At Talcott Mountain Academy (TMA), students’ curiosity and creativity lead to remarkable inventions. Sisters Rhea and Raji Doshi are two of the innovators contributing to this tradition. Rhea, a 2023 TMA now a sophomore at Kingswood Oxford, and Raji, a current 7th grader at TMA, are using their talents in STEM to solve real-world problems.
Rhea Doshi: Advancing Early Diagnosis in Medicine
Rhea is tackling neurodegenerative disorders with her invention NeuroStride™, a gait analysis system consisting of a smart mat embedded with pressure sensors, motion capture, and real-time video analysis. The technology is designed to diagnose patients with a neurodegenerative disorder up to fifteen years earlier than standard methods, offering an affordable, effective, non-invasive, and accessible solution.
“The idea behind NeuroStride™ originated from my two-year internship in my mom’s medical practice,” says Rhea. “She worked with many patients with neurodegeneration, and it was heartbreaking to see their conditions worsen. After conducting research, I discovered that late diagnosis was the primary issue. Early diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders could save lives and time for so many individuals.”
Rhea’s efforts have already been recognized with the RTX Inventing Tomorrow award at the National Invention Convention, validating the hard work she put into developing her invention.
“Talcott introduced me to numerous new and exciting realms of science and engineering that I had never encountered before,” says Rhea. “This became the foundation of my passion for STEM and inspired me to participate in science fairs, invention conventions, and other events. The teachers were all very supportive of my journey, and because of this, I have made significant progress.”
For Rhea, the most exciting part of the process was testing her invention. NeuroStride™ went through a twenty-patient clinical trial, and the AI technology is validated with 97% accuracy. More recently, Rhea received IRB approval to move on to a 500-patient clinical trial.
“It was incredibly rewarding to create my finished product and have others test it out,” says Rhea. “Seeing it work was definitely nice, but also a sign to keep working at it!”
Looking ahead, Rhea plans to pursue a career in biotechnology, continue developing her inventions, and bring them to the market as soon as possible.
Raji Doshi: Making Daily Life Easier for Seniors
Raji’s invention, SMART—Sock Mobilization and Assistance Robotic Technology—makes wearing compression socks easier for seniors and individuals with limited mobility. Inspired by her grandmother’s struggles with arthritis, Raji designed a device that allows users to place their foot in a sock, press a button, and have the sock pulled up automatically via a conveyor belt mechanism.
“Every day, I watched my grandmother struggle as she attempted to put on her compression socks, and when I tried to help her, she became frustrated,” says Raji. “That is when I decided that something had to be done, and after brainstorming and researching, I decided SMART would be the perfect solution.”
Raji’s invention has earned multiple accolades, including first place at a TMA competition, recognition to advance at the regional level, and a provisional patent award at the state level.
“My experience at Talcott was helpful because my mentors were very supportive,” says Raji. “I also appreciated having access to all the materials I needed for the technological aspect of my invention.”
Seeing her invention come to life and work for the first time was especially thrilling. One of the most surprising parts of the process was realizing just how many potential users her invention had.
“Every time I create or invent something, the most exhilarating moment is always the ‘aha’ moment,” says Raji. “For an inventor, that is the moment when you can finally complete your project and see it help people. It is amazing what you can do when you are creative; it makes me want to keep inventing!”
Going forward, Raji plans to fully motorize the system, add a sock removal feature, and test it with seniors to enhance safety and comfort. She hopes SMART will one day be used in hospitals, nursing homes, physical therapy centers, and homes to help users retain dignity and independence.
A Shared Journey in STEM
Rhea and Raji Doshi are examples of how curiosity, creativity, and determination can lead to inventions that make a real difference. Through their experiences at Talcott, they developed not only technical skills but also the confidence to pursue ambitious ideas and solve meaningful problems. From helping seniors maintain independence to detecting neurodegenerative disorders years earlier, the Doshi sisters are using their talents to improve lives, showing that innovation and compassion go hand in hand.