Lauren enjoys a variety of activities, but has a special passion for science. Every year since third grade year (at age 7), she has completed science fair projects since mainly for her own educational benefit. She was named grand champion at her school many times, and has participated in Envirothon and Mathcounts.

As a thirteen-year-old sophomore honors student at Dallastown High School, she took summer college classes at York College and Penn State York and attends rigorous summer camps. In her spare time she plays violin and piano, reads, does puzzles, and draws. She attended a District Orchestra for the past two years and was selected to perform a piano concerto with her high school orchestra in May. She hopes to do an undergraduate degree in science and music, and then pursue a doctorate degree.

She said that completing this science research has been a journey—the knowledge and experience gained along the path, the opportunity to collaborate ideas and the potential to improve our quality of life is her ultimate goal.

Hodge is now a part of the Benner Lab at the UCSD School of Medicine, in La Jolla, CA.

Women, Influential Women, TED, STEM