“Everyone has a spirit of innovation, but many times we see that spirit put aside when we are outside of the lab or classroom.  I encourage everyone to carry it with them everywhere they go, because that is how great ideas come about.”

Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Prabuddha Ghosh Dastidar, a senior at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), a public, STEM Intensive residential high school in Durham, NC. I live in Waxhaw, NC and attended Marvin Ridge High School prior to NCSSM.

Research has been a staple of my academic life. I have been a student researcher since 8th grade, with my research career beginning at Dr. Kausik Chakrabarti's Lab in UNC Charlotte. There, I conducted molecular biology and genetics research in oncology, neuroscience, parasitology, and bioinformatics. I was awarded Finalist at the 2020 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for my pancreatic cancer research at Chakrabarti Lab.

Furthermore, I conducted biomedical engineering research while at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. My hallmate and I built a portable and affordable artery stent 3D printer, designing and assembling all hardware and software from scratch. Our project was entitled "ARTHETA-0: An Innovative, Affordable Approach to the Onsite, Rapid 3D Printing of Artery Stents, Parameterized to Fit Individual Patients’ Needs." For this, we were awarded 2nd place in Biomedical Engineering at the 2021 ISEF, where I was enthralled to compete after COVID-19 shut down the 2020 ISEF competition. At ISEF, we also received a special award from Sigma Xi the Scientific Research Honor Society for which I was inducted as a member. This research also gained traction in the industry setting as we were invited to deliver an industry webinar for the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). We also presented our research in the high school competition at the 2021 BMES Meeting in Orlando, FL. We were honored to receive first place. Read More