Julia Caldropoli is a graduating senior from Irvington High School. She is the daughter of Richard Caldropoli and Antonietta DiLella. Julia is an intern in a research group at Nevis Labs, Columbia University. Her research focuses on high-energy astrophysics studies with the NASA’s Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope, currently in orbit around Earth. She taught herself astrophysics and coding with Python. Julia is a self-motivated and bright student who wants to pursue a career in science, engineering, or medicine. Her first true interaction with medicine was the da Vinci Surgical System through the Robotics Surgery Program at White Plains Hospital. She then participated in the tutorial program at the hospital. Julia also attended the BASF Science Academy where she was one of twenty students from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico selected to participate in a program designed to combine advanced business, chemistry, and marketing through hands-on experiences. Julia is a mentor of the Irvington Science Fair, a member of the Irvington High School National Honor Society, and a commended student in the National Merit Scholarship Program. She feels it is extremely important to foster scientific curiosity in young students especially females, to bridge the gender disparity in science and to promote confidence at a young age. In addition to her talents in science, Julia is an artist, co-captain of Irvington High School Varsity/JV Tennis, and a member of the Irvington HS Varsity Track and Field Team. She is a New York State Scholar Athlete. In her application essay, Julia writes, “While I am self-motivated in my pursuits, I attribute my appreciation for self-reliance and learning to my Italian heritage, which informs me that my ambitions are possible even if they are solely driven by self-perseverance and not by an abundance of resources.”