Leadership Team
NATALIE GEHRED
President
6th Year PhD Candidate, Molecular Biology
What do you study? I study how chromatin structural proteins regulate the scarring process that happens in the diseased or injured heart.
If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be? Journalist
Email: ngehred@g.ucla.edu
ERIN MORROW
President
3rd Year PhD Candidate, Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience)
What do you study? The influence of emotional arousal on the structure of memory, with a focus on arousal and memory dysfunction in PTSD.
If you weren't a scientist, what would you be? Music producer or graphic designer
Email: erinmorrow@g.ucla.edu
SIMRAN SANGHA
Chair, Internal Relations
1st Year MPH Student
What do you study? Epidemiology
If you weren't a scientist, what would you be? I think I'd be a florist!
ADITYA IYER
Chair, External Relations
1st Year PhD Student, Bioinformatics
What do you study? I'm broadly interested in population genetics, from evolutionary simulations to genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
If you weren't a scientist, what would you be?Medieval historian
Email: aiyer24@g.ucla.edu
Arhan Surapaneni
Chair, Science Communication & Policy Writing
2nd Year Undergraduate, Public Affairs (Pre-Med)
What do you study? I am interested in urban planning and policy-making, and my research focuses on the intersection of the brain-gut axis and things like mental health and food insecurity.
If you weren't a scientist, what would you be? I would probably be a musician or photographer
Email: arhansurap@g.ucla.edu
Joan Chimezie
Chair, Science Communication & Policy Writing
3rd Year PhD Candidate, Communications
What do you study? I study how humans socially perceive individuals and groups around them. Research has shown that humans can make remarkably accurate judgments regarding complex social categories (eg; sexual orientation, socioeconomic status) in split seconds. I study the mechanisms underlying these judgments, how they lead to bias, and the downstream consequences of these biases with a specific focus on visual socioeconomic judgments.
If you weren't a scientist, what would you be? A Professional Dog Petter
Email: abhinandadash99@g.ucla.edu
Keaton Barr
Chair, Finance & Funding Opportunities
6th Year PhD Candidate, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
What do you study? The processes of RNA transcription and processing. My work primarily focuses on understanding how DNA bound proteins can act as a safeguard from aberrant transcripts, and understanding how the degradation of specific RNAs regulates the response to toxic metals
If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be? I would work at an animal rescue or be a wildlife photographer
Email: keatonbarr@ucla.edu
Chloe Hanson
Chair, Finance & Funding Opportunities
4th Year PhD Candidate, Human Genetics
What do you study? I design statistical models to analyze complex genomic experiments, aiming to advance personalized medicine and facilitate the development of more effective, targeted therapies for individuals from diverse genetic ancestries.
If you weren't a scientist, what would you be? Journalist or environmental lawyer
Email: hansonc@g.ucla.edu
Amey Gaikwad
Chair, Professional Development
6th Year PhD candidate, Physics
What do you study? I study quantum field theory, which aims to provide the physical framework to understand the fundamental particles and forces that govern the universe at its basic level .
If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be? A journalist, writer, or educator
Email: ameypg@physics.ucla.edu
Project Chair
2nd Year PhD Candidate, Geography
What do you study? My research focuses on the long-term changes in wildfires and vegetation in California over thousands of years, examining both climate and human impacts.
If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be? I would be a travel blogger.
Email: jchimezie@g.ucla.edu
Abhinanda DASH
Former Leadership:
Kayla Lim - PhD Candidate Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology | President
Taniya Matthew - Undergraduate MIMG | Chair, Media & Communications
Caitlin Goodpaster - PhD Candidate Neuroscience | Chair, Community Outreach
Bineh Ndefru - PhD Candidate Materials Science & Engineering | President
Zoe Dobler - PhD Candidate Neuroscience | VP of Science Communication
Juri Kimura - Undergraduate Cognitive Science & Public Affairs | Deputy, Media & membership
Madison Pfau - Undergraduate Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Deputy, Media & Membership
Yuki Hebner - PhD Candidate Molecular Biology | President
Ashna Aggarwal - PhD Candidate Physics | VP of Government Relations
Carolyn Amir - PhD Candidate Neuroscience | Deputy, Government Relations
Katherine Espinoza - PhD Candidate Neuroscience | VP of Outreach & Community Relations
Lauren Wagner - PhD Candidate Neuroscience | VP of Science Diplomacy
Lexie Baughman - Undergraduate MIMG | Deputy, Media & Communication
2017-2021
Zoe Guttman - PhD Candidate Neuroscience | President
Sammy Mensah - PhD Chemistry & Biochem | Government Engagement Officer
Kaiser Atai - PhD Moelcular Bio | Academic Engagement Officer
Angela Yu - Undergraduate Psychobio & Global Health | Academic Engagement Officer
Anna Goldberg - Undergradate MCDB | Community Engagement Officer
Conner Philson - PhD Ecology & Evolutionary Biology | VP of External Affairs
Emily Ryznar - PhD Ecology & Evolutionary Biology | Community Engagement Officer
Jonathan Balk - Undergraduate MCDB | Government Engagement Officer
Brandon Tornero - Undergraduate Architectural Studies | Social Media & Website
Clincy Cheung - PhD Candidate Materials Science & Engineering | Government Engagement Officer
Dominik Stemer - PhD Candidate Materials Science & Engineering | Academic Engagement Officer
Dane Stanfield - PhD Candidate Chemistry & Biochemistry | Secretary
Jennifer Tribble - PhD Candidate Neuroscience | President
William Zou - Undergraduate Environmental Science & Engineering; Government Engagement Officer
Elizabeth Reid-Wainscoat - PhD Candidate Ecology & Evolutionary Biology | Government Engagement Officer
Alejandra Rios - PhD Candidate Physics & Biology in Medicine | Community Engagement Officer
Catharine Krebs - PhD Candidate Human Genetics | Academic Engagement Officer
Maria Lazaro - Postdoctoral Scholar Neuroscience | Co-Vice President
Mary Flaim - PhD Candidate Psychology | Community Engagement Officer
Ariella Machness - PhD Candidate Materials Science & Engineering | Treasurer
Jacqueline Qu - Undergraduate Philosophy and Mathematics | Academic Engagement Officer