Meet The COLLEGIATE Team

Catherine Nguyen is an undergraduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she is pursuing a dual major in Biology and Bioinformatics. She is a recipient of VCU’s, merit-based Presidential Scholarship.

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Alongside her coursework, Catherine is an active researcher in the LASEK Laboratory, where she investigates alcohol use disorder through the study of perineuronal nets in murine models. In addition to her research commitments, Catherine is dedicated to service and clinical engagement. She volunteers as a medical assistant at a Veteran Disability Clinic, assisting underserved veterans with healthcare-related needs, and works as a Patient Care Technician at VCU Health Hospital, where she provides direct patient care in a fast-paced clinical environment.

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Catherine’s academic and professional accomplishments have earned her broader recognition, including being named a quarterfinalist for the Walentas Scholarship and receiving a full-tuition scholarship offer from George Mason University.

Maya Kamat is a second year biology and bioinformatics Major at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with Minors in Chemistry and Spanish. She is in the Guaranteed Medical Program, 8-year program , and has significant experience shadowing and working on the VCU medical campus. She is passionate about women's health, and volunteers at a lab studying Sneathia, a pathogenic bacteria associated with preterm birth. For the last year, she has been volunteering with a local Rescue Squad as an EMT, gaining first hand experience treating and monitoring patients.

Wilson Hu is a student at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Robotics with an expected graduation in Spring 2026. He is involved in research at Penn’s GRASP Lab, where he works on risk mapping for a lunar robotics project funded by NASA. Last summer, he interned at Amazon Web Services as a Solutions Architect, gaining experience working with cloud-based systems and customer-focused technical solutions. Following graduation, he will be returning to Amazon Web Services full time.

Elizabeth Ho is a sophomore at Virginia Tech studying Computer Science. Last summer, she completed a 12 week Software Development Engineering internship at Amazon Web Services, where she gained hands on experience building and working with cloud based applications. During her internship, she collaborated with engineers, applied core computer science concepts to real world systems, and contributed to the design and implementation of software solutions within AWS. She also delivered a final intern project presentation and demo to senior engineers and organization wide stakeholders.

Elizabeth will be returning to AWS this summer, under the Amazon Future Engineer scholarship to continue developing her technical skills and deepen her experience in large scale software systems.

Jainil Modi is an engineering student at the University of California, Los Angeles with experience in analytics, consulting, engineering, and research. He is an Incoming Summer Analyst at Capital One and a General Engineer with Bruin Racing, where he contributes to data-driven problem solving and technical design in collaborative, fast-paced environments.

He is also a Consultant with UConsulting, supporting clients such as Qualcomm and Purely Elizabeth through market analysis and strategic insights. Previously, Jainil conducted mechanical engineering research at Virginia Tech, examining nanoparticles and technology, and serves as an Explainer at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, communicating complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Shalini Panthangi is a computer science graduate who got her BS and MS in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, and is currently a software engineer based in Philly and working in fintech. During college, she spent a lot of time on both sides of the classroom, as a student and as a head Teaching Assistant, helping run classes, hold office hours, and support students through challenging material. She was also President of her school’s student advisory committee and was actively involved in research throughout her time in college. She has a lot of experience in the tough process of finding a career path and has learned a lot from her past experiences that she’d love to share. 

Anthony Pham is a nursing student with hands-on clinical experience and a strong passion for patient care and mentorship. He attended the University of Pittsburgh, which offers the 4th ranked nursing program, during his first year studying nursing before transferring to James Madison University, where he is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). He earned his Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification after completing a nurse aide course during his senior year of high school and now works as a CNA at a senior living facility. In this role, he has gained experience across post-acute rehabilitation, memory care, and assisted living units, working closely with residents with diverse medical conditions and care needs. These experiences have strengthened his clinical skills, empathy, and commitment to holistic, patient-centered care. He is passionate about supporting others interested in healthcare, sharing insight, and helping mentees build confidence as they navigate their own paths.

William Xiao is an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University who recently transitioned from a Public Health major to Applied Mathematics and Statistics (AMS), reflecting his growing interest in quantitative analysis and data-driven problem solving.

Outside of academics, he is actively involved in kendo, which has strengthened his discipline and focus, and he volunteers with the Food as Medicine program, supporting initiatives that address health through nutrition and community engagement.

William has conducted public health research at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, where he contributed to projects focused on improving health outcomes through evidence-based approaches. He also completed a summer internship with the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, gaining experience in cancer prevention research and public health policy. In recognition of his academic achievement and commitment to service, he is currently a Linhart Foundation Scholar.

Hannah Joo is a sophomore at New York University, where she is pursuing a degree in nursing. She is deeply committed to community service, a value she has put into action through her work with YUGO, an international service organization. Through YUGO, Hannah helped build more than ten homes for underserved communities in South America.

In addition to her service work, Hannah is an avid pianist and a dedicated SAT/ACT prep tutor, helping students achieve their academic goals. She is also passionate about civic engagement and previously supported Congresswoman Irene Shin’s campaign for Virginia State Delegate, where she canvassed neighborhoods door-to-door to connect with voters and advocate for meaningful change.

Sheila Nguyen is an undergraduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), pursuing a dual degree in Business Information Systems and Political Science with a concentration in Politics and Government on the pre-law track. She currently serves as a student intern in the VCU Office of the President, where she supports event coordination, research, and internal government relations to advance university-wide initiatives and ensure smooth daily operations. In this role, she also manages budgetary and accounting files and is contributing to a project with the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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In addition to her internship, Sheila is a member of the public relations team for the Vietnamese Student Association, a head teaching assistant for an honors research writing course, and a student ambassador for the VCU Honors College. Previously, she interned at George Mason University, where she analyzed data and developed visualizations on microaggressions in Northern Virginia public schools, work that was shared with multiple regional school boards.

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Sheila’s academic and professional achievements have earned her an annual scholarship at VCU and a $60,000 tuition offer from the University of Tampa. She was also accepted into The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park, but chose to pursue the Early Scholars Graduate pathway, allowing her to graduate high school a year early.