Akshaya Nataraj ’17 is a modern renaissance woman. Her dedication, ambition, and love for math and statistics opened doors for her at the Columbia University Medical Center, where she assisted leading researchers in answering important medical questions by independently developing statistical formulas and using self-taught coding skills. Outside of the lab, Akshaya found camaraderie and artistic expression through Columbia University Bhangra, the University dance team that celebrates a style of movement originating in the Punjab region of India.

Explore Akshaya’s journey in this video: from uncertain first-year student to successful STEM researcher and University arts leader with an exciting job offer on the horizon. For more student profile videos, visit the Student Speak archive.