About Me
Bio
I was born in Bombay, India and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky! I came to Brooklyn to pursue my Bachelor's degree in Biomolecular Science. I am currently a junior, and am also a member of the BS/MS program, in which I am getting a joint Master's degree in Biotechnology. Over the summer of 2022, I participated in the Undergraduate Summer Research Program at NYU Tandon. Working in Dr. Weiqiang Chen's bioengineering lab, I helped fabricate a biosensing chip for advanced cytokine detection and application to CAR T-cell therapy. More recently, I have joined Dr. Yi Ye's lab at NYU's College of Dentistry where I am studying the pain mechanisms of oral cancer and their connection to the peripheral nervous system. After college, I would like to continue my work in an industry research lab, primarily in the fields of immunology, oncology, and genetics!
The Global Challenge that interests me most is Access to Healthcare. What has become apparent to me, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, is that quality healthcare is not accessible to a vast majority of people. I hope to tackle this challenge through research that can bring about drugs and treatments that are more affordable and effective.
When I get free time, you can typically find me playing guitar or bingeing a comfort TV show. Coupled with my academic journey, I would love to learn more about music production, as well as learn how to play more instruments.
Program Impact
The GLASS programmed has opened the door for me in many ways. From travelling abroad to countries like the UAE and Tanzania to participating in several conferences around the country, I had advanced my academic, professional, and personal experiences. With the UN Sustainable Development Goals in mind, I have gotten to take on several projects to further my global impact. I participated in research to improve access to COVID-19 diagnostic testing, volunteered at hospitals to assist in performing lab tests on patients, and served my own NYU/GLASS community by creating more professional development opportunities like job fairs and cohort-building activities.
One of my most meaningful experiences was studying abroad in Abu Dhabi. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and study in a country, taking in their unique cultures, traditions, and overall policies. I got to learn about how healthcare is accessed outside of the United States, helping broaden my own perspectives of accessing medicine, and also fueling my passion to make better solutions to existing medical problems. This will follow me as I start exploring my future career paths in the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals industry, guiding me to keep looking for ways to improve inequities in our own developed country.
The past 3 years within the GLASS community has helped shape who I am immensely. I have not only been consistently challenged to think outside of the box and pursue unique opportunities, but I have also formed a tight-knit group of friends and peers who support me in my own endeavors. Moving forward, I will always have this network of people to fall back on and push me to keep building community wherever I go.