Aishwarya Iyer
Research Chair
Aishwarya Iyer (she/her) is an MD/PhD candidate at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). During her pre-clinical years, she was co-president of two medical student organizations, advocated for Climate Change and Health curriculum development, and volunteered as a CURES scholars program mentor to engage West Baltimore middle school students with STEM-focused after-school activities. As a PhD student, she was selected as a T32 Trainee in GI and Hepatology (NIH/NIDDK), while effectively managed campus-wide leadership positions of Secretary, President, then Student Advisor, of the University-wide Student Government Association as a student advocate. During this time, she collaborated with multiple departments and organizations to create initiatives addressing food insecurity, sustainability, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). She served on vital search committees: (1) UMB Executive Vice President and Provost and (2) UMSOM Dean. Her commitment to student advocacy, DEI, sustainability, and service led to the humble honor of UMB Founder’s Week 2022 – Student of the Year.
Aishwarya is currently pursuing her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and intends on becoming an academic clinician-scientist interfacing biophysics and medicine to develop targeted therapeutics. In her free time, she loves to dance, train for half-marathons, and play with her dogs!
