Saisha Pal

Collaborative STEM Researcher

Core Values: Collaboration, Passion, Authenticity, Diversity, Curiosity

Bio

Saisha is a junior at Dougherty Valley High School in California. Her passion for mental health grew out of her own experience moving from Virginia and seeing how isolating change can be for young people. That experience made her passionate and determined to foster a more collaborative and supportive environment in her community. She became involved in youth mental health advocacy, creating spaces where students can talk openly about challenges and work together toward solutions. She has been working with AIM Youth Mental Health for the past three years, serving as an AIM Youth Ambassador, authoring a 14-page literature review on mental health in the justice system, mentoring students in the AIM Ideas Lab Research Program, and recently founding an AIM Interview Series & Podcast.

Beyond advocacy, Saisha is a neuroscience researcher, studying how the brain processes and adapts to sensory input. She is currently working in a university lab. At the same time, she explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and education, working under the guidance of a professor. She was recently invited to present her work at UCLA on how large language models can support student learning and problem-solving.

Her work extends outside of labs and classrooms through mentoring and creative initiatives that amplify youth voices, because a youth-driven approach is essential to addressing the mental health crisis. Whether through research, writing, or building platforms for communication, Saisha is passionate about bridging science and advocacy to make mental health resources more accessible and relevant for communities around the nation. She speaks English and Bengali fluently. In her free time, Saisha likes to sing, spend time with her dog, and participate in her school’s debate team.

Work with Saisha

IMPACT PROJECTS | HIGHLIGHTS

Bridging Borders for Mental Health 🌍🧠

Saisha has organized and spoken at international youth mental health conferences. The purpose of these conferences is to bring together students, researchers, and advocates from around the world. They are designed to bridge the gap between science and lived experience, giving young people the tools to lead conversations on mental health in their schools and communities. Through her work, Saisha has created platforms where teens can collaborate with experts, exchange stories, and develop actionable ideas. The most recent conference brought together youth from various international locations. Overall, these conferences have helped reduce stigma and inspired others to become leaders in their own environments.

Mentorship that Sparks Movements ✨🤝

As a co-mentor in the AIM Ideas Lab, Saisha works with 20+ students to conceptualize and execute their own community-based research projects. Saisha's mentorship for these students includes support in shaping their research questions and methods, and in thinking about how their projects can lead to impact. Saisha is also a co-founder of the AIM Interview podcast, which is a space for sharing stories of resilience and interviewing researchers and advocates. This work combines to extend Saisha's reach outside of her immediate community by helping other students with skills to bring their ideas to life and by elevating youth voices in digestible media.

Unlocking Neuroscience Research 🧬🔎

Saisha is conducting neuroscience research in a university lab. Her work focuses on how the brain processes sensory information and adapts through mechanisms such as cortical magnification and active sensing. Her research interests lie at the intersection of brain plasticity and mental health, with a focus on how scientific discovery can improve interventions for youth. This work has helped deepen her understanding of the brain and provided her with the foundation to connect neuroscience with her advocacy. She wants to use this knowledge to ensure that mental health solutions are grounded in biology as well as empathy.

AI for Smarter Learning 🤖📚

Saisha is also conducting AI research. Her work focuses on how large language models (LLMs) can be used and fine-tuned to enhance student learning. This past August, she presented her work on using AI to tutor students through challenging math problems at UCLA, with an emphasis on interactive feedback and error diagnosis. Her project evaluates the capabilities and limitations of AI in supporting human learning. She wants to use these insights to make complex problem-solving support more available to students, as math is a subject that she is very passionate about.

Mentorship experience

Co-Mentor in AIM Ideas Lab
Saisha leads as a co-mentor in the AIM Ideas Lab, where she guides over 20 high school students in developing their own community-based research projects. She helps students refine research questions, design methodologies, and connect their work to real impact. She helps them build confidence and technical skills in their research abilities.
Girl Scout Gold Award - Speech and Debate Mentor
Saisha was recently awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award, and as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Saisha created and led a public speaking and debate mentorship program for younger students. She taught skills in confidence-building, argumentation, and effective communication. She was able to help teens and middle schoolers find their voice in academic and community settings.
Kumon Teaching Assistant

Saisha has worked as a Kumon Teaching Assistant for a little bit over a year. She has experience working with students in English and Math at various levels. She has worked with other instructors and parents to give feedback and guide each student at their own pace.

Learn to Be Volunteer

Saisha volunteered as a tutor through Learn to Be for underprivileged students struggling in math. She has helped students in various aspects, whether they were preparing for a test, needed help with concepts, or encouraging resilience through challenging problems.

Q&A with Saisha

What surprised you as you and your project evolved?

What is your vision for future impact? In other words, where do you think this is going?

What kind of people do you think you work well with?

How would you describe your strengths as a mentor?

What others experienced

" I loved the entire experience. I was stuck with my project for a LONG time and I'm glad my mentor helped me. Not only did she help me with my project but she helped me connect with other researchers and experts."

—Amanda

8th Grade

YES, I WANT IN!