Mark grew up in southern New Jersey and received his bachelor’s degree from Williams College, where he studied biology and neuroscience.  He is currently a PhD student at Harvard Medical School in the lab of Dr. David Ginty, where he studies neural circuits underlying the sense of touch.  Having benefited from influential mentors throughout his education in science, Mark is particularly passionate about mentorship and outreach.

Jamilla is a fourth year graduate student in the de Bivort Lab at Harvard University and is currently an Editor-in-Chief at JEI. She started at JEI as an editor and has worked for the journal for since 2014. Her research interests are behavioral genetics and evolutionary biology.

Olivia is a PhD student in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Department at Harvard. She works in the lab of Catherine Dulac, studying epigenetics and neurobiology. Specifically, her research visualizes imprinted gene expression in neurons, to study how genes inherited from the mother can contribute differently to neural development than those from the father. Since elementary school, Olivia had a love for books about animals and science fairs, which has grown into a passion for science writing and student mentorship.

Michael grew up in Minneapolis and received a bachelor's degree in biology from Arizona State University, where he first discovered his passion for scientific research while studying leaf-cutter ant ecology and behavior. After graduating, he spent two years in a lab in Philadelphia investigating the genetic basis of human taste preferences. Currently he is a PhD student at Harvard Medical School in the lab of Dr. Rachel Wilson, studying how sensory information is encoded and processed by neural circuits.

Haneui grew up in South Korea and came to the United States to study Neuroscience at Amherst College. Publishing at a journal like JEI is an experience that Haneui would have loved to have when she was in middle or high school. So she feels enthusiastic about helping to create such an experience for young scientists and introducing them to the joys of investigating a scientific question, no matter how simple. Currently Haneui is pursuing a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University, studying the molecular basis of critical period plasticity in the brain.

Qiyu is a fourth-year graduate student in Program of Neuroscience at Harvard University conducting thesis research in Dr. David Ginty's lab. He is interested in using electron microscopy to understand the synaptic connectivity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Before studying at Harvard he graduated from Brandeis University in 2014, where he worked in Dr. Sacha Nelson's lab on barrel cortex development. He is excited in helping JEI in reforming its financial infrastructures and contributing to its fundraising efforts.

Nico grew up in Germany and moved to Grand Rapids, MI when he was 8 years old. From there, he completed his undergraduate degrees in physics, astrophysics, and cellular & molecular biology at the University of Michigan in 2014. At Michigan, Nico got very involved in outreach for kids of all ages. Nico is currently a PhD candidate in the D’Souza lab studying the structure-function relationship of programmed ribosomal readthrough. Outside of lab, he enjoys traveling to new places.

Michelle is graduate student within the Program in Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School. Her thesis work uses genomics, imaging, and molecular genetics to understand how olivocochlear neurons in the inner ear affect the development and function of auditory circuitry.

Sonia is a graduate student with the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) program at Harvard Medical School. She completed her undergraduate training in Molecular Biology at the University of California, San Diego. Sonia performs her thesis work in the Christopher A. Walsh lab at Boston Children's Hospital, where she studies somatic mutations in normal brain development, specifically in the human cerebral cortex.

Jisoo Lily Jeong is Director of Internal engagement and a proofing editor at JEI, as well as data analyst in the Buckner Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is interested in understanding neural basis of information processing and its relationship with perception and delusions. When she’s not wrangling data, Lily enjoys running and playing the violin.

Michael is a Harvard Ph.D. student in Dr. David Scadden’s laboratory. He studies how blood stem cells maintain their function throughout the lifespan of an organism and how this goes wrong in disease. Michael hopes to help patients with blood disorders and share his enthusiasm for biology with young scientists.

Brandon is a 4th year student in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program at Harvard University, where he investigates how dangerous intestinal bacteria behave in our guts to cause disease. Originally from Toronto, Brandon came to Boston for his PhD in 2015. Outside the lab, Brandon is involved in several different science communication and outreach groups (including JEI) and is always looking for new opportunities to become a better communicator and ambassador for science. He has been with JEI for 3 years and each year is more and more impressed by the quality of manuscripts that are submitted by young scientists to the journal. In his free time, Brandon enjoys trying new recipes (#mealprepmonday) and playing intramural sports with his classmates.

Alexandra Mattei is a PhD candidate in Alexander Meissner's Lab at Harvard University, and currently a visiting scholar at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin. Alexandra is broadly interested in studying the transmission of information between cells, and from generation to generation. Her thesis work investigates the epigenetic regulation of mammalian development, with a specific focus on DNA methylation. She is passionate about teaching, outreach, and making molecular biology more approachable to the general public. Alexandra joined JEI to help bring scientific thinking to a broader audience and show young students that within each of them lies the ability to ask, rigorously test, and answer any question they like about the world around them. 

I grew up in Connecticut and then went to Northwestern University, where I studied biology and math and researched mitochondrial tethering in yeast. I then worked for a year engineering yeast and bacteria to produce flavors, fragrances, and more at Ginkgo Bioworks in Boston. Currently, I am working on a PhD in Genetics at Stanford where I am researching how changes in DNA during evolution can affect the expression of genes, leading the diversity of life we have today. I joined JEI because I think exposing young people to science and the peer review process is a great way to increase their scientific literacy and empower them to pursue scientific research. In my free time, I like to hike, read sci-fi, and play basketball, video games, and board games.

I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, where I studied biochemistry and genetics. I am currently a PhD candidate in the lab of Dr. Vlad Denic in Harvard’s Molecular and Cellular Biology Department. In the Denic Lab I study how cellular organelles like mitochondria and peroxisomes protect themselves from aberrant membrane proteins. I joined JEI because I am excited about helping young students share their research with the world and I hope to assist these students in pursuing their scientific passions. In my free time I enjoy distance running and making fermented foods.

I am a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and I focus on improving CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. Cas9 genome editing has revolutionized medicine, but there are many obstacles before it can help patients. Originally from Iran, I grew up in the United Arab Emirates and moved to the US for my higher education. When I am not in the lab, I like to play tennis and soccer, or read books on economics.

After earning a BS in Biology at Northeastern University, I joined Dr. Souheil El-Chemaly's lab at Brigham and Women's Hospital in 2015, where I now work as a Senior Research Assistant. I am currently completing my MS in Computational Biology and Quantitative Genetics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and am interested in pursuing a career as a Data Analyst in the pharmaceutical industry. I joined JEI as a Copy Editor, because I have a strong love of writing and really enjoy helping others improve their writing skills. In my free time, I like to catch up on all the TV shows I've missed as well as write creatively.

Art has benefited from mentors since childhood and firmly believes in the power of the curiosity and energy of young people to bring about new ways of thinking and doing. To exercise those beliefs, Art has been a Corps Member in City Year Greater Philadelphia, has been a reviewer and editor for JEI, and continues to mentor high school students in the DC area. On his professional path, he has been a reactor operator in the US Navy, a staff supervisor in the Nuclear Reactor Laboratory at MIT, a master's candidate concentrating in psychology at Harvard, and currently trains as a research postbac at the NIH. JEI is one of Art's ways of cultivating inspiration for young scientists.

I’m Chuchu and I grew up in China. Spent some years in Hong Kong and some in San Francisco before Boston. My research focuses on internal organ sensations and in particular, the neuronal mechanisms of nausea perception. I joined JEI because it is fun to get more people to love science! Outside the lab, I do some yoga, rock climbing, cooking and knitting.

Chung-ha is a PhD student in the Neurosciences Program at Stanford University. Chung-ha joined JEI because he loves science and wants to help young people start their own scientific journeys. He enjoys hiking, playing the drums, and reading.

Claire Meaders studied evolution and development in the Aquilegia flower for her PhD at Harvard University and now works as a postdoctoral associate at Cornell University doing biology education research focusing on the transition from high school to college in STEM classes. She joined JEI as an associate editor in 2015 because she was really excited about helping to broaden scientific communication and research at the K-12 levels. Outside the lab, Claire loves baking, baking competition shows, and is prepping for her 9th marathon this fall!

Deepti performed her thesis research on women’s cancers in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and was recently conferred her PhD by Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York. Deepti’s avid interest in Science Communication and Policy drew her to explore different aspect of scientific implementation in settings as diverse as underserved public school classrooms, juvenile detention centers, publishing platforms, immigrant teen mentorship programs, and the swanky world of healthcare advertising. With this eclectic bent, it comes as no surprise that Deepti’s favorite part of being a JEI Copy Editor is getting to read and discover a completely new area of science with every piece she reviews. JEI’s mission resonated with her after several experiences judging Science Fairs where eminently worthy student research by high schoolers hit dead ends, in the absence of a platform equipped to publish their work.

Elayne is a second year graduate student in the Biomedical and Biological Sciences program at HMS. Elayne grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and attended the University of Michigan, where she first discovered her passion for research and science writing. She has joined the Bernhardt lab in the Microbiology department at HMS. Her research interests are bacterial genetics and cell biology.

I am a second-year doctoral student in biomedical engineering at Rutgers University, where I am investigating how to make brain implants more biocompatible so that they work for a longer time in treatments for Parkinson's, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders. I graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor's in chemical engineering in 2017. I joined JEI because, as both a professional graphic designer and a scientist, I feel that it is my mission to help people communicate their scientific work better and to help them present their work in the best possible way. Outside of lab, I do freelance graphic design work and enjoy hiking, learning taekwondo, and playing video games.

I'm a microbiologist by training.  As an undergrad at the University of Pittsburgh I majored in microbiology, and continued my training as a research technician in the lab of Christine Jacobs-Wagner at Yale.  As a grad student in David Rudner's lab at Harvard, my research focuses on the cell biology of bacteria - how bacterial cells grow and divide, and how understanding these processes can help us discover new ways to combat antibiotic resistance.  But, I'm not only interested in tiny things you can't see!  I also spend my days cooking and reading about cooking, jogging around Boston, and dreaming of getting a dog.  I joined JEI because I think it's important to support students' interest in science, and show more people how the scientific process actually works.  Nobody has to be intimidated by science, and I'm proud to be part of an organization like JEI, that helps make science fun, relevant, and accessible to everyone.

Hechen is a postdoctoral fellow at California Institute of Technology who studies quantum materials with novel electronic properties. She graduated from Harvard University in 2018 with a Ph.D. in physics. Hechen joined JEI in 2017 as an editor because she believed that publishing one’s own scientific research is one of the best training students can receive at an early stage and that JEI is a great platform to offer that. Besides research, she loves to read science fiction and engage in outreach activities to promote science.

Jenn is an MD/PhD student in the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology program and the Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences. She works in the labs of Kornelia Polyak and Franziska Michor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she studies intratumor heterogeneity in triple-negative breast cancer. Outside of lab, she loves hanging out with her good dog Arnold.

Karan grew up in Sydney, Canada and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently a chemistry graduate student in the Kahne lab at Harvard studying the assembly of bacterial membranes.

Ayano did her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and studied, Molecular and Cell Biology.  In her senior year, she became fascinated with the immune system after taking a introductory immunology course and decided to pursue a PhD in Immunology at Harvard University. During her graduate work, she looked at innate T lymphocytes and researched their role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, specifically in the adipose tissue. Amazingly, immune cells that typically help the body fight off pathogens are also critical for regulating body temperature and insulin sensitivity! Now, Ayano is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Genetics Department at Harvard, wanting to apply systems genetics approaches to continue studying the immune system.

Kyle grew up in New Jersey and completed his undergraduate degree at Yale University. He did his graduate research in the lab of Dr. Mitzi I. Kuroda at Harvard Medical School, characterizing chromatin-associated proteins involved with dosage compensation in Drosophila. He now works in Dr. Stephen M. Fuchs’ lab at Tufts University investigating the interplay between chromatin and cell membrane voltage. Kyle has been an editor with JEI since 2016.

Laura grew up in North Carolina and studied chemistry and biology at UNC Chapel Hill. She is currently a graduate student studying chemical biology at Harvard University, jointly advised by Dr. Sara Buhrlage and Dr. Peter Sorger. Her research is focused primarily on the therapeutic potential of targeting deubiquitinating enzymes in breast cancer. Outside of lab, she likes spending time with friends, reading a good book, painting, and traveling. She is enthusiastic about encouraging students in the pursuit of science, so enjoys being involved with the JEI.

My name is Madalyn McFarland and I am a Ph.D. Student in Barbara Burleigh’s laboratory at the Harvard School of Public Health. We investigate host-parasite interactions with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. I joined JEI so I could learn more about the editorial role in publishing and help other students to do the same!

Madeleine Jennewein PhD student studying virology at Harvard. Her research focuses on understanding and improving neonatal immunity to infectious disease. Outside of lab she is passionate about science policy, and building an LGBTQ community.

Naomi is a PhD student in the Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Department at the University of Virginia. She works in Dr. Yuh-Hwa Wang's lab, focusing on the role of environmental exposures on DNA fragility as it relates to promoting the formation of oncogenic chromosomal abnormalities. From a young age she has loved reading and science, which has now led to a growing passion for helping other scientists refine their writing and tell interesting stories.

I am a PhD candidate in the Molecules, Cells and Organisms graduate program at Harvard University and I study DNA repair mechanisms using African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) egg extracts. Knowing the importance of motivation, empowerment and good education in the life of individuals, as well as societies, I strive to empower people around me and to make good education accessible to everyone. I am specially excited about my work with JEI because I believe that it is a unique way for celebrating students’ scientific achievements.

Olivia is a 6th year PhD student in the Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program at Harvard Medical School. She works in the Goessling Laboratory where she studies embryogenesis and organ formation using the zebrafish model. Her primary goal is to evaluate how fetal stress, especially prenatal alcohol exposure, disrupts development and predisposes individuals to chronic adolescent and adult disease, including obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

After many undergraduate research experiences ignited a passion for infectious diseases and molecular biology, I decided to pursue a PhD in chemical biology at Harvard. I'm currently conducting exciting research exploring antiviral strategies against flaviviruses like dengue and Zika. I joined JEI to help younger scientists engage in the scientific writing process and learn more about the inner workings of a sophisticated journal. Outside of research I'm into Zumba, library books, and art.

I obtained my Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2017. During my graduate research, I developed a zebrafish model that permits cross-species cell transplantation. Currently a research fellow in Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, I am studying how glucocorticoids can be used to modulate response to cancer immunotherapy. I joined JEI to promote passionate scientific endeavors by middle school and high school students! Outside of the lab, I am a home chef, a kindle addict, and love watching capybaras chewing watermelons on YouTube.

Radhika grew up in Indiana and received double Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Biochemistry from Indiana University, where she also minored in mathematics and Spanish. She is currently an MD/PhD student at Harvard Medical School in the laboratory of Jon and Christine Seidman, where she studies the genetics of heart muscle disease using stem cell derived cardiomyocytes. Radhika enjoys science writing and is passionate about helping young investigators become effective science communicators. In her free time, Radhika enjoys hiking trails around the world, sailing on the Charles River, and experimenting in the kitchen with her Instant Pot cooker.

I'm a PhD student in Neuroscience at Emory University, where I study rare genetic disorders and their contribution to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. I joined JEI because (1) I love mentoring students and giving feedback on writing, (2) it's always nice to take a break from reading literature specific to my field and to read another fascinating study, and (3) I want to inspire the next generation of scientists and motivate them to start early. Outside of lab, I enjoy reading and writing—I'm currently working on a memoir—tennis, hip-hop, and trying new things. I'm trying to be a Renaissance learner!

Roya Huang grew up California and studied chemistry and biology at Williams College (’17). She is currently a second year graduate student in the Harvard MCO Ph.D. program in the lab of Sharad Ramanathan. Her work combines cell biology, developmental geometry, and engineering to study stem cell differentiation and lineage commitment. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking, snowboarding, and classical music.

Sam grew up in Singapore before moving to London to complete her BSc in Biomedical Science in Imperial College. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Harvard working on fat metabolism and obesity. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading and writing about how science, health and pop culture trends influence one another, and is currently dabbling in photography and graphic design. 

After receiving my bachelors degree in chemistry from Williams College, I spent a year working as a research assistant at Hopkins Memorial Forest studying how local forests have geochemically rebounded from damage from acid rain following the passage of the Clean Air Act. While pursuing my masters degree in Earth and Planetary Science at Harvard, I got involved in editing for JEI. After attaining my graduate degree from Harvard, I now work at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and serve on the faculty at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. At NASA, I am a member of the MSL Curiosity Rover team and manage the stable isotope facilities in the Planetary Environments Laboratory Group. I am currently using much of my outside-of-lab time pursuing a master in environmental law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey Law School. When I am not studying law or doing science, I also enjoy spending time outdoors whether backpacking, hiking, kayaking, or skiing.

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. After enjoying the sun at UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, while doing chemical engineering on the side, I moved to Boston where I am now a postdoc at MIT. My research interest sit at the interface of soft materials and device fabrication for applications in energy, human health, and environmental sustainability. Outside of the lab, I enjoyed bringing chemistry and fancy gadgets into the kitchen and spending time on the beach.

I am a fifth-year PhD student studying Chemical Biology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, specifically investigating the regulation of cell death and how it can be corrupted in cancer. I wanted to be a part of JEI because I know that early engagement in the real scientific process is the best way to train young students to become awesome scientists! I am constantly impressed by the science that I see submitted and published in our journal and I’m extremely proud to help make it happen. I love to be active by riding my bike or playing volleyball, and I am a big sports fan of my hometown teams from Philadelphia, PA!

Zainab is a graduate student in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences PhD program, and is interested in studying the development and use of small molecule inhibitors and degraders to further understand what drives cancer cell signaling and metastasis. Before that, she graduated from Johns Hopkins in 2014 with degrees in biology and statistics, and is interested in exploring the intersection of these fields as she finishes her PhD.  In her free time, she loves to cook (and eat!) good food and cheer for Boston sports teams!

Kiana is a PhD student at Harvard Medical School, completing her graduate work in the lab of Dr. Michael Talkowski in the Center for Genomic Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute. Her thesis work focuses on using CRISPR-based genome editing in iPS-derived neural cell models to better understand molecular mechanisms contributing to autism. Having benefitted from outstanding mentors throughout her academic career, Kiana is very passionate about science outreach and excited to share her love of science with others.

Lincoln Pasquina, Ph.D., began working with JEI at its inception while he was in graduate school. Lincoln has held the positions of Editor and Editor in Chief, and now serves as a member of the Board. Through his time with JEI, he has remained impressed and inspired by all the insightful, inquisitive manuscripts submitted by so many driven young scientists. Lincoln now works for a company that profiles tumor biopsies to help them and their doctors better understand what treatments should be most beneficial.

Jason Tse is Head of Strategic Partnerships and Acquisitions in Informa’s Pharma Intelligence portfolio where he leads the structuring of commercial relationships with other industry leaders to progress how healthcare is utilized and delivered globally.  Additionally, Jason is responsible to sourcing and executing key strategic acquisitions on behalf of Informa in the life science insights, analytics, and consulting space.  Jason is also a board member at JEI and works closely with JEI’s fund raising team. Prior to joining the Informa team, Jason most recently co-founded a syndicated market research and analytics provider focused on helping life science companies understand, monitor, and implement value-based reimbursement contracts for branded drugs in the United States.  Jason was also a senior member of Indus Growth Partners’ investment team and led corporate strategy and mergers and acquisition initiatives at Decision Resources Group.  Additionally, over the past 9 years, Jason led a variety of different roles that include new product development, brand management, technology development of scalable digital content platforms, and real world evidence analytics.

Brindha Muniappan is the Director of Education and Public Programs at the MIT Museum. She actively produces programs for the public, including educational workshops for middle and high school students, speed-geeking science programs for adults, and hands-on explorations of engineering and technology for people of all ages. Brindha passion for science communication led her from the research bench (doing environmental engineering and biological engineering at MIT) to the field of informal science education. She is delighted to assist the JEI team in widening its efforts to connect with, and support, young scientists.

Curious and investigative by nature, Sarah has always been a lover of all things science. Sarah received her B.S. in biology from Ga Tech and her PhD in microbiology and immunobiology from Harvard University. Sarah is one of the founders and the board chairman of the Journal of Emerging Investigators. She is also an assistant professor of biology at Oxford College of Emory University where she shares her thrill and passion for science with her students. Both in her professional and personal life Sarah advocates for effective and clear communication of science with the public.

Katie is a member of the Board of Directors at JEI, and received her Ph.D. from UMass Amherst in 2012.

Tom is a member of the Board of Directors, and currently is a vice-president at Decision Resources Group.

The genesis of Seth's interest in science was a 10th grade biology experiment with sulfur bacteria. After earning his undergraduate degree in biotechnology from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2004, he embarked on a career that has seen him at work running solvent extractions, sweating in a mobile laboratory at an algae farm in the desert, and trying to develop better processes for vaccine manufacturing, among many other things. Seth started at JEI as a volunteer copy editor late in 2012 and joined the board of directors a year later. These days he also works as a scientist in upstream process development at a small company in Boston.