Out of hundreds of applicants from all over the state, junior Lauren Thornton was selected as a paid student research assistant for the Science Teacher Access to Resources Program at UT Southwestern for this summer.

“I was extremely excited (when I found out),” Thornton said. “STARS is a program in which students and teachers help with research alongside real scientists.”

Out of about 800 applicants, only 35 were chosen.

“The program is very selective,” Thornton said.

After a counselor told her about the research program, AP Biology teacher Timothy Maschal wrote Thorton a letter of recommendation.

“The school is very prestigious and it’s local,” Thorton said. “Also, they fund the research, which was a plus.”

The program runs for eight weeks of summer in which she will be working for Pharmacology Professor Dr. Joel Goodman.

“I meet (him last) Saturday to find out exactly what I’ll be doing in the lab,” Thornton said. “I know that I will be studying obesity.”

Maschal said his first encounter with Thornton was when she stayed after class to ask how she could earn a higher grade on an assignment that received a high B or low A.

“It’s this inner drive for perfection that has now landed Lauren at UT Southwestern where she will study the body’s synthesis fat droplets,” he said.

Thornton is the first student in the district to be selected for this program.

“Lauren never hesitates to challenge herself,” Maschal said. “This determination is a strength that I believe will continue to be an asset to Timberview High School, UT Southwestern and beyond.”