STEM Foundations:
pertaining to the basic sciences, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics
STEM Foundations for Entrepreneurship
A multi-disciplinary undergraduate degree portfolio
Presented in part for the University of Maryland Baltimore County
Individualized Studies: Multidisciplinary Track
Completed coursework in mathematics through introductory-level linear algebra and differential equations, general physics, and introduction to mechanics
As well as general biology, general and organic chemistry, introduction to medicinal chemistry, and physical chemistry.
My degree is also heavily research-based, having conducted research at every stage of my education. I studied the one-dimensional linear logistics map with Dr. David Campbell at Boston University. When I returned to my education after a pause, I worked with Dr. Takashi Tsukamoto studying synthetic medicinal chemistry at Johns Hopkins University Brain Science Institute. Most recently, I studied the life cycle of HIV and the structural biology of genetic material using NMR with Dr. Michael Summers at UMBC.
entrepreneur:
a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.
Long history of selling goods and services, from a neighborhood newsletter in grade school to a t-shirt company in high school
Employment history with pre- Series A health tech startup Sickweather
Organized two co-founders for a tech startup that matched scientists based on their publication record
My goal is to build smart technology for wheelchair users with embedded systems of sensors. Microprocessors like Arduino and Raspberry Pi continue to be mass-produced for low costs. Similarly, camera components can be cheaply manufactured in mass.
Machine learning libraries like TensorFlow can now be easily flashed to microprocessors along with trained algorithms to handle the input.
My degree in STEM for Entrepreneurship is to prepare me for understanding the background of the end-user’s situation from a medical and scientific standpoint, as well as equip me with tools and skills necessary for conceptualizing and designing prototypes of smart personal mobility systems.
Things started less confidently.
My first few weeks were spent alone in a hospital.
The next few months were with a Korean foster family, with a woman I called “Omma”, the Korean word for Mom.
She took me to regular visits at the hospital to ensure I was still “adoptable”, although none of these health concerns or records were ever shared with my adoptive family.
In November of that year, I landed at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and promptly handed over to the awaiting extended White American family.
My brother joined the family seven years later, and was the first person of color I knew of in or close to our family.
Despite everything, I continued to persevere, to question, and to imagine a life where education could take me somewhere better.
I grew up as the only Asian person in my extended family for seven years, and I continue to be the only Asian female in my family.
When COVID-related rage was directed toward Asians in my area, my mother said she was glad I didn’t sound Asian.
Since you will always be verified before an assailant thrashes you on the head.
I graduated at the top of my high school class and dreamed of making a difference in medicine through research.
I was on my way to Boston University right after graduating to participate in the Freshman Research Opportunity Program.