Hello, I’m Paarth Kumar, a determined Class 12th student from Ahmedabad, India, a city that thrives on its rich cultural diversity. This backdrop has profoundly influenced my character.

My fascination for biology started at the early age of nine, through children’s encyclopaedias & pop-up books about organ systems in the body. Few years back, when my grandmother was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, it was a shock for me to discover that a doctor’s diagnosis didn’t always result in a cure. Throughout my academic studies, I tried to connect what I learned with real life, understanding how diseases impact human bodies, & looking for secrets that might reveal a cure. I was intrigued by possibility of CRISPR editing, and how genes influence our traits & can lead to diseases. This could accomplish so much, from curing genetic diseases to genetically modifying humans.

Having the privilege of being exposed to diverse STEM fields like Healthcare, computer tech & Astronomy & Physics within the family, scientific thinking & problem-solving was quintessential to my academic exploration. Such exploration led me to engage with experts, ultimately securing an internship in R&D department of Larenon Healthcare, where I gained valuable insights into the practical utilisation of equipment in solid dosage manufacturing & analysis studies.

Continuing my research journey further, under the mentorship of Dr Harsh Shah, I researched mental health of teenagers in the aftermath of the pandemic. This endeavour was born out of personal reflection
& challenges of reintegrating & recuperating from post-pandemic forced isolation, prompting me to take online courses to supplement my knowledge, engage 84 fellow students in conversations about their mental health experiences & conduct analyses of their self-perceptions & coping mechanisms with insights from 164 Indian psychiatrists. Paper 1 Understanding the Nuances: Navigating the Mental Health Landscape of Indian Adolescents in The Covid-19 Era, J. Popul. Ther. Clin. Pharmacol.

I subsequently became part of a team assessing the novel combination of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) & lactoferrin for treating patients. Paper 2 A Comparative Study to Assess Efficacy & Safety of
NAC Combination & NAC in Patients of Productive Cough with Acute Bronchitis, Indian Journal of Respiratory Care. I love exploring biology, whether through the introductory online courses I took on the biology of cancer by Johns Hopkins University, the mental healthonline course or my course books. I am giving AP Biology this May.

In 2022, during summer internship at Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES, Government institute of Astrophysics), I studied modern instruments like ST-radar & telescopes like the 3.6m DOT, while interacting with astrophysics experts. I grew up participating in interschool quizzes, Science Olympiads (securing top positions), & summer camps at Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre (a pioneering CommunityScience Centre), constructing rockets and delving into the intricacies
of atomic structures. These experiences fuelled my passion for Science & greatly contributed to my academic & intellectual growth.

I embodied determination and resilience while maintain composure in a crisis through open water scuba diving. Drumming showed me that music connects people beyond languages when I used it to teach disabled children for a community service project. As member of the Student Council, I upheld the school honour code, organised events, fostered participation, & assisted authorities in addressing student grievances.

I aim to be a proactive leader, scientific explorer, & an empathetic peer, ready to take initiative in identifying & resolving issues within the community. My interests span from CRISPR editing, Genetics,
researching autoimmune diseases & finding biological solutions to combat pollution to addressing infectious diseases & working on mitigating mental health impacts on students, all while promoting
social inclusion and unity. I want to be a part of the movement that improves the quality of human life.