Meet our Bloggers

​Joanna Lee is a Ph.D. student at Boston University studying the evolution of parasitism through the lens of gene expression. She was born and raised in Hawaii and holds a bachelor’s degree in Science Education from Boston University. Joanna volunteers in classrooms and is passionate about demystifying science to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In her free time, Joanna enjoys visual arts, reading, and creating social media for her Pomeranian.
​Andi Packheiser was born in Dallas, Texas, where she attended Townview’s Science and Engineering Magnet. Andi graduated from the University of Texas Austin with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Psychology. Although Andi is not a Scientista in a traditional sense, she is a huge advocate for critical thinking and pushing boundaries. When Andi is not working on her technical writing or with animals, she enjoys reading, road trips, concerts, and bad jokes. 
​Mary Spraggs is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Madison. She recently received her master's degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences while her bachelor’s degree is in Physics from Western Kentucky University. Mary is currently at UW Madison and is hoping to earn a Ph.D. in Environmental Science. Her research currently involves the ionic content of rain, especially mercury, and she hopes to incorporate how rain can transport contamination into soils that have been drastically changed by human activity, such as mining. In her free time, Mary loves making tea and coffee, gardening, and geeking out over random plants and critters she sees while walking around outside.
​Tysheka Finney is a passionate researcher and intellectual. She started her collegiate experience at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and then transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) where she was a triple major in Biology/Pre-Medicine, Bioinformatics, and Life Sciences and a minor in Chemistry. At VCU, Tysheka was a Bioinformatics intern and a research assistant working on the global viral metagenome. She has experienced many failures and setbacks and recently received an Associates of Biology with highest honors from Eastern Shore Community College. She plans to return to VCU in the fall to complete her matriculation and apply to VCU Medical School. Tysheka is excited about joining Scientista as a blogger to explore the intersectionality of rural communities, race, and science. Her absolute passion is all things STEM, alongside stamp collecting, exploring other cultures, writing short stories, reading literature (especially Faulkner), and drinking tea.
​Natalya Ortolano is a Ph.D. candidate in Vivian Gama’s laboratory at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Natalya’s project is focused on characterizing the function of an E3-ubiquitin ligase known as Cullin 9 in stem cell self-renewal and neural differentiation. Outside of the lab, you can find her reading at a coffee shop, playing at a dog park with her border collie Roux, or binging on Netflix. In the future, she plans on becoming a science writer and communicator, telling scientists’ stories and translating their research for the public. Twitter: @NatOrtolano Email: nat.ortolano@gmail.com
​Sirine Taleb, Ph.D., is a passionate researcher and academician who loves data, technology, and the financial world. She is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher studying energy efficient buildings at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. She also works as a university instructor for machine learning and data science graduate courses. She received a B.E. in Computer and Communications Engineering in 2012 and a Ph.D. in Machine Intelligence from the American University of Beirut in 2017. Sirine is part of several national and international women and youth initiatives including serving as the treasurer of IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Lebanon Section, the scientific committee coordinator at the National Association for Science and Research (NASR), and is a leader of Arab Women in Computing (ArabWIC). When not behind the computer screen, Sirine can be found traveling, exploring other cultures, or jumping in playgrounds with her toddler son, Karim.
​Shivani Gupta is a rising first-year medical student at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and currently investigating the effects of disaster preparedness among families with children with medical complexities. She completed her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. Throughout her high school and undergraduate career she was involved in outreach efforts for women in STEM, including writing for HerCampus and serving as outreach chair for Society of Women Engineers (SWE). In her down time, she enjoys rewatching classic rom-coms, yoga, and baking.
​Grace Gallagher was born and raised in Central Pennsylvania and is an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Within engineering, Grace most enjoys 3D CAD modeling and learning more about biomechanics and the intersection between engineering and the medical field. When not studying or working, she loves going to the theater, watching documentaries, and yelling at the TV during football games. 
​Khola Abid is in her third year of PharmD at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. She is interested in the history and development of science. In her institution, she runs a team of young science communicators that designs highly cost-effective experiments to thereby communicate various physiological mechanisms to school-aged children. She loves to defy norms, but with a sense of sagaciousness. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading history and self-help genres.
​Amy Massack recently completed her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania this past May. Her undergraduate research primarily focused on molecular cell regulation, however, (upon entering the job market) she has stepped into an Industrial Chemist role. When she's not working or learning new things on the job, you can find her either reading, knitting/beading or exploring the great outdoors.  
​Laia Delgado Callicó is currently completing her Ph.D. in Physics at King’s College London, England. Her research focuses on the properties of metallic magnetic nanoparticles. She was born in Barcelona, Spain, where she obtained her degree in Chemistry. She also spent a year abroad researching at Imperial College London and later received a master’s degree in Molecular Biophysics from King’s College London. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, going to the gym, and collaborating with science outreach.

Lifestyle Blog
Your guide to a being a better Scientista!

Our lifestyle blog, written exclusively for pre-professional women in science and engineering, packs a punch! Work and family balance, advice about fashion, movies and books, self, wellness, money, and social change? We've got you covered!

Women in Science: News

Follow the latest developments with these articles covering issues related to women, in general, and those that are specific to women in  science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM)

Scientista Spotlights
Bringing you the faces and stories of real women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM)!

"I want to be like her!" How do you get to your dream job? Every month we interview a scientista who is doing it all, and share her story with you! Follow in her footsteps, explore what she loves about her STEM field, and get that inspiration you need. Know someone who should be featured? Send us an email telling us why she should be the next Scientista Spotlight!