Erina
MOMOHARA

Empower Generations of Girls in STEM (E.G.G.S),

Co-Founder

Japan

With an insatiable curiosity and an unwavering desire to broaden their horizons, Erina’s creative spirit knows no bounds. Driven by a deep-seated passion for learning and an unquenchable hunger for new experiences, she strives to expand her understanding of the world by engaging with new people and cultures. Erina’s passion for creativity, curiosity, and drive to make a positive impact have led her to be devoted to empowering women in STEM and researching cancer cures.

Erina grew up in both the U.S. and Japan, helping her develop an appreciation for diverse perspectives and driving her to what she believes today. Erina’s parents both immigrated to the U.S. at a very young age. They focused on achieving the “American Dream,” with her father becoming an entrepreneur and her mother working at Google, one of the biggest tech companies today. They have always promoted Erina to pursue her passions and become a self-starter. Furthermore, Erina’s passion for finding a cure for cancer is deeply personal. The loss of her grandparents and her mother’s battle with breast cancer made Erina understand the devastating impact of this disease on people’s lives, increasing her determination to learn more about cancer and contribute to finding a cure.

Erina has co-founded a club to encourage girls to pursue STEM subjects and worked at a sustainability-focused start-up. She is also captain of the varsity cheerleading team, where she cultivates leadership and teamwork skills. In addition, she enjoys painting, even winning some intramural art competitions. Erina is also devoted to helping underprivileged students in Southeast Asia by raising funds and teaching English.

In the future, Erina wants to major in either Pre-Med or biomedical engineering and maybe even attain a minor in art.  While keeping up with her studies, Erina still intends to advocate for gender equality and become a model for young girls showing them they can pursue a career in STEM.