Gitanjali Rao:

Update

Gitanjali Rao won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2017 at age 13. I was thrilled when she agreed to an interview for my book, Teen Innovators: Nine Young People Engineering a Better World with Creative Inventions. We had a great conversation about her invention, the contest, school, and her plans for the future. She is a very thoughtful, well-grounded, remarkable individual.

For the 3M contest, Gitanjali invented a device called Tethys to detect harmful levels of lead in drinking water. Her invention is simple, inexpensive, and effective, yet it showcases her skills in microelectronics, chemistry, and coding. Like many of us, the two-year long water contamination crisis in Flint MI horrified her. Gitanjali took action to address it.

Honored at the White House

Gitanjali received a prestigious accolade at the “Girls Leading Change” 2023 celebration. This event at the White House honored young women who make a difference in their communities as leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, educators, authors, climate change activists, and health care advocates. Host Dr. Jill Biden said, “these young women are protecting and preserving the earth, writing and sharing stories that change minds, and turning their pain into purpose. Together, they represent the potential of young people across the country, and I hope others can learn from the power of their innovation, strength, and hope.”

The US Patent Office nominated her patent on Tethys and her work promoting science and innovation among young people. Gitanjali continues to develop her other inventions, such as the anti-cyberbullying app “Kindly” and the opioid addiction assessment tool “Epione.” These projects demonstrate her commitment to using technology and design thinking for social good. Her knack for practical solutions addresses complex issues with creativity and insight. Her book, “A Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM,” outlines her creative process for inventing.

A New Chapter at MIT

Among her many other honors, TIME selected Gitanjali as their first-ever Kid of the Year in 2020. She has always said she wanted to go to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Before applying to MIT, she conducted research at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, where she worked on a system to deliver medication to cancerous tumors more quickly. She also did research at the well-known Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Now at MIT as a first-year student, she plans to major in biological engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship. She will soon start an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program project in the lab of Professor Manolis Kellis at the Broad Institute. She has also found the time (somehow!) to write a new book “A Young Innovator’s Guide to Planning for Success,” outlining her strategies for navigating high school and applying to college.

Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Gitanjali shares ambitious plans for her time at MIT and beyond. Her goal extends beyond inventing; she aims to empower others to be part of the change. She has expressed her dream of working on developing solutions to some of the most complex problems in our communities and someday running a biotech company. As she pioneers innovations in global health and community welfare, Gitanjali exemplifies the dual role of a scientist and a catalyst for positive transformation.