Profession portrait of Nitin Ponduri

Nitin Ponduri

Undergraduate Research Ambassador Biology
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Major: Biology

Minor: Bioinformatics

Class Year: 2028

High School: Coppell High School

Advisor: Dr. Tapasree Roy Sarkar

Research Focus: Environmental Carcinogens, Chronobiology, Reproductive Toxicology, Molecular Oncology

Organizations and Programs: Explorations: The Texas A&M Undergraduate Journal, Pink First

Awards and Distinctions: Dean’s Honor Roll

Experience: Bioinformatics Research Symposium, TiCER Symposium, SPRC Research Conference

Years Experience: 2

Other Activities: Basketball, Reading Fantasy Books

Bio: I am a sophomore pursuing a career as an MD-PhD with a long-term commitment to becoming a physician scientist and lifelong learner. I am originally from Chicago, Illinois, and attended Coppell High School in Dallas.

My academic interests focus on environmental health, cancer biology, and reproductive physiology. My research explores the effects of environmental contaminants such as microplastics on breast cancer along with the effects of circadian rhythm disruption on pregnancy. My work has strengthened my interest in understanding cancer from a mechanistic and systems-level perspective.

My career goal is to pursue an MD-PhD program so that I can integrate clinical training with scientific research. I want to become a physician who not only treats patients but also investigates the underlying biological mechanisms of disease to drive innovation in medicine. I am committed to continuous learning and to contributing meaningfully to both scientific discovery and patient care throughout my career.