Meet Our Team

Every biography below is the member’s own. We have not edited them into one voice, because the range of reasons people joined is part of what the team is.

Shivansh (Shiv)

Junior, Dulles High School

Hello, I’m Shivansh (aka Shiv), a junior at Dulles High School! Biology has had me hooked since I was just a little older than a fetus, and using biotechnology to directly create solutions for real world problems is definitely inspiring. Being a part of the wet lab, you’ll find me in the lab running gels late at night only for lanes to be clearer than water. As an iGEM team member, it has taught me how to continue working through hard times as a team, working together to make the impossible possible. If I’m not at the lab, I’m probably playing the saxophone or learning Japanese (anime without subtitles soon!). Can’t wait to meet everyone in Paris and nerd out about synbio!

Myreen Ahsan

Freshman, Friendswood High School, Friendswood, Texas

Hey, I’m Myreen Ahsan! I’m a freshman at Friendswood High School, Friendswood, TX, with a passion for neuroscience, biotechnology, AI/ML and asking way too many questions about how the human body works! I’ve always been fascinated by how something as small as a molecule can have such a huge impact on our lives, which is exactly why our iGEM project caught my attention. The idea that we could engineer tiny bacteria to potentially help children struggling with malnutrition is pretty incredible to me. Outside of iGEM, I love exploring neuroscience, working on STEM outreach initiatives, and finding ways to make science exciting and accessible to other students. When I’m not juggling school work and research, I’m probably brainstorming another ambitious idea or going down a neuroscience rabbit hole! I’m so excited to be part of a team that’s turning curiosity into something that could make a real difference!

Livsharan (Liv) Puchakayala

Junior, Dulles High School

Hello! I’m Livsharan Puchakayala, but I go by Liv (yes there are a lot of live jokes). I am currently a junior at Dulles High School. iGEM has introduced me to so many cool lab techniques, and getting to build something with a team that could help millions of people around the world is incredibly exciting to me. When I’m not in the lab or working on the never-ending iGEM to-do list, you’ll find me playing guitar (I like pretty much all music, even the niche ones other than rap), riding forest trails on my mountain bike, or sparring in taekwondo. I’m also a huge fan of video games and anime/manga. I can’t wait to meet everyone in Paris this year and make it an unforgettable experience!

Nikita

Junior, Cypress Ranch High School

Hi! I’m Nikita, a junior at Cypress Ranch High School. I love exploring biology both in the lab and through code. I’m especially curious about how genomics and computational biology can help us understand disease and improve medicine. On the Texas iGEM wet lab team, I’ve helped engineer probiotic bacteria as a possible way to address malnutrition. Beyond research, I’m involved in health advocacy and cancer screening outreach. In my free time, you’ll find me drawing my favorite characters, playing golf, or listening to music!

Arjun Popuri

Tenth grade, Rick Reedy High School, Frisco, Texas

My name is Arjun Popuri, and I’m a 10th grader at Rick Reedy High School in Frisco, Texas. My passion for medicine, science, and research drives me to explore new ideas. Through Texas iGEM, I’ve found great opportunities to share this passion by leading community outreach and helping highlight new scientific research. Outside of iGEM, I enjoy playing soccer, making music, and cooking. I also lead MEDucate, a school club dedicated to teaching students about medicine and connecting them with healthcare opportunities.

Alyssa Janco

Ninth grade, the Emery/Weiner School, Houston, Texas

My name is Alyssa Janco, and I’m in ninth grade at the Emery/Weiner School in Houston, Texas. I’ve always possessed an innate passion for exploring how science, biotechnology, and innovation can be used to address complex real-world challenges. I am particularly interested in the process of turning scientific ideas into practical solutions, and I believe that research is most meaningful when it extends beyond the lab to engage with the wider community. In Texas iGEM, I have especially valued the opportunity to participate in community outreach, connecting scientific ideas to a broader application. Beyond iGEM, I enjoy pursuing independent scientific interests, and I lead my school’s Odyssey of the Mind club, where I continue to develop my creativity, collaboration, and unconventional thinking skills that have served me well within iGEM. Across these interests and many more, I seek opportunities that challenge me to think critically, approach problems from unique perspectives, and bring science into the greater world.

Ganeev Jaswal

Eighth grade, Fort Settlement Middle School

Hi! I’m Ganeev Jaswal, an 8th grader at Fort Settlement Middle School who’s always been curious about how things work and why. I’m especially interested in microbiology, environmental engineering, and embedded systems, and in what happens when those fields overlap. That’s one reason iGEM caught my attention: our project brings together the gut microbiome, nutrition, biotechnology, and data to explore a real problem affecting children around the world. I also enjoy competitive math as part of my school team and the challenge of working through problems that don’t have an obvious first step. Outside of STEM, I enjoy playing tennis, volleyball, and basketball, where I occasionally try my luck from half court. I also love reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.

Isabel

Sophomore, Magnolia High School, Magnolia, Texas

Hi! I am Isabel, a sophomore at Magnolia High School in Magnolia, Texas. In the Texas iGEM Team, I am most active on the computational biology side, using pipeline tools such as QIIME 2 to analyze the impact of malnutrition on gut microbiome diversity. While I can struggle with procrastination, once a data problem or a broken command line catches my eye, I become unwilling to give up on it. Beyond our team, my background includes competitive debate preparations, regional public health outreach, and a former multi-year involvement in bagpipe club. My downtime is spent on nail art as well as watching foreign dramas. I value science driven by the analysis of raw data.

Neel Heblikar

Junior, Dulles High School

Hey everyone! I’m Neel Heblikar, and I’m currently a junior at Dulles High School. I’ve always been fascinated by biology, especially how something happening at the microscopic level can have such a huge impact on the world. Being part of iGEM this year has made that interest even stronger, and I’ve learned so much from working in the wet lab (including that experiments don’t always go according to plan). It’s been really exciting to work alongside such an amazing team on a project that could make a real difference. Outside of iGEM, I enjoy playing guitar, listening to music, and finding new things to learn about. I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone in Paris and making some unforgettable memories!

Zahra

Junior, Energy Institute High School, Houston, Texas

Hello! My name is Zahra, I am a junior at Energy Institute High School, in Houston, Texas. I am deeply passionate about neuroscience, film, and how creative expression overlaps with biological systems; the idea that visual storytelling can evoke such powerful neural responses fascinates me. On the Texas iGEM team, I bring that same curiosity to the computational biology track, helping decode complex datasets to make sense of biological trends. Outside of research, extracurriculars, and school, you’ll usually find me in the ceramics studio working on one of my (many) unfinished sculptures or as a varsity swimmer in the pool perfecting my butterfly. I love tackling big ideas from both a scientific and artistic perspective!

Jiaqi (Cassie)

Junior, New Trier High School

Hi, my name is Jiaqi (aka Cassie) and I am a junior at New Trier High School. Interested in bioengineering and molecular biology, iGEM was a perfect fit for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this team and the multidisciplinary aspects of it. When I’m not deciphering software bugs, you can find me watching movies, spending time with my family and friends, playing violin, and competing in my extracurriculars.

Raisha

Sophomore, Dougherty Valley High School

Hi! My name is Raisha, and I’m a sophomore at Dougherty Valley High School with a deep passion for medicine and its potential to change lives! I’m currently an intern at Safe Living Space, where I advocate for greater recognition of brain injuries in female sports. Being part of the iGEM outreach committee has taught me the importance of teamwork, communication, and making science accessible to others. I’m especially fascinated by medical research and hope to pursue a future in healthcare where I can make a meaningful difference. Outside of iGEM, I love cooking, hiking, and meeting new people to learn from their experiences and perspectives!

Raghav Pandurangi

Ninth grade, Dulles High School

Hi, my name is Raghav Pandurangi, I am a 9th grader at Dulles High School. And one thing I have learnt from my fussy (but beautiful little baby) cat definitely was to be patient. One very important thing that iGEM has taught me is how to work with a team. Almost all of the work done in iGEM is a collaboration. If you can’t find me in my room studying or playing video games, I am probably playing piano, in karate, or helping my siblings out.

Ishita Shrivastava

Junior, Coppell High School

Hi, my name is Ishita Shrivastava and I’m a junior at Coppell High School. At Texas iGEM, I enjoyed being a part of the Outreach team, making an impact as we worked towards our goal. I am interested in neuroscience as a part of the Stanford Neuroscience Journal Club! In my free time, I play piano and hang out with my friends and family.