Milan Darji, an Eden Prairie resident who is a rising senior at Minnetonka High School, received the 2025 Minnesota Scholar of Distinction in Science award from the Minnesota Department of Education in June.
Milan Darji received the science category award for a project on reengineering custom enzymes. Photo courtesy of Milan Darji
The award is the highest academic honor conferred by the state and recognizes students who think critically and creatively about academic and social issues, and how they can make a difference in their communities, while applying their knowledge and skills to demonstrate mastery of complex subject matter. Of the 15 Scholars of Distinction this year, Milan was one of only five students honored in the science category.
Milan’s project, titled “Custom Enzymes to Custom Care: Reengineering Enzyme Specificity,” developed a new methodology to design enzymes that could speed the development of new medicines, help remediate environmental waste, and power a sustainable future. His project won the “triple” at the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair: the Medtronic Innovation Award, 1st place; the Regeneron Biomedical Science Award; and the Yale Science and Engineering Award. Milan was also selected to present the environmental applications of his work at the International GENIUS Olympiad in New York in June.
Milan remarked, “It’s really gratifying to have the opportunity to bring my ideas to fruition and see how they can make an impact on the drug and enzyme discovery pipelines.”
Milan remains passionate about science. After spending last summer as an intern in the highly selective Regeneron Mentorship Program, Milan is doing proteomics research at the University of Minnesota and volunteering as a science mentor in inner city schools this summer.