Maveric Abella aspires to innovate healthcare that is impactful to Native Hawaiians by studying Bioengineering at Columbia University. She has conducted independent projects dealing with cancer types relevant to her Native Hawaiian community at the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center, and she is excited to participate in research that will further benefit Pacific Islanders in the Marshall Islands. As a bioengineer, she has developed two biological experiments to be implemented on the International Space Station. She has also become involved with the Columbia Space Initiative as the CubeSat Mission Co-Director and is also the Vice President of the Columbia Mālama Hawai‘i Club. She plans on meshing her love of engineering and cultural background to improve the well-being of underrepresented communities. Her overall interest in space, adventure, and improving the lives of Pacific Islanders inspires her work and dedication to the K1 project.
Alumni