Let’s Take a TRIP! by Aanya Deshpande

Hi everyone! My name is Aanya Deshpande, and I am currently a junior at Downingtown S.T.E.M. Academy. I wanted to become involved in TRIP because I have a passion for science, specifically in biomedical technologies and research. I want to help others receive accurate medical diagnoses quickly, so that they do not have to struggle with not knowing the exact problem. I have also always been interested in the “how” behind science, and I believe that TRIP would be able to add fuel to that curiosity. I also wanted to gain a broader understanding of working in a lab and develop my current knowledge about biology. 

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Now, a little about me: The three things that I absolutely could not survive without are my family, my friends, and Spotify. My family and friends would describe me as honest, funny, and an AirPods fanatic! Right now, my favorite artists are The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars (I just got his concert tickets!), Tyler, the Creator, Kendrick Lamar, and Childish Gambino. I also really enjoy travelling, no matter how short the distance is. I recently visited Florida over winter break, and I spent a lot of time on the beach! Some of my favorite extracurriculars are martial arts and dancing, which I have been involved in for almost my whole life. These sports have taught me discipline and how to take care of myself, and I would not trade them for anything! My newest hobby, and guilty pleasure, is creating Spotify remixes on repeat. 

In school, I am a co-vice president of Aevidum, a nonprofit meant to break the stigma around mental health. I am a huge mental health advocate because everyone faces hardships regarding mental health, and I want to be able to help in any way I can. I have also been a Powderpuff cheer coach for the past three years, and I have made a lot of friends doing it! Recently, I became a volunteer for the National Honor Society, and I volunteer at local elementary schools. I have volunteered through tutoring, science fairs, and literacy nights; I enjoy being able to give back to the community in any way I can! Outside of school, I am a marketing director for Project Red Poppy, a student-led organization to spread awareness about veteran hardships after war. I am also an ambassador for the Harvard OpenBio program, in which I advertise networking opportunities and guide speaker conferences. I have been able to meet with many professionals in the biotechnology field, and I gained a lot of insight as to what their work entails.

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The research question that I chose for the kickoff experiment was “Does intestinal inflammation impact adult fly anxiety? Can diet have a protective effect?” I am curious as to what the results will be for this experiment, and I am very eager to begin working! I unfortunately could not attend the first session because it was unsafe to travel due to the weather, but I am very excited to perform the experiment next week!