Hi! I’m Harsh, I’m an international student from Singapore and a rising Junior at the time of writing. I do functional genomics research in a cardiology lab at the Vascular Medicine Institute of UPMC, I’m mentored by Dr Wei Sun and Dr Stephen Chan who are physician-scientists on the forefront of precision care for cardiovascular disease! I’m involved in multiple projects covering more than just cardiovascular disease, but my main project that I work on looks at the biochemical pathways outlining ischemic stroke risk in individuals of African Descent. Ancestry based functional genomics is an emerging field in precision medicine and I believe it has the unique ability to do more than just show us a novel mechanistic pathway of disease proliferation- it takes down entrenched stereotypes and restructures our understanding of common diseases. I’m pursuing a double degree in Molecular Biology and History and Philosophy of Science with a certificate in conceptual foundations of medicine and another in global health! I’m a strong believer in the notion that science does not and cannot just occur in a vacuum, I believe in imploring the wide ranging impacts of the research I do especially in our diverse community. I’m also a strong advocate of mental health as the President of Movember at Pitt, especially after my personal experiences in the army back home before coming to Pitt. In the future I’d like to practice medicine and form meaningful bonds with my patients. I’m optimistic of what my future holds, perhaps one day I’ll run for office in my home country to make a lasting impact on the community that built me up to where I am today. One of my summer resolutions is to speak to more people and learn about their passions and I’m hoping the Brackenridge will give me that opportunity! Come say hi, we can talk about anything you’d like!