Tatiana Gong

Applied Mathematics, Rice University   

Tatiana Gong is from Plano, Texas, and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Computational and Applied Mathematics and minors in Biochemistry and the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality from Rice University.

For her undergraduate capstone, she developed a circuit-based mathematical model to simulate cardiovascular physiology and clinical interventions in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and a web-based interface for users to interact with the model. Her research also spanned gene expression modulation in acute kidney injury and single-cell data analysis in diabetic nephropathy, as well as a research proposal exploring how race and gender may influence cosmetic surgery consultations. Her academic achievements were further recognized through Rice University’s Dr. York Lancaster Merit Award and the Louis J. Walsh Scholarship for Engineering.

Outside of academics, Gong supported both incoming and current students at Rice, serving as a Head Rice Health Advisor, Orientation Week advisor, and a Women’s Resource Center volunteer. She also stayed active in the Houston community through her volunteer roles at Texas Children’s Hospital and Wonders & Worries, providing comfort to children facing serious illness in their families or their own health journeys.

Gong chose the EnMed program because she wants to expand her engineering skill set to further healthcare. She wants to go beyond simply identifying inefficiencies in care and actually build tangible solutions that address clinical problems. She wants to apply these skills to develop accessible technologies for diverse patient populations, particularly in women’s health.

In her free time, Gong enjoys staying creative through crafts like crocheting and collaging. She loves being social whether she’s exploring new restaurants and drink shops, practicing yoga, or thrifting with friends, but she equally treasures quieter moments spent baking and tending to her plants.