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Izza Effendi

1x

Finalist

General information

Gender
Female
Ethnicity
Asian

Hobbies & Interests

  • Robotics
  • Acting And Theater
  • Theater
  • Band
  • Choir
  • Girl Scouts
  • Yoga

Reading

-

Bio

My name is Izza, and I’m a graduating senior from Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston, TX. This fall, I’ll be attending Cornell University to study Biomedical Engineering. I’m ranked 3rd in my class and have pursued the most rigorous academic track available, while also leading efforts in music and theater, STEM, and volunteering. As a vocalist and a member of my school’s Advanced Choir, I’ve performed in solo and ensemble state-level competitions and held leading roles in theater productions (involved in six total), eventually earning the position of president of my International Thespian Society troupe. My sophomore year, I cofounded The Platypirates, Houston’s only all-girls FIRST Robotics team, raised $25,000 in sponsorships, and led the team’s initial business and outreach efforts. Since then, we have made it to state all three years of our existence. I am also the Safety Captain of my team, and earned the Safety All Star award at competition three years in a row. This summer, I am interning at the NASA Robotics Academy. I’m also passionate about service—right now, I’m completing my Girl Scout Gold Award through a children’s burn prevention program that I’ve helped implement across Pakistan. I traveled to Pakistan and read burn prevention books to children in Urdu, distributed activities (puppets, activity books, spin-the-wheel games, etc.) to other institutions, spoke in seminars to educators who would be continuing the program after I left, and presented to medical students to recap my project and spread awareness on fire safety and burn prevention.

Education

Cornell University

Bachelor's degree program

2025 – 2025

Majors:
  • Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Minors:
  • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart

High School

2012 – 2025

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Majors of interest:
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Desired degree modality:
In-Person
Medical school interest:
Yes
Test scores:
  • SAT1490

Career

  • "Cofounder; Business/Outreach Head: Recruited members and sponsors (including Caterpillar), applied to grants; raised $25k+ and secured build space in year one. Networked with mentors and teams; organized and led two major outreach initiatives."

    Mechanical or Industrial Engineering · FIRST Robotics: Founding The Platypirates,

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2024

  • Buisness/Outreach Head, Build Team, Safety Captain (Won Safety All Star 3x at Competition)

    Mechanical or Industrial Engineering · FIRST Robotics: The Platypirates

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2025

  • Intern

    Aviation & Aerospace · NASA Robotics Academy

    Jan 2025 – Jan 2025

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Bioastronautics: Space Medicine
Work experience:
0 years
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Bulkthreads.com's "Let's Aim Higher" Scholarship
I first discovered my interest in biomedical devices in a cramped operating room, while my face was shielded from blood splatters, as the nurses pried open the patient's chest cavity. I ignored the searing smell of bone, awestruck as the surgeon meticulously disconnected heart valves from the body and redirected the blood into a machine. As dark red blood whirled through clear tubes, keeping the dormant patient alive, I realized I wanted to become a biomedical engineer. Since then, I have dedicated myself to projects that are both healthcare and engineering-related, such as my work on the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV), a prototype lunar vehicle, at NASA Johnson Space Center. In addition to maintenance and electrical tasks, I was drawn to tackle projects for the SEV’s Suitport, an opening on the vehicle's side designed to interlock with a spacesuit. I took every chance to learn more: I researched their operation, presented a plan to document the electronics & recruited a team of fellow interns to tackle the challenge. We successfully diagnosed an error with the connected power distribution panel. This discovery advanced our troubleshooting with other systems connected to the Suitport electronics, such as the operable back cabana, which was also out of operation. The Suitport project ignited my interest in the intersection of astronomy & biomedical engineering. I am now pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University, where I serve as a member of our Mars Rover team. As I design circuit boards for my team today, I dream of my future self using the same skills in dedication to advancing aerospace medicine. From designing organ-on-chip platforms and researching astronaut health, to establishing health regulations as a Biomedical Flight Controller, I hope to contribute to discoveries that benefit not only space exploration but also life on Earth.
Elevate Women in Technology Scholarship
I craned my neck to look down from my step stool, my face shielded with clear plastic to protect from blood splatters, as the nurses pried open the patient's chest cavity. I tried to ignore the searing smell of bone, awestruck as the surgeon disconnected the heart valves from the body and redirected the blood into a machine. As I peered at dark red blood whirling through clear tubes, keeping the patient alive, I discovered my passion for Biomedical Engineering and Research. However, after doing my own research later, I realized that medical research fields similarly fall short of representing women fairly. Women were not required to be included in clinical trials until 1993 (NIH Inclusion Policy), and a 2022 Harvard Medical School study confirms that we are still underrepresented. This lack of inclusion has a direct impact on our diagnoses and treatment. For example, men and women experience different symptoms during a heart attack. Due to the lack of research, women are misdiagnosed 50% more often than men; often with mental illness rather than heart disease (University of Leeds). This needs to change. As someone with high cholesterol and a history of poor heart health in my family, this issue means a lot to me. This is why I get so inspired when I hear about the technology that goes into improving this issue. The technology that I was most amazed by during my shadowing experience was Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): an alternative to invasive open-heart surgery. The doctor first inserted a catheter up an artery in the leg and fed it up the body until it reached the blood clot in the heart. Then a stent inflates the artery and holds it open until the clot is cleared. Choosing whether to perform open-heart surgery or PCI depends on the patient’s situation. However, studies on the benefits of each procedure were conducted almost exclusively on white men. A cardiothoracic research team at Cornell University, the college that I will attend this fall, plans to conduct trials solely on women to decide which procedure will be beneficial more accurately. I am so excited to be attending a school that conducts research based on tech that captivates me. Without scholarships and grants, I would not be able to attend Cornell. As a future Biomedical Engineering student, I will lead research to ensure that women’s health is no longer an afterthought.
Izza Effendi Student Profile | Bold.org