Hi! My name is Mridula Geddam, and I am a junior at New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School. I am interested in data science and epidemiology. I have a passion for filmmaking, singing, and dancing. I am excited to be part of the YAB because I want to learn more about public health and healthcare. Additionally, I am looking forward to work with my peers to help make a difference in the lives of others.

My name is Addison Gruver, and I am in 8th Grade at Glacier Creek Middle School in Cross Plains. My favorite subjects are math and science. I play lacrosse, run cross country, and play the trombone. I am also involved in Forensics and GSA, and I am a WEB leader in my school. I am excited to be a part of CRoME Youth Advisory Board, because I like research and learning new ways to learn new things. I am also looking forward to getting to know others who are also interested in STEM and Research.

My name is Jessica James, and I am a junior at Windsor High School in California. I’m interested in psychology and the effect mental health has on the way we think, feel, and act in our daily lives. I wanted to be on the YAB so I could connect with people involved in medication safety and learn more about conducting research. I’m excited to see what the YAB will bring me in the future.

My name is Owen Lapin, and I am a junior at Flower Mound High School. I play ice hockey on my school’s team. I am interested in careers in the medical field and health care. I am very appreciative that CRoME has given me the opportunity to further explore the medical field, and I am excited to further explore and participate in academic research.

I am Jessica with she/her pronouns. I live in the Bay Area in California and have an intense love for apples. I am proud to say that I have a ridiculous amount of extracurriculars ranging from volunteering clubs to competitive Irish dancing, that all make me happy. I love art, reading the day away, embroidery, and creating change for the better. A great love for conducive and challenging conversations has been instilled in me, and I do intend to use it to better our world, starting here. Health both mentally and physically has always been a fascinating topic for me, since for a long time I have been surrounded by people who are hugely affected by their health and which are enormous parts of their lives. I am a supporter of mental health, the LGBTQ+ community, human trafficking awareness, as well as other issues facing us currently. I hope to have multiple careers in my lifetime and really explore what our world has to offer.

My name is Ella Lim and I am entering my freshmen year at Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, KS. My broad research interests include physical and mental health and how social media would influence health and cultural/social diversity. I enjoy playing the violin and piano, dancing, baking, and spending time with my dog. I joined the CRoME Lab Youth Advisory Board to enhance my understanding of the research process and learn more about social media and health related topics. I am excited about my first year with CRoME and am eager to learn and grow from this immense experience.

My name is Kavni Maniar, and I am a sophomore at Hebron High School in Texas. I enjoy playing tennis and singing Hindustani classical music. My favorite subject in school is biology. I am interested in learning more about how the use of technology impacts medicine and research. I’m thrilled to be a part of the YAB this year, and am looking forward to see where it takes me.

Hi everyone! My name is Emma Pourshah and I go by she/her pronouns. Currently, I am a sophomore attending Flower Mound High School in Dallas, Texas. In my free time, I enjoy playing lacrosse, traveling (obviously not now :( ), or hanging out with friends. I am super excited to be a part of the Youth Advisory Board this year. From a young age, I have had a profound interest in math and science, particularly, biology. My 7th grade biology teacher is one of the biggest advocates for my love for science, and I plan to go into the medical field after graduating high school.

My name is Karan Saini and I am a junior at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Northern Virginia. I play football, video games, and love to workout in my free time. It is my first year on the YAB and I am very excited to meet new people, and develop a deeper understanding in research and the research process. I am looking forward to challenging myself, engaging in meaningful and productive conversations, as well as exploring different perspectives.

Hi, I’m Arjun, and I am currently a junior at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. I love playing sports such as basketball and learning more about the world every day. I chose to be on the YAB because I love conversing with new people who have similar goals and interests as mine while also solving issues and providing knowledge of different subjects. As a new member, I am extremely excited to start my journey as a YAB member and can’t wait to see what's in store for the future.

My name is Lexi Stern, and I attend Sage Hill High School in California. I’m passionate about helping people live healthy & nutritious lives. I grew up as a competitive gymnast and switched to dance when I grew too tall to compete in gymnastics. In ninth grade, I was diagnosed with GI issues which meant experimenting with different diets. This motivated me to create my own bakery, Double Batch Kitchen, which makes healthy treats that are free of refined sugar, gluten, and dairy. At Double Batch Kitchen, we’re proving that eating healthy can mean eating delicious! I’m excited to be part of the YAB to promote health and wellness.

My name is Soleil St. Laurent, and I am currently a sophomore at Flower Mound High School in Texas. I am currently a cheerleader, and I love cheering at late night football games! I am also very interested to see how education and creative technology can further impact youth and family health literacy. I became interested in the YAB for CRoME lab because I wanted to take part in medical research to spread the word on medication safety and promote health in families! From my experience in the YAB I look forward to gaining new research skills and working as a team to leave a footprint some day in someone’s life and the medical field. And I believe doctors should be researchers, so I plan to carry the research skills I gain into med school and eventually pediatric neurology!

I'm a senior at Verona Area high school. My favorite subjects are social-science and science. I am extremely pleased to be a part of this. I also like anything related to psychology or children. Career-wise, I aspire to become a developmental-behavioral pediatrician or anything in the pediatric field. I plan on partaking in more research during my time in college. Joining YAB is giving me an insight into what the research field is like. I hope to gain more knowledge. As a public/global health major, I plan to go to university to study, work with children abroad, and gain experience.

Hi! My name is Tia, and I am a junior in Plano, Texas. I swim competitively for my high school, I play the piano, and I love to read in my spare time. I also tutor students (virtually!), and I love meeting new people and traveling. I am excited to be part of YAB and help improve health education through research projects, and hope to apply the knowledge and experience I gain at CRoME lab in the fields of Neuroscience, Genetics, and eventually medical school. In the future, I hope to continue to help people and give back to my community through my work in the sciences.