👤 About Me
I am a student at the University of Virginia, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Neuroscience on the pre-medical track. My academic interests lie at the intersection of psychology and neuroscience, with a particular focus on understanding and addressing neurodegenerative diseases.
📄 Research & Publications
Oral · Invited Parent-Reported Speech & the Low Verbal Investigatory Survey in Minimally Speaking Autistic Adolescents & Adults.
Poster Use of the Low Verbal Investigatory Survey in Minimally Speaking Autistic Adolescents and Adults.
Poster · Accepted Effects of Social Support and Speech on Task Performance in Minimally / Nonspeaking Autistic Adolescents and Adults.
🔬 Research Experience
Lab Manager & Research Assistant
Jaswal Lab, University of Virginia
Oversee administrative and operational aspects of the lab, including onboarding, scheduling, and cross-team communication to support ongoing studies. Analyze physiological responses in autistic children as part of a developmental psychology study; clean and process electrocardiogram data using MindWare to prepare datasets for statistical analysis. Travel with the research team to off-site locations for in-person testing with autistic children and their families.
Guided Research
Harvard University
Dedicated 100+ hours to guided research on the effects of nutrition and epigenetics on Autism Spectrum Disorder. Assisted in secondary analysis of data generated from prior research studies.
Research Assistant
Georgetown University
Created and reviewed “areas of interest” for a psychological study assessing empathy in a clinical setting. Collaborated with the team to create patient interview guides for research on familial and spousal relationships of dementia patients. Contributed 15 hours per week over the summer and 5 hours per week during the school year.
Internship in Brain Sciences (Paid Summer Intern)
Johns Hopkins University
Selected from hundreds of applicants for the Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences summer cohort. Collaborated with peers and mentors to conduct neuroscience research and contribute to program discussions and journal clubs. Allotted 180+ hours to daily meetings, scientific peer discussions, and research.
Volunteer Research Assistant — Randomized Clinical Trial
George Mason University
Assisted in blood processing and aliquoting patient plasma samples. Collaborated with the research director on patient surveys and study measurements including dietary intake, weight, height, and blood pressure.
💼 Work & Volunteer Experience
Medical Scribe
UVA Emergency Department
Chart patient encounters in real time using EPIC, including documentation of physical exams and medical decision-making plans. Support physicians by completing transfer forms, MedCom documentation, and consult tracking. Communicate with outside hospitals to obtain medical records and imaging, streamlining information access for providers.
Resident Advisor
UVA Housing & Residential Life
Selected to mentor a residential community of 70+ undergraduate students. Serve as a first responder for student crises, applying de-escalation, active listening, and university protocols to ensure student safety. Plan and lead educational, wellness, and community- building programs, and connect residents to counseling, health, and academic support resources.
Peer Health Educator (Volunteer)
University of Virginia
Educate peers on mental health, sexual health, substance use, and self-care through workshops, outreach, and one-on-one conversations. Promote evidence-based harm reduction strategies. Help plan and host the Fourth Year 5K — a large-scale community event fostering a culture of care and responsible celebration.
Volunteer Scribe
Charlottesville Free Clinic
Assist physicians in real time by documenting patient encounters, histories, and treatment plans. Collaborate with healthcare professionals to improve workflow and patient care efficiency, gaining firsthand experience in clinical decision-making and community health services.
Volunteer
Cville Tulips
Support Afghan refugee families adjusting to life in Charlottesville. Assist in English classes for Afghan women, helping them build language skills and confidence. Serve as a Persian translator to help bridge language barriers and improve communication.
Language Consultant
VISAS — Volunteers with International Students, Staff, & Scholars
Mentor two international students weekly to improve their English through conversational practice and activities. Facilitate cultural exchange in both directions to help mentees feel at home.
Volunteer
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
Dedicated 120+ hours to assisting hospital patients with discharge, mobility, and general care. Led training and tours for new volunteers. Managed cash register operations for the hospital gift shops.
🌟 Leadership
External Relations Chair
Persian Cultural Society @ UVA
Manage communications with external organizations, sponsors, and partners for large-scale cultural events. Coordinate the Iran Cup — a multi-school soccer tournament involving 10+ universities, overseeing outreach, logistics, and collaboration. Secured sponsorships and donations from 50+ local businesses through a raffle fundraiser.
Vice President (formerly Treasurer)
UVA Aerial Dance Club
Manage club finances — oversee Venmo and Zelle accounts for dues, studio rental payments, and event reimbursements. Submit funding requests, assist with grant writing, and coordinate studio rental logistics. Handle banking with Bank of America (negotiating fee waivers, managing the club debit card). Support executive board decision-making and operations as VP.
Session Leader
Girls Who Lift @ UVA
Educate members on muscle groups, proper form, and injury prevention to promote safe and effective training. Provide personalized guidance to help participants build confidence in strength training. Advocate for women’s health and fitness as an empowering practice.
Founder & Executive Director
Tutor to Empower
Provided online tutoring worldwide to underprivileged students. Fostered teamwork and meaningful student-tutor relationships across 50+ tutors and 150+ students in 75+ subjects. Collaborated with other organizations and nonprofits to organize educational webinars and workshops for 50+ students.
President · Outreach Officer
Science National Honor Society — W.T. Woodson High School
Directed publicity and social media for the chapter. Led students in community service and science-based passion projects. Served as student liaison for a 75+ member organization and organized school-wide bi-weekly recycling.
📖 Mentoring & Authorship
Author — “My Brain is a Galaxy”
Children’s Board Book on Autism Awareness
Authored a children’s board book advocating for autism awareness, currently in pre-publication. Devoted 100+ hours to drafting and editing the text. Designed page layout and book structure to prepare for publishing.
Private Tutor
Independent — Fairfax, VA
Prepare engaging lesson plans for tutoring sessions in mathematics, SAT prep, chemistry, and French. Communicate with parents to provide progress updates. Develop attainable goals with parents and students to encourage steady improvement.
Private Figure Skating Coach
Independent — Fairfax, VA
Fostered growth and perseverance for kids ages 3–12. Coached students of beginner to intermediate level to cultivate a lasting interest in figure skating.
🎓 Education
University of Virginia
B.S. Behavioral Neuroscience · Pre-Medical Track
Aug 2024 – May 2028 (expected)
GPA: 4.00Activities & Societies: Daniel Hale Williams Pre-Medical Honor Society
Harvard University Summer School
Epigenetics & Gene Regulation (graduate-level)
Jul 2022 – Aug 2022 · Cambridge, MA
Received high marks in a graduate-level course under Dr. Amy Tsurumi. Wrote and conducted research for a mock NIH grant proposal: The Effects of Iron Supplementation During Pregnancy on the Risk of the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children.
W.T. Woodson High School
High School Diploma
Aug 2021 – Jun 2024 · Fairfax, VA
GPA: 4.45Activities & Societies: National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society (President), French Club (Founder & Co-President)
🏆 Honors & Awards
Walker Global Experiences Scholarship · Spring 2026$5,000
Badgley Scholarship · Spring 2026$2,485
UVA Global Internships Scholarship · Spring 2026$2,200
General Raven Award Scholarship · Spring 2026$2,000
Robert Denommé Study Abroad Scholarship · Spring 2026$2,000
ISO Scholarship · Spring 2026$1,000
Persian Youth Scholarship · Oct 2024$1,000
⚡ Skills & Certifications
Patient Charting
UVA Health
Clinical Documentation
UVA Health
Medical Transcription
UVA Health
EPIC Systems
UVA Health
CITI · Biomedical Research
Certification
CITI · Social & Behavioral Research
Certification
CITI · HIPAA & Human Subjects
Certification
Grant Writing
Harvard University
Scientific Writing & Editing
George Mason
Participant Recruitment
George Mason
Clinical Data Collection
George Mason
Blood Processing
George Mason
Sample Storage (FreezerPro)
George Mason
Patient Care
George Mason
Centrifuge
George Mason
MindWare ECG Analysis
Jaswal Lab
R / R Studio
Java
W.T. Woodson HS
Microsoft Suite
Google Suite
Canva
Web Design
Team Leadership
Project Management
Marketing Strategy
Public Speaking
Recruiting
Networking
Time Management
Figure Skating
🌐 Languages
English
Native / Fluent
Farsi
Native / Fluent
French
Advanced
Spanish
Elementary / Beginner Comprehension
📚 Courses & Academic Work
AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science A
AP Environmental Science
AP Language and Composition
AP Statistics
AP United States History
AP World History
Algebra 1 Honors
Algebra 2 Honors
Biology Honors
Career Research & Decision Making
Critical Thinking & Study Skills
French 1
Geometry Honors
Pre-Calculus Honors
Spanish 1