SAHANA GILLISS

sahana.gilliss@gmail.com 5205 Yellowtail Lane, Kennesaw, GA 30152

Objective: To find a career in the biomedical engineering field, especially as a psychiatrist.

Education:
Harrison High School STEM Program (inaugural cohort)
4500 Due West Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30152

Research Interests:
 Psychiatry
 Environmental sciences
 Genetics
 Epidemiology

Research Experience (2017-2019):

 GSEF Science Fair
o 2017-2018: Completed an observational study on the effects of social media on
mental health.
o 2018-2019: Completed an experiment on the ability of certain enzymes to degrade
polyethylene in a simulated ocean environment.
o 2019-2020: Completed a successful experiment on the ability of certain bacteria
to degrade polyethylene in a simulated ocean environment.
 Oral Defense
o Presented each project before a board of judges, and was evaluated.
 Enrichment Trips
o Shepherd Center: Observed the inner workings of a spinal cord & brain injury
rehabilitation center.
o Cryolife: Observed the cryogenic preservation of cardiac human tissue.
o Bodies: Viewed a human anatomy exhibition.
o CDC: Visited the CDC headquarters to learn about the research and containment
of infectious diseases.

Awards:
 Whale Shark Project
o Won “Best Research Project” for my GSEF Science Fair project.

Classroom Experience (2017-2019):

 Dissected sheep heart
 o To better understand the anatomy of the human heart, as well as the direction of
blood flow.
 Dissected cow eyeball
o To understand the process of vision as it occurs in the human eye.
 Dissected pig kidney
o To observe a kidney similar to that of a human
 Ran gel electrophoresis
o To match DNA found at a simulated crime scene with that of a suspect
 Used a hematocrit
o To determine the number of red blood cells in a sample of blood

Internships:
 Home Depot
o I was one of five students chosen for an internship working with Home Depot and
their supply chain network. Currently, the internship has been postponed until
further notice due to COVID-19. However, I was able to visit the Home Depot
headquarters, where I interacted with and learned from several supply chain
employees.

Skills:
 Gram staining
o Culturing bacteria and testing for the presence of pathogenic bacteria
 Hematocrit
o Finding the amount of red blood cells in a given amount of blood
 Microscope Use
o Using a microscope to observe bacteria, as well as hair samples from a simulated
crime scene
 Gel Electrophoresis
o Matching DNA with a previously collected sample
 Writing
o Presenting an APA-formatted research paper about my GSEF Science Fair project
o Writing an official biology lab report
 ELISA
o Testing simulated spinal fluid for the presence of meningitis.
 Knowledge of human anatomy
 Knowledge of various online platforms, such as Microsoft Teams

References:
Paulette Allard
STEM Coordinator
Harrison High School
4500 Due West Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30152
paulette.allard@cobbk12.org

Stephanie Tatum
English Teacher
STEM Advisor
stephanie.tatum@cobbk12.org