Soviero’s own journey began with a profound connection to neuroscience. At just nine years old, she developed chronic migraines. Soviero's experience as a child neurology patient, and watching the incredible work done by her neurologists, inspired her to pursue a career in child neurology. At the same time, her seven years as volunteer Head Coach of the Special Olympics Maryland Figure Skating Team ignited a passion for research—in order to be a better coach for her neurodivergent students, Soviero began conducting independent research about different neurological disorders. From the first scientific article, she was hooked; neuroscience became her obsession. In high school, she began taking STEM classes and wrote her first scientific paper—her International Baccalaureate diploma qualification essay—a meta-analysis of the association between migraine and sleep. Upon her acceptance to Barnard College of Columbia University, she declared her major in Neuroscience and Behavior with a specialization in Behavioral Neuroscience, on a pre-medical track.

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During college, she worked at NYU Langone Health and Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute, conducting neuroscience research. At the Minen Lab, she authored two publications about the efficacy of telemedicine for common neurological conditions, a topic that was especially pertinent immediately in the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown. At the Davachi Lab, she assisted in research about autobiographical memory during the COVID-19 pandemic. Soviero wrote her thesis based on her research in the Davachi Lab, titled "Experiential Diversity, Autobiographical Memory Deficits, and Increased Depression Rates During COVID-19." To read more about Soviero's research and hear about her thesis, visit the research page.

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During COVID lockdown, Soviero began creating neuroscience education videos and documenting her journey to medical school. With a following of over 200,000, her platform grew into a hub for students eager to learn about research opportunities and neuroscience. Her most frequently asked questions from followers are about how to get involved in research as an undergrad. Noticing this, and also noticing the lack of resources that even students at one of the most prestigious research universities in the world were given, Soviero decided to found Research Girl, Inc. to bridge the gap between students and research opportunities. Today, the non-profit's resources and mentorship program are used by 15,000 students worldwide.

 

To learn more about Research Girl, visit the entrepreneurship page or the nonprofit's website.