Executive Board for 2021-2022
Kayla Nygaard (She/her/hers)
/ President
Kayla is a Molecular Genetics and Genomics graduate student studying genes from the Williams Syndrome locus on lucky chromosome #7. She’s fascinated by viewing animal behavior through the lens of genetics. She aspires to be an excellent undergraduate educator where she can share her passion for diversity & inclusion education (Connections, president 2017-19) and promoting and supporting women in science and beyond.
Mandy Chan (She/her/hers)
/ Vice-President
Mandy is a 4th year PhD student in the Immunology program and she’s just starting at Dr. Joel Schilling‘s lab studying macrophage dysfunction in non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases for her thesis work. As VP of WiSTEM this year, she hopes to help each committee succeed in programming and connects with other student groups. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, fostering animals, and reading
Jeongmin Lee (She/her/hers)
/ Communications Director
Jeongmin is a 4th year graduate student in the Molecular Genetics and Genomics program. She is working in the laboratory of Dr. David Piston to identify the brown adipose tissue secreted factor that can help managing type 1 diabetes. Outside of the lab, she has a huge passion for cooking and taking cate of her two ultra-fluffy cats.
Melanie Ernst (She/her/hers)
/ Bookkeeper
Melanie Ernst is a 4th year graduate student studying ion channel folding in the lab of Janice Robertson in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. In her free time, Melanie likes to swing-dance and listen to the fantastic St. Louis jazz bands. As bookkeeper, Melanie not only takes care of the finances, but also maintains the meeting minutes.
Lauren Johnson (She/her/hers)
/ Community Engagement Chair
Lauren is a first-year Ph.D. student in Evolution, Ecology, and Population Biology. Outside of research, Lauren loves taking fitness classes, playing sports, watching movies, reading, and learning new languages (currently French). Having been actively involved in outreach at her undergraduate university, Lauren is excited to join WiSTEM and the community engagement team.
Molly Brakhane (She/her/hers)
/ Networking & Mentoring Chair
Molly is a 2nd-year DBBS student working in altered signaling in hematopoietic progenitors cells leading to myeloproliferative neoplasms in Dr. Stephen Oh’s lab. Outside of the lab, she is passionate about animals rescues, including her fat rescue cat Bill. She wants to encourage communication and community for the women of WashU.
Samantha Barrick (She/her/hers)
/ Professional Development Chair
Sam is a postdoc studying cardiac force transduction in Michael Greenberg’s lab in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. She is excited to serve as the WiSTEM professional development chair to develop resources to aid WiSTEM members in their career progression.
Emily Davenport (She/her/hers)
/ Social Activities Chair
Emily is a 4th year Plant & Microbial Biosciences student in the Bose lab. She likes to have a good time, build community, find friends in the struggle, and wants the same for you!
Sarah Bernhard (She/her/hers)
/ Social Activities Co-Chair
Sarah is a second-year PhD student in the Neuroscience program. She is co-mentored in the labs of Tao Che and Susruta Majumdar where she studies structural biology, specifically how opioids bind to opioid receptors. Sarah is excited to take on the role of social co-chair and promote an inclusive and welcoming environment!
Professional Development Committee
Samantha Barrick (sbarrick@wustl.edu) is working closely with administration to develop the most effective programming for women in STEM on campus. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to her if you have suggestions for new ideas.
Hannah Pletcher (She/her/hers)
Hannah is a first year student in BBSB and has research interests in metabolism and cellular signaling related to disease. She is passionate about supporting women in STEM and providing opportunities for professional growth.
Networking and Mentoring Committee
Molly Brakhane (She/her/hers), the current Networking and Mentoring chair
Molly Brakhane
(a.brakhane@wustl.edu) is busy connecting with women faculty all across campus to build a network for students to connect with.
Julia Bals (She/her/hers)
Julia is a first year Ph.D. student in the immunology program interested in adaptive immune responses and/or immune involvement in neurodegenerative disease. she is super excited to work with this year’s WiSTEM team and the wider WashU community as a part of the networking and social committees.
Hannah Pletcher (She/her/hers)
Hannah is a first year student in BBSB and has research interests in metabolism and cellular signaling related to disease. She is passionate about supporting women in STEM and providing opportunities for professional growth.
Community Engagement Committee
(She/her/hers), the current community Engagement Chair
Lauren Johnson (johnson.l.e@wustl.edu) is actively networking with community partners to expand our reach to the larger St. Louis community, beyond WashU’s campus.
Sarah Koester (She/her/hers)
Sarah is a second year PhD student in the lab of Joseph Dougherty where she studies translation regulation. She is passionate about RNA, teaching the next.
Social Activities Committee
(She/her/hers), the Current Social Activities Chair
(She/her/hers), Social Activities Co-Chair
Emily Davenport (demily@wustl.edu) and Sarah Bernhard (bernhard@wustl.edu) are working hard to organize various social activities to connect group members and create a welcoming environment for people interested in our group.
Aishwarya Krishnan (She/her/hers)
Aishwarya is a first year graduate student in the Cancer Biology program. She is a Potterhead, loves to read and is excited to be a part of WiSTEM to help.
Julia Bals (She/her/hers)
Julia is a first year Ph.D. student in the immunology program interested in adaptive immune responses and/or immune involvement in neurodegenerative disease. she is super excited to work with this year’s WiSTEM team and the wider WashU community as a part of the networking and social committees.
Sarah Koester (She/her/hers)
Sarah is a second year PhD student in the lab of Joseph Dougherty where she studies translation regulation. She is passionate about RNA, teaching the next.
+ General Support
Nicolette Laird (She/her/hers)
Nicolette is a PhD student in the Computational and Systems Biology Program designing imaging and analysistoolkits to study aging in C. elgans. In her free time she does Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, runs with friends, and bakes delicious goodies. She spends way too much time cuddling her two cats, the Meow Brothers, who are named after the BJJ black belt Miyao brothers.