Previous work
What I worked on before college.
Research and internships from high school.
Research
Labs and internships
Research intern · Gow Lab, Rutgers
- Research intern with Dr. Andrew Gow at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University.
- Studied the effect of World Trade Center dust and hypoxia on mouse alveolar macrophages, learning techniques including single-cell western blot and mouse takedowns.
- Selected to give the opening remarks at the final symposium; received a $1,200 stipend.
- Attended five workshops on science communication, resume writing, interview skills, and building the final deliverables.
Research intern · Long Lab, NYU Langone
- Assisted in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing research, gaining proficiency in PCR, bacterial transformations, mini-preps and maxi-preps, and gel electrophoresis.
- Communicated research findings in weekly lab meetings, receiving feedback from mentors on research and data analysis procedures.
Scholar · New Jersey Governor's STEM Scholars
- Admitted into a highly selective STEM program, collaborating with scholars from across New Jersey to build a research project.
- Attended conferences at Rutgers, Princeton, and Kean University, and a site visit to Bristol Myers Squibb, hearing from professionals in their respective STEM fields.
- Our research project focused on protective diets against Alzheimer's disease and their accessibility for New Jersey populations.
- Published two conference articles on soft skills in science, at Princeton and Rutgers.
- Presented the final project to a panel at Kean University, receiving feedback and completing the program.
- Participated in educational videos created by the Governor's STEM Scholars.
Model UN
Secretary-general and head delegate · Bergen County Academies
- Planned and led the two-day Academy Model UN Conference, hosting 500+ delegates from across the tri-state area.
- Oversaw a secretariat of 50+ chairs, moderators, and staffers, coordinating logistics, programming, and a guest speaker.
- Grew the leadership team from 18 to 25, adding roles including social media manager and lead delegates.
- Selected and trained co-presidents and lead delegates, and ran four intensive training sessions before college conferences.
- Managed applications, registration, and conference materials, and worked with faculty advisors on fundraising and advertising.
Awards
- Washington Area Model UN Conference. Best Large Delegation (2026). Best Delegate as Tonga in the Council of the Pacific, and Outstanding Large Delegation (2025). Outstanding Delegate as Turkmenistan in SPECPOL, and Best Delegation (2024).
- Yale Model UN. Outstanding Delegate as Bolivia in CESCR (2025).
- Princeton Model UN. Outstanding Delegate as Indonesia in UNOOSA, and Honorable Large Delegation (2023).
Piano
Manhattan School of Music Precollege
I studied at Manhattan School of Music Precollege through high school, studying classical piano. I performed at local events and competed.
Performances
Distant Voices I. Nostalgia, by Gao Ping.
Community performances
- Played God Bless America at the Bergen County Executive and Board of Commissioners' swearing-in ceremony (2023).
- Recognized afterwards by the Bergen County Education Association and by Andrea Sheridan, Assistant Superintendent of Bergen County Technical Schools and Special Services.
- Volunteered to play for the National Honor Society induction ceremony (2022).
- Invited to perform at the Hackensack Meridian Health annual meeting (2022).
Student government
Representing the district
Student representative · Bergen County Technical Schools Board of Education
- Selected to present monthly to the Board of Education on behalf of six schools in the district, representing 2,500+ students.
- Coordinated with the assistant superintendent, school counselors, and student officials to gather updates on academic, extracurricular, and community activities.
- Synthesized that input into concise written reports and oral presentations.
Clinical
Giving back to the community
Senior internship · Pediatric ICU, Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital
- Interned with Dr. Siegel in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
- Shadowed morning grand rounds, patient treatment plans, and hospital functions.
- Observed interdisciplinary care through webinar sessions and staff interactions.
Volunteer · Valley Hospital
- 35 volunteer hours over two months, assisting medical staff in the Emergency Department and Clinical Engineering.
- Served as a wayfinder for arriving patients, and observed lab procedures.
- Helped process large-scale donations through Community Upcycles, getting essential supplies to healthcare workers.
Junior Medical Program · Mount Sinai Morningside
- 100+ volunteer hours over two months, assisting nurses on inpatient units with materials, patient status updates, and deliveries.
- Ran employee wellness initiatives, making tea and keeping a space where staff could de-stress.
- Built rapport with patients on the units, using conversational Mandarin with those who were more comfortable in it.
- Shadowed the radiology department across administrative work and direct patient care.
- Invited back by the program leader the following summer to share advice with new JuMP volunteers.
Teaching and volunteering
Teaching others
Co-director of safety, keynote speaker, and judge · BergenSci Challenge
BergenSci Challenge is a middle school science fair where students present their research and get their first real introduction to science.
- Gave the keynote at the awards ceremony, on science communication.
- Oversaw student safety forms and registration, giving feedback and communicating with participants.
- Judged the biological sciences category, helping select projects for the Thermo Fisher science fair.
- On the mentorship committee the year before, pairing Bergen County Academies mentors with middle school students.
Teaching assistant · HuaXia Chinese School
- Assisted with lesson planning for clay arts, and communicated with parents about classroom organization.
- Led small-group discussions and gave individualized help, encouraging students to present their own projects.
- 56 volunteer hours; became a substitute teacher in 2023, teaching new techniques while keeping a safe classroom.
Private tutor and piano teacher
One-on-one tutoring in arithmetic, word problems, and fractions, and weekly piano lessons for students aged 7 to 14: technique, theory, and ear training. Every student I prepared for ABRSM Grade 3 passed.
Publications
Impact of Blueberries and Pomegranates on Rheumatoid Arthritis
A review of whether dietary compounds can meaningfully reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Blueberries carry phenolic compounds and quercetin, shown clinically to reduce RA symptoms; pomegranates carry ellagitannins, which reduce inflammatory markers. Neither replaces the drugs currently on the market, since the evidence isn't there, but both hold up as protective additions for patients wary of immunosuppressants.