Since 2019, we have expanded around the world and collaborated with ground-breaking institutions to foster innovation.
Become an Innovator.
Kate Mathew
Our Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Kate is an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California studying biochemistry and digital communications. She founded Student Science Innovation Network to foster interdisciplinary innovation and provide opportunities in the sciences for young enthusiasts to get involved. Kate is a student researcher with a background in cardiothoracic clinical trials focusing on myocardial ischemia, the #1 cause of death in the world. She is an advocate for body positivity and women and people of color in STEM, as well as a Tedx speaker and college mentor. In her free time, Kate is a Nationally Registered EMT-B and content creator on social media such as Tiktok and Instagram, and loves to travel and explore new cultures.
Jacob Williams
President & Executive Director of Research
Jacob is an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, double majoring in Molecular and Cell Neurobiology and Cognitive Science, where he also undertakes research in the DuPage Lab, focusing on Immunology and leveraging tumor microenvironments to strengthen novel oncological immunotherapies. While currently a Nationally Registered EMT-B, Jacob hopes to pursue an MD/PhD and enter his career in medicine as Physician Rsearcher, primarily in the field of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Oncology, and Cancer Immunology. Jacob is thrilled to join the executive team at the Student Science Innovation Network and hopes to leverage education as a force to unite students across all barriers to innovate and ultimately, as act as a force for change.
Ioana Ana
Chief Strategic Officer
Ioana Ana is a freshman studying Cognitive Science and Molecular Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Outside of school, she is an expert level musician, her main instruments are the French Horn and the piano, but she has experimented with many other instruments. She is excited to join such a passionate group at the Student Science Innovation Network with such an important cause, and looks forward to what the future holds for our nonprofit organization. In her free time, Ioana is a Nationally Registered EMT-B, enjoys going on walks, and loves traveling the world.
Irene Pantekidis
Chief Operating Officer
Irene Pantekidis is a second-year student at Tufts University who is double majoring Biology and Child Study & Human Development. She is a research assistant at the Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Yelick Lab, where she works with craniofacial and skeletal zebrafish mutants to analyze tissue development and regeneration. Irene is on the pre-medical track and hopes to pursue a career in pediatrics. At Tufts, she is involved in various medically oriented volunteer organizations and tutoring groups. She is excited to join this passionate group and to help expand the Student Science Innovation Network, providing students with opportunities to explore their STEM passions and become the future generation of scientists.
Shruthi Reddy
Director of Outreach
Shruthi Reddy is an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Molecular Environmental Biology with a concentration in Environment and Human Health. Shruthi has been involved in scientific research throughout her undergraduate years and hopes to pursue an MD/PhD to combine her research interests with her passion for medicine in a career as a physician scientist. Along with her interests in science and medicine, Shruthi is also heavily involved in non-profit and philanthropic work, and enjoys graphic design, painting and photography in her free time. Shruthi is excited to join the executive team for SSIN and work towards cultivating a network of students sharing experiences and creating impactful change in their communities.
Sandhya Tiku
Director of Research
Currently a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, Sandhya studies Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science, where she is also involved in undergraduate research in the Lewis-Peacock Lab. Sandhya's research specifically focuses on using Machine Learning classifiers to understand patterns in brain scans to improve the fine motor skills of stroke patients. Sandhya is extremely passionate about the application of engineering principles, specifically machine learning in the medical and biological field, and hopes to eventually pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. Beyond SSIN, she is involved in E-nable, an organization that builds prosthetics for those that aren't able to afford expensive prosthetics. Sandhya looks forward to joining the SSIN team and bringing like-minded and diverse groups of students together to work towards the same goal of research innovation!
Aarushi Khandare
Associate Director of Research
Aarushi Khandare is the Associate Director of Research at the Student Science Innovation Network. She is a freshman at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) majoring in MCDB/Neurological Sciences and hoping to double major in Bioengineering/Bioinformatics. Aarushi will be getting involved with undergraduate research in UCSB's Psych and Brain Sciences lab, specifically in the Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences department. In the future she hopes to pursue a career in the medical field as a surgeon or a biomedical researcher. She is very excited to work closely with so many inspiring people to make a difference in communities everywhere.
Aanika Kashyap
Co-Director of the College Ambassadorship Program
Aanika Kashyap is a Co-Director of the College Ambassadorship Program and a sophomore at Rice University, studying Neuroscience on the premedical track. Aanika is passionate about neuroscience, ethics, and education and explores these interests through research, volunteering, and advocacy at Rice and on a global scale through Student Science Innovation Network. Aanika loves connecting with others and she is excited to not only be part of Student Science Innovation Network but to see it grow in the years to come.
Smita Nayak
Co-Director of the College Ambassadorship Program
Smita Nayak is a sophomore at Tufts University studying Community Health and Women’s Studies on the pre-med track. She is passionate about global advocacy for BIPOC women’s health issues. At Tufts, she is involved in Tufts for Health Equity and public health research focused on building a COVID-19 education curriculum for schools in India. In her free time, she love running, cooking, and playing the violin. As one of College Ambassadorship’s Program Leads, she enjoys connecting with our network of mentors and mentees & finding ways in which this program can be adapted to continually be the most efficient resource possible for helping all high school students with navigating pre-health paths & the college admissions process!