Young Student Innovator
Deepti Wants to Build Innovative 3D Bioprinting Techniques for Artificial Organs to Advance Healthcare
At 17, Deepti is making strides in the world of healthcare and cutting edge technology, combining her passion for human health and bioengineering to become a better researcher where she can apply her knowledge in real life scenarios for the betterment of society — while inspiring more women to step into STEM.
International STEM Research Program™ Scholar 2024
Deepti, a high school student from California, has made significant strides in the field of microfluidics and personalized medicine through her participation in the International STEM Research Program™ (ISRP). Under the guidance of her mentor, an alumni from Cornell University and expert in the field of Bioengineering, Deepti conducted groundbreaking research on the application of microfluidic technologies in advancing personalized medicine.
Her research focused on analyzing microRNAs and other biomarkers through high-throughput screening, integrating advanced data analytics to match specific treatments to patients' unique genetic profiles and responses. Deepti's work contributes to the development of well-regulated, sustainable, and detailed methods that aim to reduce reagent use and improve overall healthcare outcomes. Through her participation in the ISRP, Deepti gained invaluable experience in academic research, working one-on-one with an Ivy League level mentor. Her project has the potential for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, which could significantly enhance her college applications and future career prospects in the STEM field.
Deepti's research exemplifies the growing importance of microfluidics in personalized medicine, showcasing how this technology can be applied to maximize treatment efficiency and reduce adverse effects. Her work demonstrates the potential for young researchers to contribute meaningfully to cutting-edge scientific fields, even at the high school level.
Tell us what you specifically loved about the International STEM Research Program™.
Deepti: The International STEM Research Program was such an exciting experience. One feature of this program that I enjoyed the most is the creativity and autonomy that you get with the research project. My mentor and I spent a couple meetings to ensure that the final research topic was something that was both viable and interesting to pursue. This possibility to create my own individualized research paper gave me full autonomy in deciding how I reflect and integrate my STEM background with the research. The entire process, from writing an introduction to developing a two page methods section, is all done under the craft of the student. As much as independence fosters an innovative drive, the mentor also has a great part in helping the student produce a quality paper. I loved working with my mentor because they were very supportive and gave me many insightful tips and suggestions, which really helped me in transforming my mistakes into new opportunities of growth. I also appreciated the time frame with this program which is around 11-12 weeks. Whether its conducting research in a lab or writing a review, each process can be time consuming and thus requires enough time to thoroughly produce a high quality product. Within these three months, I spent each week developing and building each section of my potential paper as well as meeting with my mentor for feedback and further support in the process. Therefore, the time commitment was perfect. Overall, this program has taught me secrets of the professional field of research and has offered me the opportunity to further grow my love for STEM. I believe that starting young in these types of activities gives you the option to experience a potential event that may occur later in the future. It also allows you to consider if research and STEM is truly something you want to pursue in college and as a career. With research stemming as a popular extracurricular and novel experience, ISRP served that purpose for me.