Daniella Rothberg is a senior from Miami, Florida, whose passion for STEM and service has pushed her to explore the connections between various disciplines. Growing up with Hispanic and Jewish backgrounds, she developed an appreciation for the different perspectives and experiences that interact to shape the process of discovery.

Daniella is most proud of her work in increasing access to academic opportunities. As a freshman, Daniella began teaching Hebrew and Torah at her local Sunday school. Now, she leads a tutoring program at a Title I elementary school, managing a curriculum that combines creative problem solving and coursework. Beyond elementary education, Daniella is passionate about creating opportunities for students at both the high school and college levels. She began babysitting in the evenings to fund and establish her community’s first Estimation Challenge, bringing together students to develop critical thinking and mathematical reasoning in a competition all about polar minds working together to problem solve.

Daniella can often be found exploring new ideas in an undergraduate lab, finding new subjects of interest through art, or engaging in thoughtful discussion through science fairs and competitions like Model UN, Mock Trail, and of course Monopoly.

Daniella’s aspirations are carved out by the resilience and support of her family. Throughout the challenges her family has faced, she learned the importance of adaptability and creating opportunities for oneself — even in uncertain circumstances. Her mother and sisters encouragement allowed her to pursue her curiosity in cellular biology and neuroscience, centering education in her daily life.