Dounia Ferhat
Nashville,TN
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven professional with a strong background in research and data analysis at Vanderbilt University. Proven leadership and communication skills, recognized with the National Distinguished Poster Award for innovative research in biomedical informatics. Proficient in programming and committed to enhancing STEM education through engaging outreach initiatives.
Overview
2
2
Languages
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Student Volunteer
Vanderbilt Student Volunteers For Science
Nashville, Tennessee
01.2026 - Current
- Led interactive experiments and demonstrations to help students understand core STEM concepts in an engaging and accessible way.
- Coordinated science workshops for local students, improving comprehension of scientific concepts and promoting enthusiasm for learning.
- Facilitated positive learning environments by promoting teamwork and active participation, resulting in increased student collaboration and engagement.
- Strengthened communication and leadership skills by breaking down complex topics and encouraging critical thinking, collaboration, and active participation among students.
- Volunteered with Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science (VSVS) to deliver hands-on science lessons in middle school classrooms, fostering student engagement and interest in STEM.
Cashier
Kroger
Nashville, Tennessee
02.2025 - 08.2026
- Processed customer transactions accurately and efficiently at checkout.
- Handled cash, credit, and electronic payments following company procedures carefully.
- Operated cash register efficiently and accurately, processed payments by cash, check, credit card, gift card or automatic debit.
- Assisted customers with product inquiries and provided exceptional service daily.
- Greeted customers and answered any questions they had about the store's products and services.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of checkout areas in a busy store environment.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure smooth operation during peak hours.
- Translated written documents from Arabic to English and vice versa.
- Executed various tasks to support overall operations.
Biostatistics Research Intern
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee
05.2026 - 06.2026
- Chosen for the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Biostatistics Summer Internship Program, which provided an intensive research experience in biostatistics, data science, epidemiology, and public health research.
- Utilized R for data cleaning, statistical analysis, data visualization, and reproducible research workflows, contributing to insights from large real-world healthcare datasets.
- Conducted independent research project and presented findings in formal academic setting to demonstrate applied biostatistics knowledge.
- Analyzed research data using statistical software and presented findings.
- Participated in lectures, workshops, and mentorship sessions with researchers and faculty to enhance skills in coding, statistical modeling, scientific communication, and research methodology.
- Participated in weekly meetings to review project progress and share updates.
- Shared research results with peers to facilitate discussion and feedback.
- Developed personal research project under guidance of mentor to gain practical experience.
- Cleaned data sets and added to project's initial goals.
Cashier
Al Madina
Nashville, Tennessee
11.2023 - 01.2025
- Processed customer transactions accurately and efficiently at checkout.
- Handled cash register tasks ensuring accuracy in transactions and balanced drawers at shift end.
- Maintained clean, organized checkout areas to enhance customer shopping experience.
- Assisted customers with product inquiries and provided tailored recommendations.
- Used English and Arabic to help customers with language barriers.
Biomedical Informatics Summer Research Intern
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, USA
05.2023 - 11.2023
- Conducted research to write a paper about my findings on how diabetes and other pancreatic chronic diseases may be treated through the use of advancing technology.
- Created a research question aimed at finding solutions to modern-day health problems related to physiology and biophysics.
- Developed a research question and abstract that supported the social and software project.
- Coordinated with research mentors and team members to develop a comprehensive research paper, fostering collaborative inquiry.
- Worked with Dr. Kim Unertl and various other professors and graduate students on my own research project and Presented my Research in front of the entirety of DBMI.
- Submitted to a National Research Symposium & Conference, AMIA. The research was one of the very few that got accepted this fall and is on track to publish my research.
- Received national recognition for my research within the biomedical informatics field by presenting at the national symposium.
- Award: Presented my research at the symposium and was one of the 9 people out of about 200 research posters to receive the National Distinguished Poster Award from AMIA.
- Only one other high schooler was nominated. Only 20 out of 200 posters were nominated, and only 9 out of the 20 ended up winning the award, my poster being one of them.
- Authored a paper disseminated throughout Vanderbilt Department of Biomedical Informatics, enhancing departmental knowledge and collaboration.
- Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, known for its strong emphasis on research and academic excellence.
PTY Biophysics & Physiology Research Mentor
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, USA
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, known for its strong emphasis on research and academic excellence.
- Led research teams in developing project methodologies and protocols.
- Mentored undergraduate students in research techniques and data analysis.
- Facilitated discussions on research findings and methodologies with faculty members.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical and Chemical engineering with data science minor
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN05-2028
High School Diploma -
Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School
Nashville, TN05-2024
Skills
- Programming:
Java, Python, R, Matlab
- Statistical analysis
- Data analysis techniques
- Research design
- Research dissemination
- Communication
- Team collaboration
- Leadership
- Critical Thinker
- STEM education
- Project management
- Software development
- Professional correspondence
- Research design
Accomplishments
- AMIA National Distinguished Poster Award, Received at annual symposium in New Orleans
- AP Scholar with Honor
- College Prep Scholar
- Questbridge National Match Finalist
- Pre-ACT Score: 35
- National Chinese and Me Qualifier and Participant
- TMTA Math Competition Qualifier and Participant
- Engineering Student of the Year - 9th grade
Projects
Tasked with creating a research question and abstract that would contribute to the social and software project at hand., Wrote a paper that was shared across the entirety of the Vanderbilt Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI), the largest in the nation., Worked with Dr. Kim Unertl and various other professors and graduate students on my own research project and presented my research in front of the entirety of DBMI., Submitted to a National Research Symposium & Conference, AMIA. The research was one of the very few that got accepted this fall and on track to publish my research., Worked 40 hours and partook in a paid internship., Benefited and increased my knowledge about Computer Science and Medicine., Presented my research at the symposium and was one of the 9 people out of about 200 research posters to receive the National Distinguished Poster Award from AMIA.
Career Interests
- PA school
- Masters in chemical engineering
- Biomedical Engineer: Industry
Extracurricular Activities
Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science (2 years). Math and Science Tutor, Tutored Middle and High school students online and in person. Adventure Science Center Volunteer, Volunteered to help kids fall in love with science. Science Olympiad, Worked on Code Busters and It's about Time. Girls Who Code. Mu Alpha Theta: Math Honor Society, Helped officially bring a Math Club to MLK, as a founder and President. Family Online Bakery Business, Helped illiterate but competent mother to start an online business. Team Captain of Neighborhood Soccer team. HOSA: Health Occupations Students of America, Helped found this chapter at MLK during my Sophomore year.
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Arabic
Native/ Bilingual
Timeline
Biostatistics Research Intern
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
05.2026 - 06.2026
Student Volunteer
Vanderbilt Student Volunteers For Science
01.2026 - Current
Cashier
Kroger
02.2025 - 08.2026
Cashier
Al Madina
11.2023 - 01.2025
Biomedical Informatics Summer Research Intern
Vanderbilt University
05.2023 - 11.2023
PTY Biophysics & Physiology Research Mentor
Vanderbilt University
01.2021 - 01.2022
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical and Chemical engineering with data science minor
Vanderbilt University
High School Diploma -
Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School