Meet Eric Markarian, '26

The bioengineering and design major used his global studies minor, with a specialization in Iran, to reconnect with his heritage while pursuing research, entrepreneurship, and community-building at Stanford.

Bioengineering and design major Eric Markarian grew up immersed in Iranian culture, food, and music. Both of his parents are Armenian immigrants from Iran, but he never had an opportunity to learn the language. Taking first-year Farsi at Stanford became the catalyst for a deeper exploration of the history, politics, and identity behind the culture that had shaped his upbringing.

Through his global studies minor with a specialization in Iran, Markarian reconnected with his heritage while pursuing a wide range of interests across campus. He conducted research in Professor of Radiology Raag Airan's lab, helped strengthen Stanford's Armenian community through the Armenian Studies Association, and launched his first company through Stanford Biodesign. This fall, he will begin medical school at Harvard University, where he plans to combine medicine, innovation, and human-centered design to improve healthcare systems. Read the Q&A below to learn more about his Stanford journey.

What was the most meaningful or memorable experience from your time in the Iranian studies minor?

The most meaningful part of my Iranian studies minor was taking Shervin Emami's Farsi classes and gradually building my language skills to the point where I could speak more fluently with my parents and grandparents. It made the minor feel deeply personal, not just academic, because it helped me reconnect with my family, culture, and identity through language. Special honorable mention to the Iranian cuisine class, where I got to make a cookbook and explore culture through food!

What experiences outside the classroom helped shape your Stanford journey?

Outside the classroom, my Stanford journey was shaped most deeply by my research in the Airan Lab, where I worked at the intersection of neuroradiology and bioengineering and published work using focused ultrasound for first-of-its-kind hemorrhage clearance. I was also deeply shaped by Stanford Biodesign, where I learned how to combine clinical medicine, bioengineering, and human-centered design to solve real healthcare problems. Through Biodesign, I later served as a TA and spun out my first company, which received funding from Stanford and piloted tools for patients and clinicians.

As you reflect on your time at Stanford, what accomplishment or experience are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the communities I have had the privilege of being part of at Stanford, and the communities I helped build. I am most proud of helping build and strengthen Stanford's Armenian community through the Armenian Studies Association (ASA), especially in ways that I hope will outlast my time here. From expanding ASA into a more active cultural, social, and advocacy space to helping support the growth of the Armenian Studies Program, I feel proud to have contributed to a community that did not always have this level of visibility or infrastructure on campus. The people I met here have truly been the foundation of my Stanford experience, shaping me personally, academically, and even the interests I chose to pursue. I am proud to have been part of that tapestry of people.

Why did you choose to study Iran? How has your minor in global studies (with a specialization in Iran) changed your understanding of the world or influenced your future plans?

I chose to study Iran because both of my parents are Armenian immigrants from Iran, and I grew up surrounded by Iranian culture, food, and music—especially Googoosh—but never learned the language. Taking first-year Farsi became the entry point that catapulted me into wanting to understand the history, politics, and identity behind the culture I had grown up with. Through courses ranging from Dr. Abbas Milani's political science classes to Iranian history, the minor helped me see Iran not only as part of my family story, but as a complex network of politics, diaspora, and language.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I will be pursuing my M.D. at Harvard Medical School, where I hope to continue combining medicine, innovation, and human-centered design. I'm especially excited to explore how clinical care, bioengineering, and technology can come together to build tools that improve patients' lives and make healthcare more accessible. Ultimately, I hope to become a physician who not only cares for individual patients but also helps design better systems of care.

Congratulations Eric! Eric is also the recipient of several awards including a Terman Engineering Award, presented to the top students of each year’s undergraduate senior engineering class, and a Goldwater Award, a national award that provides a pathway for outstanding students to pursue research careers in engineering, mathematics, and the natural sciences.