Agamjot Kaur

Global Challenge: Health Inequities Due to Inaccessibility Because of Systematic Barriers in Developed and Developing Regions Globally

Agamjot Kaur is a sophomore studying Biomolecular Science on the pre-medical track at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She is a proud native New Yorker, having been raised in Queens most of her life. She is passionate about biomolecular science because of her interest in biomedical technologies, where she is particularly intrigued by the developmental process and clinical applications that are created with the intersection of medicine and technology. Having grown up as a part of an immigrant family in one of the most diverse places in the world, she has been able to place the utmost value on resilience, adaptability, and community, all of which continue to influence her personal and professional growth. Outside of academics, she is a huge fan of sea lions, particularly their spontaneous mannerisms; loves to make jewelry, specifically arm cuffs and bracelets; and enjoys doing thrift flips.

At NYU, Agamjot is an active member of the wet lab subteam of NYU iGEM and a Service & Civic Engagement Commissioner on the Tandon Undergraduate Student Council. In the past, she has sought opportunities to hone her research skills while gaining clinical exposure and fully contributing to expanding the fields that she works in. From researching dolphin fin morphology to biosynthesis pathways in E. Coli to plastic degradation via a bacterial consortium, she has remained committed to being an active participant in science research. Currently, she is an intern for the SBIRT-OEND lab at NYU Langone. Outside of research, Agamjot works as a medical assistant at a private practice and as a scientist for the New York Academy of Sciences after-school program, where she teaches simplified engineering concepts to elementary school students. Through these experiences, she has developed analytical and communication skills, allowing her to approach complex problems with a focus on precision, creativity, collaboration, and real-world application. After graduation, she hopes to pursue her dream goals of attending medical school and publishing her research. In the long-term, with her career, she hopes to contribute to the advancement of equitable and technology-driven healthcare, particularly through innovations that improve accessibility and patient outcomes.

Agamjot’s primary motive to join the GLASS program was to obtain the guidance necessary to make her goals a reality, especially regarding understanding equity and accessibility in healthcare on a global scale. She is excited to connect with peers from various backgrounds and disciplines to create tangible outcomes and truly make an impact. She is particularly enthusiastic about equity in both healthcare and STEM, as these are fields that she not only plans to pursue a career in, but also become a lifetime member of. Thus, as a GLASS Scholar, she hopes to focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health and Well-Being, as it directly aligns with her passion for health engineering, biomedical innovation, and healthcare equity. This is especially personal for her because of her firsthand experience with how barriers such as financial limitations, language differences, and systemic inequities can affect patient outcomes and quality of life. She wants to be a part of ensuring that the intersection of medicine and technology is accessible in a rapidly changing world, with an emphasis on exploring the ethics and policy necessary to create sustainable solutions in the context of worldwide accessibility to healthcare.