From launching a nonprofit to developing life-saving AI technology, Indian American Aaron George is blending his passion for engineering, medicine, and space exploration to shape the future of STEM education and space travel.
At just 17 years old, Aaron George is not your typical high school senior.
A student pilot, inventor, innovator, nonprofit founder, and advocate for change, Aaron’s impressive portfolio includes groundbreaking projects in technology, engineering, medicine, and beyond. His passion for the STEM field — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math — began at an early age and has only grown with time, fueled by a network of mentors, internships, and his own unique blend of interests.
Aaron’s ultimate goal?
To become a flight surgeon for SpaceX, merging his aspirations of space travel, medicine, and engineering into one bold career path.
Raised by parents who are both engineers, Aaron was introduced early to a world of technology and innovation.
Aaron’s parents, Raghu and Nirmala, immigrated to the United States from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the early 1990s. Nirmala is a civil engineer, and Raghu is a computer scientist. They have both been residents of Austin since 2000.
“My parents have inspired me throughout my whole life,” he says. “Through a young age, they’ve not only inspired me but also opened doors, introducing me to executives, industry leaders, and helping grow my network.”
This foundation has given Aaron the confidence to pursue lofty ambitions, from becoming a pilot at the age of 12 to founding a nonprofit aimed at providing STEM education to underprivileged students in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
In August 2023, Aaron launched STEMVest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting STEM education and career guidance for K-12 students across Texas and the nation. “The mission of STEMVest is to invest in students’ education, passions, and goals in STEM,” Aaron explains. His nonprofit focuses on providing access to hands-on STEM kits, textbooks, and opportunities for students to engage with industry leaders.
One of the primary regions Aaron has focused his work on is the Rio Grande Valley, a region at the southern tip of Texas that faces significant educational and economic challenges. Many of the students in this area lack access to quality education, with hundreds of thousands not enrolled in schools or unable to look beyond their immediate family for guidance. Through the nonprofit, Aaron is determined to bridge this gap and help these students see a future in STEM fields.
Aaron’s curiosity and drive to make an impact through technology were evident early on. “Every year since the start of middle school, I’ve aimed to solve a pressing issue in the world today, whether it be malaria diagnosis, drug discovery, children trapped in hot cars, or bullying in schools.”
The teenager’s most recent project, one he is particularly proud of, is a device that detects malaria from a thin blood smear image using artificial intelligence. “The patients, whether they’re in Sub-Saharan Africa or an underserved area anywhere around the world, can take a pinprick of blood, smear it on a slide, place that slide under a microscope, press photograph on my software, and get the results within seconds.”
In many underserved areas, diagnostic platforms like rapid diagnostic tests or PCR tests can take up to 30 minutes or even days to provide results—time that can be critical for someone suffering from malaria.
Aaron’s device, which currently detects the presence of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite, delivers results within seconds, potentially saving lives in the process. His innovative work has garnered attention from major organizations, including the United States Air Force, Navy, and even the United States Patent and Trademark Office. At the prestigious Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, Aaron won third place globally in the category of Biomedical and Health Science.
Beyond science fairs and competitions, Aaron has been deeply involved in research and development. At 15, he led his high school’s FIRST Robotics team, which led to opportunities at major events like the Why Texas Summit. There, Aaron connected with Ed Trevis, the CEO of Corvalent Corporation, who hired him as a software and hardware engineering intern. Aaron worked at Corvalent for a year and a half, developing an asset monitoring platform that companies like Amazon and NASA use today to monitor failures in their industrial systems.
His thirst for learning didn’t stop at internships and competitions. Aaron was also invited to shadow Dr. Sudeep Dustin Berman, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and general robotic surgeon. Aaron developed a software program that predicts the effects of new drugs on the human body, modeling the heart medication atenolol as part of the project. Dr. Berman was so impressed with Aaron’s work that he invited him to intern at his facility, a position that has allowed Aaron to assist with pre- and post-operative clinic visits and shadow Dr. Berman in the operating room.
But Aaron’s ambitions go beyond the operating room and the laboratory. At 17, he took a student researcher position at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, where he is currently conducting groundbreaking research in cervical and pancreatic cancer. His work is part of a larger initiative with the university’s Cancer Immunotherapy Center and the Cervical Cancer Prevention Action Network, where he focuses on student engagement and awareness around early cancer screening and HPV vaccination. The research Aaron is involved in has the potential to change lives, particularly in underserved areas like the Rio Grande Valley, where cervical cancer rates are among the highest in the country.
Despite his heavy academic and research schedule, Aaron still finds time to pursue other passions, like playing drums and varsity golf. “I’ve been playing drums for about 10 years now,” he says. “It gives me an outlet to express my creativity.” Aaron also plays varsity golf for his high school team, where he has won multiple tournaments. For him, golf is a way to relieve stress, get outdoors, and find balance in a busy life.
Speaking engagements are another area where Aaron shines. He frequently shares his journey and insights with students, emphasizing the importance of three key principles that he calls “3 Cs”: connections, capitalization, and community engagement.
“Growing your connections is vital,” he says, “whether it’s through mentors, people you look up to, or your peers.” Aaron encourages students to capitalize on those connections to grow their passions and improve themselves as leaders. Finally, community engagement is where Aaron believes the real impact happens. “Philanthropy is a big part of my life. Getting value is important, but giving value back to the community is equally or even more important.”
Aaron’s belief in the power of mentorship has been shaped by his own experiences. “None of what I have today would have been possible without my mentors—whether that’s my parents, my network, colleagues, or judges.” These mentors have helped shape him into the person he is today, a young leader committed to making a positive impact on the world. His goal is to pass on this knowledge and inspiration to others, helping the next generation of students realize their potential in STEM and beyond.
As a self-professed “space geek,” Aaron is also deeply passionate about the future of humanity beyond Earth. “I truly believe that humanity will be a multiplanetary species one day,” he says. SpaceX, in particular, has captured Aaron’s imagination. He’s followed their development of reusable rockets closely, even visiting the Rio Grande Valley to watch SpaceX launches in person. “Seeing Starship, SpaceX’s rocket that plans to go to Mars, in person gives me hope for the future—whether that be Mars, other planets, or even space tourism.”
Aaron’s aspirations of becoming a flight surgeon for SpaceX perfectly align with his love for medicine, aerospace, and innovation. “I wanted to become an astronaut, a pilot, and a doctor all at the same time,” he explains. As a flight surgeon, he hopes to provide surgical care for astronauts, conduct research for space agencies, and maybe even go on a space mission one day. His vision for the future includes not only exploring space but also ensuring better healthcare here on Earth. “I want to lobby for better healthcare for underserved communities before we fully venture into space.”
Aaron, the aspiring pilot, is also a dedicated Tesla enthusiast. His fascination with the brand began when he was just seven years old, and since then, Tesla’s commitment to innovation and sustainability has deeply resonated with him.
Aaron’s enthusiasm for the electric vehicle brand began at the age of seven, when he first walked into a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas. He was immediately captivated by the sleek design and innovative technology of the Tesla Model S, particularly the large touchscreen interface that felt like something out of the future. “I had never seen a car with such a huge screen before,” Aaron recalls. “It had internet access, you could play games, watch movies—it was like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.” This early fascination with Tesla’s commitment to sustainable technology sparked a lifelong passion for electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Now, the 17-year-old is a proud owner of a Tesla Cybertruck. “It’s amazing to drive such a unique vehicle,” he says, noting the attention it attracts wherever he goes. He is deeply inspired by Tesla’s mission to disrupt the automotive industry through electric vehicles and sustainable design, and he views the company’s innovations as a critical step toward creating a cleaner, more sustainable future. Living just 20 minutes away from Tesla’s Gigafactory in Austin, Aaron regularly witnesses the company’s work firsthand, further fueling his passion for sustainability and innovation.
Aaron is also involved in a project in India. He currently serves as a student ambassador for the US Citrus Company, based in McAllen, Texas, which was founded by prominent Indian American citrus scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Mani Skaria. In December, Aaron plans to travel to Wayanad, Kerala, where a devastating landslide claimed hundreds of lives. There, he will lead one of Skaria’s projects aimed at combating the recurring landslides in the region.
As Aaron prepares for his next steps—applying to top universities like Brown, Yale, Stanford, and Texas A&M—he’s laser-focused on continuing his journey of discovery, innovation, and impact. With numerous accolades already under his belt, including prestigious awards from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and NASA, Aaron is well on his way to making his mark on the world—both here and beyond. Whether it’s through his research in cancer treatment, his nonprofit work in STEM education, or his long-term vision of advancing space exploration, Aaron George is truly a young leader with the potential to change the future.
In his words, “The world is full of opportunities, and it’s up to us to seize them and make the most of them.” For Aaron George, the sky is not the limit — it’s just the beginning.