Jack Andraka

Jack Andraka is a National Geographic Explorer who speaks to audiences around the globe about his personal story, research, and ideas for STEM education reform and fostering innovation. His journey began at age fifteen when he invented an inexpensive early detection method for pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancer that costs 3 cents and takes 5 minutes to run. Now completing his MS in Electrical Engineering at Stanford, Andraka conducts research on nanorobots, inexpensive biosensors, disease diagnostics, and global health interventions while serving as faculty at the Stanford Anesthesiology Summer Institute.

Andraka’s work has earned him international recognition, including the 2018 Truman Scholar Award, the 2014 Jefferson Award, and the Intel Science Fair Winner for 2012. His efforts have been acknowledged by former President Barack Obama and he was First Lady Michelle Obama’s personal guest at the 2013 State of the Union Address. His media appearances include documentaries like Morgan Spurlock’s “You Don’t Know Jack,” and appearances on "60 Minutes," "The Colbert Report," and "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer."

Andraka speaks at venues worldwide including universities, technology organizations, and hospitals across over 40 countries. He has delivered keynote addresses at notable events, such as a mainstage TED talk, 19 TEDx talks, and as a panelist at the Clinton Global Initiative. He runs mentoring programs for disadvantaged LGBT youth in STEM fields and competes in national and international kayaking championships, placing in the top 20 at the U-23 Wildwater Kayaking World Championships. Andraka’s diverse engagements highlight his dedication to using science and innovation to solve global challenges while inspiring the next generation in STEM fields.