Miriam Puente Cavazos

My experience at the fellowship was amazing. I came in with a strong interest in STEM, and this program only strengthened my motivation. I learned skills I can apply both in my community and in school, and meeting inspiring role models in STEM showed me that we all have a place here. As a student from Mexico, it opened my eyes to how STEM can bring positive change, not just in technology but in building stronger, supportive communities. I now feel more driven to keep growing and to make a real difference through STEM in my country.

Miriam Puente Cavazos is a high school student from Mexico with a passion for biology, chemistry, and environmental advocacy. Her journey in STEM began when she joined robotics classes and tech clubs at a young age, which sparked her love for science. Today, Miriam is particularly drawn to lab work and medical topics, and she’s pursuing her interests in pre-med courses at school. Outside of school, Miriam is working on a research project investigating mHealth and mobile health technologies, and she recently received an honorable mention in the Mexico City Biology Olympiad!

In addition to her academics, Miriam is dedicated to giving back to her community. She co-founded Purec, an environmental organization focused on raising awareness and creating positive change in a rural community in Morelos. Recently, Purec partnered with Creando Un Cambio, an organization in Mexico, to create educational videos and develop an app that combines environmental education with study resources. Read on to learn more about Miriam’s journey, her dedication to STEM and environmental causes, and her aspirations in medicine!

Meet Miriam!

How did you initially become interested in STEM, and what subjects are you most interested in?

My interest in STEM started with my family, especially my parents. When I was young, they would enroll me in courses for robotics, math, and science. Every summer in primary school, they signed me up for robotics classes where I built small robots. Then in middle school, I joined a tech club where I learned to fix computers and create digital drawings. Math and science were always my favorite subjects, so I think that naturally led me to STEM.

As I got older, my passion shifted more toward biology—I love being in the lab and conducting experiments. I still have a strong interest in chemistry and math, too. A few years ago, I thought engineering might be the right path since it combines math with practical problem-solving. Now, though, I’m more focused on biology and chemistry because they let me spend so much time in the lab, which is where I feel most inspired.

What extracurriculars are you involved in?

As I mentioned, I love being in the lab. Right now, I’m part of a pre-med course at my school, where we have a biology lab for experiments, often touching on medical topics. Recently, I learned how to read X-rays and work with organ models, which was really exciting! Outside of school, I’m working on an mHealth research project with an investigator here in Mexico, and we’re working towards co-authoring a paper on mobile health technology.

I’ve also enjoyed participating in science olympiads, which my school didn’t offer until recently. This year, I entered the Biology Olympiad and progressed through several rounds, ultimately competing in the Mexico City Biology Olympiad, where I received an honorable mention—that was such a proud moment!

In addition to science, I’m preparing for Mexico’s university entrance exam, the EXANI-II. I’m also very passionate about politics, civic engagement, and giving back to my community. I’ve been involved with the Latin American Leadership Academy (LALA), which has been a great experience for me in terms of leadership and community work.

Could you share more about your volunteer work?

Outside of school, I really enjoy volunteering, especially on environmental projects within my community, like trash clean-ups and awareness campaigns. This past summer, after the fellowship ended, my sister and I visited a children’s science museum about two hours from Mexico City. We got to teach younger kids about science through hands-on activities, like making small rockets with simple materials like paper and scissors. It was so rewarding to see them get excited about science.

My sister and I also started an environmental organization called Purek, where we work to raise awareness and create positive change in a rural community in Cuautla, Morelos. Recently, we collaborated with another environmental organization to create educational videos for Instagram on various environmental issues. Currently, we’re working on developing a mobile app that combines environmental education with study resources!

Summer Experience

What was your favorite part about the fellowship?

My favorite part of the fellowship was definitely all the advice and guidance we received from different mentors. The activities and talks were so well-prepared and made a significant impact on me. During office hours, I had a chance to speak with a mentor who also runs an environmental organization. I asked for advice on Purec and how to clarify our mission, and she helped us refining our vision for the future, which was really helpful.

I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity the fellowship provided. It opened my mind to new possibilities and connected me with students from other countries who share similar dreams of making a difference in their communities. I remember talking with a student from Albania—we had a lot in common; we both are interested in bioengineering and medical school, and shared similar hobbies, like swimming. It was inspiring to meet someone with the same goals of contributing to science and elevating our countries' achievements in STEM.

What was your favorite Fireside Chat from the summer?

I particularly loved Jiwoo’s Fireside Chat on CRISPR and computational biology—it really sparked my interest. Computational biology combines math, coding, and biology, which are all areas I’m passionate about, and Jiwoo’s insights made me seriously consider it as a potential career path if I study in the U.S.

During other events, Jiwoo and other mentors also shared what life is like in medical school, which was incredibly valuable since I’m thinking about studying medicine in the U.S. It gave me a realistic view of what to expect, which was really helpful. Another Fireside Chat on getting started with research was also very useful, giving me practical steps to dive into research projects.

What do you think was the most valuable skill you learned over the summer?

Two of the most valuable skills I learned were how to cold email and how to get started with research. Understanding the process of crafting a professional email was really useful, even if it felt a bit intimidating at first. After the summer, I actually used the cold emailing skills I learned to reach out to a collaborator with Purec, and it worked! Now, we’re partnering with an organization in Mexico called Creando Un Cambio to create a video exploration. It was exciting to see the skills I learned during the summer directly lead to new opportunities!

Additionally, the session on writing college essays was eye-opening. The university application process in Mexico is quite different from the U.S., so getting that guidance made me feel much more prepared for the future.

Future Aspirations

What are your future career aspirations?

As of now, I’m hoping to pursue a career in medicine. I hope to study something related to biology but combine it with math, like computational biology, which involves coding. Then, I hope to attend medical school. I’m debating whether to pursue cardiology and neurology — I know both are very challenging, but I enjoy hard subjects and like to challenge myself.

Over the summer, I learned a lot from the panel of medical students. One of the mentors had majored in the humanities at Harvard and still went on to medical school, which surprised me—it showed me that you don’t have to stick strictly to science to pursue a career in medicine. Hearing the different experiences of the panelists was really eye-opening. One of my biggest takeaways was understanding the importance of finding balance and staying connected to the things you love, even through the challenges of medical school. One mentor mentioned how she keeps up her passion for dance alongside her studies, which inspired me to maintain balance in my own life, even when things get busy.

What have you been up to after the fellowship? Are there any projects you've been working on that you're excited about?

I’ve continued working on Purec, and we’re excited to be working with Creando Un Cambio! I’ve also been sharing a lot of the skills and lessons I learned from the fellowship with my friends. Additionally, I enrolled in the chemistry olympiad. I know it may be harder than the biology one, but I believe I can do it. The fellowship helped me realize that if I set my mind to something, I can make it happen!