Dr. Rajagopal Appavu, PhD., MBA

Dr. Rajagopal Appavu is a biomedical researcher, serves as a university professor and is the Founder & Chief Scientist of Research Rising Stars, a mentorship initiative dedicated to guiding middle school, high school, and pre-med students into research, innovation, and early medical pathways. With a background in public health data management and prior experience working with national public health institutions including the CDC and NIH. Dr. Appavu focuses on integrating artificial intelligence, biomedical research, and early STEM exposure to prepare the next generation of physician-scientists and innovators. Recently (Jan 2026), he was recognized at the U.S. Capitol for his contributions to biomedical and STEM education transformation within the South Asian diaspora community.