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Ava Cummings

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Finalist

General information

Age
20
Gender
Female
Ethnicity
Native American/Indigenous Peoples

Hobbies & Interests

  • 3D Modeling
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Soccer
  • Piano
  • Robotics
  • Research
  • Spanish
  • Travel And Tourism
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Coding And Computer Science
  • Drawing And Illustration
  • Engineering
  • Exploring Nature And Being Outside
  • Kayaking
  • Machine Learning
  • Neuroscience

Reading

  • Academic
  • Biography
  • Cultural
  • Law
  • Social Issues
  • Realistic Fiction
  • Speculative Fiction

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

Hello, I’m Ava Cummings! I am a highly motivated high school student at the North Carolina School of Science and Math from Raleigh. I am passionate about my education and hope to pursue a career in Biomedical/Neural Engineering. My specific interests include modern applications of traditional indigenous medicinal practices, neuroscience, and data science. Through my academic and extracurricular experiences, I have developed strong skills in leadership, communication, and diligence. I heavily value and enjoy cultivating relationships and building connections with peers and professionals.

Education

North Carolina Sci/math Dstnc

High School

2023 – 2025

GPA4.0 GPA

Smithfield-selma High

High School

2021 – 2023

GPA4.0 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Data Science, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Biochemical Engineering
Test scores:
  • SAT1520
  • ACT33

Career

  • Intern

    Mechanical or Industrial Engineering · Emerging Technology Institute

    Jan 2024 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Biomedical Engineering
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Lucent Scholarship
Sitting on the tile floor of my parent’s bathroom, I rummaged through bottles of ibuprofen and antihistamines tossed among bags of dried sage, elderberry, and a copy of Herbal Remedies of the Lumbee Indians. My family medicine drawer prompted one of my greatest curiosities: the intersection of modern medicine and traditional indigenous medicinal practices. Through my school’s independent student research program, I used that same copy of my tribe’s herbal to confront one of many overlooked healthcare challenges within my community, a disease that has affected my own friends and family, known as STAC3 Disorder (Native American Myopathy). This disease affects 1 in every 5000 Lumbee individuals, resulting in poor muscle development and definition, muscular weakness, and musculoskeletal deformities. I modeled this disease in fruit flies through an RNAi-UAS cross system. By integrating a modern drug known as Tirasemtiv with an extract from an Indigenous medicinal herb, common nettle, I was able to find the first treatment for symptoms of the disorder and conduct the first study that gives insight into the disorder’s effects on adult development. Through this project, I have demonstrated a unique, inventive approach that synthesizes modern and traditional medicine to develop a solution that medically and culturally meets the needs of the community it affects. Importantly, this research highlights the potential for modern medicine and traditional cultural practices to be integrated for advancements in healthcare. The use of contemporary and traditional indigenous knowledge in this study facilitates the inclusion of diverse perspectives within research and medicine. The unique approach of this project is not only applicable to STAC3 within the Lumbee Tribe, but also to diseases that disproportionately affect other populations by combining cultural practice with modern knowledge to create physical and cultural healing through healthcare. In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to present my research at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and submit to the Regeneron Science Talent Search to spread awareness of my research and its impact. In the future, I hope to use similar research habits, integrating modern and indigenous practices to combat diseases such as glutaric acidemia type 1 that affects the Lumbee and Ojibwe, Navajo neuropathy, Athabascan brainstem dysgenesis, cancers, and diabetes. Through a career in pharmaceutic-focused biomedical engineering and an understanding of Indigenous culture, I hope to one day impact the intersection between Indigenous practices and Western medicine to serve the needs of rural communities and contribute an Indigenous perspective in global conversations of population-specific diseases.
Ava Cummings Student Profile | Bold.org