About me
Hi! My name is Puloma Bishnu and I will be attending Cornell University this fall for Biological Engineering. I am hoping to raise enough money to attend college and graduate successfully! I was selected as a Meinig Scholar at Cornell, where less than 1% of the student body is chosen for their potential and commitment to leadership, and I'm one of the first girls in my family to attend college. It was a dream come true to be admitted to an incredible university that would provide me what I need to succeed as a scientist someday.
Why I started this fund
There has been difficulty navigating the financial aid process and after multiple appeals, Cornell has not provided sufficient aid for my family to afford tuition. I live in a seven-member household, including my brother who is attending our state university, my three sick grandparents, and my mom who has struggled with her back and legs. While my dad is my family's primary source of income, it is insufficient to cover the extreme costs of healthcare, hospital, and emergency room visits my family has dozens of times each year. I work a part-time job while handling my school workload to ease some of the financial burden. Unfortunately, my family cannot afford the cost of healthcare and two college tuitions.
That is why I started this GoFundMe. Any amount that you are able to donate would mean the world to me and my family. Every cent matters when paying for my tuition, and I know that a college education would help me succeed in the future.
If you would like to find out more about me as a student, keep reading!
Honors and activities
Becoming a scientist has been a dream of mine for years, and I know that attending Cornell would offer me the resources and education to achieve my goal. I graduated in the top 10% of my high school class and was a High Honors student. I've worked on scientific research throughout high school, which focused on engineering bacteria to degrade plastic. Currently, I am working as a research intern at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, in the Cancer and Immunology department with Massachusetts General Hospital. When I'm not working on science, I love to sing, run, and try my very best to cook. Below, you can find a little bit more about me!
News Features:
- Fox/Boston 25 Story + Interview: https://www.boston25news.com/news/andover-students-turning-heads-with-project-reduce-plastic-trash-ocean/P6FT7I4AMNBBFEECNFM5OH63MY/
- WCVB Channel 5: https://www.wcvb.com/article/a-plus-andover-high-s-puloma-bishnu-and-veni-dole/30799216
- The Eagle Tribune/Andover Townsman: https://www.andovertownsman.com/news/local_news/ridding-the-worlds-oceans-of-plastic/article_8a1e7d81-0550-591b-afa0-f34d7b86e7e4.html
Internships and Programs:
- Cancer and Immunology Research Intern at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
- Research Intern at Eli Health: An up and coming biotech startup based in Montreal
- Broad Summer Scholars Program: I was one of 12 students chosen in Massachusetts to intern at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in the Epigenomics department.
- MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute: Worked on a Raytheon-sponsored project, tasked with the construction of radars and unmanned aerial systems, as well as programming.
Clubs and Activities:
- Women in STEM Club - President/Founder
- Science Team - Leadership Team
- Biotechnology Lab Assistant
- Chemistry Lab Assistant
- BioBuilder Club - Director of Scientist Communications
Honors:
- High Honor Roll
- Top 10% of my graduating class
- Meinig Family National Scholar at Cornell
- Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship for Excellence in Writing Scholarship Finalist
- MIT Science and Us Makeathon 2nd Place Winner
- Envision Women in STEM Competition 2nd Place Winner
- International Spellman HVE CleanTech Competition Finalist
- North American INSPO Research & Innovation Competition Finalist
- Excellence in AP English Language & Composition Award
Publications:
