As the Section Head of Crosswords for the Columbia Daily Spectator, I led the creation and publication of engaging and challenging crosswords, managing a team of talented individuals to deliver high-quality content consistently.Key Responsibilities and Achievements:Content Creation and Publication: Published daily mini crosswords on the Spectator website and full-sized grids in print throughout the working semester, totaling over 100 puzzles each semester. Ensured that each puzzle was both engaging and challenging for our audience.Editorial Process Management: Guided each puzzle through the Spectator-specific copy-editing process, ensuring accuracy, sensitivity, and adherence to the publication's style. Maintained high editorial standards to deliver polished and professional content.Team Leadership and Development: Led the recruitment of new trainees each semester, facilitating open house presentations and conducting interviews. Attended meetings with the Corporate Board and reported relevant information back to the Deputy Board, ensuring seamless communication and coordination.Project Management: Collaborated with over 12 staffers to develop timelines for all projects, quantitatively measuring progress to ensure satisfactory development of each staffer and the section as a whole. Fostered a collaborative and productive work environment, enabling the team to meet and exceed publication goals.My tenure as Section Head was marked by a commitment to quality, teamwork, and innovation. I developed strong leadership and project management skills, ensuring the successful production and publication of our crossword section. This role reinforced my ability to manage complex tasks, mentor team members, and deliver high-quality content on tight deadlines.

As the Treasurer of the Columbia Questbridge Chapter, I was dedicated to supporting and giving back to first-generation, low-income students. My efforts focused on financial management and event coordination to establish a deep sense of community within Columbia, ensuring that students who might otherwise feel isolated had a supportive network.Key Responsibilities and Achievements:Financial Management: Prepared monthly expense reports to balance funding from the university and Questbridge National with club expenses. Presented detailed financial reports to the President and Vice President, ensuring transparency and accountability in our financial operations.Budget Oversight: Oversaw budget organization, resulting in greater availability of funds for future events without sacrificing the quality of over 10 pre-planned events per year. Implemented strategic financial planning to maximize the impact of our resources and support community-building activities.Event Coordination and Community Building: Coordinated the execution of club events with other members of the executive board for audiences of 30-60 students. These events were designed to foster a strong sense of community and support among first-generation, low-income students.Strategic Community Development: Played a crucial role in developing a supportive community by ensuring that events were well-funded, well-organized, and impactful. My efforts contributed significantly to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where students felt valued and supported.My tenure as Treasurer was marked by a commitment to financial diligence and community support. I developed strong skills in financial management and event coordination, contributing to the growth and success of the Columbia Questbridge Chapter. This role reinforced my dedication to building a supportive community for first-generation, low-income students and my ability to manage complex financial operations efficiently.

During my internship at Bellevue Hospital, I rotated through various areas of the Emergency Department, including Adult and Pediatric Emergency Services, Trauma ICU, Social Work, Operating Rooms, the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Safety Net Clinic, and Triage. This experience profoundly shaped my understanding of emergency medicine and reinforced my passion for patient advocacy and supporting underserved populations.Key Responsibilities and Achievements:Patient Advocacy: Acted as a patient advocate, especially for immigrant patients, engaging with upwards of 30 patients per shift and communicating their needs to hospital staff. This role highlighted the importance of empathy and effective communication in healthcare.Shadowing Medical Professionals: Gained hands-on experience by shadowing nurses, residents, attendings, social workers, and more. This provided a comprehensive understanding of medical interventions, exams, and trauma procedures, emphasizing the critical importance of teamwork and quick decision-making in emergency medicine.Quality Assessment Investigation: Contributed to a quality assessment investigation of a diabetes screening program across four NYU Langone Hospitals in 2022. Conducted over 1500 calls to patients, surveying their experiences and recording data in REDCap. Analyzed this data and investigated the program's efficacy against published literature, presenting findings to program directors, hospital leadership, and staff, offering valuable insights for future improvements.This internship exposed me to the complexities of emergency medicine, deepening my appreciation for patient advocacy and the need for dedicated support for underserved populations. It solidified my commitment to a healthcare career, where I aim to continue making a positive impact on patient lives.

As a SPURS Undergraduate Researcher, I dedicated my efforts to investigating mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV1.1) linked to epilepsy and explored potential avenues to reverse these pathogenic changes. My primary focus was on understanding the functional implications of these mutations and developing strategies to mitigate their effects.Key Responsibilities and Achievements:Electrophysiological Studies: Recorded currents through cell-attached patch clamping in cells expressing either wild type or mutant NaV1.1 channels. Additionally, I examined the impact of co-expressing a small peptide inhibitor derived from Fibroblast Growth Factor Homologous Factors (FHFs) on these channels.Molecular Biology Techniques: Engineered mutant cells through a variety of molecular biology procedures, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), bacterial transformation, plasmid isolation, and calcium-phosphate transfection. These techniques were essential for creating and verifying the desired mutations in NaV1.1 channels.Data Analysis and Interpretation: Utilized MATLAB to analyze current recording data, identifying key differences between wild type and mutant channels, and assessing the efficacy of peptide inhibitors. This analysis was critical in understanding the potential therapeutic applications of our findings.Research Presentation: Prepared a comprehensive poster summarizing my research findings, which was presented at a symposium attended by over 100 students, faculty, and staff. This experience honed my ability to communicate complex scientific concepts effectively to a diverse audience.Through this research experience, I developed a robust understanding of electrophysiology, molecular biology techniques, and data analysis. Additionally, I gained valuable skills in scientific communication and presentation. This role reinforced my passion for scientific research and my commitment to contributing to advancements in the field of neuroscience.