Profile / 01
One person.
One purpose.
I bring scientific thinking, technical imagination and a commitment to human rights into one coherent practice.
◎PASSAPORTO🇮🇹
◎ПАСОШ · PASSPORT🇲🇰
Italian + Macedonian
Ciao, I’m Marika.
I come from Italy and North Macedonia, and I am currently studying Physics with a minor in Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, United States.
My time at Georgia Tech
At Georgia Tech, I conduct research in the physics of cognition at Dr. Sederberg’s MaTRIX Laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Abdelaleem. I also work as a Professional Development Leader with the John Martinson Honors Program.
My recent summer
Outside the university, I worked as a Research Assistant with the epilepsy department at Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, ranked #1 among pediatric hospitals in Europe and #6 globally. I also participated in the Equitech Futures Institute Fellowship and Equitech’s AI for Science Summer School.
UWC, Rise and the experiences that shaped me
After winning the Porte d’Europa competition, I continued seeking international communities built around learning and service. In May 2025, I graduated with an International Baccalaureate Diploma from UWC Robert Bosch College in Freiburg, Germany. I remain involved with the UWC Italy national committee through hubs, outreach campaigns and the student-selection process.
That international environment taught me the value of empathy, compassion, hard work, perseverance and resilience—qualities that are now central to who I am. During my time at UWC, I was named a 2024 Rise Global Winner and received the 2025 GoMakeADifference Award. I also served as a Student Representative and as a member of the international UWC Student Government.
Looking beyond Earth.
I have been fascinated by astrophysics and astronautics since sixth grade, when reading Stephen Hawking’s books and watching Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar made the universe feel both intellectually demanding and deeply human.
From curiosity to astronomy
I attended the Scuola Nazionale Estiva di Astronomia di Eccellenza—Italy’s National Summer School of Astronomy and Excellence—after ranking as the second-highest-performing applicant in the country. In 2020, I created The Curious World of Astronomy, an Instagram project that makes astronomy and astrophysics news accessible to a wider audience.
What I am exploring now
Today, I am especially interested in gravitational waves, LIGO technologies and astroparticle physics. I am pursuing these interests through my studies in Physics and Aerospace Engineering, while my involvement with Women in Aviation International is helping me take the first steps toward earning a Private Pilot License.
Making justice more accessible.
Driven by my interest in social impact, I founded Law‑Tie in May 2026. Law‑Tie is a non-profit designed to increase the success of pro-bono legal cases by connecting law students—and students with demonstrated legal knowledge—with pro-bono lawyers supporting young people facing injustice in court.
How the model works
The initiative begins in Italy, with the ambition to expand across Europe and eventually worldwide. Under the guidance of a participating lawyer, student volunteers can contribute legal research and practical support while offering the empathy that often comes from being closer in age to the young people served: citizens under 25 and non-citizens under 35.
Lawyers can delegate meaningful work with appropriate oversight, while students gain verified Law‑Tie experience that can be shared with employers and professional networks.
A system designed to benefit everyone
Law‑Tie also aims to provide free, certified training for students and underrepresented young people, and to develop into a formally recognized internship through which full-time student contributors may earn academic credit.
The model is designed to benefit everyone involved: lawyers gain the capacity to take on and complete more pro-bono cases, students build substantive legal experience, and young people receive stronger support in making their rights and wishes clearly understood in court.