Speakers
ELISE ANDREW
Creator of I F#!cking Love Science (IFLS)
Elise Andrew is a British blogger, social media specialist, science communicator, and webmaster. She is the founder and maintainer of the popular science Facebook page "I Fucking Love Science." Elise Andrew is originally from Suffolk. Andrew studied biology at the University of Sheffield and graduated in 2012.She specialised in animal sciences and evolution. Her favourite scientist is Rita Levi-Montalcini and favourite authors are Richard Dawkins and Neil deGrasse Tyson. She also credits the work of Carl Sagan for inspiring her interest in science. She currently lives and works in Midland, Ontario.Andrew started the Facebook page "I [F#cking] Love Science" in March 2012, saying of the creation that "I was always finding bizarre facts and cool pictures and one day I decided to create somewhere to put them – it was never supposed to be more than me posting to a few dozen of my friends." After the first day of being on Facebook, the page had over 1,000 likes, and passed 1 million likes in September 2012. As of January 2014, the page has over 9 million likes. Elise is currently the sole maintainer of the page
Creator of I F#!cking Love Science (IFLS)
Elise Andrew is a British blogger, social media specialist, science communicator, and webmaster. She is the founder and maintainer of the popular science Facebook page "I Fucking Love Science." Elise Andrew is originally from Suffolk. Andrew studied biology at the University of Sheffield and graduated in 2012.She specialised in animal sciences and evolution. Her favourite scientist is Rita Levi-Montalcini and favourite authors are Richard Dawkins and Neil deGrasse Tyson. She also credits the work of Carl Sagan for inspiring her interest in science. She currently lives and works in Midland, Ontario.Andrew started the Facebook page "I [F#cking] Love Science" in March 2012, saying of the creation that "I was always finding bizarre facts and cool pictures and one day I decided to create somewhere to put them – it was never supposed to be more than me posting to a few dozen of my friends." After the first day of being on Facebook, the page had over 1,000 likes, and passed 1 million likes in September 2012. As of January 2014, the page has over 9 million likes. Elise is currently the sole maintainer of the page
DEBORAH BEREBICHEZ, PhD
Co-host of Discovery Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science
Deborah Berebichez is a physicist, STEM advocate and financial engineer. She is the co-host of Discovery Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science TV show and she stars on other science shows on National Geographic and the Travel Channel. Dr. Berebichez received her Ph.D. in physics from Stanford and completed two National Science Foundation Fellowships in applied math and physics at Columbia and NYU. She is currently the Vice President of Portfolio Management Analysis at MSCI, Inc where she advises top tier banks and hedge funds on managing portfolio risk.
Her work in science education and outreach has been recognized by the WSJ, Oprah, Dr. Oz, CNN, TED, DLD, WIRED and others. Her passion is to empower young people to learn science and to improve the state of STEM education in the world. She is a frequent public speaker and currently serves as the Global Ambassador to the young women in tech initiative Technovation Challenge. Dr. Berebichez is the 2013 recipient of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)'s Community Service STAR Award and was named Top Tech Blogger by LATISM (Latinos in Social Media).
Co-host of Discovery Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science
Deborah Berebichez is a physicist, STEM advocate and financial engineer. She is the co-host of Discovery Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science TV show and she stars on other science shows on National Geographic and the Travel Channel. Dr. Berebichez received her Ph.D. in physics from Stanford and completed two National Science Foundation Fellowships in applied math and physics at Columbia and NYU. She is currently the Vice President of Portfolio Management Analysis at MSCI, Inc where she advises top tier banks and hedge funds on managing portfolio risk.
Her work in science education and outreach has been recognized by the WSJ, Oprah, Dr. Oz, CNN, TED, DLD, WIRED and others. Her passion is to empower young people to learn science and to improve the state of STEM education in the world. She is a frequent public speaker and currently serves as the Global Ambassador to the young women in tech initiative Technovation Challenge. Dr. Berebichez is the 2013 recipient of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)'s Community Service STAR Award and was named Top Tech Blogger by LATISM (Latinos in Social Media).
SUJATA K. BHATIA, MD, PhD, PE
Assistant Director for Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering at Harvard
Sujata is a physician, bioengineer, and professionally licensed chemical engineer who serves on the teaching faculty of biomedical engineering and executive education at Harvard University. She is the Assistant Director for Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering at Harvard; she is the academic advisor for all Harvard undergraduate students in bioengineering and biomedical engineering. She is also a Lecturer on Biomedical Engineering. In addition, she is an Associate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government for the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; she works with students on projects for medical innovation in Africa, as well as global engineering education. She is additionally a faculty member in the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education program on Innovation for Economic Development. Sujata has personally mentored several Harvard undergraduates to complete innovative research and design projects that advance the field of bioengineering. She has previously served as an Assistant Dean for the Harvard Summer School, for summer sessions in 2012 and 2013. She has demonstrated a strong commitment not only to biomedical engineering research, but also to education, community outreach, and student life.
Sujata graduated from the University of Delaware in 1999 with bachelor’s degrees in biology, biochemistry and chemical engineering and amaster’s degree in chemical engineering; she earned all four degrees in only four years. Sujata then trained in the MD/PhD combined degree program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and graduated in 2003, completing both degrees in four years. Her doctoral thesis work lent insights into immune cell and cancer cell migration, and was published in several journals, including Cancer Research, Biotechnology Progress, and Biophysical Journal. From 2003 to 2011, Sujata was a principal investigator at the DuPont Company; her projects included the development of bioadhesives for wound closure, and development of minimally invasive medical devices. She worked on a team to develop a new surgical sealant; this system can prevent leakage from surgical wounds, and can be used to stop bleeding from traumatic wounds. She also worked on a team to develop microspheres for the minimally invasive treatment of cancerous tumors. She then worked on omega-3 fatty acids for heart health. Her industrial experience spans medical device and biotechnology product development, clinical trials management, intellectual property, leadership of multidisciplinary teams, and industry-academic partnerships. In 2011, Sujata was offered a position on the teaching faculty of biomedical engineering at Harvard University, and is now the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering, as well as an Assistant Dean of the Harvard Summer School, and an Associate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Assistant Director for Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering at Harvard
Sujata is a physician, bioengineer, and professionally licensed chemical engineer who serves on the teaching faculty of biomedical engineering and executive education at Harvard University. She is the Assistant Director for Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering at Harvard; she is the academic advisor for all Harvard undergraduate students in bioengineering and biomedical engineering. She is also a Lecturer on Biomedical Engineering. In addition, she is an Associate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government for the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; she works with students on projects for medical innovation in Africa, as well as global engineering education. She is additionally a faculty member in the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education program on Innovation for Economic Development. Sujata has personally mentored several Harvard undergraduates to complete innovative research and design projects that advance the field of bioengineering. She has previously served as an Assistant Dean for the Harvard Summer School, for summer sessions in 2012 and 2013. She has demonstrated a strong commitment not only to biomedical engineering research, but also to education, community outreach, and student life.
Sujata graduated from the University of Delaware in 1999 with bachelor’s degrees in biology, biochemistry and chemical engineering and amaster’s degree in chemical engineering; she earned all four degrees in only four years. Sujata then trained in the MD/PhD combined degree program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and graduated in 2003, completing both degrees in four years. Her doctoral thesis work lent insights into immune cell and cancer cell migration, and was published in several journals, including Cancer Research, Biotechnology Progress, and Biophysical Journal. From 2003 to 2011, Sujata was a principal investigator at the DuPont Company; her projects included the development of bioadhesives for wound closure, and development of minimally invasive medical devices. She worked on a team to develop a new surgical sealant; this system can prevent leakage from surgical wounds, and can be used to stop bleeding from traumatic wounds. She also worked on a team to develop microspheres for the minimally invasive treatment of cancerous tumors. She then worked on omega-3 fatty acids for heart health. Her industrial experience spans medical device and biotechnology product development, clinical trials management, intellectual property, leadership of multidisciplinary teams, and industry-academic partnerships. In 2011, Sujata was offered a position on the teaching faculty of biomedical engineering at Harvard University, and is now the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering, as well as an Assistant Dean of the Harvard Summer School, and an Associate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
JOHNYE BALLENGER, MD
Pediatrician, Harvard Medical School Admissions Committee Member
Dr. Ballenger is a native of Louisville, Kentucky and graduate of Brown University and Howard University School of Medicine. She came to Boston for her pediatric training. She completed her pediatric residency, and a year of fellowship in General Pediatrics, at Boston City Hospital, now Boston University Medical Center, and a second year of fellowship at Children’s Hospital. She was board certified in 1988 and was re-certified in 2010, participating in the American Board of Pediatric’s Maintenance of Certification Program. Her certification extends through 2020.
Before establishing her private practice in Cambridge, her clinical practice included care for children admitted to the Commonwealth’s psychiatric hospital for children; primary care at several of Boston’s distinct Neighborhood Health Centers; and as staff physician in the Division of General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital, Boston.
Her academic and clinical interests have focused on urban pediatric and adolescent primary health care including: adolescent mothers and their children; access to care for homeless children living in motels; medical student and resident education. Recently, through the Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Children’s (PPOC), Dr. Ballenger has worked on quality improvement measures in pediatric primary care, especially in the area of evidence based diagnosis, treatment and management of ADHD in primary care settings. She is the physician supervisor for the Practice’s Medical Home Initiative.
Over the past 20 years, she has been active at Harvard Medical School (HMS), tutoring in Patient-Doctor I and III; lecturing on topics in child development and adolescent health; as a preceptor for the 3rd year Pediatric Primary Care Clerkship; as well as preceptor for Primary Care residents in their continuity clinics. She is a senior member of the Inter-Society Multicultural Fellows Committee, as well as the Cross Cultural Care Committee. However, her most sustained work on behalf of students and HMS, has been as a member of the admissions committee, serving for almost 20 years, both as a subcommittee chair and as a member of the main admissions committee.
She has received recognition and awards from Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital for her contributions to medical student education and commitment to quality primary care. In 2000 she received the Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award in recognition of her “contributions and commitment to the advancement of diversity at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine.” And in 2009 Harvard Medical School students selected Dr. Ballenger to receive theAAMC (the American Association of Medical Colleges) Humanism in Medicine Award. The award honors a medical faculty who “exemplifies the qualities of a caring and compassionate mentor in the teaching and advising of medical students.” In 2010 she was the recipient of the Award of Service to Pediatrics and the Community, presented by Children’s Hospital and the Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Children’s to four eastern Massachusetts pediatricians.
Dr. Ballenger feels especially honored to be included in the book, Respect: An Exploration, written by Harvard University sociologist, Professor Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, the Emily Hargroves Fisher Professor of Education. Dr. Ballenger is the subject of a chapter entitled, Healing.
She is the medical consultant for the Shady Hill School in Cambridge and for the Crispus Attucks Children’s Center in Dorchester.
Dr. Ballenger is married to William Poole, J. D., a retired federal attorney who worked in the U. S . Department of Housing and Urban Development, and is from Tuskegee, Alabama. Her hobbies include gardening, quilting and children’s literature, and for fun Dr. Ballenger enjoys impromptu singing and dancing.
Pediatrician, Harvard Medical School Admissions Committee Member
Dr. Ballenger is a native of Louisville, Kentucky and graduate of Brown University and Howard University School of Medicine. She came to Boston for her pediatric training. She completed her pediatric residency, and a year of fellowship in General Pediatrics, at Boston City Hospital, now Boston University Medical Center, and a second year of fellowship at Children’s Hospital. She was board certified in 1988 and was re-certified in 2010, participating in the American Board of Pediatric’s Maintenance of Certification Program. Her certification extends through 2020.
Before establishing her private practice in Cambridge, her clinical practice included care for children admitted to the Commonwealth’s psychiatric hospital for children; primary care at several of Boston’s distinct Neighborhood Health Centers; and as staff physician in the Division of General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital, Boston.
Her academic and clinical interests have focused on urban pediatric and adolescent primary health care including: adolescent mothers and their children; access to care for homeless children living in motels; medical student and resident education. Recently, through the Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Children’s (PPOC), Dr. Ballenger has worked on quality improvement measures in pediatric primary care, especially in the area of evidence based diagnosis, treatment and management of ADHD in primary care settings. She is the physician supervisor for the Practice’s Medical Home Initiative.
Over the past 20 years, she has been active at Harvard Medical School (HMS), tutoring in Patient-Doctor I and III; lecturing on topics in child development and adolescent health; as a preceptor for the 3rd year Pediatric Primary Care Clerkship; as well as preceptor for Primary Care residents in their continuity clinics. She is a senior member of the Inter-Society Multicultural Fellows Committee, as well as the Cross Cultural Care Committee. However, her most sustained work on behalf of students and HMS, has been as a member of the admissions committee, serving for almost 20 years, both as a subcommittee chair and as a member of the main admissions committee.
She has received recognition and awards from Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital for her contributions to medical student education and commitment to quality primary care. In 2000 she received the Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award in recognition of her “contributions and commitment to the advancement of diversity at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine.” And in 2009 Harvard Medical School students selected Dr. Ballenger to receive theAAMC (the American Association of Medical Colleges) Humanism in Medicine Award. The award honors a medical faculty who “exemplifies the qualities of a caring and compassionate mentor in the teaching and advising of medical students.” In 2010 she was the recipient of the Award of Service to Pediatrics and the Community, presented by Children’s Hospital and the Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Children’s to four eastern Massachusetts pediatricians.
Dr. Ballenger feels especially honored to be included in the book, Respect: An Exploration, written by Harvard University sociologist, Professor Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, the Emily Hargroves Fisher Professor of Education. Dr. Ballenger is the subject of a chapter entitled, Healing.
She is the medical consultant for the Shady Hill School in Cambridge and for the Crispus Attucks Children’s Center in Dorchester.
Dr. Ballenger is married to William Poole, J. D., a retired federal attorney who worked in the U. S . Department of Housing and Urban Development, and is from Tuskegee, Alabama. Her hobbies include gardening, quilting and children’s literature, and for fun Dr. Ballenger enjoys impromptu singing and dancing.
HEATHER E. FLEMING, Ph.D.
Director of Research Operations,Laboratory for Multiscale Regenerative Technologies, Health Sciences and Technology Program, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dr. Fleming completed her undergraduate training at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, earning her B.Sc.H. in Life Sciences in 1996. Her Ph.D. was granted in 2002 by University of Toronto’s Immunology department, for research performed in the laboratory of Dr. Christopher Paige at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Princess Margaret Hospital. Her work focused on the signaling pathways responsible for an essential selection point in early B lymphocyte differentiation. She continued to explore how microenvironmental signals influence cell fate decisions during postdoctoral work at Harvard, working within the group of Dr. David Scadden at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2003-2007. While part of this group, she helped design, implement and direct an undergraduate research intern program at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Dr. Fleming moved from the bench to scientific publishing when she joined Cell Press as a founding editor of the Cell Press journal Cell Stem Cell. At the journal, she oversaw all Review content, including article commissioning, conducting peer review, manuscript editing and publication. She also was responsible for a monthly editorial in each published issue, and participated broadly in the adaptations that Cell Press has been making to adjust to the changing landscape of scientific publishing, as the field moves more completely into the digital age. She joined Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia’s Laboratory for Multiscale Regenerative Technologies in the fall of 2011, where she serves as the Director of Research Operations and is responsible for helping to oversee the research and operations of the entire group. In this role, she functions as an internal resource person for all matters related to experimental design and conduct, scientific paper and grant writing. She also works to support, guide, and promote the professional development of all group members, and coordinates communication with various funding and support agencies, as well as the media.
Director of Research Operations,Laboratory for Multiscale Regenerative Technologies, Health Sciences and Technology Program, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dr. Fleming completed her undergraduate training at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, earning her B.Sc.H. in Life Sciences in 1996. Her Ph.D. was granted in 2002 by University of Toronto’s Immunology department, for research performed in the laboratory of Dr. Christopher Paige at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Princess Margaret Hospital. Her work focused on the signaling pathways responsible for an essential selection point in early B lymphocyte differentiation. She continued to explore how microenvironmental signals influence cell fate decisions during postdoctoral work at Harvard, working within the group of Dr. David Scadden at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2003-2007. While part of this group, she helped design, implement and direct an undergraduate research intern program at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Dr. Fleming moved from the bench to scientific publishing when she joined Cell Press as a founding editor of the Cell Press journal Cell Stem Cell. At the journal, she oversaw all Review content, including article commissioning, conducting peer review, manuscript editing and publication. She also was responsible for a monthly editorial in each published issue, and participated broadly in the adaptations that Cell Press has been making to adjust to the changing landscape of scientific publishing, as the field moves more completely into the digital age. She joined Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia’s Laboratory for Multiscale Regenerative Technologies in the fall of 2011, where she serves as the Director of Research Operations and is responsible for helping to oversee the research and operations of the entire group. In this role, she functions as an internal resource person for all matters related to experimental design and conduct, scientific paper and grant writing. She also works to support, guide, and promote the professional development of all group members, and coordinates communication with various funding and support agencies, as well as the media.
DEBBI AMANTI
Engagement Manager at ClearView Healthcare Partners
Debbi Amanti is currently an Engagement Manager at ClearView Healthcare Partners, a life science strategy consulting firm that provides strategic guidance primarily for top pharmaceutical companies. Examples of projects she leads include: drug / disease area / company growth strategies, due diligence to support drug/company acquisition decisions, and pricing strategies across the major markets. In addition to her five years of life science consulting experience at ClearView, Debbi previously consulted for IMS Health. Debbi was inspired to pursue a career in life science consulting as it allowed her to leverage her S.B in Biomedical Engineering from Harvard, her interest in complex problem solving, and her passion for team collaboration. Debbi actively participates in events to help expose more undergraduate and graduate students to not only consulting but also the variety of opportunities that exist for those with science backgrounds (i.e., case competitions, panels, resume workshops, info sessions, etc.).
Engagement Manager at ClearView Healthcare Partners
Debbi Amanti is currently an Engagement Manager at ClearView Healthcare Partners, a life science strategy consulting firm that provides strategic guidance primarily for top pharmaceutical companies. Examples of projects she leads include: drug / disease area / company growth strategies, due diligence to support drug/company acquisition decisions, and pricing strategies across the major markets. In addition to her five years of life science consulting experience at ClearView, Debbi previously consulted for IMS Health. Debbi was inspired to pursue a career in life science consulting as it allowed her to leverage her S.B in Biomedical Engineering from Harvard, her interest in complex problem solving, and her passion for team collaboration. Debbi actively participates in events to help expose more undergraduate and graduate students to not only consulting but also the variety of opportunities that exist for those with science backgrounds (i.e., case competitions, panels, resume workshops, info sessions, etc.).
ROBERTA PITTORE
Senior Lecturer in Managerial Communications at the MIT Sloan School of Managment
Roberta Pittore is a Senior Lecturer in Managerial Communication at the MIT Sloan School of Management where she teaches Communication for Leaders, a core course in the MBA curriculum. Her focus is on communication as it influences teamwork, perceptions of leadership, and decision-making in organizations. Her teaching emphasizes the design and analysis of persuasive messages and in using negotiation techniques to foster business decisions.
Pittore is also a faculty mentor for MIT Sloan’s Action Learning Global Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Management Labs. She has advised student teams on consulting projects in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Turkey, China, Argentina and Colombia. She was the faculty lead for Study Tours to South Korea, Brazil, Mongolia, China, Argentina, Chile and Brazil.
Prior to teaching, she spent more than 20 years in the corporate sector where her work included communication consulting, executive training, working as a stockbroker for E.F. Hutton, and the role of associate vice president at Prudential Bache Securities.
Pittore holds an MBA from Simmons College Graduate School of Management, an MS in Communication from Boston University, and a BS in Communication from Emerson College.
Senior Lecturer in Managerial Communications at the MIT Sloan School of Managment
Roberta Pittore is a Senior Lecturer in Managerial Communication at the MIT Sloan School of Management where she teaches Communication for Leaders, a core course in the MBA curriculum. Her focus is on communication as it influences teamwork, perceptions of leadership, and decision-making in organizations. Her teaching emphasizes the design and analysis of persuasive messages and in using negotiation techniques to foster business decisions.
Pittore is also a faculty mentor for MIT Sloan’s Action Learning Global Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Management Labs. She has advised student teams on consulting projects in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Turkey, China, Argentina and Colombia. She was the faculty lead for Study Tours to South Korea, Brazil, Mongolia, China, Argentina, Chile and Brazil.
Prior to teaching, she spent more than 20 years in the corporate sector where her work included communication consulting, executive training, working as a stockbroker for E.F. Hutton, and the role of associate vice president at Prudential Bache Securities.
Pittore holds an MBA from Simmons College Graduate School of Management, an MS in Communication from Boston University, and a BS in Communication from Emerson College.
REBECCA SEARLES
Science Journalist and Social Community Editor at The Huffington Post
Rebecca Searles is a social community editor at The Huffington Post, where she manages the Facebook page and leads HuffPost's Girls in STEM Mentorship Program. She formerly interned at Psychology Today, and continues to blog for them at The Stone Age Mind. In May 2011, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied biology and psychology and conducted research with Barbara Frederickson's Positive Emotion and Psychophysiology (PEP) Lab. She also served as the editor-in-chief for the campus's research magazine,Carolina Scientific. Rebecca is particularly fascinated by the intersections of evolution, psychology, and tech, and continues to explore these topics in her writing. She lives in New York City, but is originally from the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina.
Science Journalist and Social Community Editor at The Huffington Post
Rebecca Searles is a social community editor at The Huffington Post, where she manages the Facebook page and leads HuffPost's Girls in STEM Mentorship Program. She formerly interned at Psychology Today, and continues to blog for them at The Stone Age Mind. In May 2011, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied biology and psychology and conducted research with Barbara Frederickson's Positive Emotion and Psychophysiology (PEP) Lab. She also served as the editor-in-chief for the campus's research magazine,Carolina Scientific. Rebecca is particularly fascinated by the intersections of evolution, psychology, and tech, and continues to explore these topics in her writing. She lives in New York City, but is originally from the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina.
MARION DIERICKX
Ph.D Student in Astrophysics at Harvard
Raised in France in a Belgian family, Marion left the old continent to attend Harvard College in Cambridge, Mass in 2008. There Marion became involved in astronomy through summer research at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the Max-Planck Institute, Germany. She graduated in 2012 with a BA in Astrophysics summa cum laude and an award-winning senior thesis under the direction of Professor Avi Loeb. When not trying to understand how galaxies form and evolve, Marion enjoys hiking and horse riding. She is currently working on her PhD in astrophysics at Harvard.
Ph.D Student in Astrophysics at Harvard
Raised in France in a Belgian family, Marion left the old continent to attend Harvard College in Cambridge, Mass in 2008. There Marion became involved in astronomy through summer research at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the Max-Planck Institute, Germany. She graduated in 2012 with a BA in Astrophysics summa cum laude and an award-winning senior thesis under the direction of Professor Avi Loeb. When not trying to understand how galaxies form and evolve, Marion enjoys hiking and horse riding. She is currently working on her PhD in astrophysics at Harvard.
JEAN YANG
Ph.D Student in Computer Science at MIT
Jean Yang is a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at MIT, focusing on programming languages. She graduated from Harvard University in 2008 and has done internships at Facebook, Microsoft Research, and Google. Her Ph.D. work on Jeeves, a language for automatically enforcing privacy policies, has been covered by Wired and Fast Company. She won Best Paper Award at PLDI in 2009 for her work on Verve, the first operating system to be verified end-to-end for type safety. In 2009 Jean co-founded Graduate Women at MIT, which now has over 1200 members, two annual conferences, and a mentoring program. She currently co-directs NeuWrite Boston, a collaborative working group for writers and scientists.
Ph.D Student in Computer Science at MIT
Jean Yang is a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at MIT, focusing on programming languages. She graduated from Harvard University in 2008 and has done internships at Facebook, Microsoft Research, and Google. Her Ph.D. work on Jeeves, a language for automatically enforcing privacy policies, has been covered by Wired and Fast Company. She won Best Paper Award at PLDI in 2009 for her work on Verve, the first operating system to be verified end-to-end for type safety. In 2009 Jean co-founded Graduate Women at MIT, which now has over 1200 members, two annual conferences, and a mentoring program. She currently co-directs NeuWrite Boston, a collaborative working group for writers and scientists.
LEYLA ISIK
Ph.D Student in Computational and Systems Biology at MIT
Leyla is a fourth year PhD student in the Computational and Systems Biology program at MIT. She is advised by Tomaso Poggio in the Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines. Her research focuses on understanding how the visual system recognizes objects under a variety of complex conditions. She uses neuroimaging, machine learning, behavioral experiments, and computational models to study this problem.
Leyla completed her undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University in Biomedical Engineering. She is also the Executive Co-Chair of Graduate Women at MIT.
Ph.D Student in Computational and Systems Biology at MIT
Leyla is a fourth year PhD student in the Computational and Systems Biology program at MIT. She is advised by Tomaso Poggio in the Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines. Her research focuses on understanding how the visual system recognizes objects under a variety of complex conditions. She uses neuroimaging, machine learning, behavioral experiments, and computational models to study this problem.
Leyla completed her undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University in Biomedical Engineering. She is also the Executive Co-Chair of Graduate Women at MIT.
XIUYE CHEN
Ph.D Student in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard
Xiuye is a 5th year graduate student in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard, and served as the co-chair of a student group HGWISE = Harvard Graduate Women in Science and Engineering. She grew up in Beijing, but also spent years in Germany and Hong Kong before coming here for grad school. With an undergraduate background in biochemistry, she took advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of the graduate program, and is now studying the behavior and neural circuitry of baby zebrafish. Under a Two-photon microscope, you can practically watch a transparent fish brain "think" - individual neurons light up with fluorescent when they are firing. She would like to do a post-doc in the cognitive sciences after graduating, and become an independent researcher after that.
Ph.D Student in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard
Xiuye is a 5th year graduate student in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard, and served as the co-chair of a student group HGWISE = Harvard Graduate Women in Science and Engineering. She grew up in Beijing, but also spent years in Germany and Hong Kong before coming here for grad school. With an undergraduate background in biochemistry, she took advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of the graduate program, and is now studying the behavior and neural circuitry of baby zebrafish. Under a Two-photon microscope, you can practically watch a transparent fish brain "think" - individual neurons light up with fluorescent when they are firing. She would like to do a post-doc in the cognitive sciences after graduating, and become an independent researcher after that.