Sehej Chugh

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS 

Clinical Researcher |  DermLink Scholars & Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

May 2025 – February 2026

• Co-authoring a PRISMA-compliant systematic review analyzing global inequities, incidence, and survival outcomes of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) in skin of color (SoC) populations.
• Synthesizing international clinical data to evaluate how systemic barriers, misdiagnoses, and delayed biopsies contribute to advanced-stage presentations in under-resourced communities.
• Translating findings into actionable, region-specific policy recommendations to improve dermatologic screening and mitigate mortality disparities.

Research Intern | California Northstate College of Health Sciences | Rancho Cordova, CA 

June 2021 – August 2021

• Conducted yeast genetics research to quantify the efficiency of microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) in repairing double-stranded DNA breaks.
• Implemented rigorous data-validation checklists and quality-control guardrails to prevent calculation drifts and ensure high-fidelity results.

Peer-Reviewed Publications & Manuscripts

• Chugh R., Chugh S., Prabhu N., Shin D., Davis T. "Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Skin of Color: A Systematic Review of Global Trends and Outcomes." (In preparation).
• Wagh H., Chugh S. "Effectiveness of Microhomology-Mediated End Joining in DNA." Applied Cell Biology. October 2021.

Co-Founder & Project Coordinator | Project Heart and Health | Punjab, India & CA 

June 2022 – Present

• Spearheaded mobile medical clinics across rural Punjab, successfully distributing donated blood-pressure cuffs, glucometers, and stethoscopes.
• Co-designed culturally tailored, visually-driven health literacy materials to replace text-heavy guides, significantly improving patient recall and adherence.
• Trained local temple (ashram) leaders and peer helpers to record community vitals and established a WhatsApp hotline connecting locals with volunteer California physicians.

Philanthropy Chair | Phi Delta Theta | Santa Clara, CA 

November 2023 – May 2025

• Directed a campus-wide fundraising coalition, transforming a single event into a multi-event series that raised over $15,000 for the Lou Gehrig Association.
• Managed volunteer teams, budgets, and corporate sponsorships, creating a comprehensive handoff manual to ensure long-term operational sustainability.

Intake Volunteer | Home First Shelter | Santa Clara, CA 

November 2023 – Present

• Managed evening intake procedures and daily operations for unhoused individuals, prioritizing immediate physiological needs and safety to establish trust before connecting guests with long-term referrals.
• Employed trauma-informed communication and active listening to support a vulnerable population, adapting dynamically to provide dignified, individualized care and companionship.

Founder & Instructor | Campus Bhangra Class | Santa Clara, CA 

September 2016 – Present

• Founded a beginner-friendly cultural dance organization to foster campus inclusion, adapting complex choreography into accessible, count-based sequences.

Independent Developer | Machine Learning & Algorithmic Modeling 

October 2025 – Present

• Develop and optimize algorithmic trading models utilizing Python.
• Engineer fundamental stock screening methodologies driven by Random Forest machine learning algorithms to analyze and backtest complex datasets.

Independent Developer | Game Development & AI Integration 

January 2025 – Present

• Design and develop interactive game mechanics and user interfaces on the utilizing Luau, C++, and Rojo workflows.
• Integrate advanced AI-assisted coding tools, including Claude Code and Codex, to accelerate deployment pipelines and refine complex codebase architecture.