The International Young Researchers' Conference was founded in 2018 as a platform for high school students to share their research projects with the community. Since then, the organization has expanded to include not only research, but also community projects, global health narratives, case study competitions, and student-led programming. The IYRC is an independent public benefit incorporation in Japan, but we work with students from over twenty countries. Our program would not be possible without the generous support of our university partners, high school leaders, and reviewers.
IYRC Founder and Director
Paul M. LewisHarvard College | A.B.
Columbia University VP&S | MD,MS |
Paul M. Lewis is a Neurology Resident at UCLA. He completed a dual M.D., M.S. degree at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College where he concentrated in Neurobiology with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. He has experience in diverse areas of global and public health having served as the Director of a program for underprivileged Native American youth, the President of a peer education group to promote holistic wellness, and the Community Education Chair of a drug and alcohol education group. Paul is the Founder of Harvard College VISION Global Health Society and the Global Health and Leadership Conference. He was a recipient of the Finley Fellowship from Harvard to spend a postgraduate year in Japan to learn about end-of-life care. While there, he helped found the International Young Researchers' Conference. Afterwards, he worked as a TMS Therapy Clinician at Dignity Brain Health to treat patients with Major Depressive Disorder. At Columbia University, he is the founder of the Medicine and Research Summer Program, the International Young Researchers' Conference (IYRC), and the ACComPLISHED CHW program. He has been teaching and mentoring students for 10 years. He looks forward to teaching you. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmatthewlewis Columbia ACComPLISHED Presentations Columbia VP&S Student Research Day 2nd place https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/vp-s-students-honored-research-achievements-0 ACComPLISHED Community Health Program www.neurology.columbia.edu/education/additional-educational-programs/adolescents-caring-community-promoting-literacy-insurance-stroke-health-education-emergencies-and-dementia-accomplished/leadership-team Dr. James Noble: https://www.neurology.columbia.edu/research/research-labs/james-m-noble-md-ms-cph-faan#:~:text=2023%2D24%20Adolescents,4th%20year%20student American Medical Student Association Honorable Mention Building Trust: https://buildingtrust.org/author/paullewis/ www.vagelos.columbia.edu/about-us/columbia-medicine-magazine/web-extras/fall-2022-e-news-about-and-alumni Student Research Day 2022: https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/columbia-medical-students-recognized-research#:~:text=Medical%20student%20Paul%20Lewis Columbia Global Health IYRC Conference: https://www.pgh.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/2021-international-young-researchers-conference Harvard Transcript Project winner: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/theres-more-to-harvard-than-grades-transcript-project-shows/ Harvard Flu Vaccines and Berry Breaks https://www.thecrimson.com/image/2016/10/26/berry-study-break/ Harvard Livingstone Lab https://livingstone.hms.harvard.edu/people/paul-lewis |
The team
Paul LewisDIRECTOR AND FOUNDER 2018-Present Harvard College A.B. Columbia VP&S M.D., M.S. Paul Lewis is the Founder and Director of the IYRC. He designs, plans, and coordinates all of IYRC's initiatives. |
Neil NguyenDIRECTOR AND FOUNDER 2018-Present U.C. Berkely B.S. The University of Tokyo M.A. Harvard University M.E Candidate Neil Nguyen is the Founder and Director of the IYRC. He organizes operations and finances. |
ANEESH CHAND
COORDINATOR University of Tsukuba, Japan Ph.D. 2018-Present Aneesh Chand gained his PhD from the Intelligent Robot Laboratory of the University of Tsukuba, Japan in 2012. From 2012 to 2013, he was project leader for an EU-FP7 European robotics project at the Institute of Mechatronic Systems at the University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur in Swizterland. He was later a Research Fellow at the Control Systems Lab of Toyota Technological Institute in Japan for two and a half years. After a transition to industry, he continues with robotics research and development for various consumer and industrial applications. He has published 40 papers, 1 book, 5 patents and is the recipient and award finalist of two awards in international conferences. He was the founding chair of the 2017 and 2018 IYRC conferences and still continues to advise the IYRC as part of his contribution to society and academia. |
Kevin YangACCOMPLISHED DIRECTOR 2023-Present Reed College B.A. Columbia VP&S D.M.D. Candidate Kevin Yang is a third-year dental student at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Reed College, where he completed a thesis on synthesizing inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. During his gap year, he worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor, and earned certifications as a Wilderness First Responder and Open Water Diver. Kevin currently serves as Program Director for the ACComPLISHED Community Health Worker (CHW) Program and as Program Coordinator for the Summer Medicine and Research Program, reflecting his strong commitment to mentorship, health equity, and community engagement. |
Vu Duc CanhCOORDINATOR 2023-Present University of Tokyo Ph.D. |
Hannah pescaruCOORDINATOR 2019-Present Stanford University B.S. Candidate Hannah Pescaru (she/her/hers) is a sophomore at Stanford University planning on majoring in Biomedical Computation with a minor in Chemistry. Originally from the Chicago area, Hannah is interested in pursuing a career in medicine and research as a pediatric physician-scientist to study manifestations and progressions of neurological disorders. Outside of school, Hannah enjoys baking, crocheting, and going on long walks while listening to Taylor Swift. She is very excited to work with you this summer! |
SARAH FRANCESCOORDINATOR 2025-Present Tulane University B.S. Columbia University MPH McGill University M.D., C.M. Candidate |
Lucky John TutoRCOORDINATOR 2025-Present HKUST MPhil Lucky John Tutor is a university instructor and multidisciplinary professional with a strong background in Industrial Engineering, specializing in ergonomics, project management, and information systems. With over five years of experience in teaching and curriculum development, he is passionate about creating innovative, student-centered learning experiences. His research interests include biomechanics, human performance, and digital twin applications for rehabilitation. Outside the classroom, Lucky has worked on various data-driven and remote projects as a project manager and consultant, applying his expertise in data analysis, content creation, and instructional design. He is also a creative individual with a love for music, arts, and multimedia, which he integrates into his educational and professional work to enhance engagement and communication. |
Lorraine DumanonADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 2024-Present Lorraine Eve Cabaneros-Dumanon is a Certified Industrial Engineer passionate about continuous improvement (Kaizen). Lorraine is committed to positively impacting her community through actively supporting the International Young Researchers' Conference (IYRC) on its mission to build an international network of driven students, mentors, and leaders in research. She holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan and has worked in various roles at Del Monte Phil. Inc., where she focused on export supply chain planning and inventory. In her free time, she enjoys nature trips, reading, calligraphy, and food. |
Tomoyo Isoyama
ASSISTANT 2018-Present |
CLAIRE TEOPIZADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 2025 - Present Claire graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education, majoring in English. She has been in the English teaching field for over a decade. In her free time, she enjoys joining both road and trail runs, visiting cafes for cups of caramel macchiato, reading books, and listening to music. |
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Emma Van PraaghCOORDINATOR 2024-Present Columbia SEAS B.S. Candidate Emma Van Praagh is a first-year undergraduate student studying biomedical engineering at Columbia University. As an Egleston Scholar, she has been recognized for her enthusiasm and accomplishments in engineering and applied science research. Emma studied spinal cord MRI and quantitative sensorimotor impairment in multiple sclerosis at the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science as a high school student. In fall 2023, Emma joined the MR SCIENCE Laboratory at Columbia University, where she conducts research in magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the brain. Emma also has an interest in public health. Since 2021, she has served in various volunteer and leadership roles at the BroadStreet Institute, a global non-profit organization, to address disparities in publicly available public health data and organize research-focused workshops and events. She currently serves as a Peer Teaching Fellow in the ACComPLISHED CHW Program with the Columbia VP&S Neurology Department. |
Onyinyechi OwoPEER TEACHING FELLOW 2020-Present Dartmouth College B.A. Candidate Onyinyechi Owo is a junior at Dartmouth University, pursuing majors in History and Neuroscience, with a minor in Global Health. She revitalized the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students on her campus and has actively contributed as its president and a source of support for fellow students. In her free time, she enjoys immersing herself in nature, discovering hidden study spaces on campus, and getting to know people. Inspired by Grey's Anatomy, she advocates for dance party breaks during group study sessions with her friends. She is eagerly looking forward to connecting with each and every one of you! |
VALENTINA ALLEGRAHEAD PEER TEACHING FELLOW 2024-Present Columbia University B.S. Candidate Valentina (Vale) is an undergraduate rising junior at Columbia College. She is studying Neuroscience and Behavior with a concentration in Public Health. She is also very interested in human rights, and plans to work with Doctors Without Borders in the future. In the past, she was a music therapy volunteer for developmentally disabled adolescents, which confirmed her passion for working with children. In her free time, she enjoys reading and journaling, and she hopes to become a pediatric neurologist. |
Norah Tabsh
COORDINATOR 2024-Present UC Irvine B.S. Columbia University M.S. Norah Tabsh is a graduate student in the Accelerated Master of Public Health program at Columbia. She completed the Master of Science in Human Nutrition Program at Columbia and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Irvine where she majored in Biological Sciences and minored in Psychology. This past summer, Norah completed her thesis on the relationship between Vitamin D and Tuberculosis and was a Teaching Fellow for ACCoMPLISHED and is excited to be returning for this academic year. During her undergraduate degree, Norah was a chemistry lab learning assistant and was involved in neurobiology research and student government. Norah enjoys reading, listening to music, and watching TV shows. |
Cassidy KovachCOORDINATOR 2024-Present Villanova University B.S. Columbia University M.S. Cassidy Kovach is a graduate student at the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She is originally from New Jersey and graduated from Villanova University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology. Cassidy is a member of the Diano Lab at Columbia, currently working on her thesis studying hypothalamic control of feeding behavior and energy balance. In her free time, Cassidy loves exploring new parts of NYC, spending time with friends, and cooking. She is looking forward to meeting all of you this summer! |
ALANNA MORRISHEAD PEER TEACHING FELLOW 2024-Present Columbia University MPH Candidate Alanna Morris earning her MS in Toxicology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. She has a background in microbiology, neuroscience, and sociology/anthropology. |
Ruotong WangTEACHING FELLOW 2024-Present Columbia VP&S DMD Candidate Hi everyone! My name is Ruotong Wang, and I am a first-year dental student from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. I am from China and took my undergraduate at the University of Rochester. My undergraduate major was genetics biology, with a minor in Japanese. I have participated in research labs focusing on bioinformatics, DNA damage repair mechanisms, and human microbiomes. I love reading, swimming, cooking, and playing badminton. It is my pleasure to join IYRC, and I am looking forward to studying with you all this spring and summer! |
Lynelle WeisTEACHING FELLOW 2024-Present Columbia Human Nutrition MSc Candidate Lynelle Weis is a graduate student at the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, completing her master's in Human Nutrition. She graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor's in Biological Sciences and International Studies in 2022. On campus, Lynelle is actively involved with the IHN Food Coop's nutrition education in action initiatives, including the Chinese Heritage and Identity Through Food And Nutrition (CHIFAN) Project. She is conducting her thesis at Weill Cornell's Comprehensive Weight Control Center, researching the intersection of lifestyle intervention and pharmacotherapies. Lynelle intends to pursue a career as a physician, and is passionate about lifestyle and dietary interventions through nutrition advocacy. She is excited to work with this year's class as a teaching fellow. |
Feel free to get in touch with us if you have other concerns.
一般社団法人 IYRC
〒106-0032 東京都港区六本木７丁目２番２８－６０５号
電話番号: 03-3527-9323
