Ava Bandi
Breath Study Student Lead, Center for Augmenting Intelligence (CAI)
Biology — University of Detroit Mercy
Ava Bandi is a sophomore Biology major and pre-med student at the University of Detroit Mercy. She currently serves as Breath Study Student Lead with the Center for Augmenting Intelligence (CAI), where she applies her passion for sports science and medicine to cutting-edge research in volatile organic compound (VOC) breath analysis. A collegiate athlete herself, Ava was first introduced to CAI as a research subject, and quickly found herself wanting to be part of the team building it.
How She Got Involved
Ava joined CAI during the Fall 2025 semester after participating in the breath study as a subject. As a pre-med student wanting to pursue undergraduate research, she was looking for something she was genuinely passionate about, and the breath study, which combined her interests in sports and science stood out.
Projects & Contributions
Through her work with CAI, Ava has taken on a growing range of research and leadership responsibilities:
- Breath Research (Fall 2025 – Winter 2026): Began as a Research Assistant testing VOCs in collegiate athletes, then advanced to Breath Study Student Lead, directing VOC testing and dehydration analysis.
- CAI Research Symposium (April 9, 2026): Presented two research posters: “Inter-individual Variability in Exhaled Breath Biomarkers Following Exercise in Collegiate Athletes” and “Testing Metabolic Changes Related to Fasting”, and is actively contributing to manuscript writing and scientific publication for both.
- CAI Aging Well AI Challenge (April 10, 2026): Helped organize and run the event, and supported HydraBreath, a project that earned second place in the competition.
Skills & Learning
Working with CAI has helped Ava build a broad set of skills that span research, ethics, leadership, and communication:
- Research & Technical Skills: Hands-on experience with VOC breath analysis, data collection, study execution, and manuscript writing toward scientific publication.
- Ethical Research Practices: Completed the CITI Biomedical Responsible Conduct of Research Course, strengthening her understanding of human subject protection and data integrity.
- Leadership & Collaboration: Led the Ramadan breath study, developed organizational abilities, and deepened communication skills through close teamwork.
- Career Clarity: These experiences reinforced her commitment to pursuing a career in medicine and research.
Perspective on AI & Career Path
CAI has reinforced Ava’s interest in medicine by showing her how data, technology, and clinical insight can translate to solve real-world problems. Her involvement in projects like the breath study and HydraBreath demonstrated that AI is not a replacement for human judgment in healthcare, it’s a tool that amplifies it. This experience has deepened her commitment to pursuing research throughout her postgraduate education and seeking out collaborative environments where science and purpose align.
“AI won’t redefine medicine on its own—the people who know how to use it with purpose, ethics, and empathy will.”
Advice to Other Students:
Don’t wait for the “perfect” research opportunity, just go for it. AI is becoming increasingly prominent in healthcare, and learning how to integrate it into your future profession is incredibly valuable. The future of medicine won’t be defined by AI alone, but by how well we combine technology with human intuition, empathy, and clinical judgment. There’s real value in starting to learn now.
Looking Ahead
Ava is excited to see the publication process unfold for both of her symposium posters and to continue the breath study, exploring new ideas grounded in the data already collected. She looks forward to working alongside her team and learning from mentors Dr. Favor, Dr. Gifford, and Dr. Olla as she works toward her goal of attending medical school.
For media inquiries or interviews, please contact the CAI Communications Team via the Contact Page.
