Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Leadership Extracurriculars
Reading scientific journals
Timeline
Generic

Arun mathavan

Student Researcher/ Pre Med Student
Kuala Lumpur,14

Summary

Hardworking Student offering part-time work experience and extensive knowledge of core subject matter. Meticulous and detail-oriented with excellent observational, organizational and communication skills. Driven by a fascination with cancer biology, neuroscience, and public health, I am a highly engaged A-Level student seeking to deepen my research skills through hands-on experience. My early exposure to clinical environments, student-led research, and science communication has prepared me to contribute to real-world cancer research. I am eager to assist in projects that demand curiosity, critical thinking, and purpose—especially those addressing cancer in the Asian context.

Overview

2026
2026
years of professional experience

Work History

Volunteer

Free Clinics in India
01.2024 - Current
  • Assisted medical staff in providing care to underprivileged patients
  • Conducted blood sugar tests on over 600+ patients, giving them the help needed, learnt to do basic medical care( dressing etc), shadowed professors and physicians, shadowed gynaecologists internationally.
  • Gained firsthand experience with cancer patients and chronic disease sufferers
  • Gained perspective on healthcare inequalities and early detection limitations
  • Developed empathy, clinical communication, and service-driven mindset for patient assistance
  • Gained experience over a month

Blood donation Camp Administration

Sathya Sai Organization
01.2023 - 07.2025
  • Helped nearly 800 patients start their process in medical checkups and blood screenings in multiple blood donation camps in Johor
  • Learnt methods of blood transfusions
  • Shadowed nurses and physicians during blood transfusion
  • Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
  • Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
  • Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.

Intern - Hospital Internship

KPJ Bandar Dato Onn, Private Hospital
03.2024 - 04.2024
  • Shadowed radiologists and physiotherapists in patient assessment
  • Observed cancer diagnostics and imaging interpretation
  • Enhanced understanding of the diagnostic pipeline and patient-centered care
  • Continuously adapted instructional approaches based on individual student needs, ensuring equitable access to education for all learners.
  • Gained exposure to various aspects of the industry through active participation in company events, workshops, and training sessions during the internship period.
  • Enhanced internship experience by actively participating in team meetings and contributing valuable ideas.
  • Participated in workshops and presentations related to projects to gain knowledge.

Environmental & Public Health Competitions

  • Competed in environmental health challenge focusing on pollution-linked carcinogens organized by Southampton.
  • Presented independent research of Artificial Intelligence and its effects on healthcare in the national state competition in Johor, JISLC.
  • Presented findings on mutagenic compounds in air and water and their cancer risks
  • Developed a campaign concept to spread public awareness about cancer prevention through sustainability
  • Competed in national biology olympiads( British Biology Olympiad), Neuroscience competions(3) organized by University of Toronto

Passion Project

Neuroscience & Cancer Interface Exploration

  • Independently researched the overlap between neurodegenerative diseases and cancer (e.g. glioblastoma, tumor immune evasion, synaptic signaling disruption)
  • Participated in competions for neuroscience based topics on neurodegenerative disorders
  • Regularly reviewed medical literature on neuroimmunology and brain tumor therapies
  • Planning an awareness project to connect youth to neuroscience and early cancer literacy
  • Read journals on the breakdown of the human mind to integrate our understandings to life


Student Council Secretary

Austin Heights International School
08.2023 - 07.2025
  • Documentation & Organization:
    Maintained official records of council meetings, including minutes, voting decisions, and policy discussions
    Ensured timely distribution of agendas, notices, and action points to all student council members
    Developed structured systems for planning events and tracking progress
  • Communication Bridge:
    Acted as the main point of contact between the student body and council leadership
    Compiled feedback from students on academic stress, well-being, and co-curricular needs
    Wrote professional letters and proposals to school leadership for initiatives like student mental health weeks, awareness talks, and STEM outreach
  • Campaign & Event Management:
    Coordinated health-themed campaigns, including one focused on stress, mental health, and long-term disease prevention
    Helped organize science weeks, academic clinics, and school-wide well-being challenges
    Led logistics for assemblies, speaker sessions, and club exhibitions
  • Policy & Advocacy:
    Drafted and revised student policy proposals (uniform, academic flexibility, mental health initiatives)
    Advocated for more inclusive academic and extracurricular opportunities in STEM and health education
    Promoted cancer awareness and scientific literacy during assembly talks and science exhibitions
  • Mentorship & Support:
    Trained and supported younger council members in leadership, responsibility, and event planning
    Encouraged open forums for students to share academic and health-related concerns
    Helped implement a student-led peer tutoring initiative, especially in Biology and Chemistry

Volunteer

Austin Heights International School
06.2023 - 07.2024
  • Help organize multiple charities for orphanages and old folks homes during high school by providing education to underprivillaged communities
  • Coordinated cultural exchange programs with international volunteers to enrich the lives of orphans.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address individual needs of each child, ensuring their overall wellbeing.
  • Promoted a positive atmosphere within the orphanage by organizing recreational activities and group outings.

Student Ambassador

Austin Heights International School
07.2015 - 07.2025
  • Represented school in science fairs, national presentations, and medical awareness events )
  • Led campaigns on tobacco risks, and genetics of disease
  • Mentored junior students in biology and chemistry through hands-on demonstrations and peer tutoring
  • Gained valuable public speaking experience through regular presentations to diverse audiences about the benefits of attending the university.
  • Developed in-depth knowledge of school resources and services and promoted to prospective students.

Family Tutor

01.2020 - 06.2025
  • Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
  • Supported her with helpful study habits and exam strategies continously for 5 years

Student Researcher - Antibacterial Resistance in Plants

Monash
01.2023 - 12.2023
  • Independently conducted a project examining natural alternatives to reduce bacterial resistance
  • Sucessfully found and proven hypothesis with evidence for a alternative to reduce resistance in plants
  • Studied gene inhibition and bacterial mutations, building skills in experimental design and reporting
  • Sparked an ongoing interest in molecular biology, cancer mutation pathways, and environmental health
  • University-affiliated project

Intern

KPJ Healthcare Berhad
08.2024 - 09.2024
  • Continuously adapted instructional approaches based on individual student needs, ensuring equitable access to education for all learners.
  • Gained exposure to various aspects of the industry through active participation in company events, workshops, and training sessions during the internship period.
  • Enhanced internship experience by actively participating in team meetings and contributing valuable ideas.
  • Participated in workshops and presentations related to projects to gain knowledge.

Education

High School Diploma -

Austin Heights International School
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
04.2001 -

Skills

Friendly, positive attitude

Leadership Extracurriculars

Student Council Member, Senior Committee, Worked closely with school leadership and peers to organize academic & wellbeing events, Initiated a mental health campaign linking chronic stress to long-term disease outcomes, Spearheaded discussions on youth health, discipline, and engagement in STEM, Learned how to manage diverse opinions, lead under pressure

Reading scientific journals

Cancer & the Brain
  • Explored glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) — one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer
  • Studied how cancer manipulates the blood-brain barrier, invades healthy tissue, and avoids immune detection
  • Became fascinated by neuro-oncology — the intersection between neuroscience, immunology, and oncology
Neuroimmunology
  • Self-researched how brain tumors influence the immune system and how immune cells behave differently in the CNS
  • Learned about the role of T-cells, microglia, and immune checkpoints in brain tumor resistance
  • Developed early interest in immunotherapy approaches for neuro cancers
Neurodegeneration vs Cancer
  • Compared pathways in neurodegeneration (like Alzheimer's) with cancer cell survival
  • Studied the paradox where some genes like p53 and tau proteins behave differently in degenerative vs proliferative conditions
  • Found intellectual curiosity in how the brain’s defense mechanisms can go wrong in both directions


 Mental Health, Stress, and Disease


  • Learned how sustained cortisol levels affect hippocampus shrinkage, immune suppression, and even cancer susceptibility

Timeline

Intern

KPJ Healthcare Berhad
08.2024 - 09.2024

Intern - Hospital Internship

KPJ Bandar Dato Onn, Private Hospital
03.2024 - 04.2024

Volunteer

Free Clinics in India
01.2024 - Current

Student Council Secretary

Austin Heights International School
08.2023 - 07.2025

Volunteer

Austin Heights International School
06.2023 - 07.2024

Blood donation Camp Administration

Sathya Sai Organization
01.2023 - 07.2025

Student Researcher - Antibacterial Resistance in Plants

Monash
01.2023 - 12.2023

Family Tutor

01.2020 - 06.2025

Student Ambassador

Austin Heights International School
07.2015 - 07.2025

High School Diploma -

Austin Heights International School
04.2001 -

Environmental & Public Health Competitions

Passion Project

Arun mathavanStudent Researcher/ Pre Med Student