Chief Executive Officer of IgnitedThinkers

• 2017 - Present

Gitika Gorthi is the Founder and CEO of IgnitedThinkers, a non-profit organization she founded in the 8th-grade to spread space education by informing, inspiring, and igniting the passions of students in aerospace across the world. Website: www.ignitedthinkers.org Gitika Gorthi is the Founder and CEO of IgnitedThinkers, a non-profit organization she founded in the 8th-grade to spread space education by informing, inspiring, and igniting the passions of students in aerospace across the world. Website: www.ignitedthinkers.org

Student Researcher

• Jul 2022 - Present

I am a student researcher at the Kuo Lab in Columbia Medical School Research Center, where I study the role of the cerebellum in ataxia/tremor. Using brain-pathology, preclinical-models using Mus musculus, human physiology, and stem-cell-derived human neurons, I work with lab-members to understand the disease mechanisms of ataxia/tremor, as well as the best potential treatments. My specific role at the lab is collecting experimental data by capturing ​​microscopic images of areas with high-areas of affected puncta in the cerebellum, utilizing MatLab to analyze the collected data on the effectiveness of the different ataxia/tremor treatments on the Mus musculus, conducting behavior analysis tests on the mice, and performing mice perfusions. Learn more at https://www.thekuolab.org/. Show less

New York State Chair in USA

• Jan 2023 - Present

Student STEM Pathway Outreach Ambassador

• Sep 2021 - Present

The Hines Family Foundation uses space missions and technologies to help students advance their 21st-century career capabilities by learning how to dream, design, and do. I, as a Student STEM Pathway Outreach Ambassador, work with the Hines Family Foundation to spread STEAM education to all students in various equitable tools. Most recently, I worked with them as a Youth-Lead for a Yeast Cell Culture experiment that is being sent on a SpaceX launch; now we are in the process of creating biomodule kits for students to access a similar experiment right from their homes! Show less

Student Researcher

• Jun 2023 - Aug 2023

I was selected to be an intern at The Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine at Harvard Medical School under Dr. Martin Pollak, the Chief Nephrologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, summer of 2023. The program includes a core curriculum that addresses the basic science and clinical fundamentals of kidney physiology and pathophysiology as well as challenges in the field. In addition, the program features several opportunities to put these lessons into action. Students will shadow a nephrologist in the clinic and will visit a dialysis unit, participate in a screening for kidney disease in the community, work with world-class investigators at HMS, experience how kidney disease affects lives through a unique clinical experience, attend weekly core curriculum sessions which will introduce the functions and dysfunctions of the kidney. and attend an all-expense paid trip to a national symposium to present their research. I developed induced pluripotent stem cell cultures and kidney organoids to understand the disease mechanism of chronic kidney diseases in relation to mutations in the gene encoding TRPC6 (transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 6). TRPC6 mutations have been linked to the development of familial forms of nephrosis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, immune-mediated kidney diseases, and renal fibrosis. Learn more at https://hskp.bwh.harvard.edu/. Show less

Student Researcher

• Mar 2021 - Dec 2022

I am a student researcher under Dr. Seetha Raghavan, a professor at the University of Central Florida, where I am doing research on the Calcium–magnesium–alumino-silicate particles that infiltrate yttria-stabilized zirconia thermal barrier coatings in wind turbines using x-ray phase analysis and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, I am a collaborator on a space engine that will be an incubator for new technologies, an attractor of new startups to the region, a training ground for the Space Workforce, and an advocate for space outreach. Under a team led by Professor Mary McCay from Florida Tech and representation from multiple Florida universities and industry partners, we are hoping to accelerate technologies for In-Space Manufacturing. The team is working through the Regional Innovation Engines effort, an initiative under the National Science Foundation. Show less

Student Researcher

• Jan 2021 - Dec 2022

I am a student researcher under Brown University faculty member Dr. Prasanta Pal, where I help write grant proposals and am working on bringing new medical imaging technology to the market through a start-up, Ultrababy. I am a student researcher under Brown University faculty member Dr. Prasanta Pal, where I help write grant proposals and am working on bringing new medical imaging technology to the market through a start-up, Ultrababy.

Girl Scout USA Girls Advisory Board Member

• Jun 2021 - Sep 2022

I was appointed to be a part of the select Girl Scouts representing the Girl Scout program in the USA and the millions of Girl Scout members, conducting research to amplify girl voices by considering topics such as equity and inclusivity, and continuously bettering the Girl Scout program. I was appointed to be a part of the select Girl Scouts representing the Girl Scout program in the USA and the millions of Girl Scout members, conducting research to amplify girl voices by considering topics such as equity and inclusivity, and continuously bettering the Girl Scout program.

Girl Scout Nation's Capital Teen Board of Director

• Mar 2021 - Sep 2022

I was appointed as one of the two teen board of directors of the Girl Scouts Nation's Capital to represent the thousands of Girl Scouts voices in Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia, and bring greater diversity and equity to the current program. I was appointed as one of the two teen board of directors of the Girl Scouts Nation's Capital to represent the thousands of Girl Scouts voices in Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia, and bring greater diversity and equity to the current program.

Vice Chair

• 2020 - Aug 2022

I am the former Vice Chair of the Children's Science Center Youth Advisory Board, which is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and interactive museum where children, families and school groups can explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts through fun, engaging hands-on exhibits, activities and programs. We serve over 70,000 visitors a year at the Children’s Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall and through our community programs delivered to schools, libraries and STEM festivals across Northern Virginia. Show less

Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee Student Representative

• Apr 2021 - Jun 2022

I was appointed to represent 185,000 students across Fairfax County Public Schools to develop a more equitable, accessible, inclusive, and diverse Career and Technical Education program in Fairfax County Public Schools. I was appointed to represent 185,000 students across Fairfax County Public Schools to develop a more equitable, accessible, inclusive, and diverse Career and Technical Education program in Fairfax County Public Schools.

Program Assistant and Content Developer

• Feb 2021 - Apr 2022

I used to develop fun and engaging space education programs to inspire and motivate elementary school-level girls to pursue careers in the STEM industry for Rosie Riveters. Rosie Riveters provides a fun space for girls ages 4-14 to imagine, create and play while developing their skills in STEM. Rosie Riveters and IgnitedThinkers are currently still collaborators in spreading STEM education to under-represented communities. I used to develop fun and engaging space education programs to inspire and motivate elementary school-level girls to pursue careers in the STEM industry for Rosie Riveters. Rosie Riveters provides a fun space for girls ages 4-14 to imagine, create and play while developing their skills in STEM. Rosie Riveters and IgnitedThinkers are currently still collaborators in spreading STEM education to under-represented communities.

Researcher

• Jun 2021 - Jul 2021

Selected to be an intern at NASA Ames Center in the GeneLab Center. As an intern, I will be immersing myself in NASA space biology research, omics-based research, bioinformatics and computational biology methods, techniques to analyze omics data, and applications of the bioinformatics analyses to NASA Space Biology science. Additionally, I will be a part of a research team to propose an experiment on the ISS from analysis of data from the GeneLab Data Repository. Selected to be an intern at NASA Ames Center in the GeneLab Center. As an intern, I will be immersing myself in NASA space biology research, omics-based research, bioinformatics and computational biology methods, techniques to analyze omics data, and applications of the bioinformatics analyses to NASA Space Biology science. Additionally, I will be a part of a research team to propose an experiment on the ISS from analysis of data from the GeneLab Data Repository.