Karishma Muthukumar

Karishma Muthukumar studies cognitive science and biology as a rising senior at the University of California, Irvine, where she founded The Patient Project and launched a globally-available journal of student reflections. In 2019, Karishma joined an international cohort as one of five Dalai Lama Fellows from North America. Compassion in action, she partners with senior centers to alleviate elder isolation (particularly in quarantine) and leads the university initiative to promote altruism through handcrafted letters. Karishma, named Young Innovator to Watch at CES, developed one of the top ideas during the National Science Foundation's open call for future scientific directions. She is a Barnes and Noble College Scholar and a recipient of the Donald A. Strauss Scholarship for Public Service. In addition, she is a peer tutor in organic chemistry, ambassador at the Center for Neurobiology Learning and Memory, and founder of a nonprofit for neuroscience education and outreach. Karishma aspires to combine her interests in health and public service towards a meaningful career in healthcare.