Teens with a Passion for Healthcare
Registration
Meet the Team
We can't be successful in helping more high students who are interested in biomedical sciences or the broader healthcare fields without your active participation. Please join our leadership team, attend our events, and help spread the word. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Founder & Co-President
Claire Wang
Claire Wang is a senior attending Kinnelon High School. She is determined to pursue a career in a science-related field because she has a strong passion for science. Claire has taken several science-related courses including AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics. She has also done research on projects such as DNA cloning both inside and outside her school. clairewangxj@gmail.com
Founder & Co-President
Justin Jiang
Justin Jiang is a senior attending the Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering. He has taken courses such as AP Chem, AP Stats, AP Bio, AP CSA, AP Calc, and AP Physics C. Beyond the classroom, he interns at biotech companies focused on cancer cell drug discovery research. Justin also has a passion for finance, placing in competitions such as DECA and FBLA while currently conducting an independent study of "AI in Finance." justinjiang606@gmail.com
Vice President of Outreach & Media
Ah-in Kim
Ah-in Kim is a senior attending Kinnelon High School. She is interested in the healthcare industry, especially in biomedical research. She has taken several courses throughout her high school career to expand her understanding such as AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics and AP research. Ah-in has been a part of multiple science clubs such as Science Research Club and Environmental Club. b4aemily@gmail.com
Vice President of Research & Collaboration
Apurva Parasher
Apurva Parasher is a senior attending the Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, with a strong focus on natural sciences. He interns at the Biocomplexity Institute, applying machine learning to predict epidemics. Apurva has excelled in various competitions, including leading his TSA team to victory in webmaster competitions and participating in advanced mathematics challenges like AMC and AIME. aparasher5@gmail.com
Vice President of Communications
Miranda Drace
Miranda Drace is a junior attending Kinnelon High school. She has a passion for the sciences and the stem field and explores these interests through her extracurricular activities and course load. She exposes herself to college-level science classes through AP sciences such as AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, and more. Furthermore, Miranda participates in numerous science activities at her high school such as the Science Research Club, and volunteers consistently at STEM nights throughout the year. miranda.drace@gmail.com
Advisors
Dr. Donald Tweedie
Donald Tweedie is a retired scientist who worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for 30 years. A Biochemist by training, he has a diverse background. As a Pharmaceutical scientist he was responsible for research into how the body handles drugs, mainly focusing on the metabolism of these compounds. Had a particular interest in identifying how newer technologies could aid in addressing problems of a drugs disposition. Enjoyed mentoring scientists at different levels, e.g. judging at high school science fairs, summer internships (usually graduate students), supporting courses in-house in developing interviewing skills and in effective communication, as well as externally. Involved in a number of societies to promote science and organize conferences such as ISSX (International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics; www.issx.org), ITC (International Transporter Consortium; www.itc-transporter.org), Gordon Research Conferences (www.grc.org), and Industry based groups such as PhRMA (Pharmaceutical and Research Manufacturers of America) and IQ (International Consortium for Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development).
Dr. Lauren Aleksunes
Lauren Aleksunes is a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Rutgers University. Since she was in high school, Lauren has been excited by research. She is both a pharmacist (PharmD) and pharmacologist/toxicologist (PhD). Her laboratory studies how chemicals in the environment affect the health of moms and babies as well as how we can reduce the side effects of cancer medications. Link: https://eohsi.rutgers.edu/eohsi-directory/name/lauren-aleksunes/
Dr. Prajakti Kothare
Prajakti Kothare, Ph.D. is Associate Vice President and Head of Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics (QP2) at Merck. She is an experienced organizational leader who has held positions of increasing responsibility (Eli Lilly and Company: 2001-2011; Merck- 2011-Present). In her current capacity, she oversees Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacometric deliverables across the MRL portfolio from discovery through product registration. She leads a team of quantitative scientists from diverse disciplines responsible for applying model-informed approaches to drive clinical dose optimization, portfolio decisions, and insights on disease, competitive comparisons, patient selection and trial design. She has a passion for talent development, grooming future leaders and mentoring scientists across the industry and academia. She represents her functional area at governance meetings and oversees departmental budgets, strategy, and long-term operating plans. During her tenure across Lilly and Merck she has had the privilege of impacting patients by contributing to multiple novel therapies including Prevymis, Lavegrio, Islatravir, Sotatercept, MK0616 (oral PCSK9), Zyprexa Relprevv, Byetta, and Bydureon. She is Merck’s representative on the IQ CPLG forum. Prajakti has played a critical leadership role in building quantitative sciences at Merck, utilizing novel applications of dried blood spots, digital health and home-sampling in clinical trials resulting in faster, efficient decisions. She has > 40 publications, >50 presentations, multiple oral presentations and one book chapter. Prajakti received a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Bombay, India and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics (with a specialization in PKPD) from the University of Minnesota.