Ria Bahadur
Stanford University · Science, Technology & Society Honors · Class of 2027
Education
Stanford University · B.S. candidate with Honors, Science, Technology & Society
Innovation & Organization track; minor in International Relations – International Security. Class of 2027.
Current work
Honors Thesis Researcher · Stanford STS
Credibility by Design: How Military Wargames Shape Plausibility Judgments. In progress.
Main Staff · Project Innovation · Hoover Institution
Scientific innovation, AI leadership, research security, international cooperation, governance, and public trust.
Founder & Legislative Author · Mission 5355
Two enacted state laws; 20+ legislative adaptations across 9+ U.S. legislatures; international adaptation efforts.
Process Modeler & Operational Analyst · NATO CCDCOE
Wargaming, cyber realism, and operational analysis.
Founder & CEO · Stealth venture
Dual-use decision simulation.
Co-inventor · Independent invention · 2026
U.S. provisional patent application filed with her father. Patent pending; developed independently outside Stanford.
Selected recognition
FUSE Fellow · 2026
STS Forum & NAA–STS Forum, with support from the Henry Luce Foundation. Program recognizing emerging women leaders in science, technology, and security.
Selected Presenter · SERI Symposium · 2026
One of four symposium presenters.
Cap and Gown Leader Award · 2026
One of five selected from Stanford’s Class of 2027.
Stanford Existential Risks Initiative Fellow · 2024
One of 23 fellows.
Earlier research
Pathak Laboratory · UC Irvine · 2020–21
Neural stem cells, Cas9 gene editing, organogenesis, Piezo1 mechanobiology, imaging, and electrophysiology.
Center for Neurotechnology · University of Washington · 2021
Restorative neurotechnology; acknowledged in Optogenetic Spinal Stimulation Promotes New Axonal Growth .
Johnson Laboratory · Seattle Children’s Research Institute · 2022
Experimental work with genetic mitochondrial-disease models.
Neurological Associates of Washington · 2022
Clinical neurology and diagnostic observation.
Policy & education
Washington SB 5355 · Enacted 2023
Youngest sole author of enacted legislation in a U.S. state. Created, drafted, and negotiated the measure.
Montana SB 107 · Enacted 2025
Author.
North Dakota HB 1569 · Introduced 2025
Author; published legislative testimony.
Legislative expansion · 2025–present
20+ adapted bills across 9+ U.S. legislatures, including introduced, prefiled, stalled, failed, and discussion-stage pathways in Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Michigan, Minnesota, and additional states. Nevada SB 131 did not pass in 2025 and is being redrafted for 2027. International adaptation discussions include Denmark, Japan, the United Kingdom, Spain, and European institutions; Brunei’s Ministry of Education spotlighted the work.
UNESCO Ethics of Neurotechnology · 2024
Academic (Medical) Stakeholder by U.S. Department of State invitation.
Sexual Violence and Sex Trafficking in the 21st Century
Project Lead and OER Grantee. Competitive $16,000 OSPI grant; internationally published open curriculum. OSPI project team
Washington SANE Guide
Author of a professional resource in use at WSU College of Nursing; reviewed by Dr. Victoria Patricia Sattler.
Selected leadership
Wargaming Director · Stanford FACES
Founded and leads wargaming programming.
Operations Lead · Stanford Student Space Initiative
Operations, funding, coordination, and external engagement.
Director & Executive Board Member · Stanford Women in National Security · 2024–25
Programming, communications, speakers, and community-building across national-security fields.
Editorial Board Member · Stanford Embodied · 2023–25
Editorial work for Stanford’s undergraduate journal of feminist, gender, and sexuality studies.
Incoming STS Major Peer Advisor · 2026
Selected for major advising and departmental programming.
Speech & Debate
Third nationally in Impromptu Speaking; NSDA Academic All-American; 55+ regional awards.