Shantala Totada

A hardworking, determined, and motivated high school student seeking an internship in the field of neuroscience and biomedical sciences with a stronger desire to pursue a career as a Neurosurgeon.

Tensorflow:

Skill Level: Intermediate

I took an online course through Coursera on the introduction to tensorflow and how to utilize it for certain tasks including image recognition.

HIPAA Training

Skill Level: Advanced

I completed an online HIPAA course designed to protect patient's medical information and records.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HLzwq0baw_JUt8Q0XIXuhGuHKbJxDD8a/view?usp=sharing

Stop the Bleed

Skill Level: intermediate

Able to control bleeding and know what to do in a real-life situation. https://dellmedstb.org/cert/7f6d7f499a

Understanding the Brain: The Neurology of Everyday Life - University of Chicago online course taught by Professor Peggy Mason.

Skill Level: intermediate

Completed an online course through Coursera taught by Professor Peggy Mason at the University of Chicago. Learned about the brain and the complex functions of it. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Iq3oyCTG6mGsoR_p9qlpudTvqLkgO6P4/view? usp=share_link

RStudio

Skill Level: intermediate

I learned to use RStudio to complete graphs and statistics regarding my Appetitive and Aversive Conditioning project at UT HSRA.

Python Coding

Skill Level: intermediate

Learned to use Python by taking coding classes at my middle school.

Microsoft Office Proficiency

Skill Level: Intermediate

Able to use Microsoft word, powerpoint, and excel for any group projects or important assignments.

Ambassador - LASA High School

July 2023 - Present.   Austin, TX

I help LASA with TCBE (Taking Care of Business Early), NSO (New Student Orientation), Culture Fest, LASA Showcase, and helping new students know about LASA and the culture. 

Volunteer - Silverado Barton Springs Memory Care

July 2023 - Present.  Austin, TX

6 hrs/week

I help elderly patients who have Alzheimer's Disease with various activities including painting, building new objects, exercise, and engage in conversations about current issues. 

Volunteer - Brookdale Senior Living

June 2023 - Present.   Austin, TX

2 hrs/week

I help elderly patients with daily activities such as B-fit/B-walking, discuss genres of book and current books being read, set up Bingo games, and more. 

Founder - EpiHelp

May 2023 - Present.  Austin, TX

I created a fundraiser to help Epilepsy patients; I sell homemade crocheted crafts, and all the money made goes to the Epilepsy Foundation to help researchers create a device to help detect seizures and provide the medical help patients might need.  https://epihelp2023.wixsite.com/mysite

Captain - LASA HOSA

May 2023 - Present.   Austin, TX

I was selected to be captain of my high school's HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), a health oriented club that focuses on creating the future's health professionals. 

Founder  - Austin is FurPaws

January 2023 - Present.  Austin, TX

I created a small business and an online website for my business where I sell handmade crocheted crafts created by me online and in-person. The goal of this organization is to help homeless dogs in India and to raise awareness of pet adoption. https://furpaws4ever.wixsite.com/homeless-dogs

Co-Founder - Bettermind

May 2020 - Present.  Austin, TX

I helped kids in grades 3-8 with tutoring during the pandemic, covering all subjects including math, science, social studies, English, LOTE, and art and music. This organization has helped kids all across the nation with their learning. https://sites.google.com/view/bettermind/home 

Creative Department Leader  - Heal and Help Heal

March 2023 - Present.  Austin, TX

Help spread awareness of Alzheimer's Disease and help patients at nursing homes who suffer from the disease. 

Group Leader - M.A.I.C. 

June 2022 - Present

Helped the greater Austin community by helping at animal shelters, creating care packages, writing cards to children at hospitals, etc. 

epiENGAGE:

February 11 - February 13, 2024. Austin, TX

I got the opportunity to attend the epiENGAGE conference hosted by Professor Lauren Ancel Meyers at UT Austin. This was a development conference for epidemiologists to come together to discuss how to prevent the next pandemic. Presentations were given from different public health organizations including Austin Public Health, Texas DSHS, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Houston Health Department, Dallas County Health and Human Services, and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. Additionally, I had the opportunity to see former Austin Mayor Steve Adler and senators from Texas. The last day of the conference ended with discussing epidemiological models and how to create one, taking into account several factors such as which cities are included in the model, what viruses would be used to create a model that would mimic a pandemic, and how the use of antivirals would interfere in the model projection. 

Ascension Seton Health Sciences Camp:

Jun 2022 - June 2022.  Austin, TX

Worked with Ascension Seton Nurses to learn about healthcare and perform the daily activities of nurses such as blood pressure measuring, IVs, public health, etc.

UT Present your PhD:

May 2022 - May 2022.  Austin, TX

I learned from a post-graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin about CRISPR - Cas9 and its effects on humans. CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing tool used to edit parts of the genome by altering, removing, or adding sections of a DNA sequence. CRISPR-Cas9 consists of an enzyme, Cas9, which cuts the two strands of DNA at a specific location; CRISPR-Cas9 also consists of a guide RNA which is 20 bases long and has a more extended RNA scaffold located. The guide RNA is programmed to find a certain sequence of bases and bind to it; from there the Cas9 goes to the same location as the guide RNA in the DNA sequence and cuts across both strands of the DNA. The DNA strand eventually become nonfunctioning. The use of CRISPR-Cas9 can help patients with diseases such as colorblindness to prevent it from occurring. Test trials are occurring and results have shown success in this process.

UT Health Summit:

April 2022 - April 2022.  Austin, TX

Learned about different Health Professions and practiced applying health skills to real-life situations. Obtained a Stop the Bleed Certification.

AISD Trustees Scholar Award:

May 2022

• Awarded to students who place who place within the top 10% of their class academically!

Science Olympiad:

UT Fall Invitational 2021 Science Olympiad

• 6th Place - Disease Detectives

UT Fall Invitational 2022 Science Olympiad

• 4th Place - Experimental Design

Seven Lakes Invitational 2022 Science Olympiad

• 4th Place - Experimental Design

Prestonwood Christian Academy Invitational 2023 Science Olympiad

• 1st Place - Disease Detectives
• 1st Place - Rocks and Minerals
• 3rd Place - Experimental Design

UT Regional 2023 Science Olympiad

• 2nd Place - Disease Detectives
• 2nd Place - Experimental Design

Cypress Falls Invitational

• 4th Place - Experimental Design

ATX Science Olympiad Invitational

• 2nd Place - Experimental Design
• 4th Place - Disease Detectives

AP Scores:

• AP World History: 5

HOSA:

Online Testing 2023:

• 1st Place - Medical Assisting

Texas HOSA Area 1 SLC 2024:

• 3rd Place - Medical Assisting

Texas HOSA State Leadership Conference 2024:

• Advanced to State as a State competitor from the Area 1 SLC competition

LASA Science Olympiad:

Sep 2021 - Present.  Austin, TX

I am a part of the LASA Science Olympiad team where I compete in Disease Detectives, Air Trajectory, and Experimental Design in Invitational, Regional, and State competitions.

LASA HOSA:

Sep 2021 - Present.  Austin, TX

I participated in health-related competitive events such as Medical Assisting and HOSA Bowl.

LASA Math Honor Society:

Aug 2023 - Present.  Austin, TX

I participated in the Rocket City Math League math competition and the AMC math competition. 

LASA Ambassador:

July 2023 - Present.  Austin, TX

I am a part of a select group of students who are trained to help recruit prospective students to LASA and help out with LASA specific events including Culture Fest, New Student Orientation, LASA Showcase, and Taking Care of Business Early (TCBE).

LASA Biology Club:

Jan 2024 - Present.  Austin, TX

I participate in biology related competitions including the British Biology Olympiad (BBO), United States of America Biology Olympiad (USABO), and USAMO. 

Weekly Violin Lessons:

Aug 2019 - Present.   Austin, TX

I am currently studying violin under Erin Reed.