"Enzymes are the accelerators of life, and my mission is to make them accelerate the solution to Earth’s challenges," says Naike. His work aims to understand the molecular mechanisms by which enzymes catalyze toxic substances, providing a scientific foundation for designing new eco-friendly enzymes. This seemingly complex topic is deeply connected to his growth at BCIS. 

Naike explains, "Entering the lab was not just a career choice but a journey that started from my passion." In high school, his love for chemistry earned him an academic scholarship at BCIS, and with his teacher’s encouragement, he wrote an Extended Essay (EE) on molecular modeling. This paper not only helped him apply for research projects at university but also marked the beginning of his journey into environmental science. He believes BCIS always encouraged him to "follow his interests," planting the seed for scientific research during his student years.

Even in 2020, while the pandemic disrupted the world, Naike’s love for science could not be stopped. He spent his time in BCIS's alumni study room, preparing for graduate school applications and exams, while also volunteering to help high school teachers. He served as a teaching assistant for online physics classes, influencing and encouraging younger students. "BCIS taught me not only the knowledge but also the responsibility to pass it on," he says. This sense of responsibility is now reflected in every piece of data and every experiment he conducts in the MIT lab.

In biochemistry, enzymes are often seen as highly efficient biological molecules that catalyze reactions. However, in Naike’s research, "catalyst" is not just about chemical reactions—it’s about the collaborative spirit that drives scientific progress.

As a researcher with a chemistry background, Naike now stands at the forefront of biochemistry. He admits that his "specialization" sometimes has its "blind spots," but it is the colleagues from fields like biology, engineering, and materials science who provide diverse perspectives that make the team’s research results more comprehensive.

"Interdisciplinary collaboration is not just a slogan but a daily reality. It’s like the Group 4 Project we did in the IB program at BCIS, where we needed perspectives from different subjects," he recalls. In high school, he worked with classmates from different disciplines to develop a portable water filter for field research—some focused on design feasibility, others studied the chemical reactions to remove pollutants, while some modeled biological behaviors. The intersection of technology and science taught him that real breakthroughs often come from the borders between disciplines.

This interdisciplinary mindset paid off in 2021 when Naike collaborated with two BCIS alumni—physicist Zekai and mechanical engineer Yuchen—to co-author a paper on COVID-19 drug modeling, published in the well-known journal Drug Discovery Today before clinical applications. The three combined their expertise in chemistry, physics, and engineering to apply density functional theory to virus receptor studies. "Our 'classmate' friendship was the catalyst that sparked a wonderful reaction across different fields," Naike says. This paper was not just an academic achievement; it was a testament to BCIS’s educational philosophy of integrating culture and cross-disciplinary learning.

At BCIS, everyone can find their own catalyst—it might be a teacher’s words or an interdisciplinary project. What’s important is to always maintain a thirst for the unknown and let education be the catalyst that changes the world.