Currently a freshman in general engineering from Frisco, Texas interested in pursuing a degree in Aerospace or Materials Science Engineering. I am planning to either do a dual degree or minor in physics and attend graduate school to earn a ph.D and pursue a career in research.

Hardi is a senior Psychology major at Texas A&M, with minors in Neuroscience and Business, originally from Allen, Texas. She has a strong passion for behavioral neuroscience, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases and drug addiction. After graduation, Hardi plans to pursue a master’s degree in neuroscience before continuing on to medical school, all while maintaining her interest in research. She aims to make a meaningful impact through her work as both a physician and researcher, especially in rural areas. Through the Explorations program, Hardi is excited to learn more about the various research initiatives at Texas A&M, while also helping others achieve their goals by supporting their research. She is deeply grateful for the opportunities she has been given and looks forward to collaborating with the Explorations team.

Howdy! I'm Alisha Kumar, a freshman in political science, though I'm also pursuing a minor in public health. I have a broad range of research interests: politics, international relations, immunology, global health, and anything that has to do with the intersection of politics and health. I would like to go to graduate school and eventually work for an international organization like the WHO, or national organization like the CDC. I also consume research on various things that I find interesting, like music, as I did research on it during high school through the AP Capstone program. Since I'm a freshman, I haven't started any research in college, but I'm looking forward to doing so at one point in my college career! I'm excited to learn new bits of knowledge through the Explorations Board!

Neha is currently a sophomore Biomedical Sciences major at Texas A&M, and plans to pursue a career in medicine. She is interested in cancer and genetics research, and is currently working on a project in the Sato lab regarding the effects of different metabolites on breast tumor cell growth. She is also working on a project to assess the interplay of circadian rhythmicity and breast tumor growth in mice models. Neha plans to attend medical school after undergraduate school, and hopes to focus in immuno-oncology or radiation oncology.

Kim Le is a senior undergraduate student majoring in nutrition in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. She aspires to attend medical school to achieve her dream of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon, aiming to provide the highest level of patient care, particularly in underserved communities worldwide. Kim has been involved in various research projects since her freshman year and is currently an undergraduate research assistant in the Guo Lab. Additionally, she works as a Journal Assistant Managing Editor for two scientific journals in the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity (CTRAL). She previously served as the Assistant Director of Student Research Week (SRW) 2024. Kim is very excited to be on the Explorations Board and looks forward to witnessing the amazing research being conducted by her undergraduate peers.

Howdy! My name is Sarayu, and I'm a Genetics major from Wichita Falls, TX. My interest in medical research took off in high school when I worked as a research assistant in a microbiology laboratory at a local university.  Since then, I've consolidated my motivation to pursue a career in medicine, and I hope to simultaneously continue my engagement in research addressing chronic disease manifestation. I'm thrilled to join the Explorations Board, and I look forward to learning about and helping to publish undergraduate research with such an enthusiastic and talented team!

Howdy! My name is Trevor Martinez and I am a Biology major with a minor in Chemistry from a small south Texas town called Premont. I intend to graduate and pursue a PhD. in either Genetics or Microbiology in order to help improve agricultural or medicinal practices and processes for my community. By doing so, I hope to give back to my community by paying forward the help and aid others from my local community have lent me over the years in order to pursue what I am most passionate about.

Vishal Pancholy is a freshman sociology major from Sugar Land, Texas. His current plans include attending dental school after completing college, with the goal of pursuing a career in orthodontics. Vishal is eager to become more involved in research throughout both his academic and professional journeys, and he hopes to expand his knowledge in health and other fields of study. He is excited to work with the Explorations team this year and looks forward to contributing to the advancement of research at Texas A&M. In his free time, Vishal enjoys reading, playing chess, and spending time with friends and family.

Howdy! My name is Pooja Rajaram and a freshman Nutrition major, with a minor in Public Health from San Antonio, Texas. I hope after my undergrad to get my MD/PhD and work in the clinical setting and also do research on community nutrition. My goal is to travel the world and learn about healthcare and nutrition in different countries. Through Explorations, I am so excited to help other people further their own research while also seeing all the amazing research being done at Texas A&M!

Harshitha Shanmugam is a neuroscience major and health humanities minor from Katy, Texas. After graduating, she plans to attend medical school. Harshitha is deeply passionate about research and interdisciplinary perspectives in medicine, particularly in the humanities, and is excited to join Explorations to collaborate with like-minded individuals and further develop in these areas. She looks forward to learning about the diverse research happening on campus and playing a role in highlighting the hard work of others. Outside of her academic pursuits, Harshitha enjoys reading, painting, and spending time with friends and family.

During her undergraduate career, Ashley Smith decided to major in Genetics with a minor in Public Health. She believed that Genetics would provide a deeper understanding of the building blocks of life and the mechanisms that underpin living systems, while Public Health would teach her how to think systematically about large-scale health problems and the logistics of healthcare. In her sophomore year, she joined Dr. Jennifer Dulin's lab, which focuses on investigating how transplantation of neural progenitor cells can restore function after spinal cord injury (SCI) and characterizing the changes in neural circuitry that occur after SCI. This experience ultimately showed her that many current clinical therapies and treatments were first developed at the lab bench. After graduation, she plans to enroll in medical school with the goal of becoming a neurologist, specializing in neurocritical care.

Howdy! My name is Harish Sontam, and I am a genetics major from Frisco, Texas. I found my passion for research during high school when I conducted a study on the correlation between preseason games and the occurrence of injuries during an NFL season. To further nurture this research interest,  I am currently engaged in research on campus in Dr. Jun Wang's Lab where we focus on understanding the impact of basal ganglia circuitry on neuropathic diseases. My post-college aspirations involve enrolling in medical school and obtaining an M.D. As a physician, I aspire to not only serve patients through clinical care but also to contribute to the field of healthcare through innovative research. Through Explorations, I hope to learn more about the wide range of research on campus and collaborate with fellow students who share a passion for research.

Jeevika Thazhaiselvam is a second-year biomedical science student with a strong passion for biology and a deep commitment to advancing healthcare. From an early age, she knew her career would be centered around medicine. During her freshman year, Jeevika joined Dr. Gaharwar's lab in the Biomedical Engineering Department, where their work with in-vivo animal studies solidified her interest in pursuing a career in medicine.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Jeevika is passionate about art. Although she has limited time to draw or paint these days, she believes her creativity shines through in the figures she designs for the research articles she works on. Jeevika is excited to be part of the Explorations Board and looks forward to learning about the fascinating research being conducted on campus.