Selected experience.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Undergraduate study · Academic interests in biomedical engineering, music, and entrepreneurship; undergraduate research in medical imaging.

St. Paul’s School for Boys

International Baccalaureate Diploma · Completed the IB Diploma Programme. Research, choral music, student journalism, and civic engagement were central to my time at St. Paul’s.

Medical imaging & reconstruction

UNC–Chapel Hill · Lu research group · 2026

Undergraduate research in CT reconstruction and medical imaging. I am developing experience with TIGRE, phantom imaging datasets, and the evaluation of noise, resolution, and reconstruction artifacts.

Insect behavior & chemical ecology

Towson University · Shields laboratory · 2022–2026

Behavioral assays examining how house crickets and spotted-wing drosophila respond to plant-derived repellents. This work includes experimental design, data analysis, scientific writing, and two first-author papers in Insects.

Nanomaterials chemistry

Towson University · Devadas laboratory · Earlier research experience

Research experience in gold nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, using serial dilutions, micropipetting, UV-visible spectroscopy, and quantitative analysis.

Essential oils as biofriendly alternatives to synthetic insect repellents

Torben K. Heinbockel & Vonnie D. C. Shields

Insects · 17(6), 575 · May 2026

Selected essential oils act as repellents against the house cricket, Acheta domesticus

Torben K. Heinbockel, Rasha O. Alzyoud, Shazia Raheel & Vonnie D. C. Shields

Insects · 17(1), 106 · January 2026

International Youth Conference · 2026

Workshop presenter: A Three-Language Model of Youth Diplomacy (September 22). Panelist: Economic Progress & Environmental Resilience (September 24).

Sigma Xi IFoRE · 2025

Hands-On Learning Experiences (HOLEs): A Student-Led Model for Growing STEM Interest and Literacy.

Selected scientific meetings

NCUR (2026), IFoRE (2024–2025), Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch (2024), and Society for Neuroscience (2023).

Accepted upcoming session · November 7, 2026

The Mentor Next Door · Sigma Xi IFoRE 2026. Scheduled, not yet presented as of this CV update.

Maryland State Boychoir · 2014–2026

Chorister, student conductor, and vocal coach; Deputy Head Chorister, 2025–26. Ambassador Chorister (2026), Staff Award (2025).

Solo & ensemble performance

Chichester Psalms boy-soprano solo with Baltimore Choral Arts (2022); ensemble work with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Bach in Baltimore.

Route 81 & Concert Chorale

Route 81 president/student director (2025–26); Tenor I section leader in Concert Chorale (2023–26).

Volunteer music instruction

Do Re Mi Project: piano, voice, music theory, and note reading.

EinSTEAM Science Society

Founder · Science education · Programs documented from 2023

I develop hands-on science activities and near-peer learning experiences, including programs with St. Paul’s Lower School and Bridges Baltimore. The aim is simple: give students something they can try, question, and explain for themselves.

Taylor’s Chapel restoration

Eagle Scout service project · 2024–2025

Led volunteers in building four benches, restoring approximately 80 gravestones, and cleaning more than 300 feet of fencing at the historic Baltimore chapel. A place I knew through music became a place to serve.

Books for Baltimore

School book-drive organizer · 2025

Organized a St. Paul’s book drive that collected 1,465 books for the Maryland Book Bank, bringing students and families into a practical literacy project.

Veterans Legacy Project

Student leadership & interviews · St. Paul’s School

Interviewed veterans to help preserve their experiences and led student involvement in the Veterans Legacy Project. Related service included writing letters to military members serving overseas.

Youth dialogue & civic engagement

IOY Ambassador · Workshop speaker · 2026–2027 ambassador term

An IOY Ambassador and speaker at the 14th International Youth Conference, with a workshop on cultural exchange, shared evidence, and civic action, and a panel on economic progress and environmental resilience.

Editor-in-Chief, The Voice · 2024–2026

Reporting, faculty interviews, contributor mentoring, and editorial leadership at St. Paul’s.

Student Visionary Award

Sigma Xi · IFoRE · 2025

Grand Prize · National STEM Science Fair

National Order of the Arrow Conference · 2024

Outstanding ePoster Presentation

ABRCMS Spring Symposium for Emerging Scientists · 2023

Regional Finalist

Coca-Cola Scholars Program · 2026

SATB Honor Choir

ACDA Eastern Region · 2026

All-Eastern Honor Ensemble

NAfME Eastern Division · 2025

First Prize · Global & Finale competitions

Charleston International Music Competition · 2025 competitions

Eagle Scout · All 141 merit badges

Scouting America · Eagle Scout 2025 · Badges completed by 2026

The Neuroacoustics of Choral Synchrony · 2025–2026

Independent proposal: literature synthesis, hypothesis development, and proposed experimental design. Not a completed empirical study or presented ACDA poster.