James Robson
He/Him/His
23 Years Old
Massachusetts Foster Care System
James Robson studied Biomedical Engineering and Music Performance (saxophone) as an undergraduate, and he is now working towards earning a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. James is zealous about research focused around expanding access to healthcare technologies, developing new point of care tests and diagnostic screening devices to improve global health—especially in disadvantaged areas. He is an interdisciplinary researcher interested in understanding biological systems and developing molecular and microfluidic assays for detection of human immunodeficiency virus, SARS-CoV-2, HPV, and other important infections. James is a first-year Distinguished Biomedical Engineering Fellow, and will continue work centered around expanding access and developing new healthcare technologies for low-resource settings.
James is passionate about using his eight years of lived experience and drive to expand educational opportunities for foster children to eliminate the barriers faced by many in foster care and from disadvantaged backgrounds to receive post-secondary and graduate education. A lack of representation in collegiate and graduate students persists for children from foster care, and he aims to reduce this gap by ensuring students from all backgrounds have access to the educational resources they need to succeed. His education has, and will, serve as a means to serve others. He studies engineering and aims to work in academia to become a lifelong advocate for disadvantaged youth who wish to pursue a collegiate or graduate degree. The memory of his lived experience is a mandate to advocate for children who agonize over “what is” instead of cherishing “what could be.”
