Satya Palomar

Despite the fellowship ending months ago, the advice and mentoring I received have stuck with me ever since. I was definitely very shy and intimidated at first, but everyone was so welcoming and friendly that it wasn’t hard for me to warm up to this very new experience. I especially appreciated the personal feedback they gave for the weekly deliverables–I found them super helpful and it gave me that final push out of my comfort zone!! Beyond that, you get to talk to other fellows and mentors, and it’s a great way to seek specific advice and make friends <3 As someone who was really burnt out from the end of the school year, the fellowship gave way for me to recover and gradually reignite my fire. In short, the fellowship embodies guidance, empowerment, and care 💜

Satya is a high school student from the Philippines with a deep passion for biology, chemistry, and the intersection of science and technology. More specifically, she is fascinated by microbiology and pharmaceutical sciences. Beyond the classroom, Satya is exploring her interests through hands-on projects and competitions. She recently organized a competition to get younger students excited about math, and has also been working on a molecular docking research project in the implementation phase.

Inspired by her experiences in the fellowship, Satya has begun considering new career paths, including biomedical engineering, and is eager to one day pursue her own passion project. She is dedicated to making healthcare more accessible while maintaining the effectiveness of existing treatments. Read on to learn more about Satya’s love for science, her research journey, and how she hopes to make an impact in the future!

Meet Satya

How did you become interested in STEM? Are there any particular subjects you’re passionate about?

I've always been interested in science, thanks to media like Almanac and National Geographic when I was younger. They were filled with trivia and fun facts about all things STEM, which fascinated me. However, what really hooked me was competing in science competitions in elementary school. Even if I didn’t win big awards, I always found the experience enjoyable and engaging!

What extracurriculars are you involved in?

I'm most interested in biology and chemistry, particularly microbiology and pharmaceutical sciences. I have more hands-on experience in microbiology, thanks to my 10th-grade elective and my biology lessons this year. However, I also have a strong passion for chemistry, which is why I’m taking organic chemistry in my junior year!

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

Honestly, I don’t get much sleep during school days, so I really love sleeping whenever I can! Other than that, I enjoy playing volleyball, reading, and gaming with friends. I also recently got into frisbee!

Summer Experience

What was your favorite part of the fellowship this summer?

I especially enjoyed the talks because, in such a short time, you can gain so much valuable advice and insight that can really go a long way. They were also interactive, so I felt engaged throughout, and it was really nice getting to know the mentors, learning from their experiences, and feeling inspired all at the same time.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned over the summer?

I really loved Jiwoo’s talk on computational biology because it introduced me to CRISPR. As someone who had only been exposed to wet lab work, I was fascinated to learn about bioinformatics and its crucial applications, especially in cancer research. After the talk, I was inspired to read more about CRISPR for my biology class, exploring its uses in marine science and various other fields.

Could you tell us more about the app you were inspired to work on?

The most valuable skill I learned was to own my power. I feel like this encapsulates everything I gained from the fellowship—it’s centered around recognizing our capabilities and believing in ourselves. Once I truly embraced this mindset, I knew I would be more willing to take on new opportunities and grow more confident in myself. Struggles and challenges are inevitable, but the lessons and experiences we gain along the way make the ultimate outcome even more meaningful. That’s something truly important I took away from this fellowship.

What advice would you give to future participants of the fellowship?

Don’t be afraid to reach out, and when you can, take the time to complete all the deliverables and participate in the ideathons! Personally, I was very shy at first, but I can assure you that everyone is incredibly welcoming and approachable. The mentors genuinely offer helpful advice, and engaging with others is a great way to form meaningful connections with other people passionate about STEM. Plus, the deliverables and ideathons are really great opportunities to explore your ideas and foster creativity. I highly recommend working on them if you have the time!

Future Aspirations

What are your career aspirations?

I see myself pursuing a career in medicine, specifically as a medical scientist, since I’m passionate about research and drug development. While my plans may evolve over the next two years as I explore different career options, one thing I’m certain about is my commitment to making healthcare more accessible while ensuring treatments remain as effective as they are today.

How has the fellowship influenced your career aspirations?

Some of the talks on entrepreneurship made me consider pursuing my own passion project one day. Even though I attend a science high school and am more inclined toward lab work, the fellowship opened my eyes to new career paths I hadn’t considered before—like biomedical engineering, which combines biology, chemistry, and even physics. It also reinforced how technology has a multiverse of applications, and the fellowship encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and explore new possibilities for my future career!

What have you been up to since the fellowship? Are there any projects you’re excited about?

I've been helping organize a math competition over the past year, and it recently concluded. All the hard work truly paid off! It was so rewarding to see younger students tackling challenging math problems—the same kinds I solved at their age but in different competitions. While mathematics is not necessarily my favorite subject of all time, organizing this competition deepened my appreciation for it.

On another note, I’m also working on a research project involving molecular docking (structure-based drug design). We’re already in the implementation phase, which is both nerve-wracking and exciting!