In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting seven women who are redefining what it means to lead in STEM. From AI and astrophysicists to teenage inventors and bioengineers, these women are not only breaking barriers, they’re building bridges for future generations. Whether they’re developing life-saving innovations, launching inclusive nonprofits, or bringing science into public art spaces, their stories reflect brilliance, resilience, and a commitment to changing the world for the better.
At Project Scientist, we’re inspired by their brilliance, perseverance, and passion for impact. Their journeys remind us why it’s so important to uplift the next generation of girls in STEM. Through our programs, we aim to create space for young minds to dream big, break barriers, and lead with purpose—just like the women featured here.
Dr. Fei-Fei Li is the inaugural Sequoia Professor in the Computer Science Department at Stanford University, and a Founding Co-Director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute. She created ImageNet, the influential dataset that helped launch the modern deep learning era. Dr. Li holds degrees from Princeton and Caltech and has served in both academia and industry, including as VP at Google and Chief Scientist of AI/ML at Google Cloud. Her research spans AI, computer vision, and ambient intelligence for healthcare, and she has authored over 400 publications. Beyond her technical contributions, Dr. Li is a prominent advocate for responsible AI policy. She has advised the UN, the White House, and the State of California, and continues to influence the field through her startup, World Labs. Her 2023 memoir, The Worlds I See, reflects her journey at the forefront of AI innovation. Recognized with numerous honors, including the VinFuture Prize and election to the National Academies, Dr. Li’s work bridges cutting-edge science with a deep commitment to societal impact.
Anushka Naiknaware is a rising star in STEM who has an early passion for chemistry and mathematics. In 2016 she became the youngest winner of the Google Science Fair at the age of 13. Naiknaware was recognized for inventing a smart bandage that signals when it needs changing—an innovation that integrates materials science, biology, and fractal mathematics. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including the Broadcom MASTERS Mathematics STEM Award, highlighting her as a leader among the next generation of scientists and engineers. Inspired by Marie Curie, Naiknaware is driven by a desire to solve real-world problems through science. Her achievements demonstrate not only brilliance but a deep commitment to improving healthcare through innovation at an impressively young age.
Dr. Jin Kim Montclare is a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon, where she is performing research in chemistry, biology, and engineering. Her work focuses on designing synthetic proteins that not only mimic nature but outperform it, advancing applications in drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and nanomaterials for electronics. She has received a wide recognition of honors such as the AAAS Leshner Fellowship, the ACS Rising Star Award, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award. She is also a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). With degrees in chemistry from Fordham University (B.S.) and Yale University (M.S., Ph.D.), and postdoctoral training at Caltech, Dr. Montclare brings multidisciplinary expertise to her field. Her research has led to numerous publications, patents, and real-world impact.
Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya is a multidisciplinary artist and former neuroscientist whose work sits at the intersection of science, art, and public engagement. After earning her degree in neuroscience and behavior from Columbia University, she spent several years conducting Alzheimer’s research. However, her growing concern over the lack of effective science communication led her to pursue an MFA at Pratt Institute, where she began exploring how design and storytelling could bridge the gap between researchers and the public. Today, Phingbodhipakkiya is nationally recognized for using large-scale public art to make scientific research more accessible and inclusive. Her mural in Washington, D.C. was inspired by the work of particle physicist Ayana Arce and is part of a 10-city project supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation, highlighting women in STEM. Through her work, Phingbodhipakkiya continues to advocate for greater visibility of women and underrepresented communities in science.
Dr. Erika Hamden is an astrophysics professor at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory and Director of the Arizona Space Institute. She specializes in developing cutting-edge telescopes for space and stratospheric missions, advancing the tools that allow us to explore the cosmos. She is the principal investigator of several major NASA mission concepts, including Hyperion and Eos. She also serves in key leadership roles on missions like Aspera and FIREBall-2. Dr. Hamden helped create NASA’s PI Launchpad, which is a program designed to help train early-career researchers to lead space missions. With a B.A. from Harvard and a Ph.D. from Columbia University, Dr. Hamden has held prestigious fellowships at Caltech and received multiple honors, including the PECASE award and NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship. She’s also a TED Fellow, AAAS If/Then Ambassador, and a passionate advocate for science communication—both in public forums and on social media.
Gitanjali Rao is already an accomplished scientist, inventor, and STEM advocate at just 18 years old. Currently a freshman at MIT Cambridge, she has received recognition for her work in water safety, opioid detection, and cyberbullying prevention. Rao first received national attention in 2017 when she was named America’s Top Young Scientist for inventing a device that detects lead in drinking water. Since then, she has developed a colorimetry-based tool to detect opioid addiction biomarkers, earning recognition from the Technovation Girl Challenge and TCS Ignite Innovation Challenge. Her AI-powered anti-cyberbullying platform, KINDLY, uses natural language processing to promote safer online interactions. She is also a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, EPA Presidential Award winner, TED speaker, and board member of the Children’s Kindness Network. Outside of her inventions, she is a STEM educator and advocate. From becoming an author to leading workshops, Gitanjali Rao continues to push boundaries in STEM while advocating for a youth-driven change.
Anjali Chadha is a first-year Biological Engineering student at MIT and the founder of Empowered, Inc., a nonprofit that teaches minority high school girls tech skills and connects them with minority women entrepreneurs. Since 2016, Empowered has run summer training programs where girls learn website development, social media marketing, and more. Chadha is also a passionate science researcher. She created a 3D-printed IoT sensor to detect arsenic in water and is currently working on RNA Replicon technology at MIT’s Weiss Lab. She’s earned awards at prestigious competitions like Intel ISEF and Regeneron STS, is a Bryan Cameron Impact Scholar, attended the Research Science Institute (RSI), and was featured in National Geographic’s Science Fair documentary.
