Noah Lemke is an NSF Graduate Fellow and PhD Candidate in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. He researches the reproductive behavioral ecology of the black soldier fly, a species of insect being mass-reared by companies around the world to convert agricultural residuals into feed for livestock and fertilizer for crops. His research aims to understand how evolutionary processes have shaped the black soldier fly’s reproductive behavior, and how specific behaviors might persist or be modified within captivity. Noah’s research has taken place in a variety of contexts, ranging from the lab, greenhouses, and the fly’s native habitat. In addition he is active in several multi-disciplinary research groups, and has mentored several students towards successful STEM careers.

Vanshika Gupta is currently a second year PhD student in the Dick lab at Purdue University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from San Jose State University in California where she researched with Dr. Madalyn Radlauer on the conversion of greenhouse gases to fuel via single chain polymeric nanoparticles. Post-graduation, she worked as an Amgen scholar with Dr. Netz Arroyo at Johns Hopkins University investigating the use of osmium-based complexes for electrochemical aptamer-based sensors before starting her PhD at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Jeffrey Dick group in Fall 2021. She moved with the Dick lab Purdue University in 2022 where she worked to miniaturize electrochemical aptamer sensors for single cell analysis. In 2023 she became an NSF graduate student fellow and is now working towards finishing her dissertation work with Dr. Dick regarding real-time pharmacokinetic analysis in single cells. In addition to pursuing new science in the lab, she enjoys making artworks for her small business and teaching dancing in her free time.

Amal Dadi is a biologist with broad experience in basic science research, clinical testing, and environmental education and advocacy. She earned Bachelor's degrees in French and Biology from Grinnell College, and recently completed a Master's degree in Science Policy, Bioethics, and Tech Ethics from Duke University. She currently works as a scientist at Q2 Solutions, where she conducts laboratory work supporting clinical trials.

Amal is passionate about science communication, public outreach, and research implementation. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, climbing, and conversations with her very chatty cat. 

Andrea is an Environmental Engineering Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Ashok Gadgil's Lab at the University of California, Berkeley. As part of Gadgil's Lab, Andrea works on the design of technologies for the removal of chromium in groundwater and hopes to extend these technologies for the removal of other contaminants, such as uranium, found in groundwater. Andrea earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut.

Before moving to the United States, she lived in Colombia where she saw many communities lack access to clean air and water, food, and sanitation. As a graduate student at Gadgil's Lab, she wants to use her expertise to create and improve effective, low-cost technologies to help resource-limited communities have access to safe drinking water.

Valerie joined Microsoft 3.5 years ago, is now Director of corporate business development at Microsoft, leading strategic partnerships in healthcare and life sciences.

Valerie started her career as a researcher in the US after obtaining a PhD in biological and biomedical sciences from University of Bordeaux. Then, for the last 15+ years, Valerie held different positions structuring and negotiating deals with enterprises, startups, US Government, etc. at Intellectual Ventures, VICIS, and UW.

Dr. Zollie Yavarow is a science communicator and patient advocate focused on rare disease and gene therapy. She founded Zaris Consulting, an organization providing gene therapy consulting and science educational content with a patient focus. She earned her PhD in Pharmacology and MA in Bioethics and Science Policy from Duke University in 2022. She is a published scientist and talented science communicator, winning numerous awards for her presentation skills. After ten years of research at the laboratory bench, Dr. Yavarow shifted to the real-world applications of therapeutics she studied, focusing on the patient perspective. Beyond these interests, she loves experimenting with new flavors in the kitchen and spending time by the water. She calls Massachusetts home, and loves to travel all over New England and beyond.

Anoop is a second-year Engineering Ph.D. student and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at Brown University. His research focuses on the physics-informed control of aerial robot (drone) swarms in unsteady environments. Before joining Brown, he graduated with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University at Buffalo. As a mentor for underrepresented students through the NSTMF, he aspires to make STEM accessible and equitable. Outside of his academic endeavors, he enjoys flying as a student pilot, exploring sci-fi literature, and playing soccer.

Prathic is an associate in the Software Development Program at Becton Dickinson (BD). His current work focuses on implementing systems to secure the cloud technology powering BD’s current and future products deployed in hospitals. Prathic is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a Computer Science Minor. His primary focus is on the intersection between health and technology (healthtech). Outside of work, he finds solace in hiking, indulges in police procedurals, and listens to Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications during aviation emergencies.

Bryn Loftness is a PhD candidate in the Complex Systems and Data Science program at University of Vermont and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. She works in the Neurobotics Lab and M-Sense Research Group at the UVM Complex Systems Center developing machine learning and digital phenotyping algorithms. The data she works with are primarily biological and behavioral signals derived from on-body and off-body sensors, health, and/or contextual records. She also works remotely with the Sabeti Lab through the Broad Institute, specializing in behavioral phenotyping and digital epidemiology projects. In this role, she collaborates significantly with the MAPPS (Mobility Analysis for Pandemic Prediction Strategies) Center at Brown University.

Bryn engages in a wide variety of research across her collaborations, with an overall vision for developing novel computational methods supporting the betterment of community, physical, and mental health across populations. Bryn most prominently contributes to evolving cutting edge research broadening the availability, objectivity, and precision of early childhood mental health screening across pre-adolescent populations. She is passionate about addressing the gap in current pediatric and family-care by engineering toolkits for behavior and physiology-based disorder identification and envisions the application of these new technologies within this space to revolutionize the modern mental health systems— starting when children have the highest chance of long-term success following identification.

Hosea Santiago Cruz is a Puerto Rican engineer and scientist. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. Hosea is a 3rd Year Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and an NSF-GRFP Fellow. His research focuses on enhancing treatment techniques to remove and destroy pollutants from water, specifically PFAS, also called “Forever Chemicals.” In addition to pursuing his Ph.D., Hosea forms part of AmandOcéano, a nonprofit organization working on preserving Puerto Rico’s marine and coastal ecosystems through education and conservation.