Aimee Zou

My time at the fellowship was truly transformative. I learned precious lessons about careers and personal growth from incredible role models, not only in fields I’m interested in but also in areas I’ve never explored before that sparked my curiosity. Connecting with excellent mentors and like-minded peers from across the globe, I was inspired to make impactful changes and turn my aspirations into reality. The fellowship is a world-changing community, where every conversation left me feeling empowered to take on challenges and pursue my passion with confidence.

Aimee Zou is a high school student from New Jersey who is interested in biology and computer science and is passionate about making a global impact. Aimee is the leader of her school’s Biology Club and is a 2x USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) Semifinalist. This past summer, she conducted cancer research alongside the fellowship and discovered a promising anti-cancer chemical using computer simulations.

Beyond biology and research, Aimee is dedicated to tackling real-world issues through innovation. She leads the Girls in STEM Club at her school and led her team to develop a patented reusable pad to combat period poverty in Malawi, helping girls stay in school. She is currently leading a project to create affordable solar-powered phone chargers to improve access to electricity and online education in underserved areas. Outside of STEM, Aimee is a pre-professional ballet dancer at the Princeton Ballet School. Read on to learn more about Aimee’s love for biology, dedication to making an impact, and more!

Meet Aimee

How did you initially become interested in STEM?

My interest in STEM started when I was really young. My mom often took me to the zoo, and I absolutely loved those visits and made it a goal to visit the zoo in every city I traveled to. Those experiences sparked my curiosity and a deep love for nature. At one point, I even dreamed of becoming a zoologist or a zookeeper. These experiences made me start asking questions about how things work, which naturally drew me towards STEM.

When I was living in China, I was involved in endangered animal programs. I would go into the mountains as part of these programs and learn about wildlife and conservation efforts. This hands-on experience really strengthened my love for both nature and science. Pandas, in particular, were my favorite—they still are! Overall, these experiences are what really shaped the foundation of my passion for STEM.

What STEM subjects are you the most interested in?

Right now, my two favorite subjects are computer science and biology. I started learning computer science a few years ago in school, and it’s become a big passion of mine. As for biology, it ties back to my earlier love for animals, but now that I’ve learned more about it—especially on a molecular level—I find it even more fascinating.

I’m particularly interested in cellular biology and immunology, especially how biological components can be studied and applied to treat diseases like cancer. Oncology is another area I’m eager to explore further. The idea of using science to make a real difference in people’s lives is something that excites me and drives my interest in these fields.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

This past summer, I participated in a summer research program where I focused on cancer research. My research centered on identifying naturally occurring chemicals that could treat leukemia by targeting cancer receptors. Using computer simulations, I tested their binding affinities and performed assays like MTT, cell viability, and caspase activity tests. I discovered a chemical with potential anti-cancer effects that hasn’t been studied much before, which was really exciting.

At school, I’m the leader of the Biology Club, where we help students prepare for biology contests and encourage participation in competitions like the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO). I’m also part of the Girls in STEM Club, and we’ve been working on a project with a refugee camp in Malawi. We developed a patented reusable pad to address period poverty, helping girls stay in school. I’ve also been leading a solar power phone charger project as well. We’re building affordable solar-powered phone chargers to improve access to electricity and online education in underserved areas.

Outside of academics, ballet is a huge part of my life. I’m a pre-professional ballet dancer at the Princeton Ballet School, and I dedicate a lot of my time to it. Ballet is my way of clearing my mind and resetting. It’s relaxing and gives me a chance to take a break from school and other stressors while doing something I love.

Summer Experience

What was your favorite part of the fellowship?

My favorite part of the fellowship was meeting people from all over the world who share similar interests and passions. It was incredible to connect with others who are working on amazing projects and doing things I’m really passionate about too. For example, I met a girl from Italy who also does ballet, and another participant was working on initiatives to address period poverty in her country, similar to a project I’ve been involved in. Getting the chance to talk, exchange ideas, and learn from one another was so inspiring. Those conversations and connections were definitely the highlight of my fellowship experience.

What was your favorite Fireside Chat from the summer?

I really enjoyed all the speakers, but my favorite was Jiwoo’s Fireside Chat. She talked about finding your “north star” and inspired me to think deeply about what I want to do in the future. Her three-point protocol for success—identifying mentors, gathering evidence, and starting by defining your niche—was really insightful.

I also really enjoyed her talk because she studied computational biology in college, which is exactly what I want to pursue. Hearing her story and learning about her journey gave me a clearer vision of what my future career could look like, and it motivated me to take steps toward achieving my goals.

What were some of the most valuable lessons you learned?

The biggest takeaway for me was about personal growth and embracing failure. Listening to the speakers, I realized that while we often see their successes, there’s a lot of trial and error behind the scenes. It taught me that failure isn’t something to fear—it’s an essential part of achieving success. The fellowship encouraged me to take that first step toward my goals without hesitation, even if things feel uncertain.

Also, one piece of advice that really stuck with me came from Erin’s talk, where she suggested taking walks in nature. I’ve started incorporating that into my routine, and it’s been so helpful for clearing my mind, reflecting, and finding space to grow. It’s a small change, but it’s made a big difference for me.

What advice would you give to future participants of the fellowship?

I’d say take full advantage of the opportunity to connect with as many people as you can. The fellowship brings together participants from all over the world, and you can learn so much just by talking to people with different perspectives and experiences. What really stood out to me was how, even though we all came from different places and had different interests, we shared a common passion for STEM. That shared passion created a unique and supportive community, and it’s something worth embracing fully.

Future Aspirations

What are your career aspirations?

I’m really interested in studying computational biology in college. Eventually, I’d love to start a company focused on drug research using big data. The idea of combining technology and biology to make breakthroughs in medicine is something I’m really passionate about. That said, I also want to use college as a time to explore. There are so many different opportunities out there, so I want to make sure I keep my options open.

The fellowship really opened my eyes to the many different career paths I could pursue and how I can combine my interests. For example, hearing Jiwoo’s journey—her research experience and experiences pursuing medical school—gave me a clearer sense of what’s possible and inspired me to think more broadly about my own goals. Overall, the career panels also helped me see other exciting options, like becoming a doctor, focusing on research, or even starting my own company. I learned there are a ton of different paths and opportunities out there.

What have you been up to since the fellowship?

I’ve been busy with college applications, but I’ve also been working on publishing my research paper and entering science competitions. In addition, I’ve started a coding project that calculates social mobility by analyzing data on familial occupations. Using over 2 million data points, the program calculates the transition probabilities between different jobs. While it’s not directly related to computational biology, it’s still tied to big data and trends, which I find fascinating. I love using computer science to quantify complex concepts like this.

Another project I’m leading this school year is focused on building solar phone chargers for use in Malawi. We’re connecting with alumni, researching designs online, and watching tutorials to brainstorm improvements. We’ve just ordered materials and are working on building a prototype soon. A previous model created a few years ago had issues with fragility and dust interference, so our goal is to make it more durable and better suited for the environment in Malawi. It’s been exciting to work on a project that has the potential to make a real difference in people’s lives.