Shivi Srikanth is a sophomore at Harvard College, studying Bioengineering and Environmental Science/Public Policy. She is very interested in the intersection of these fields, most specifically in climate-focused engineering, urban design, and sustainable solutions.

At Harvard, Shivi is involved in a variety of undergraduate research and leadership initiatives. She is on the Board of Directors of the Harvard Undergraduate Clean Energy Group (HUCEG), which is the largest environmental group on campus. As the club’s first Director of Energy Equity, she has developed and runs equity-centric projects and has formed lasting partnerships with state-wide policymakers.

This semester, she is running a project with MassHousing, where HUCEG members on the project team carry out vital research and develop resources for the agency, with a focus on creating an equitable energy transition. Shivi also works alongside the Climate Coalition on Harvard’s campus. During her first year, she helped organize a university-wide climate conference focused on amplifying voices of students from climate-vulnerable locations. This was an extremely exciting opportunity, and opened the door for her to become further involved in the climate space on campus.

Outside of climate work, Shivi is on the Board of the Harvard University Engineering Society. As the Co-Chair of Mentorship Programs, she works to unite the diverse engineering community on campus through mentorship programs and events, and provides pre-professional resources for incoming freshmen and older engineering students alike.

Shivi has also had the chance to become very engaged in bioengineering research. This past summer, she worked as an Undergraduate Researcher in the Weitz lab, where she explored ways to improve the efficacy of lipid vesicles for cancer drug delivery. Essentially, Shivi's project was to identify and test methods of targeting and maximizing the delivery of drugs to cells, as well as recording the unique properties of lipid vesicles, or the nanoparticulate vehicles used for drug delivery.

This semester, Shivi is working on a research project rooted in bio-inspired design, which is ultimately the field she plans to pursue in grad school and beyond. She is fascinated by biomimicry, where researchers study zoology and ecology, and are able to apply this understanding to engineering where they design products, programs, buildings, and systems inspired by natural processes. Her goal is to closely connect a deep understanding of ecology with products that can combat climate change. As a researcher in the Pierce and Aizenberg labs this year, Shivi will be looking to translate the reflective properties of butterfly wings to building materials in order to develop urban cooling solutions.

Shivi believes that many social, racial, and environmental issues can be tackled through the thoughtful design of products, programs, and policy. Passionate about using engineering as a vehicle for social change, she plans to continue working in the field of biomimicry and sustainability to develop climate change solutions. She can see herself working in every professional sphere, from start-ups and industry, to government and academia, and is excited to see where the intersectional nature of her work takes her!

"I am extremely honored to be named a J. Mark Davis Scholar, an award that emphasizes the importance of impacting one’s school and community. I believe that with recognition, comes responsibility. Thus, while this award is a meaningful token of my service throughout high school, it has inspired me to continue to drive change in my college community as well. Working in environmental and energy activism on campus has been extremely fulfilling and has provided me with opportunities to bring together my Harvard peers and the broader metro-Boston community. I see the J. Mark Davis award as a beacon, and a reminder to continue pushing for justice and unity in every space I am able to exist within."

Favorite thing about being a Coke Scholar?

"Being a Coke Scholar comes with so many opportunities to grow and develop as a leader, individual, and as a student. I think my favorite thing about the foundation is the interconnectedness of the current and alumni Scholars, and how willing everyone is to reach out, give advice when necessary, or even just become a good friend. Some of my very best friends on Harvard’s campus are Coke Scholars, and our shared passions and interests have allowed us to form deep bonds.

"Furthermore, I have had the opportunity to connect and form friendships with alumni. During my freshman year of college, I participated in the scholarship’s coaching program, where I met quite regularly with a past scholar who mentored me in achieving my academic, personal, and leadership goals. This experience has truly been one of my favorite aspects of being a Scholar; I was able to learn so much about myself, and had an advisor and friend I could turn to and chat with about the goings-on at school.

"The coaching program, while truly transformative for me, is simply a reflection of the scholarship’s broader culture of togetherness. I could not be more thrilled to be a part of this community, and am excited to give back, just like my mentor did for me."