Organizers
Aria Walls is a 5th-year PhD candidate in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at the Kottmann Lab. Her research investigates the role of the renin angiotensin system in the basal ganglia, with a focus on its modulatory effects on cholinergic interneurons in the striatum. She first became interested in science communication through the University of Washington’s GenOM ALVA program, where she participated as a student before later returning as an instructor. Aria participated in BioRender’s Creators and Peer Review programs, contributing to their library of high-quality scientific templates. She previously served as the biology student representative for the CUNY Graduate Center’s Doctoral and Graduate Students’ Council (DGSC) and was an officer for CUNYSciCom for their 2023 and 2024 annual symposiums.
Megan Caldwell is a neuroscience PhD student and has been working in the Yetnikoff lab since 2018 and teaching in the psych department at CSI since 2014. Her research interest is in discovering the role of dopamine in the corpus callosum and she primarily uses immunohistochemistry and microscopy in her daily research. Outside of her research goals, Megan is interested in mentoring and working in science communication to make the sciences more accessible and less intimidating, especially for undergraduate students.
Chizurum Oluigbo is a neuroscience PhD student in the Undieh Lab at the CUNY School of Medicine. His research is focused on utilizing pharmacological tools to enhance neurotrophic signaling and promote neuro-regeneration, particularly for treating spinal cord injuries. Beyond his research, Chizurum is passionate about teaching and mentoring. His commitment to science communication and teaching began in high school, and he aims to continue guiding and inspiring future scientists.