At just 13 years old, Myreen Ahsan is gaining recognition typically reserved for advanced researchers and professionals. Her work in medical AI research has earned her a place at the 2025 UT System AI Symposium, a conference designed for seasoned experts.
“It was honestly one of those ‘I had to read the email three times just to believe it’ moments,” Myreen said. “We were just standing there smiling, stunned, and really in disbelief.”
Earlier this year, Myreen placed second at the 2025 Texas Science and Engineering Fair with a project on AI applications in glioblastoma research. This achievement qualified her to represent Texas at the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge.
“My passion for neuroscience really started at competitive neuroscience camps I attended around the country,” she explained. Her project employs AlphaFold 3.0 to predict protein structures involved in glioblastoma. Despite lacking formal training, she learned professional platforms through tutorials and scientific literature.
“It started with curiosity,” she noted. “I treated it like a puzzle. I kept learning bit by bit until it made sense.”
At the symposium hosted by The University of Texas System, Myreen presented her findings to experts including Xiaoqian Jiang from UTHealth Houston; Babatope Fatuyi; and Martin J. Citardi.
“I was thoroughly impressed by Myreen’s project and her thoughtful presentation of it," Jiang commented. "Her work not only reflects a strong understanding of artificial intelligence in biomedical sciences but also showcases her curiosity and commitment to learning."
Myreen is also an accomplished robotics competitor, having led her team to significant awards such as the VEX Robotics World Excellence Award in 2021.
Texas State Rep. Dennis Paul recognized these achievements with House Resolution 168 honoring her team's success.
Myreen is now working on launching a nonprofit organization called AI-MED STEM Society aimed at empowering students through AI education.
“My dream is to be part of meaningful discoveries that help fill innovation gaps in medicine,” she said.
Sonia Ahsan, Myreen’s mother and assistant director at UTHealth Houston remarked: “As both a mother and a health care technology leader...Myreen’s curiosity, empathy, and determination remind us that when young minds are empowered early, they can lead us toward breakthroughs we never imagined."
