In this thirteenth episode of Across STEM with YSI, Amirali sits down with Mia Soviero, a neuroscience graduate from Barnard College at Columbia University, certified EMT, founder of Research Girl, and passionate advocate for making STEM accessible to all. From coaching Special Olympics athletes in figure skating to launching a science communication platform that reaches thousands across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, Mia’s story is one of resilience, advocacy, and the power of lived experience.
Growing up low-income and as the first in her family to pursue science or medicine, Mia faced significant barriers that shaped her vision for Research Girl—a nonprofit she founded last year to provide mentorship, resources, and research opportunities for underrepresented and first-generation students in STEM. What began as a simple website to share the lessons she learned navigating academia has now blossomed into a large-scale, impactful mentorship and education platform with over 350 mentors worldwide.
In this episode, Mia and Amirali dive deep into her inspiring journey—from discovering her passion for pediatric neurology while coaching neurodivergent athletes to pursuing neuroscience research on migraine, memory, and mental health, to using digital storytelling as a tool for science communication and advocacy. Mia opens up about her personal experiences with mental health disorders, reflecting on how they have shaped her empathy as a researcher and her strong commitment to destigmatizing them—particularly in science.
Together, they discuss the growing role of digital media in shaping the next generation of scientists, the importance of interdisciplinary work blending art and science, and why curiosity and advocacy must go hand in hand in the modern STEM world to make a difference. Mia also shares her future plans 👀preparing for an MD–PhD while continuing to grow Research Girl and build a career at the intersection of medicine, research, storytelling and communication. And, as a neuroscience researcher, she reflects on the power of neuroplasticity and her aspirations to uncover how trauma affects brain development, speaking to her unique vision for the future of neuroscience—one of compassion, innovation, and accessibility.
“Inspiring” isn’t enough to describe Mia’s journey. Having started her advocacy at age 12 and already leading an international nonprofit by her early 20s, she’s a force of change redefining what it means to be a scientist, a storyteller, an advocate (and a lot more) all at once.
Watch episode 13 of Across STEM with YSI to discover more about Mia’s incredible journey, her career in advocacy so far, her insights on the future of neuroscience, and how she’s making STEM more inclusive for all.
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