Meet the Team!
SCYNA Board 2024-2025
board of directors/strategy team
Shravya Sethi - President
Shravya Sethi is a sophomore at Gretchen Whitney High School in Cerritos, CA. Her passion for neuroscience began in elementary school as she began studying for the Brain Bee and it only grew through her participation in the UCI CNLM’s multiple outreach programs. Her research experiences and involvement in the neuroscience community from a young age have taught her the importance of sharing ideas and opportunities with newer generations. Through SCYNA, Shravya hopes to engage students from all over Southern California in a community that learns and shares neuroscience together. Alongside these interests, Shravya enjoys playing her three musical instruments, watching Formula 1, dancing, and eating.
Sameeha Syed - Director of Events
Sameeha Syed is a senior at Canyon High School. Sameeha was first introduced to neuroscience through the Irvine Brain Bee and became very interested in learning about neurodegenerative diseases specifically. In her free time, Sameeha loves to do art, read, and spend time with friends.
Zeynap Arat, Director of Events
Zeynep Arat is an incoming senior at Northwood High School located in Irvine, California. Her career aspiration is to double major in Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience then she is interested in going into the biomedical health industry. She is truly fascinated by multiple aspects of Neuroscience but her favorite has to be exploring the diversity in personality disorders combined with early signs of Neurodegenerative diseases. Her internship at a Neuroscience Research Lab at UCI Medical School gave her the confirmation needed to pursue her interest further in the field of Neuroscience, encouraging her to be on the Board of SCYNA. Other than her academic interests, she enjoys blasting music down the freeway on the way to the beach.
Viana Najafi, Director of Special Events
Viana is a junior at Aliso Niguel High School in Southern California. She is a long-time member of SCYNA and has participated in many events, from the LEARNMEM International Conference to the NeuroEthics debate. Viana’s interest in neuroscience stems from her curiosity about brains and preventative aims to reduce long-term neurodegeneration. In her free time, Viana enjoys playing tennis and being in nature.
Aadhya Shenoy, Director of Outreach
Aadhya Shenoy is a junior at Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine, CA. She is deeply passionate about neuroscience, especially neurodegenerative disorders and computational neuroscience research; the brain’s mysterious and intricate ability to learn and process information never ceases to amaze her. In addition to competing in the Irvine Brain Bee, Aadhya has won awards in several challenging biology competitions – she is also a USA Biology Olympiad semifinalist. By serving on the board of SCYNA, she hopes to inspire others to explore neuroscience and share the excitement and potential of the field through engaging and accessible opportunities. Beyond the realm of neuroscience, Aadhya enjoys playing the violin in her school’s orchestra, dancing, and competitive taekwondo.
Arjun Shah, Director of Outreach
Arjun Shah is an incoming senior at Centennial High School in Riverside County. He is captivated by the intricate workings of the brain, from how it manages memory and coordinates bodily functions to how neurological disorders can significantly impact these processes. Arjun is passionate about community engagement and is committed to creating programs that introduce young students to the wonders of neuroscience. Outside of his academic interests, Arjun enjoys spending time with family and friends and playing the piano. Arjun aims to foster a vibrant, science-curious community among Southern California’s youth through his role.
Isabella Mansouri, Director of Media
Isabella Mansouri, a senior at University High School, Irvine, is passionate about neuroscience, particularly neurodegenerative disorders and the effect of brain function on emotion. Her most recent research experience was assessing the impact of nutrition on the progression of cognitive decline in Parkinson's Disease patients. She is excited about the potential to collaborate with other youth in her region who share her fascination about the brain and human behavior, through the outreach opportunities provided by SCYNA. In addition to her academic pursuits, Isabella enjoys playing volleyball, going to the gym, and baking.
Siri Kolanupaka, Director of Media
Siri Kolanupaka is a sophomore at Portola High School with an avid interest in neuroscience. She was first shown how vast the world of neuroscience was in seventh grade, when she had participated in the Anatomy and Physiology portion of Science Olympiad. Siri is excited to promote SCYNA and to promote advancement in neuroscience by fostering a safe community for those just as passionate as she is. Outside of neuroscience, she likes to play the bass, sing, and watch Grey's Anatomy.
Jhanvi Doshi, Director of Membership and Alumni Engagement
Jhanvi Doshi is a senior at Walnut High School. She discovered her love for neuroscience after watching the show "Grey's Anatomy" which is about several medical professionals working in a hospital together. She is particularly interested in neurodegenerative diseases in hopes of working on research towards Alzheimer's disease. Outside of SCYNA, Jhanvi teaches dance to young children and enjoys exploring new places and learning different dance styles. Jhanvi is excited to expand her love for neuroscience through this organization in hopes of spreading neuroscience throughout communities and individuals.
Virika Podichetty, Director of Membership and Alumni Engagement
Virika Podichetty is a junior at Trabuco Hills High School in Southern California. Her interest in neuroscience peaked after watching a few too many psychological shows. Virika is particularly interested in learning and memory, as well as researching neurodegenerative diseases. She hopes to spread the knowledge of neuroscience to young minds in SoCal. Aside from SCYNA, Virika swims for her school's team, enjoys reading and creating art, and loves going to the beach.
operations team
Muhanad Hilal, Web/Media Coordinator
Muhanad Hilal is a Junior at Northwood High School in Irvine, California. His interest in neuroscience began in middle school, and he enjoys studying neurodegenerative diseases and advancements in their medical treatments. Being part of this organization allows him to spark a similar interest in neuroscience in younger students and help build a community of individuals with similar interests. Outside of neuroscience, Muhanad enjoys reading, traveling, and watching medical dramas.
Eshika Abbaraju, Special Initiatives Coordinator
Eshika Abbaraju is a junior attending Irvine High School. She joined SCYNA her freshman year to explore neuroscience and potential career options within the field. One aspect of neuroscience she discovered that she especially loved to learn about is behavioral neuroscience. By being one of the Special Projects Coordinators this year, she hopes to help other fellow students gain more exposure to this fascinating field of science. Eshika's other interests include singing, playing the classical guitar, playing tennis, and volunteering in her free time.
Ayati Mishra, Special Initiatives Coordinator
Ayati Mishra is a junior at Tesoro High School with a love for learning. She is very interested in how the brain works, specifically in the areas of learning and cognitive function. She also loves helping others, and she hopes to spark an interest in neuroscience in as many students as she can through SCYNA initiatives. In her free time, Ayati enjoys reading books, playing piano, drawing, and baking.
Joel Philip, Outreach Coordinator
Joel Philip is a junior at Centennial High School in Riverside County. He has developed a vehement passion in medicine and has discovered a fascination in neurology. The study of the brain's complex functions for memory, interorgan coordination, and informational processing, as well as the tremendous detriment of disorders and other issues of the nervous system has enthralled him. He is excited to coordinate outreach plans to help Southern California’s youth gain more exposure to the field of neuroscience. He plays soccer competitively, enjoys road trips with family and friends, and playing the piano and guitar.
Nikhita Kaushik, Founder
Nikhita Kaushik is a 1st year undergraduate student studying Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. She has been very interested in neuroscience since middle school, and enjoys understanding how the brain learns, remembers, and processes information. She is passionate about research areas that demystify the root causes of various neurodegenerative disorders and their prevention. The idea for this youth neuroscience group came from Nikhita's desire to spread neuroscience in the community, engage curious young minds, and spark a passion for scientific discovery. In addition to neuroscience, Nikhita has a deep interest in music. She plays violin and is part of her school's Chamber Orchestra, and also plays the Indian Classical violin. She is an avid reader, and loves to do calligraphy and graphic design for fun.
SCYNA Advisory Board
SCYNA Past Board Members
