Biology Undergraduate Education

Hi! I’m Rishika, a rising senior at Brown from Colorado, pursuing an AB in Biology and an independent concentration in “Accessible Design.” My academic interests blend science and creativity—designing inclusive medical devices, digital tools, and artwork to improve quality of life for those with chronic illnesses or disabilities.
I grew up around fresh coffee, warm bagels, and calculus. My mom, a math teacher, turned our dining room into a tutoring hub. Students would arrive, groggy and reticent, and leave caffeinated, curious, and joyful. Watching her build meaningful relationships, especially with those underrepresented in STEM, inspired my own passion for mentorship and teaching.
That passion has brought me to the National Federation of the Blind, where I’ve volunteered and mentored students for over seven years. At Brown, I carry that same spirit as a peer advisor, helping students from all walks of life build confidence and pursue what they love.
As a pre-med and artist, I’m eager to advise students on navigating pre-med at Brown, choosing classes, finding research opportunities, and connecting biology with the arts or social impact. I’ve conducted research on art and vision loss as a Royce Fellow, and on diabetes tech accessibility at the Barbara Davis Center. I’ve published in Rehabilitation Psychology, Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, and The Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, and presented at Johns Hopkins, Johnson & Johnson, and more. In my free time, I love hopping between Providence coffee shops and overusing the semicolon. I’m excited to help you navigate both the academic and personal sides of being a biology concentrator!