Seeking an internship in engineering or medical research.
For a copy of Neath’s resume, please email (program@shecan.global).
Neath Ly is a First-Year student at Bucknell University, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. She grew up in Steung Meanchey, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. As survivors of the Khmer Rouge, her mother did not have the opportunity to attend college, while her father pursued education despite living in poverty. Both of her parents work as government administrators, earning a minimum wage to support the family. A STEM enthusiast, Neath put in tremendous effort to gain admission to E2STEM, a prestigious STEM school in Cambodia, on a full scholarship. Her high school experience deepened her passion for STEM.
Currently, Neath is a research assistant in the Computer Science Department at Bucknell University, where she collaborates with a professor on the development of augmented reality (AR) limbs for amputees. She is also an active member of Bucknell’s chapter of e-NABLE, a global non-profit organization that provides affordable assistive technology to individuals with limited mobility. Beyond academics, Neath is a member of the Figure Skating Club at Bucknell.
Since middle school, Neath has been deeply engaged in extracurricular activities, particularly in STEM and entrepreneurship. Her greatest passion is working with people with disabilities (PWDs). In March 2023, she launched “PIKAR Hero”, a project advocating for PWDs by providing digital upskilling programs. She led a team of volunteers to successfully implement:
- A Train-the-Leader Session, equipping PWDs with essential digital skills.
- A 2-Day Disability Inclusion Bootcamp, fostering collaboration between seven youth leaders and five PWDs.
In addition, Neath co-led “Yes I Code”, a project offering free fundamental coding classes to students with intellectual disabilities (Autism and Down Syndrome). The initiative was executed in two phases:
- A 5-week program, training 10 teachers at a special-needs school in computer and coding fundamentals.
- An 8-week program, where she and her team taught basic coding skills to 13 students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Down Syndrome.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Neath co-founded CamSEED, later renamed Bondoul, an organization dedicated to helping university students in Cambodia secure paid internship opportunities, regardless of their socioeconomic status. After CamSEED ceased operations in 2022, she re-established Bondoul in 2023. Within a year, her team successfully helped 38 students secure paid internships with 19 local companies.
Further expanding her outreach, Neath co-led “SPARK”, an 8-hour educational boot camp for over 50 high school students in Mesang, Prey Veng Province, guiding them on effective learning strategies and college major selection.
Driven by her passion for disability advocacy and bioengineering, Neath designed a bionic arm prototype called “CybonicZ” for amputees. She aspires to establish it as a non-profit organization in the future.
Her leadership roles include:
- Team Leader for the New York Academy of Sciences’ “1000 Girls, 1000 Futures” program.
- Leading her team to second place in “The 11th e-ICON World Contest”.
- Serving twice as a Technical Lead for Technovation Cambodia.
- Member of Kampuchea Aerospace Exploration Aspiration (KAXA), promoting space engineering in Cambodia.
Neath’s ultimate goal is to improve health and well-being in Cambodia through biomedical devices, particularly for people with disabilities. After suffering an injury that tore the lateral collateral ligament in her knee, requiring surgery and resulting in temporary impairment, Neath became even more committed to supporting individuals with disabilities—a mission that remains at the core of her life’s work.
