Hi! My name is Yash Kini, and I am a sophomore at James Madison High School. I grew up in a deeply musical household, where music wasn’t just something we listened to, but something we lived. I started with piano, moved to drums, and eventually found my place in the euphonium, an instrument that reflects the balance and complexity I’ve always been drawn to. Through music, I became fascinated by how the brain coordinates multiple processes at once to create something unified and expressive. That curiosity pushed me to think beyond traditional boundaries, leading me to found my own band, Sur2Soul, where I blend musical styles across cultures and genres.

That same mindset shapes everything I do. In Congressional Debate, I compete nationally, exploring how policy influences access to healthcare and education, especially in areas like medical diagnostics and brain health. I’ve also pursued neuroscience and computer science through research in brain-inspired learning systems, studying how biological principles can inform artificial intelligence. Through these experiences, I began to see learning as something dynamic and interconnected. NeuroThread is an extension of that belief, a space to explore how curiosity, when allowed to cross disciplines, can deepen our understanding of both the brain and the world around us.