Rajagopal Appavu
Professor, Mentor & Scientist
Business Alliance Member
Professional Bio
Dr. Rajagopal “Raj” Appavu is a biomedical scientist, professor, educator, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing STEM education, research mentorship, and workforce development. With over two decades of experience spanning academia, healthcare, and community partnerships, Dr. Appavu has built a reputation as a visionary leader who bridges scientific innovation with educational impact.
He is the Founder of Research Rising Stars LLC, a pioneering platform that empowers middle school, high school, and undergraduate students to engage in advanced biomedical, AI, and STEM research. Under his leadership, Research Rising Stars has mentored students toward national-level competitions, peer-reviewed publications, and early exposure to BS/MD and direct-to-medical-school pathways.
Previously, Dr. Appavu served as faculty at the University of South Florida’s Taneja College of Pharmacy and has collaborated with the CDC and leading institutions on pediatric health data management, public health, and artificial intelligence applications in medicine. His scholarly contributions include federally funded research grants, peer-reviewed publications, and applied innovations in data science and epidemiology.
Deeply invested in community advancement, Dr. Appavu is a mentor and partner with the Hillsborough Education Foundation, where he builds mentorship pipelines that strengthen workforce readiness. He also serves as a leader in school-based initiatives, including PTA/PTSA programs, and is the architect of the Nation’s First AI STEM Club for middle schoolers in Florida—a model designed to scale nationally.
He is also an active contributor to professional networks such as the Society for Science, Florida PTA, and state/national STEM councils.
He is the Founder of Research Rising Stars LLC, a pioneering platform that empowers middle school, high school, and undergraduate students to engage in advanced biomedical, AI, and STEM research. Under his leadership, Research Rising Stars has mentored students toward national-level competitions, peer-reviewed publications, and early exposure to BS/MD and direct-to-medical-school pathways.
Previously, Dr. Appavu served as faculty at the University of South Florida’s Taneja College of Pharmacy and has collaborated with the CDC and leading institutions on pediatric health data management, public health, and artificial intelligence applications in medicine. His scholarly contributions include federally funded research grants, peer-reviewed publications, and applied innovations in data science and epidemiology.
Deeply invested in community advancement, Dr. Appavu is a mentor and partner with the Hillsborough Education Foundation, where he builds mentorship pipelines that strengthen workforce readiness. He also serves as a leader in school-based initiatives, including PTA/PTSA programs, and is the architect of the Nation’s First AI STEM Club for middle schoolers in Florida—a model designed to scale nationally.
He is also an active contributor to professional networks such as the Society for Science, Florida PTA, and state/national STEM councils.