4S Ranch teen wins $50K scholarship for research on mitochondrial health

Zinia Khattar started her studies at Harvard University this fall with an unexpected extra boost — a $50,000 scholarship.

Over the summer, the 2025 Del Norte High graduate was named a Davidson Fellow for discovering a key cellular pathway that could be targeted to treat diseases linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, such as Parkinson’s and diabetes.

Through her research, Khattar said she identified the integrated stress response as the predominant pathway that is activated when mitochondria are damaged. This means therapies could be developed to restore mitochondrial health.

“Mitochondria is essentially one of the big cornerstones of life,” the 4S Ranch resident said. “As a species we could not function, especially humans. It is a powerhouse cell. A building block for life. When it does not work properly … we can develop a whole variety of diseases. So we have to figure out ways to help cells regulate mitochondria. … We might not just cure one disease, but many.”

Khattar received the $50,000 scholarship during a Sept. 5-7 expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to attend an event held by the Davidson Institute for this year’s 21 fellows, who shared a record $825,000 awarded.

“It covers a big portion of my (educational costs),” Khattar said.

The scholarships from the Davidson Institute are awarded to students 18 and younger for their significant projects that have the potential to benefit society in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature and music.

It “recognizes, nurtures and supports profoundly intelligent young people, and provides opportunities for them to develop their talents to make a positive difference,” according to the scholarship announcement.

“For 25 years, the Davidson Fellows Scholarship has recognized some of the most remarkable research undertaken by young people in the nation,” said Bob Davidson, founder of the Davidson Institute. “The 2025 class of Fellows continues to raise the bar for achievement as we celebrate this milestone year, marked by innovation, perseverance and the hundreds of alumni whose work continues to make a lasting difference in their fields and communities.”

Since the program’s inception in 2001, it has provided more than $10.7 million in scholarships to 469 students and was named one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships by U.S. News & World Report, officials said.

Khattar, who was 17 when she won the scholarship, said she is honored to have been selected.

“Becoming a Davidson Fellow is a tremendous encouragement to continue asking probing questions,” Khattar said. “Joining a community of fellow thinkers, builders and inventors who serve humanity has been a dream, and I’m forever grateful to the Davidson Institute for helping me materialize this vision.”

Khattar said she applied in February, but was not notified of her selection until right before starting her studies at Harvard.

“I’m definitely super thrilled,” she said.

Her independent research that earned her the scholarship was conducted over the past couple years at a local research institution, which Khattar declined to identify, saying her mentor does not want that information publicized.

“I was fortunate to have an awesome mentor who challenged my work and taught me a lot,” she said.

Khattar said her parents — Abha Khosla and Shammi Khattar — are both software engineers. She credited her maternal grandmother with sparking her interest in science and her maternal grandfather for spurring her thirst for knowledge. Khattar recalled first liking science in sixth grade when her grandmother, who had been a science teacher in India, showed her the diagram of a heart.

“One of the reasons why I chose Harvard … is that it will help me further myself in science and research,” she said.

But science was not the only draw. Khattar said she also liked that she would gain a liberal arts education, as opposed to what she would be exposed to if only attending a tech-focused school.

“I feel in modern day science and technology that it is not good enough to just have that,” she said. “We need to be in a great communicative atmosphere … so we can explain the wonders of what our work does to broader society. … Tech schools put researchers in a silo. I needed a broader education that I would get through liberal arts, in my opinion.”

Of her first couple months at Harvard, Khattar said, “It’s amazing. Coming to the East Coast was a really big culture shock … because in California I was totally in a bubble. I’ve met some really incredible people … have grown socially and academically in two months. They have been very busy, but also very fulfilling.”

Students at Harvard do not declare a major prior to their sophomore year, Khattar said. So far, she is leaning toward chemical biology, molecular biology or neuroscience. For now, Khattar said her goal is to become a medical doctor, but added there is “a slight chance” she will want to not only be an MD, but a Ph.D.

“There is a lot of value to having a doctoral degree … in the biofields.”

Her passion for classical music and playing the piano is fueling some of her collegiate extracurriculars.

“Currently at Harvard I am applying for every club,” she said. “There is a piano society that is really cool, that has monthly recitals on campus. I also want to see if there are other chamber music groups to join.”

Khattar said she grew up in Poway Unified School District, starting out at Shoal Creek Elementary but transferring to Monterey Ridge Elementary for second grade. She attended the Black Mountain Middle School Academy prior to Del Norte High.

At Del Norte she was president and founder of its Scientella chapter, a student-run organization focused on empowering the next generation of women in STEM fields. She was also on Scientalla’s national board.

Khattar was also on Del Norte’s swim and diving teams, which she called “super fun,” adding that the butterfly was her favorite stroke since “my arms are stronger than my legs.”