Rachael Pratt

Biological Sciences Student at Carnegie Mellon | 2026 Yale BioMed Amgen Scholar

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

About

I’m a fourth-year at Carnegie Mellon University with a passion for biotech, computational biology, and conservation. When I arrived at CMU, I had no prior knowledge of computer science, but my experience changed dramatically when I discovered my love for the subject in an introductory course last year. I’m grateful to CMU for the opportunity to explore this newfound interest, which has led me to take on a role as a teaching assistant for that very course. Currently, I’m involved in biophotonics research, where I’m learning about the intricate interactions between biology, AI, and technology. This experience has deepened my understanding of how coding skills can be applied to the field of biology. I look forward to exploring more opportunities to integrate computer science with biology, whether through research, internships, or innovative projects in the future!

Experience

  • 2026 Yale BioMed Amgen Scholar at Yale School of Medicine
    May 2026 - Present · 2 mos

    One of 11 students chosen for an intensive 9-week biomedical research program at Yale, funded by the Amgen Foundation

  • Carnegie Mellon University (1 yr 11 mos)
    • Head Orientation Counselor
      Jan 2026 - Present · 6 mos

    • Research Assistant - Zhao Biophotonics Lab
      Sep 2024 - Present · 1 yr 10 mos

    • Lead Teaching Assistant - 15-110 Principles of Computing
      Aug 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

  • Camp Counselor at Crossroads MA
    Jun 2024 - Sep 2024 · 4 mos

  • Student Caller at Ruffalo Noel Levitz
    Jan 2024 - May 2024 · 5 mos