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Aidan Gor ’25 Represents GA at Governor’s School for the Sciences Summer Program

Aidan Gor ‘25 attended the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences (PGSS) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) this past summer. PGSS is one of the most rigorous high school summer programs in the country, consisting of a five-week research program for the top 72 high school scientists from each county in Pennsylvania. 

Academic Experience

As a high school rising senior, Gor took college core courses in Cellular & Molecular Biology, Organic Chemistry, Modern Physics, Computer Science, and Discrete Mathematics; college elective courses in Neurobiology, Microbiology, and AI/Machine Learning; a biology lab course; and conducted a novel team research project, published with authorship.

“I attended PGSS because I wanted to enrich myself in curriculum beyond what even the most rigorous schools like GA could offer,” said Gor. “I also wanted to collaborate with like-minded students across the state who are as passionate about what they do as I am.”

Gor, a National Merit Commended Scholar and early inductee into GA’s Cum Laude Society,  learned how to conduct modern laboratory techniques and how to better analyze scientific data.

“I enjoyed the Microbiology class the most because it focused on the gut-brain axis and the drug discovery process for conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Having the background knowledge about the relationships between the nervous and digestive systems in people with autism, it was invaluable to have a proper academic experience at the college-level about these topics, and it gave me hope that there are researchers and scientists around the country trying to help people with autism.”

Benefits of the Program

Gor shared that he enjoyed making connections with classmates and professors, and even learned from teaching assistants who previously attended PGSS and are currently attending schools such as the Perelman School of Medicine, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Carnegie Mellon University. 

“PGSS has a huge alumni network that consists of past students,” said Gor. He shared that they offer a mentorship program for recent graduates to gain exposure to the experiences of past students.

“I left this program as a better student, scientist, and person,” Gor continued. “I hope to continue networking with PGSS alumni, further build upon the knowledge I learned at PGSS throughout my time at GA and in college, and help pioneer research for people with neurological impairments.”