The Team

Hello! My name is Elise and I am a PhD student studying Biomedical Engineering at Yale. Specifically, I study biological system dynamics in cells with a focus on signalling pathways in HIV. This topic allows me to combine my two favorite subjects, calculus and microbiology, and I hope can one day assist in finding a cure for AIDS. When I'm not taking care of my cells, I enjoy a good board game, going to the movies, and country-western dancing.

I’m Jenna, and I am a PhD student in Environmental Engineering! I study air quality and atmospheric chemistry. I am particularly interested in how emissions from natural sources (like trees) influence the quality of the air we breathe, and how natural emissions interact with anthropogenic emissions (from cars, power plants, etc.) in populated areas. In my free time, I love cooking, running, exploring Connecticut, and of course, STEM outreach!

I’m Catherine, and I am a PhD student in Physics. I work in a neuroscience lab, and use fruit flies to study visual processing. I perform imaging experiments on neurons to determine the computations that occur as signals travel through the visual system, and how these computations change as an animal moves through environments with different visual properties. Outside of the lab, I work as a teaching assistant for physics and computer science courses, and volunteer for a variety of STEM outreach programs.

I’m Connor, and I’m a PhD student in Yale’s physics department. I study quantum computing, where we try to exploit the laws of quantum physics in order to build powerful new computers. If all goes well, these quantum computers might one day solve certain problems far faster than the world's most powerful supercomputers! In my spare time I love to go running and hiking with my dog.

Hey! My name is Emily and I’m a PhD student in Physics. I spend most of my time building instruments for radio telescopes, and flying drones to measure these radio telescopes. This is all with the goal of understanding “Dark Energy”, which is this mysterious form of energy in the universe that is causing it to expand in an accelerating way. I also enjoy hiking, playing the flute, taking photos, SWE outreach, and hanging with my dog Cary.

Hi! My name is Alex and I am a 6th year PhD student in Electrical Engineering. I make computer chips and then shoot lasers at those computer chips to make newer, cooler lasers! We can use these lasers to help find chemicals in our air and water or even to help astronomers find planets outside of our galaxy. If I am not in the lab, you can find me cooking, playing disk golf, or exploring the great state of Connecticut.

Hello, I'm Stephanie and I'm a PhD student working on developing and validating new computational tools for constructing brain networks using fMRI. We hope these new techniques can give us a glimpse into how brains function in health and disease to help us design better therapies. Outside of the lab, you can find me with a paintbrush or pencil -- I am a passionate visual artist. You may even find me dancing blues, singing, playing the piano, or backpacking deep through the woods. Finally, I am proud to be a Latina woman in STEM, and I hope to inspire other underrepresented minorities (especially Latinas!) to consider a future in STEM!

Hi, I’m Becky! I’m a fourth year PhD student in the biomedical engineering department at Yale. For my research, I am trying to understand how cancer cells “decide” whether to stay in one place or spread to different parts of the body. Understanding the signaling pathways that cells use to migrate will help us to design better medicines to stop the spread of cancer. Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, sewing, and completing 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles! I also love teaching younger students about the wide variety of problems that engineers are equipped to solve.

Hi! I'm Bridget Hegarty and a PhD student at Yale. For my PhD project, I am studying a cyanobacteria species capable of producing biofuels. By better understanding their metabolism, we will be able to genetically modifying them to produce higher levels of these compounds. If we are successful, these biofuels will be a sustainable alternative to traditional gasoline and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. In addition to genetics, I also love downhill skiing, taking photos, and reading. Through the Society of Women Engineers and Pathways to Science Program, I also am very involved with STEM outreach. I think it is critical to reach back and inspire the next generation of engineers - to show girls in particular that they can be engineers.

My name is Stefan and for the last few years I have been a graduate student in Yale's Physics department. My research is in quantum information, but I also spend a lot of time on teaching and outreach. In my free time I work on electronics projects and other "maker's" crafts, and I employ those skills in the design of outreach activities. I strongly believe that science and engineering outreach should cover the "Jack/Jill of All Trades" approach: you do not need to know everything about a given skill to start using that skill productively (maybe even mastering it one day).

Hey, I'm Allie and I'm a third year PhD in Biomedical Engineering studying lung and tracheal tissue engineering. We are essentially trying to engineer functional biological replacements for these organs when they become damaged or diseased beyond use. I focus specifically on the epithelial (air-contacting) cells, though I have a hand in all components of developing these organs. I hail from a tiny town you've never heard of in PA and enjoy yoga, cycling, and intramural sports in my spare time!

Hi! I’m Molly and I’m a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at Yale. I study how we can design polymer nanoparticles to improve drug delivery. I love how interdisciplinary my field is; every day I get to think about chemistry, biology, and medicine in the context of engineering. In my free time, I love to read, learn languages, bake bread and pastries, and spend time outdoors.

Howdy! I'm Chris, and I'm a graduate student at Yale studying Physics. For my PhD research, I study the fundamental properties of the neutrino particle by searching for ultra-rare nuclear decays which can explain the mechanisms by which the universe came to be matter-dominated. When not in lab, I also have a position at Yale's Center for Teaching and Learning as a Teaching Fellow, working hard to help create inclusive classrooms throughout campus. Recognizing the needs of the STEM community for outreach to underrepresented groups, I know that these programs can make a critical difference in attitudes and experiences for students in STEM.