Mohd Ashraf Rather, a graduate student from Central Institute of Fisheries Education, India, is one of eight winners of Alltech's 2012 Young Scientist regional winners. His research paper: Chitosan-conjugated hormone nanoparticles sustain surge of gonadotropins and enhance reproductive output in female fish won a new iPad, a monetary award and an all expenses paid trip to the 2012 Alltech Young Scientist Global Competition in Lexington this May. The undergraduate and graduate students learned of their good fortune this week when Alltech notified them as regional winners of its 2012 Young Scientist Competition, which received a record 7000 registrations from students in 46 countries.

“The Young Scientist Competition encourages students to push the traditional boundaries in their research areas, to think bigger and to have faith in their ability to change the world with their research,” said Dr. Inge Russell, scientific advisor to the Alltech Young Scientist Program.

The global undergraduate and graduate winners will be announced in May at Alltech’s 28th International Symposium in Lexington, Ky., USA. They will receive a trophy and a scholarship of $5000 and $10000 respectively.

“When these students depart Lexington after the finals, they will do so with new skills that help them better communicate their research, with feedback and enlightenment from leading scientists in their specific research areas and friends that will mentor, encourage and inspire them long after the competition has ended,” continued Dr. Russell.

Now in its seventh year, the Alltech Young Scientist Program convenes the world’s brightest collegiate-level thinkers and rewards their scientific achievements.