Diya Patel

Diya Patel is a junior attending Central Jersey College Prep Charter School. She has researched at Rutgers University where she analyzed gene sequences from DNA fragments using the same bioinformatics tools used by practicing scientists worldwide. She has published two vetted DNA sequence analyses on GenBank, the international repository of DNA sequences, that is maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Education (NCBI). Outside of research, Diya serves her community as she is currently the secretary of STEP For a Better World Leo Club affiliated with Lions Clubs International and the social media manager of a student-led group aimed to prevent drug abuse among teens by focusing on mental health issues, parental approaches, and general education through means of marketing. Additionally, Diya has won numerous awards as a competitor in her school’s Science Olympiad & Model UN Teams. Outside of academics, Diya has received a diploma in Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance, and she continues to preserve her culture by dancing with young students. In the future, Diya plans to continue her research in STEM and pursue a career in the science field.