Submitted by the Friday Harbor Labs

The Friday Harbor Labs is proud to announce the winner of the 2025 Young Investigator Prize, Flora Vaught! The Young Investigator Prize is a competitive, paid internship opportunity developed by the Friday Harbor Labs Scientific Outreach Program for local high school juniors. Winners of this prize are awarded a full-time summer research assistant position at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Laboratories. Young Investigators are able to develop practical skills in field and lab research, an experience that prepares them for a career in science and gives them a head start on future undergraduate research opportunities.

Friday Harbor High School Junior Flora Vaught, due to her dedication in the field of science and mathematics, is this year’s winner of the Young Investigator Prize. She will be working in the lab of Dr. Emily Carrington, whose current work is focused on the physiological ecology of marine molluscs, including mussels and oysters. The Friday Harbor Labs Scientific Outreach Program is excited to connect one of our talented local students with the Carrington Lab.