Ara Bakhteyar is a rising senior at Columbia University pursuing a degree in Biophysics. Ara's interest in social impact stems from her passion for disability justice and advocating for neurodivergent individuals across Columbia's undergraduate and graduate schools. She co-founded the "Neurodivergent at Columbia'' club and has helped foster a space where students can feel supported. She has also worked to improve accessibility needs on campus and views the fellowship as an opportunity to further her commitment to creating a more inclusive society. As an aspiring Physician-scientist, Ara applied to the fellowship to develop her skills and contribute meaningfully to positive social change by continuing her work in growing "Neurodivergent at Columbia '' and exploring the intersection of disability and medicine. Ara is particularly excited about the fellowship's capstone project, which presents a chance to employ a human-centered design methodology and address the unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.

Biography current as of 2023-2024 program year.