DLS Student Ambassadors
- Varsha Santhosh Kumar
- Major: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
- Hometown: East Brunswick, NJ
- Career Interest: Clinical Neuropsychologist
- Fun Fact: I am proficient in three languages and 3 dance styles!
- Graduation Year: 2027
- What was your favorite class and why?:
My favorite class was theater appreciation because we got the chance to watch plays and explore the beauty of playwright production.
- What other Rutgers activities and extracurricular activities do you participate in?:
I serve as the president and meditation instructor of the Sky Campus @ RU meditation club, I work as a CCT in the ICU unit in RWJ and I am currently in the Tischfield lab studying Tourette Syndrome.
- Jasmine Saini
- Major: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
- Minor(s): Creative Writing and Chemistry
- Hometown: Bridgewater, NJ
- Career Interest: I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
- Fun Fact: I am a singer, guitarist, and saxophonist. I also perform in plays, musicals, and sketch comedy shows on campus, and have recently gotten into directing and playwriting!
- Graduation Year: 2028
- What was your favorite class and why?:
I really enjoyed the Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar I took last semester, Writing Queer Drama with Professor Brendon Votipka. We got to read lots of interesting plays from the last century, and even wrote and performed short plays of our own. I highly recommend it to people with any interest in writing or theatre.
- What other Rutgers activities and extracurricular activities do you participate in?:
I conduct research on the human retrovirus HTLV-1 in the lab of Dr. Arnold Rabson at the Child Health Institute of New Jersey, and I work as a medical assistant at a local internal medicine office. I've also performed in shows with Cabaret Theatre, the Livingston Theatre Company, and the College Avenue Players since my freshman year, and I play rhythm guitar and sing in a band!
- Manasvini Nori
- Major: Biological Sciences
- Minor(s): Healthcare Administration
- Hometown: Princeton, NJ
- Career Interest: Optometry
- Fun Fact: I love traveling and going on road trips.
- Graduation Year: 2028
- What was your favorite class and why?:
My favorite class was Health Care Ethics & Law. I enjoyed learning about legal issues that happen in healthcare. This class made me understand why there needs to be a change in healthcare and why it is important to advocate for patient care. I learned that medicine is beyond patient care and there are different factors to consider, such as management of the healthcare team, insurance policies, patient rights, public policies, and malpractice.
- What other Rutgers activities and extracurricular activities do you participate in?:
At Rutgers, I am part of the Coffee & Tea Association. I am on the eboard for Rutgers Pre Optometry Profession Society(RUPOPS). In my free time, I enjoy reading books, painting, and watching movies.
- Varsha Dwarampudi
- Major: Genetics
- Minor(s): Health Administration
- Hometown: Marlboro, New Jersey
- Career Interest: I hope to become a physician, with a current interest in pediatric oncology and exploring how genetics can help us better understand childhood cancers and develop more personalized approaches to treatment.
- Fun Fact: I absolutely love gardening and spending time outdoors. I enjoy biking on the trails near my home and walking along the beach whenever I can, as being around nature gives me a sense of peace and makes me really happy! I also enjoy mentoring and tutoring, and throughout high school and college, I’ve always looked for opportunities to support and teach other students.
- Graduation Year: 2028
- What was your favorite class and why?:
My favorite class was History of Medicine & Ethics because it showed me how many of the ethical principles in medicine emerged from difficult and sometimes deeply troubling circumstances. One topic that particularly stood out to me was the “God Committee,” where physicians had to make life or death decisions about who would receive dialysis when resources were extremely limited. Learning about these moments in medical history made me realize how important it is for future physicians to look back with a curious and introspective lens, understand the mistakes and difficult decisions of the past, and use those lessons to help shape a more ethical and compassionate future for medicine.
- What other Rutgers activities and extracurricular activities do you participate in?:
As a Genetics major on the pre-med track, I am involved in a variety of clinical, research, teaching, service, and leadership activities. I served as a Learning Assistant for General Chemistry last year and will be a Calculus I Learning Assistant this fall, while also serving as an AACC Mentor and on the e-boards of RU Telugu and RU Shakti. Starting this fall, I will volunteer at the Rutgers Cancer Institute while continuing as a Health Buddies volunteer, providing phone based support, companionship, and wellness check ins to older adults experiencing recent health changes. I also conduct glioblastoma research in Dr. Alexander Steiner’s lab, work as a Medical Assistant, shadow physicians in hematology and oncology, and tutor students through private tutoring and LearnToBe.
- Parita Bhanot
- Major: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
- Minor(s): Psychology
- Hometown: Mount Laurel, NJ
- Career Interest: Medicine
- Fun Fact: I went to a famous Punjabi actress's wedding!
- Graduation Year: 2028
- What was your favorite class and why?:
Honors Genetics with Dr. Soliman was one of my favorite classes! I learned so much about gene regulation, linkage and recombination, mutations, gene editing, and many other topics. I also had the opportunity to present a research article related to our lecture topics during Honors recitation and listen to my classmates’ presentations. I especially enjoyed learning about current research findings and seeing how the concepts we discussed in class are applied to real-world research.
- What other Rutgers activities and extracurricular activities do you participate in?:
I am currently conducting cancer research in Dr. Guo's Lab at the Rutgers Cancer Institute and volunteering at the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center. I also work as an LA for General Physics, a Peer Tutor through the LC, an ODASIS Supplemental Instructor for General Chemistry, and a SEBS EOF Tutor for Chemistry. I am also on the E-Board for the Honors Peer Mentor Program, the Association of Punjabis at Rutgers University, and Perfect Pair!