Kian Dhawan, a senior at Montgomery Blair High School, helped the U.S. team earn gold at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO), held July 12–19 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The international competition brought together the world’s top high school biology students from 78 countries to compete in theoretical and laboratory examinations.
Kian’s international success followed an outstanding performance at the 2026 USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) National Finals, held at Harvard University. Kian earned a gold medal at the competition this year and the year prior.Â
The National Finals, held June 21 through July 2, brought together 20 of the nation’s top biology students selected from a field of 12,808 competitors representing schools across 46 states and 35 international schools. During the 10 day program, finalists studied with leading U.S. biologists in subjects including cellular and molecular biology, plant anatomy and physiology, animal anatomy and physiology, genetics, and other advanced life science fields.
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Kian is passionate about biology, chemistry and physics, and plans to study mathematics and computer science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology this fall.
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USA Biolympiad Team Gold medalists pictured from left to right: Kian Dhawan (Montgomery Blair High School, MD), Suzuko Ohshima (North Hollywood Senior High School, CA), Emma Li (Lakeside School, WA), Kevin Wu (BASIS Independent Bellevue, WA). Photo courtesy of Center for Excellence in Education.Â
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