Ava Lerman is a high school student from California interested in biology, neurology, and environmental science. Growing up in a family of doctors, Ava's interest in medicine was sparked early on, but it was her father's encouragement to explore research that truly ignited her curiosity in STEM. She has since worked on a few impactful research projects, including her research on the Salton Sea's environmental issues and their effects on local asthma rates, and she is excited to continue exploring other research projects.
Ava participated in the Summit STEM Fellowship (SSF) twice, in both 2024 and 2025, and later joined Summit Research Scholars (SRS) in 2025. Through these programs, her interests expanded beyond medicine to encompass both the business and research sides of healthcare. She was also inspired to launch initiatives like Together in Motion and Young Bio Leaders to help others navigate the world of research. Read on to learn more about Ava, her service projects that blend her love for STEM with meaningful impact, and her future goals and aspirations!
Meet Ava!
How did you initially become interested in STEM?
I knew I wanted to be a doctor from a young age because both my parents are doctors. I loved visiting their clinics and seeing what they were doing. They would bring home little kits, and I enjoyed playing with them. But, it was really my dad who sparked my interest. He started doing research and became passionate about it, giving me mini research projects as a kid, like building a telescope or working on a generator project. As I grew older, I discovered the vastness of STEM fields and how they constantly involve inventing things to help the world and make an impact. I became really interested in that, alongside my aspiration to be a doctor.
What academic subjects or fields of STEM are you most interested in?
I really like biology! I'm interested in two separate fields: neurology, which is the study of the brain, and cellular research. Environmental science is also super cool to me. Recently, I've been doing a lot of research into space because I started taking AP Physics this year, and I'm really starting to get interested in that too.
However, I'd say my top interests are probably still neurology and neuroscience. I think the brain is such a fascinating area! We know a lot about other parts of the body, like the kidneys and liver, but the brain remains somewhat uncertain. This summer, alongside the fellowship, I participated in a program at Georgetown where we got to hold a brain in the anatomy lab. It was incredible to think that all our thoughts come from this one organ in our heads.
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
One of my main extracurriculars is dance. I’m very involved in dance, but I’ve also tried to incorporate it into my love for STEM. I created a program called Together in Motion, which is designed to assist patients with dementia and Parkinson's disease. I teach dance classes to these patients, and while there aren't many studies, some suggest that it helps with neuroplasticity.
Outside of dance, I also enjoy conducting research. One of the projects I’m currently working on is focused on the Salton Sea in California, which has a significant problem with high asthma rates in surrounding communities, about twenty percent higher than the national average. I've been working on this research project for the past year through my school, and now I'm actually working in a lab using a new technology called sonogenetics, which is a fascinating branch of research. I’m really passionate about research because I can use it as a means to help other people and communities.
Summit STEM Fellowship Experience
What was your favorite part of the Summit STEM Fellowship?
Overall, I feel like I learned so much from the program! I actually did the program twice – both in 2024 and 2025. But I’d have to say my favorite part was probably making a lot of new friends. I met a lot of people, and we still keep in touch now! We’ve also collaborated on several projects together. For example, for one of the Summit Ideathons, we used Figma to design apps, and we created an app that gives you music based on your mood and how you're feeling. I worked with my peers, Theo and Kriti, on that, and we're still in touch now. It's really fun to make friends from all over the world.
Another collaborative project I worked on with a friend from SSF is with Amy, who lives in San Diego, too. We're working on a project called Aspire to Inspire, which is a music and art program for neurodivergent learners. We’ve actually involved a bunch of other SSF students from all around the globe on this initiative, and we’re excited to keep growing it!
Were there any mentors that really stood out or resonated with you?
There were two mentors who really stood out to me. Isabella was such an amazing mentor the entire summer, and I was really inspired by her Fireside Chat. I always went to her during office hours, and we just sat and talked, which was so fun. I also really liked Amanda's Skill Builder about business and nonprofits. That was probably one of my favorites because she gave specific advice on how to start something, which really helped me build up Together in Motion. I actually bought her book afterward and read through it, and it was really helpful.
What was a key takeaway from the fellowship that you apply in your life now?
Harshal’s Fireside Chat, on how to create your own opportunities, really stuck with me. He discussed how success can sometimes be random and how he kept trying and working hard to reach his goals. Even when things didn’t work out, he continued to push forward, which is an important mindset to have in research. Sometimes your data will turn out poorly, but that doesn’t mean you should give up. This lesson has really stuck with me and is something I try to keep in mind as I work on my research projects.
What advice would you give to future Summit STEM fellows?
I would say to take everything in. When I did the fellowship the first year, I was super biased; I was all about medicine and only really looking forward to the medicine career panels and talks. But this year, I started looking at the engineering panels, and they were amazing and had so many lessons. I realized that even if I don't necessarily want to go down that path, there was still so much to gain from it. So I think just being super open when you come into the fellowship is important. There's so much cool stuff to explore!
Summit Research Scholars Experience
What was your favorite part of the Summit Research Scholars program?
My favorite part about the Summit Research Scholars was the final research capstone. There are so many different components of research discussed during the program. Combining all of that into the research capstone at the end was so rewarding! The experience made me feel more confident about continuing research in the future.
Can you describe your research topic and why you chose to explore it?
My research focused on cyanobacteria toxins in the Salton Sea in California and their connection to the extremely high asthma rates in the surrounding communities. Since I live close to the area, it felt very personal and relevant. When I started SRS, I realized this was something I genuinely wanted to explore further, and the program gave me the structure and support to turn my curiosity into a full research project.
Through SRS, I’ve already started reaching out to mentors to learn more and continue developing this research. Before this program, I don’t think I would have felt confident enough to reach out on my own, but SRS really helped me build that confidence and take initiative.
Looking back, what was the most valuable skill or lesson you learned through SRS?
One of the most valuable skills I learned was how to properly read and analyze research papers. Before the program, it felt really intimidating, and I wasn’t always sure what I should be focusing on. Through SRS, I learned how to properly break them down section by section and really understand the data. That helped me not only understand research better but also apply what I was learning directly to my own project.
SRS changed the way I think about research by making it feel much more accessible. Not many high school students participate in research, but I realized that it isn’t something that’s out of reach. Being introduced to research in such a structured and supportive environment encouraged me to keep pursuing it alongside school. Don’t be intimidated, and take advantage of the opportunity through SRS! It’s okay if your idea isn’t fully formed at the beginning because that’s part of the process.
Future Aspirations
What are your career aspirations, and how did Summit Education influence them?
I am aiming to hopefully do something in medicine, like becoming a doctor, because I really like to help care for people. I find the way the body works super interesting, and maybe something in neurology or neurosurgery would be fascinating. But I also want to maintain a research aspect, like having a lab or continuing my research, because I think research is amazing.
Over the summer, the SSF really opened me up to more of the business side of things. The ventures and healthcare talks were really cool and inspiring for me. Now, I could see myself in business, maybe creating a healthcare startup or something like that! On the other hand, participating in SRS helped me see how research can fit into my future alongside my interest in medicine. Both programs really reinforced my desire to pursue a career in areas that directly impact communities and public health.
What projects have you been working on since the programs ended?
Since the programs have ended, I've been working on a couple of projects! I’ve continued developing Together in Motion, a dance-based wellness program for individuals struggling with Parkinson's and Dementia. I also noticed a lot of students asking how to find mentors for research, and I wanted to create a program to help with that. It's called Young Bio Leaders. The goal is to help those who really want to get into research but don't know how. The program gave me a strong foundation in how to think like a researcher, and I’m excited to keep applying those skills as I explore new research opportunities, mentorships, and projects in the future!
