Shiv Davay (15) is a student with dreams of becoming a surgical oncologist. He has pursued research to address illnesses ranging from mental health disorders to different types of cancers. He believes young scientists can make a tangible contribution to their fields and should not be overlooked.
Shiv credits his seventh grade biology teacher with inspiring his interest in STEM. His teacher encouraged him to join the Science Olympiad team, where he achieved impressive results at the regional and state levels. He also joined the Environmental Science Club at his middle school. He became an officer in eighth grade, showcasing his passion not only for medicine but for the environment as well!
As a participant in GMU’s ASSIP (Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program), Shiv used accelerometers and gyroscopes to collect data on the tremors of patients with Parkinson’s Disease to improve diagnoses. He has also worked to develop a novel form of cancer therapy with a professor at GMU. Specifically, he utilized magnetic nanoparticles to induce death in cancer cells. He is quite literally on the path to “curing” cancer! With this project, Shiv competed in the Thermofisher Junior Innovators
Challenge, organized by the Society for Science, and placed in the top 10%.
Currently, Shiv is a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. His passion for medicine has continued through his work with a student-led startup called Neuraxol, which works to create a wearable device that can predict and analyze several different mental health disorders through physiological markers.
Outside of school, Shiv enjoys playing badminton, cricket, and basketball. He also spends time writing for his blog (medium.com/@davayshiv). In fact, more information about his STEM experiences and projects can be found there. When asked if he had any advice for other kids pursuing STEM, Shiv said, “Follow your passions. There’s always a calling for everyone and you might get that early on or later on in your career, but once you catch on, don’t let go; keep moving forward and don’t look back.”
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