Meet the Team

The people who work tirelessly behind the screens.

Advisory Board

Dr. Priyanka Porwal, PhD

Advisory Board Member

Dr. Priyanka Porwal is a Public Health Dentist by profession. Currently, she is working as a full-time dental and medical writer for companies across the globe. She teaches students and professionals various research methodologies and secondary reviews. Dr. Porwal is an expert in oral health promotion and education, with several national and international publications.

Dr. Uma Chourasia, MBBS MD

Advisory Board Member

Dr. Uma Chourasia is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Chourasia is a member at the College of Medicine at Jazan University and a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), London. Dr. Chourasia has also actively collaborated on research projects in women’s health, contributing to publications in reputable ISI, Scopus, and PubMed-indexed journals.

Zuha Ajlan, MSc

Advisory Board Member

Zuha Ajlan is a neuroscientist and STEM education advocate. She will be pursuing her PhD in 2024 where she hopes to develop immunotherapies. Zuha Ajlan is the founder of Shadow A Scientist — an international nonprofit organization. Zuha has also mentored over 30 Biomedicine students, presented research at prestigious conferences like the Neurology World Congress 2023, and spoken on panels addressing climate change with organizations such as Golden Key International and Climate Cardinals.

Lauren Schnitkey, BS

Advisory Board Member

Lauren Schnitkey is a Ph.D. candidate in Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University, where she investigates molecular signaling cascades involved in heart development. She is deeply committed to education and mentorship, actively guiding high school and college students interested in biomedical research. Lauren aspires to establish her own research lab as a principal investigator, leading innovative studies in cardiovascular development and disease.

Executive Board

Anvi Palav

Founder

anvipalav@biomedizone.org

Anvi is a Stamps Eminence Scholar on a full-ride scholarship at The Ohio State University, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Speech and Hearing Sciences on the pre-med track.

She works as a Neuro Care Technician at a functional neurology clinic, and contributes to Alzheimer's research at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, fueling her interest in neurology, as well as promoting disability awareness and inclusion--particularly in the realm of pediatric neurodegenerative/developmental disease.

Hiba Sheikh

Associate Executive Director

hibasheikh@biomedizone.org

Hiba is a freshman at The University of California, San Diego studying Global Health on a pre-dental track.

Hiba has been involved with BioMedizone for 4 years, and served as the Director of Outreach prior to promotion to Associate Executive Director. Hiba hopes to specialize in pediatric dentistry in the future.

Prithi Balaji

Associate Executive Director

prithibalaji@biomedizone.org

Prithi is a high school junior at Ardrey Kell High School interested in specializing in chemical genetics and biochemistry. Prior to her role as an Associate Executive Director, Prithi served as BioMedizone's Co-Director of Human Resources.

She is passionate about research and education, participating in numerous educational initiatives and conducting independent biomedical research.

Prithi is committed to absolving medical inequity and envisions establishing her own university-affiliated research laboratory in the future.