Syamantak Payra

Syamantak Payra, from Friendswood, Texas, is pursuing a PhD in electrical engineering at Stanford School of Engineering. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, with minors in public policy and in entrepreneurship and innovation. Alongside creating new biomedical devices that can help improve daily life for patients worldwide, Syamantak aspires to shape American educational and scientific ecosystems to better empower upcoming generations. At MIT, Syamantak conducted research creating digital sensor fibers that have been woven into health-monitoring garments and next-generation spacesuits. He has organized and led literacy and STEM outreach programs benefiting a thousand underprivileged students nationwide. Syamantak earned multiple first-place awards at International Science and Engineering Fairs, placed 9th in the 2018 Regeneron Science Talent Search, was inducted into the National Gallery of America's Young Inventors, and is an Astronaut Scholar, Coca-Cola Scholar, U.S. Presidential Scholar, and a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow.