Emma Van Praagh

Emma Van Praagh is from Pelham, New York and graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 2023. Her research experience in advanced spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shaped her interests in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and radiology. Emma plans to major in biomedical engineering at Columbia and later pursue a career in medicine and research.

At Pelham Memorial High School, Emma was an avid student in the four-year science research program. During her first two years of high school, she explored current literature in multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and treatment, pursued online coursework in neuroscience and neuroimaging, and conducted a literature review and novel research proposal addressing a gap in research: the role of choroid plexus-derived exosomes in relapsing-remitting MS.

During her junior and senior years, Emma collaborated with Seth A. Smith, PhD, the Director for the Center of Human Imaging at the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science. She conducted original research relating quantitative sensorimotor impairment and advanced spinal cord MRI at 3.0 T, focusing on resting-state blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional MRI and quantitative magnetization transfer. Her research question aimed to address discrepancies in conventional forms of clinical and radiological assessment of minimally-disabled MS patients by analyzing connections between quantitative measures of neurological disability and resting-state gray matter functional connectivity, respectively.

Emma is highlighted as second author of a peer-reviewed abstract presented at the 2023 Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum. She was selected as a Top 300 Scholar (Semi-Finalist) in the 2023 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS). Later, Emma presented her research at her local Junior Science and Humanities Fair (JSHS), where she earned a first place award as a Regional Speaker, qualifying to attend and present at the Upstate New York JSHS. She also presented her research at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair. In 2022, Emma received the Society for In Vitro Biology Award. In 2023, she was selected as one of twenty finalists to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where she shared her work with experts in translational medical science.

Emma has a passion for good data and public health. Since August 2021, she has worked with the BroadStreet Institute, a volunteer-based, global, remote non-profit organization, to synthesize publicly available data to address disparities in COVID-19 and maternal health databases. She currently serves as the Training Coordinator for the Maternal Health Track, leading onboarding and training workflows for about thirty new interns every other month. She also serves as Program Co-Coordinator for the Fundraising and Events (formerly Research for Modern Media) Team, planning public-facing, research-focused workshops and envisioning next steps for the organization.

In her free time, Emma can be found exploring neighborhoods in the city and running in Riverside Park with the Columbia University Road Runners.