Interview — 2026-08-18

Yeah. Oh, okay. Interesting. Oh, you wanna take a gap here? Interesting. Okay. I see. Yeah. Makes sense. Okay. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, wait. Sarkar as in Neil Sarkar? Oh, yeah. Yeah. I know him. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. For sure. I think what was it? $15.65? Like, I think it was, like, the biomed something. I kinda yeah. Yeah. Knock on. I learn too much, but it was yeah. Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah. I'm still considering it. I'm still living on it. So not too sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Are you good? Are you good? Wait. So wait. Just here. Yeah. Yeah. No. I guess, like, you know, I was just curious. Like, what made you wanna go into medicine? In the first place? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Interesting. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. I guess but, like, what made you, like, I guess, like, wanna I guess to sum it up, like, you wanna longitudinally help people you like the idea of mentorship. But, like, I guess, like, what made you, like, want to help people in the first place? Like, what kind of inspired you to go into this kind of profession? Or I guess, like, to premedical? No. I guess I No. I'm just it's just because, you know, I feel like your story is pretty unique. And, like, I feel like most premeds would just if they're interested in just medicine, right, like, for example, they would just go through the regular premed path. But I think your story is pretty interesting. You know? Like, not just doing a regular pre med path. You're also doing comp computational work. So, you know, obviously, I'm just, like, kinda curious to hear, like, what maybe even get into this kind of thing in the first place. You know? No. No. No. No. You're good. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Ajá. Yeah. Yeah. Uh-huh. Yeah. Mhmm. Ya. Ja. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. I like that. Like, you really like, I guess, like, being able to have direct impact and support people that, like, no other profession can kinda provide for you. That totally makes sense. I get that. No. You're good, though. I'm just, like, curious. I guess it does come as a yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Oh, interesting. Okay. Not really. No. That's it for me. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Interesting. It sounds I guess it sounds like you kind of have a pretty solid idea of what you want. Is this something that, like, you kind of knew early on, like, as a child? Like, is this what you wanted to do as a kid? That's silly. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. Sure. No. No. That's total that's so great. That's great. No. You're so good. You'll be a legal engineer. That's so cool. Wait. Why why a legal engineer? You just really into Legos? Me too. Dude, that's so cool. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Really? Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mhmm. I don't think so. Yeah. It's Yeah. Software. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mhmm. No. No. I didn't. No. No. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. No. That's great. No. I think it's good that, like, you kind of map out, like, your thought process in terms of, like, how you got there, and even talking about, like, you know, when you were five, you're like a leg you wanna be a Lego engineer. I think that's awesome. Wait. Is there is there a reason why, like, you kind of transitioned from going from, oh, I wanna help people to also leaning into because I think you said earlier you you also like math and stats. Is that why, like, you wanted to touch the CS part or, like what's the what's the reasoning for that? Sure. Yeah. Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. I've never heard of it. What's that? Yeah. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Interesting. Have you ever considered, like, working in the industry? Because I feel like a lot of your experience is also, like, doing a lot of, like, research and, like, labs. Oh, really? Okay. Yeah. Oh, she's from Oh, just throw a moment with you. Okay. Oh, okay. Okay. Yep. Yep. Mhmm. Yeah. Really? Okay. Yeah. Wait. Sorry. What's his last name? Kohane. Okay. How do you spell this? K. Sorry. What was it? K. Okay. Interesting. Oh, from Harvard. See. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. That's cool. Mhmm. Yeah. With K grants, No. I've never no. Not really. Yeah. Yeah. My dad's actually a researcher, so I've definitely heard of it. Yep. Yep. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I know him. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Mhmm. Interesting. Yeah. No. I mean, interesting. So are you interested in, like, VC firms, or are you more interested in, like, I guess, because you've done a lot of research doing a lot more, like, computational bio work? Got you. Así es. Okay. Yeah. I guess you're more like biomedical informatics. Would be the better term. Is it oh, really? I see. Really? Okay. Health informatics. I see. Mhmm. Okay. Makes sense? Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. No. I don't care. I've been No. I don't know her. Mhmm. Okay. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, so you're you're interested in these wait. Just to clarify your point, you're interested in, like, the clinical decision support. Companies, but, like, just, like, questioning their moat is what you're saying. Yeah. I mean, you said you're taking, like, a a year off? Before, like, you know, you're you're gonna go to medical school. Is that what you said? But who's Pronov? Pronov. Oh, I see. Okay. Interesting. Yeah. Izzy Meyer? I don't think so. No. So No. These are my my ear. Dang. Okay. Oh, Matthew? Oh, okay. I see. I see. Makes sense. Okay. Oh, really? What sorry. What's his name? It's the name? How do you wait. What's his last name? So At YouTube, you said? N a y. Yeah. Oh, okay. Also, Also, he's he really likes medical. Oh, but he it says he's math. Econ. Interesting. Yeah. Interesting. Okay. Interesting. Okay. Yeah. No. Totally. I mean, interesting. Very cool. I'm also on YouTube, so that's, that's very cool. Yeah. I mean, I guess my thought process is I know. I guess where to start. Yeah. Totally. Guess it's kind of different from yours in the sense that well, like I said, I realized I wanna do medicine a little bit like, in high school because I applied to cleaning, obviously. My dad, like I said, he was a researcher. Was a derm researcher. So you know, dermatology. Yeah. Yeah. And, basically, like, I like, me and my brother would go to his office every single day. That was kind of what we did just because I feel like with researchers, that's the only thing they could focus on. Literally every single conversation you have with my dad it's literally just pure research. It it doesn't matter if it's, like, same thing with your dad too. That's so funny. Yeah. I mean, totally respect that these guys are, like, just infatuated with their craft. It's, like, insane. Like, literally every single conversation. And other conversations are just, like, not important. But, like, you know, I think it's in a it's in a good way because he's very, very hyper focused, and he's very passionate. And that kind of trickled down into, like, the way I think about things and the way that I I like. Or the things that I like. And, like, I remember in high school, got into research really, really early on. Like, I did research since, like, freshman year. Or even middle little bit of middle school just because of, like, how I was wired as a kid. And, literally, like, that's I I gone into bioresearch. Post some papers, and then what I realized was, like, I really liked impact. And I think the issue with research and the thing that my dad complains about about his job Like, he loves it. Don't get me wrong. But the thing that he complains about is that you can't really have that much impact as just a peer researcher. Just because, you know, you do research, and it has to go through a doctor or somebody who has the licensing to do, like, clinical trials. Mhmm. And researchers can't do that. So my dad's ultimate dream was to be an MDPhD. But, anyway, like, I guess that kinda trickled down to, like, my thought process and have and how I can have the most impact on people. And also because know, some of my family members, they have, like, chronic diseases. I think just being in this environment of, like, okay. I wanna have a lot of impact but also you know, I wanna help people and help my grandparents who have these chronic illnesses. And suffering so much. Think just being in that kind of environment it it it kind of forced me you know, not forced me is a bad word. But, like, it nurtured me in a way to have affinity to help people, to have impact in that way. And I think I'll just wired like that very, very early on. So I think my number one priority throughout my entire high school life just impacts And that's kind of why I wanted to be a premed in the first place. Then going with your question on YCS, think the the reason why in college, I pursued CS was initially, like, kind of experimental. I was just like, hey. What's, like, field all about? But I realized that it has it's enabled me to have, like, a lot more impact in being just a doctor alone. That's the the reason why I was, like, so and I'm assuming that's kind of how you feel about it in terms of the of impact with how much, you know, CS can impact your career and your ability to like, touch so many people. I think that's why I pursued CS. And then yeah. I guess I also experimented with, you doing a bunch of internships did big tech, and I'm at Google. And so no. I I think so. I mean, I think everyone's experience is, like, very unique. Everyone has, like, a different story. Now I think that's why I wanted to hear about your story. You know? Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah. I don't know. No. No. No. I mean, I appreciate it. Yeah. I I get I guess, like wait. Sorry. You said you're at Sydney right now. Is that is that a company, or is that, like, a lab? Oh, this one. Okay. Oh, okay. I see. I see. Interesting. Lisa Duong. Duong. C u a n. I think so. I don't think so. No. Oh, okay. Interesting. Interesting. Well, I guess yeah. Also, the other reason why I mentioned, like, if you're interested in industry, was just because, like, think that, like, you have, like, a unique background in, like, CS and, like, bio, and it seems like you're really passionate about, like, helping people So, like, is that something you were, like, considering, like, industry versus, like, guess, already asked this question, but, like, for that one year, are you thinking of potentially doing something in the industry? Okay. Yeah. I see. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wait. Also, I don't don't know which jobs you're looking at, but I think I don't know any jobs that require you to save more than a year. Just an FYI. Like, I'm pretty sure, like, a majority you guys could stay, like, however long. Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. Ya. Sure. Oh, Clearview? Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I know. Yeah. It's a feeder. I know a lot of people like that. Yeah. Yeah. No. No. No. Totally. Yeah. Uh-huh. Yeah. I mean, I think I think this is straight Mean, I think I think it's straight experience. Like, you don't have to worry about that. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Actually, I'm, like, fully supportive, like, the kind of path that you're taking in terms of, like, taking a year off and trying to explore your options. I think that's a smart thing to do. Like, I I I think I talked to a lot of and, like, is, like, thing that they regret. A lot of playmies are in med school. It's, like, the one thing they regret. Like, they didn't, like, take some time off to explore options or even just to take a little break or, like, take time to basically just think about things. So I think it's great that you're doing that. And the reason why, I guess, I chose, like, industry versus research I think it's very different. Right? I think I think the two are very, very different Like, you need completely different skill sets, and you need, like, the time is different. The impact you have is different. So I guess, like, research is more of a, like, curiosity driven approach. Like, if you're really interested in, like, I don't know, like, the kind of biomedical thing like, informatics that you research that you're doing. Like, research could be like, you know, if you're really, really curious about it, you wanna dive really deep into, like, the technical aspects of it. I think research is the way to go. Like, I think industry, like, you can have more impact. In terms of, like, who like, you you actually build things that help people And I think you you brought a good example with, like I think you mentioned open evidence earlier. Like, they're a team of 30 engineers who's literally, like, helping millions of doctor billions of doctors. Right? And I think that's the kind of impact that I want to have. And so that's why I was going to the industry. Guess, like, I'm still, like, thinking about it. Right? Because I think Google is a place where it's kind of a different kind of impact. Right? You if you're at YouTube, you're just creating, like, features that would impact billions, but, like, not in, like, the medical way. So it's it's it's a different it's a different Yeah. So I I guess it's very different. But, like, that's the thought process that I had. And, also, because I already did a lot of, like, research experience in high school, and college as well. Just like I wanted to try something different. So Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Oh, yeah. No. No. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. Yeah. I guess the distinction I was making was, like, academia and industry. Like, do you know Abdullah? Ahmed? After the Ahmed. He basically graduated medical school. And he's at Google right now. And he's a Okay. Yeah. No. Here's a here's a preemie. Yeah. I I I know this guy. Yeah. That's very cool. Right? And he also was at MSL. And yeah. It's very, very cool guy. But yeah, I think that's the kind of thing that obviously interests me, and it's very interesting because, like, I think that's the kind of impact that you're talking about. As a researcher. But, yeah, I guess I was talking more academia versus industry, but yeah, I don't know. Guess no. No. Wait. Go. You do see people? Yeah. Mhmm. Mhmm. Yeah. Je crois. Okay. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. That's actually actually the question. I think, like, let me think. So I guess, like, with these companies, I'm being completely honest, like, I applied, didn't even say it was a plea me or that I didn't I didn't really say that, like, I was medically involved. But think if I yeah. I think actually, I don't know how soft it did. I don't wanna speak on his behalf. But I would probably think that he did the same thing just because it doesn't help. Like, what a lot of these, like, recruiters, they just look at their resume and see, like, oh, do you have, like, previous experience in, like, big tech? Do you have a previous experience a hackathon or something? They're they don't know what they're looking for. Right? So that's why I never, like, talked about it. It was just like I kinda put myself in the sea of applicants and I just happened to get, like, pretty with it. So but I I with your case, like, if you're interested, like, wouldn't recommend that at all. I think that you should take more of an more of a intentional approach to how you do things. And I'm happy to help you out as well. Yeah. I mean, public I mean, publication is a publication. Right? Like, I think that you can always like to Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I guess, like, yeah. I mean, I think that, like, there's also the aspect that, like, it seems like you're very interested in, like, health care. Like, if you wanted to work at a company, I'm assuming you would wanna work at a health care company. Right? Yeah. La gemma. Oh, I mean okay. Oh, I mean okay. I know. I mean yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, do you know, do you know Lauren Crawford? Yeah. He is my mentor. So he's from MSR. He used to he used to be professor at Brown, but he is full time at MSR now. So yeah. Yeah. That's why I'm I'm pretty familiar with MSR. Yeah. But the people that are, like, really talented. So yeah. Highly highly recommend, though. Highly recommend. Yeah. Yeah. He's pretty sore. Yeah. Lauren Crawford. Yeah. Yeah. I think he works on, like, GWAS and, like, some interpretable ML stuff and, like, topology. I guess interests are, like, looking all over the place. But oh, yeah. He's also, yeah, single cell. Yeah. Really classic. Okay. So you're interested in, like, those kinda work? Okay. Miles is really sweet. Because like I said, I I didn't apply. I didn't put that. I was, like, medical. Have a medical background. Like, I will say with researcher, my experience is, like, they don't really hire that many of them. So it's pretty rare. I don't really know anyone personally that has it. Like, I don't think it's I I don't discourage you from applying, but Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Interesting. Okay. No. This is good. This is great. I This is good. This is great. I think I think this is great because, like, I also know some people in industry and that are interested in, like, some, like, the informatics stuff Like, for example even, like, for example, like, I was talking to some someone from YouTube and she's a Granola mom. A long time ago. And her her husband is the founder of, like, drug discovery company. It's called Genesis. Yeah. But oh, that's cool. Okay. But I'll I'll keep your yeah, I'll keep your name in the back of my mind. Because I know you're looking for, like, say, internships or roles. Like, for that gap year. Right? Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. I might have to Awesome. I might have to go soon, but I will say I'll I'll definitely I'll definitely keep your no. You're so I know it's getting late on your end. So I'll definitely keep your mind in the back way. Or keep your name in the back of my mind. Yep. I guess I was more interested in, like, the why You know what I mean? Like, I guess, like, why you're doing certain things. And, like, guess, I'm interested in, like, how you got there kinda thing. Yeah. Think I mean, we it it depends. Like, right, like, for researcher, think you wanna you wanna, like, put that spike and say that you're interested in it. But, obviously, for, like, I don't know. In my opinion, like, the software engineering rules are, like, they're just like a luck of the draw. Like, you're they they don't really care about, like, the medical aspect and, like, in my experience, like, getting these internships or getting these opportunities are kinda just a lot. So yeah, I would I be wouldn't like for you to Also. Yeah. I mean, I guess, like, I think your year no. I think it's the same. They really change it that much. So they just do leak code. Right? And, like, you just practice as many LeetCode questions as possible, and then you should be shelling. Like, it's not it's not like a rigorous process. For Google, it was just, I think, two lead codes for the internship and then, like, no. It was, like, probably mediums. Like, I mean, I think you're pretty good at this. Like, you just explain your thought process throughout. Like, as you're typing. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. I mean, I basically interviewed, like, every company. Like, I think once you have, like, one, it's like you basically you can apply anywhere, and you almost certainly get the interview, I would say. Like, aside from, like, Yeah. Yeah. I think try to find if you're trying to apply to Swee, like, frame it in a way for, like, highlight the technical aspects. I think that's the main thing. Wait. You have my number anyway. I'm I'm, like, totally happy to just, like, help you out. Throughout the entire process. So Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Oh, really? Oh, yeah. For sure. Mhmm. Yeah. Mhmm. Totally. Wait. Yeah. So that's definitely a good point. Yeah. No. Wait. Totally. Yeah. I think it's definitely a good example. Yeah. I mean, I know it's getting late there too. So that's really good chatting with you, though. No. No. No. No. No. It's it's whatever. No. No. No. Totally, man. I mean, I was always interested in the thing the things you were doing and I appreciate it fast your fast response. I think it's a good, like, signal. I like people who, like, respond really fast. So totally. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you have my number now, so just text me whenever. Yeah. I mean I mean, SF. So, you know, you're visiting your girlfriend. Just let me know. Cool. Yeah. Alright. See you, man. Thanks for chatting. Has a good enough story to get in. Yeah. Right? So, like, what it And this was just it happened about, like, okay. I had take notes instead