Where Does Your Journey STEM From?

Noah Lemke was an NSF Graduate Fellow and has a PhD in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. He researched 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.

Vanshika Gupta is currently a PhD student in the Dick lab at Purdue University. 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.

Amal Dadi is a biologist with broad experience in basic science research, clinical testing, and environmental education and advocacy. She currently works as a scientist at Q2 Solutions, where she conducts laboratory work supporting clinical trials.

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.

Valerie started her career as a researcher in the US after obtaining a PhD in biological and biomedical sciences from University of Bordeaux. Valerie joined Microsoft 3.5 years ago, is now Director of corporate business development at Microsoft, leading strategic partnerships in healthcare and life sciences.

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.

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.

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.

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. She also collaborates significantly with the MAPPS (Mobility Analysis for Pandemic Prediction Strategies) Center at Brown University.

Hosea Santiago Cruz is a Puerto Rican engineer and scientist. His research focuses on enhancing treatment techniques to remove and destroy pollutants from water, specifically PFAS, also called “Forever Chemicals.”