What does it take to go from a curious kid in Cameroon to a PhD candidate at Stanford, shaping the future of brain tech?

In this episode, I talk with Favour Nerrise, an electrical engineering PhD student at Stanford who’s using AI to tackle neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Favour shares how her early love for science—sparked by her mother in medicine and her father in engineering—grew into a passion for computer engineering, hackathons, and global health initiatives like Clean Africa.

From joining the National Society of Black Engineers in high school to interning at SAP and contributing to quantum sensing research, Favour’s story is full of curiosity, impact, and community. We also dive into the challenges of clinical AI research, the importance of meaningful relationships, and how she balances leadership, research, and service.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to build a career at the intersection of AI, healthcare, and leadership—or how to turn your passions into purpose—this episode is for you.

00:00 Introduction and Early Life

05:23 Discovering Engineering

07:02 High School Projects and Hackathons

08:58 University of Maryland Experience

13:58 Internships and Professional Growth

18:21 PhD Journey at Stanford

22:39 Crafting a Career from Interests

23:03 Current Research and Projects

24:19 Digital Biomarkers and AI in Healthcare

26:08 Challenges in Clinical Data and AI

28:21 Leadership and Community Impact

29:29 Balancing Multiple Roles

33:41 Future Goals and Healthcare Innovations

40:15 The Importance of Curiosity