Executive Board
2023-2024
President: Natanya Villegas (Biology / Knight Campus)
natanyav-at-uoregon.edu
5th Year Ph.D. Candidate
Lab: Calin Plesa
I’m a 5th year Biology PhD student in the Plesa lab at the Knight Campus optimizing gene synthesis technologies using CRISPR-Cas9. Originally, I majored in microbiology at San Jose State University and conducted neurophysiology research. As an undergraduate, I participated in programs that provide minority students with skills the build research careers, such as MARC and RISE. I also attended ABRCMS, a conference for underrepresented students in STEM, that enabled me to become passionate about participating in communities for minority students. I hope to provide support to the community at CMiS and beyond during my time as president! In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, running, and playing volleyball. I also love cats!
Vice President: Rose Al-Saadi (Biology)
ralsaadi-at-uoregon.edu
4th Year Ph.D. Candidate
Lab: Patrick C. Phillips
I am a biologist working in the Phillips lab to develop a C. elegans model and use it to study neuronal aging and neurodegenerative diseases. My work in the lab combines my favorite areas in biology; molecular biology, genetics, and aging. I was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, then moved to Syracuse, NY in 2012. I attended Syracuse University where I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in 2017 and Master’s degree in 2020, both in Biology. When I’m not hanging out with worms in the lab, I’m probably hanging out with my cat at home watching The Office. I enjoy baking, taking care of my 60+ plant family, and weightlifting/Crossfit!
Treasurer & Awards Coordinator: Faiqa Khaliq (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
faiqak-at-uoregon.edu
2nd Year Ph.D. Student
Lab: Carl Brozek
I am a second-year graduate student working in Brozek lab mainly focusing on the syntheses and optical properties of triazolate nanoMOFs. Originally, I am from Lahore, Pakistan and Lahoris are famous for their love for food. When not in lab, I spend most of my time cooking spicy Asian foods.
Social & Community Co-Chair: Laila Nawab (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
lnawab-at-uoregon.edu
3rd Year Ph.D. Student
Lab: Cathy Y. Wong
I graduated from Indiana University Northwest with a BS in Chemistry and took a year off before coming to the University of Oregon. I joined Cathy Wong’s Lab and will be working on creating an imaging technique to study mixed-halide perovskite nanocrystals during synthesis. I like to cook and try new recipes and would say my favorite cuisine is Persian food! When I’m not in lab, I enjoy going on hikes and exploring the great outdoors, but also love laying on my couch and watching the newest Rom-Com.
Communications Co-Chair: Masha Korchagina (Biology)
mkorchag-at-uoregon.edu
4th Year Ph.D. Candidate
Lab: Louca
I am a biologist working in the Louca lab focusing on mechanisms underlying microbial evolution. Currently, I am conducting a large-scale bioinformatics analysis focusing on the evolutionary rates of antibiotic resistance genes, genes responsible for bacterial toxicity and bacterial pathogenicity, across the entire bacterial tree of life, including animal- and non-animal-associated clades. Originally from Russia, I moved to the U.S. in 2001. For my undergraduate degree I attended NYU, where I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology in 2013. Outside of lab, I love hanging out with my cats and my friends, hiking, mushroom hunting, and playing the drums.
Communications Co-Chair: Helena Machado (Earth Sciences)
hdebasto-at-uoregon.edu
6th Year Ph.D. Candidate
Lab: Hopkins-Davis
I’m a PhD student working on vertebrate paleontology. I’m from Brazil, where I completed my bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro and my master’s in Geosciences at the National Museum. Both theses focused on fossil horses and that’s what brought me here: I’m currently studying the relationships between South and North American horses from the Pleistocene. If I’m not working, odds are I’m either on a walk or watching movies/series.
Faculty Co-advisor: Prof. Marian Hettiaratchi (Knight Campus)
mhettiar-at-uoregon.edu
Assistant Professor
I’m a bioengineer working on tissue regeneration. My lab specifically focuses on making injectable biomaterials that carry proteins or cells to repair damaged or injured tissues. I was born in Calgary, AB, Canada but have lived all over the United States and Canada for my scientific training. When I’m not doing science, I’m out running or biking along the Willamette River, trying new ciders or wines, or cooking and eating delicious (very spicy!) food.
Faculty Co-advisor: Prof. Nadia Singh (Biology)
nsingh-at-uoregon.edu
Associate Professor
Nadia Singh is an academic expert in evolutionary genetics, population genetics and population genomics. Nadia runs the SCORE (Students of Color Opportunities in Research Enrichment) program, an academically based, hand-on research class designed for students who are underrepresented in the Natural Sciences.
Faculty Co-advisor: Prof. Cathy Wong (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
cwong3-at-uoregon.edu
Associate Professor
I’m a physical chemist from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, building new techniques to measure the properties of electronic materials while they’re being made. When I’m not doing research or teaching, you’ll probably find me somewhere outside, or blowing my salary at REI. I love hiking, backpacking, dehydrating tastier food for the trail, and figuring out how to make my gear just another ounce lighter.
Previous Executive Boards
2022-2023
President: Rose Al-Saadi (Biology)
Vice-President: Helena Machado (Earth Science)
Treasurer & Awards Coordinator: Faiqa Khaliq (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Social & Community Co-Chairs: Laila Nawab (Chemistry and Biochemistry) & Natanya Villegas (Biology / Knight Campus)
Communications Chair: Masha Korchagina (Biology)
Seminar Co-chairs: Kana Suzuki (Neuroscience) & Isabella Salinas (Biology)
Departmental Liason: Natanya Villegas (Biology / Knight Campus)
Faculty Advisors: Marian Hettiaratchi (Knight Campus) & Cathy Wong (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
2021-2022
President: Mea Songco (Neuroscience)
Vice President: Helena Machado (Earth Science)
Treasurer: Alison Chang (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Social and Community Chair: Hannah Bates (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Communications Chair: Masha Korchagina (Biology)
Seminar Co-chair: Emily Dennis (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Seminar Co-chair: Emma Tran (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Departmental Liason: Rose Al-Saadi (Biology)
Departmental Liason: Sarah Rich (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Faculty Advisors: Marian Hettiaratchi (Knight Campus) & Cathy Wong (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
2020-2021
President: Kiana Kawamura (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Vice President: Michelle Muth (Earth Science)
Treasurer & Travel Awards Coordinator: Alison Chang (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Seminar Chair: Evan Christoffersen (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Workshop Chair: Jeremea Songco(Neuroscience)
Communications Chair: Jeremea Songco (Neuroscience) & Hannah Hashimoto (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Social and Community Chair: Hannah Bates (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Department Liaisons: Amy Robbins (Biology/IMB), Efrain Vidal (Chemistry), Aidan Short (Institute of Ecology and Evolution), Helena Machado (Earth Science), Francesco Arceri (Physics), & Theresa Cheng (Psychology)
Faculty Advisors: Cathy Wong (Chemistry & Biochemistry) & Marian Hettiaratchi (Knight Campus)
2019-2020
President: Kiana Kawamura (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Vice President: Michelle Muth (Earth Science)
Treasurer: Alison Chang (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Seminar Chair: Mea Songco (Neuroscience)
Workshop Chair: Mea Songco (Neuroscience)
Outreach and Communications Chair: Johan Bonilla (Physics)
Social and Community Chair: Tamara Niella (Psychology)
Webmaster: Matt Cerda (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Faculty Advisor: Cathy Wong (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
2018-2019
President: Johan Bonilla (Physics)
Vice President: Matt Cerda (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Treasurer: Fehmi Yasin (Physics) & Jaclyn Kellon (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Seminar Chair: Meredith Sharps (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Workshop Chair: Michelle Muth (Earth Science)
Social/Outreach Chair: Kiana Kawamura (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Webmaster: Kellum Tate-Jones (Earth Science)
Faculty Advisor: Cathy Wong (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
2017-2018
President: Jaclyn Kellon (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Vice President: Meredith Sharps (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Treasurer: Hannah Bishop (Neuroscience)
Seminar Chair: Matt Cerda (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Workshop Chair: Arunima Bhattacharya (Mathematics)
Social/Outreach Chair: Michelle Muth (Earth Science)
Webmaster: Fehmi Yasin (Physics)
Faculty Advisor: Cathy Wong (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
2016-2017
President: Jaclyn Kellon (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Vice President: Johan Bonilla (Physics)
Treasurer: Hannah Bishop (Neuroscience)
Recorder: Meredith Sharps (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Webmaster/Social Media: Matt Cerda (Chemistry & Biochemistry) & Mayra Amezcua (Physics)
UO Liaison: Andrea Steiger (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Faculty Advisor(s): Darren Johnson, Jim Prell, & Cathy Wong (Chemistry & Biochemistry)