Shivani Jayaprakasam
Mary Gates Leadership Scholar
Autumn 2025
Major: Neuroscience
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Mentor: Yulia Ovechkina, PhD, Immuno-Oncology & Drug Discovery
Project
Leading the Next Generation: Expanding Equitable Access to STEM through Young Women in Bio
As Chair of Young Women in Bio (YWIB)-Seattle, I led projects to expand STEM access for girls from historically underrepresented communities across the Puget Sound region. The project had two core initiatives. The first was developing and distributing a modular, hands-on science curriculum (covering neuroscience, environmental science, biomedical ethics, and emergency medicine) to community organizations serving low-income students. The second was piloting a public health equity series featuring women scientists and physicians working in areas like reproductive justice and climate health. Over the course of the year, my team of over 50 volunteers hosted STEM Days, multilingual health literacy workshops, and mentorship programs, reaching more than 200 girls, while formalizing partnerships with community organizations to sustain our work for years to come.
What I learned
Leading this project taught me that effective leadership is not about having the right answers. Leadership is about building systems that empower others to contribute their strengths and creative ideas. I learned that scaling my impact requires structured delegation, including training volunteers, creating clear roles, and building feedback loops. This helps the team grow alongside the programs. Most importantly, I found that the most meaningful leadership moments came from listening to the communities I served and letting their needs shape my programming.
Advice for future applicants
Start early and let your personal story anchor your project vision. The most compelling applications connect a genuine lived experience to a concrete, scalable plan. Build in clear evaluation metrics from the beginning to demonstrate your growth as a leader. Don't be afraid to dream big in scope, but remember to stay specific in execution, so your ambitious vision is still achievable within the award period.
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