023 research topics included questions such as:

• How can MERFISH and gene panel design support biomedical research?
• How can wind energy circuits be compared and improved?
• How can AI-generated artwork be detected and evaluated?
• How do readers respond to speculative and literary fiction?
• How can machine learning models support medical prediction?
• What is the relationship between anxiety and aversive learning?
• How can rocket engine components be optimized for cost, design, and performance?
• How can biomedical sequencing support diagnosis and treatment?
• How do sleep patterns connect with academic performance and dreams?
• What can patent policy teach us about healthcare innovation and access?
• How are economic progress and social cost connected?

These questions show that Franklin students are not only learning information; they are applying knowledge to complex problems and developing the confidence to think like researchers.

Franklin Academy congratulates all students recognized as Franklin Awarded Scholars 2023. Their achievements reflect dedication, curiosity, creativity, and a strong commitment to academic excellence.

We are proud to celebrate the 2023 award winners and semifinalists for their research accomplishments. Their work represents the spirit of inquiry that Franklin Academy hopes to inspire in every student: the courage to ask meaningful questions, the discipline to pursue evidence, and the confidence to share ideas with others.

Congratulations to all Franklin Awarded Scholars 2023. We look forward to seeing how their academic journeys continue to grow.