Gitanjali Rao (born November 19, 2005) is an American inventor, author, scientist, an engineer, and a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) promoter and social activist. She won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2017 and was recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 for her innovations. Rao was named Time's top young innovator of 2020 for her innovations and "innovation workshops" she conducts across the globe and, on December 4, 2020, was featured on the cover of Time and named their first "Kid of the Year". On November 18, 2021, she was awarded as a Laureate of the Young Activists Summit at UN Geneva.

Early life
Rao is of Indian descent. She enjoys Indian classical music. She currently lives in Lone Tree, Colorado where she attends STEM School Highlands Ranch. Rao has expressed interest in studying genetics and epidemiology. She is conducting research at the University of Colorado.