If you google Rahul Guda, a junior at Milliard North High School, you’ll find an impressive list of accomplishments for anyone, let alone a 16-year-old.
The most recent accomplishment Guda added to his list is a third-place finish in the Greater Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair on March 24 in Nebraska City. The top two students get to compete at the prestigious Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburg this May. While Rahul very narrowly missed this year, he was the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair finalist from Nebraska in 2017.
He presented a poster titled, "Born Addicted: A Novel Systems Biology Approach Reveals the Impact of Opioid Abuse on Neurodevelopment." The poster presents data that shows offspring of mothers addicted to opioids show significant lapses in neurodevelopment compared to non-addicted mothers.
Guda is mentored by Gurudutt Pendyala, Ph.D., of UNMC’s Department of Anesthesiology. Pendyala’s research focuses on understanding the impact of drugs of abuse, especially opioids, on overall brain function and development. Guda, whose parents both work at UNMC, approached Pendyala in September 2017 because of his work in neuroscience. Pendyala has mentored Guda since then, supervising him in the lab and guiding his projects.
"His ideas and enthusiasm are infectious," said Pendyala. "I’m amazed at his work, being just a high schooler. As his mentor, this is my success as well. When he succeeds, I succeed and the department succeeds."
Guda’s "Born Addicted…" poster also earned him a first-place award in the Medicine and Health senior category, which came with a $200 cash bonus from CHI Health St. Mary’s staff. In addition, he earned a $1,000 scholarship from The John, Paul, Anton & Doris Wirth Foundation Inc.
Guda has an interest in neuroscience and plans to pursue an M.D. and Ph.D. He is also an award-winning speech competitor, helping lead Milliard North High School to their first speech state title in 20 years by winning the persuasive speech category this year. Additionally, he won UNMC’s Travis B. Lewis Fellowship for outstanding high school students desiring a career in science and medicine. He will work 40 hours a week June 4 through August 10, working in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience.