Meet Our Leadership Team

Dr. Alokkumar Jha

Advisor

Dr. Geraldine Dean

Advisor

Bikash Pokharel

Advisor

Ashwini Joshi

Advisor

Pratik Sheth

Advisor

Yuvraj Singh

Founder and Editor-in-Chief

Yuvraj Singh, 17, is a student researcher, builder, and founder of the Youth Tech & Ethics Institute (YTEI). Living in Silicon Valley, he founded YTEI because he believes students should be exposed to STEM ethics early on—after seeing how often people celebrated innovation without questioning its consequences. He has led research internships at Yale School of Medicine and Stanford AIMI, worked on AI-driven biomedical projects, and built tools that merge biotechnology, data science, and ethics. At school, he co-taught a biochemistry course for high schoolers, created a STEM Ethics Club (the first iteration of YTEI), and help lead his school's GIDAS branch. Outside of research, he enjoys exploring philosophy, teaching, and doing things that challenge him.

Chloe Melody Soerjanto

Executive Editor

Chloe is a high school student from Springfield School, passionate about technology, policy, and ethics. She is the founder of Writerz Room, a platform that empowers students to access scholarships and essay competitions, and serves as Director of Operations at Orivyn, a student-led research organization. Over the past summer, she interned at Crackd, an edtech platform for SAT/ACT preparation, and was mentored by a Harvard undergraduate, completing a meta-analysis of Indonesia's education policy that is currently under review with the Harvard International Review. Chloe has been recognized in international essay competitions, including as a Winner of the Orwell Youth Prize and a Finalist in the International Economics Olympiad Essay Challenge and John Locke Essay Competition.

Kelly-Emmanuel Pierre

Managing Editor

Kelly-Emmanuel Pierre is a senior at Charlotte Catholic High School with a strong passion for STEM, particularly engineering and emerging technologies. He has pursued these interests through a variety of academic and extracurricular ventures, gaining experience that spans both technical projects and organizational leadership. At the Youth Technology & Ethics Institute, Kelly-Emmanuel contributes to operational administration, helping ensure that programs, events, and collaborations run smoothly. His role reflects not only his interest in the future of technology but also his commitment to building communities where young people can explore innovation responsibly. Beyond his work at YTEI, he is eager to keep developing his skills in engineering, problem-solving, and technology management as he prepares for his next chapter in STEM.

Sashti Kandaswamy

Director of AI Research

Hi, I’m Sashti! I’m passionate about exploring the intersection of cognitive science, technology, and business. I am the Director of Outreach and co-founder of ReviveThreads, a student-led nonprofit, where I work to create a positive community impact through upcycling and sustainability in my community. I’m also deeply interested in AI, STEM ethics, and how technology shapes society. In my free time, I enjoy painting, researching, and playing tennis!

Aydin Moideen

Director of Climate & Technology Research

Aydin M. is a high school student passionate about the intersection of biology, technology, and their real-world applications. He is especially drawn to research that explores how innovation can be used to tackle pressing challenges in sustainability and health, from improving environmental systems to advancing human well-being. His curiosity drives him to engage with ideas that connect science to everyday life, and he is excited to be part of a community where students collaborate to design ethical, forward-thinking solutions. Looking ahead, Aydin plans to pursue a career in medicine while continuing to explore technology-driven approaches that improve lives and expand access to care.

Ishita Varia

Co-director of Medicine+Healthcare Research

Ishita is a current junior with a deep passion for exploring the intersection of medicine, biology, and technology. She is actively engaged in research through a partnership with MIT, where she is expanding her understanding of how innovation can transform healthcare. Alongside her academic pursuits, Ishita is committed to giving back through community service and volunteer work, efforts that have earned her two Gold Presidential Service Awards. Her interests also extend beyond STEM: she has trained in Indian classical dance and enjoys playing the violin, both of which reflect her creativity and discipline. As the Director of Medical Research at the Youth Technology & Ethics Institute, Ishita is excited to lead projects that bridge science with real-world impact.

Sarah Kim

Co-director of Medicine+Healthcare Research

Inspired by her own recovery from a childhood neurological disorder, Sarah developed a lasting passion for neuroscience and medicine. Her experience with seizures and the care she received from her neurologist, Dr. Dolce, sparked her interest in how the brain works and how doctors can change lives. She now volunteers at UT Southwestern Hospital and Parkland Hospital in Texas, supports children with autism through her church, and coaches disabled athletes in Taekwondo, with plans to take them to the Paralympics. As a Taekwondo national team member and referee for 2024–2026, she balances athletics with service and science. She recently launched Neuromotion, a passion project designed to raise awareness about neuroscience for younger students, and is working to establish a school club called NeuroSphere to expand these efforts.

Harsha Singla

Director of Biotechnology Research

Harsha Singla is a senior at Lake Washington High School in Washington with a strong interest in healthcare, medicine, and business. He hopes to pursue a career as a non-invasive physician while also exploring entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Harsha’s experiences include clinical shadowing, hospital volunteering, scholar initiatives, nonprofit advocacy, and research at the intersection of healthcare and AI. These opportunities have helped him better understand patient care and medical innovation, while also building skills in teamwork and leadership through student-led organizations.

Jem Fong

Director of STEM Ethics Research

Jem is a Year 10 student from England with an interest in STEM, writing, and ethics. As Director of STEM Ethics Research at the Youth Technology & Ethics Institute, Jem contributes to projects that connect science with ethical reflection. He also writes for Eco Action Magazine and The Scope Project, expanding his experience in communicating ideas about technology and society. Outside of academics, Jem enjoys maths, science, music, and recently participated in his first hackathon.

Elenita Cainglet

Director of Publication Outreach

Elenita Cainglet is an astrophysics student from the Philippines with an interest in science communication and outreach. She serves as the News Editor of her university’s student publication, managing coverage of campus events. She also takes part in STEM seminars and volunteers with astronomy organizations, supporting efforts to make science more accessible to students and the public.

Haru Krause

Associate Editor

Haru is a student based in San Jose, California with interests in physics, engineering, and aerospace. As Associate Editor at the Youth Technology & Ethics Institute, Haru helps review and prepare student work for publication. Outside of academics, Haru enjoys programming—often participating in hackathons—as well as music and drawing. Her mix of technical and creative interests gives her a balanced perspective that she brings to both research and writing.

Allen Du

Chief Operations Lead

Allen Du is a high school student with interests that span both athletics and technology. Outside the classroom, he plays American football, enjoys powerlifting and rowing, and writes poetry. His accomplishments include reaching the semifinals (top 15 of 230+ teams) at the Piñata Pitch competition, contributing to growth at Ultra AI (YC W24), interning at George Washington University, and serving as Executive Director of the YRI Science Fair, where he helped secure over $10K in funding and launch the event in under a month. He has also generated over 100K combined impressions on LinkedIn through his company and personal accounts, reflecting his focus on outreach and community impact.

Shubhavi Ganu

Chief Marketing Lead

Shubhavi is the Chief Marketing Officer at the Youth Technology & Ethics Institute. She focuses on exploring how technology can be used responsibly while ensuring that youth voices are part of conversations on ethics and innovation. Passionate about communication and creativity, she enjoys building campaigns that connect people and spark meaningful dialogue about the role of technology in shaping the future.

Ka Lam Tam (Ella)

Director of Outreach

Ella is interested in biochemistry and pathology, with a focus on how diseases such as cancer develop at the molecular level. She enjoys studying topics like biomarkers, tumor microenvironments, and medical research, and is especially drawn to connecting lab-based science with real-world healthcare applications. Outside of her studies, Ella participates in research projects that allow her to deepen her knowledge and explore a wide range of scientific questions.

Vedanshi Raheja

Chief Growth Officer

Vedanshi Raheja is a sophomore with a strong interest in AI, neuroscience, and research. She enjoys exploring how these fields connect and applying her curiosity to new challenges. Outside academics, she plays the violin, competes in chess tournaments—where she has earned multiple trophies—and practices cubing. Vedanshi is also the founder of GlialSpark, an initiative that grew to over 120 members and 170 Instagram followers within its first month, showcasing her ability to build communities around science and innovation. She is eager to continue developing her skills, combining her passion for STEM with creativity and leadership.

Charis Tsang

Director of Internal Operations

Charis is a high school student from Toronto, Canada, passionate about neuroscience with research interests in neurodegenerative diseases, AI, and healthcare. Inspired by her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she has been actively involved in research projects and initiatives exploring how technology can improve health outcomes. Charis aspires to build a career that bridges science and technology to create multidisciplinary solutions that make a meaningful impact on people’s lives, particularly in brain health and healthcare innovation. She looks forward to continuing research, collaborating with others in the field, and contributing to projects that advance understanding and care of neurological diseases.

Pallavi Bollineni

Director of Events

Pallavi is a high school student from San Jose with a strong interest in STEM outreach and community engagement. On her school’s robotics team, she works to expand awareness of FIRST and inspire more students to get involved in technology and problem-solving. She is also drawn to research that bridges STEM with real-world applications, reflecting her curiosity about how innovation can make a direct impact on people’s lives. Beyond academics, Pallavi is a varsity water polo player who enjoys spending time in the water, building both discipline and teamwork skills through the sport. In her free time, she likes binge-watching TV shows and listening to music, balancing her academic and extracurricular commitments with creative and personal interests.

Marika Shimizu

Director of Education

Marika Shimizu is a high school senior passionate about psychology and education. She has helped start mental health initiatives and contributed to international research projects such as iGEM, combining her interest in science with a focus on community impact. As Director of Education at the Youth Technology & Ethics Institute, Marika is excited to design meaningful learning opportunities that reach students around the world and inspire them to think critically about the role of technology and society.

Pritikaa Venkat

Director of Curriculum Innovation

Pritikaa Venkat is passionate about making technology education accessible and engaging for all students. One of her favorite projects has been improving computer science education for underrepresented learners in Canada, where she combined her interest in equity with her love for technology. Outside of academics, Pritikaa enjoys coding and capturing moments with her digital camera, balancing her technical pursuits with creativity.