Mission Statement

Womxn in Science & Engineering (WiSE) is a graduate student-led, non-profit UCSB campus organization founded in 2001. We aim to intersectionally promote equal opportunity and inclusion for all members of our campus community, support the scientific and career advancement of traditionally underserved people in academia, and create community for women and gender minorities of all ages in science and engineering fields. WiSE encourages the participation of all STEM undergraduates, graduates, researchers, faculty, and professionals in the Santa Barbara area.

Our Organizing Board

Emily Gemmill Al Kindi (she/her)

President

I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Quantitative Biosciences Program (iPQB) and am doing my thesis research in the Denise Montell Lab. I’m interested in questions about the cytoskeleton, collective cell migration, and Septins. I use border cell clusters from the fruit fly ovary as a model system. I enjoy hiking, camping, cooking, gardening, reading, cycling, and savoring a good cup of coffee. I’ve been involved with WiSE since 2022 and am excited to serve our WiSE community as president this year!

Ella Evensen (she/her)

Co-Vice President & WiSE Mentorship Program Lead

My name is Ella, I am a PhD student in the bioengineering program, and I work on tunable gel-based cell scaffolds. I did my undergraduate degree in bioengineering at the University of Maryland. I serve as VP and Outreach Chair for WiSE, coordinating the annual graduate-undergraduate mentorship program. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, spending time outdoors, and crocheting and other crafts.

Mary Salami

Co-Vice President

I’m a fourth-year Ph.D. student, and my research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, geospatial analysis, and socio-environmental dynamics, with a particular focus on low-resource settings. Currently, I am working on examining the efficiency and adaptability of large language models across diverse spatial scenarios.

Zsofia Szegletes (she/her)

Treasurer

I’m a fourth-year PhD candidate in Bioengineering. In the Dey lab, my research focuses on understanding the role of epigenetic states and dynamics in cell fate determination during early mammalian embryonic development. Outside of the lab, I love anything outdoors, especially trail running, snow sports, and beach yoga. I also enjoy trying out recipes from the NYT and learning new dance styles. I’m excited to be a part of the WiSE board this year and make sure that we get all the funding and reimbursements we need to put on awesome events!

Summer Blunk

Social Co-Chair

My name is Summer Blunk and I am this year’s Co-Social Chair! I am a 3rd year BMSE graduate student working in Craig Montell’s lab studying behavioral neuroscience in Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. When im not in the lab I like to cook, read sci fi or fantasy novels, play tennis or hang out with friends. Im excited to plan some awesome events this year!

Cody Googin

Social Co-Chair

I am a second-year PhD student in the Materials department studying battery electrolytes. I enjoy surfing, backpacking, and skiing/ski touring with friends. I also enjoy baking sourdough bread and watercolor painting. I’m excited to plan social events for the new and current WiSE community!

Sarah Payne (she/her)

University Level WiSE Mentorship Program Lead

I am a third-year PhD student in the Geography Department in the VIPER and GROVE labs. For my research I use remote sensing to better understand drought in dryland environments. Personally, I love spending time with my dog Atlas and kayaking. I am excited to assist with the WiSE mentorship program this year!

Brea Takacs

K-12 Level WiSE Mentorship Program Lead

I’m a fifth-year PhD candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program in Quantitative Biosciences (iPQB) program. In Soojin Yi’s lab, I study how early nervous system development might have shaped human brain evolution, using organoid models from nonhuman primates. Outside the lab, I love swing dancing, baking, and frolicking at Renaissance Faires. As WiSE’s K-12 Outreach Chair, I’m excited to help spark curiosity for science in the next generation of STEM girlies.

Nicolla Eddy Wopara

Professional Development Co-Chair

Hi, I’m Nicolla! I am a graduate student in the Technology Management department, with a background in Global & International Studies and International Relations. My academic interests bridge technology, business, and global development, with a focus on women’s empowerment and social impact. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, watching movies, drinking with friends, and hiking.

Erika Snyder (she/her)

Communications Co-Chair, Website Administrator

Hi all! I’m Erika, and I’m a 3rd-year PhD candidate in the IPQB program. I work in the Morrissey Lab, where we study immune cell behaviors; specifically, how macrophages interpret signals from pathogens to decide whether to swallow them whole during a process called phagocytosis. I enjoy reading, running, cooking, taking care of my large plant collection, snowboarding, and binge-watching my favorite shows after a long day in the lab.

Elisabeth Hee Yun Rothman

Communications Co-Chair, Email Correspondence

I am a second-year PhD student in the Department of Bioengineering, working in the Dey Lab. My research focuses on developing single-cell sequencing technologies to uncover how the inheritance of epigenetic modifications shapes cellular function and human health. I’m originally from Brookline, Massachusetts, and I enjoy playing golf, watching the leaves change in the fall, and video games.

Jenna Wolfanger

Communications Co-Chair, Social Media Correspondence

I am a second-year PhD student in the Chemical Engineering department. I work in Professor Mills’s lab, developing a virus-like-particle based, probiotic-administered oral vaccine. This upcoming year I will be part of the Data-Driven Biology Predoctoral Training program, learning data analytics techniques applicable to large sequencing datasets. When not in lab, I love baking, crocheting, reading, and running on the beach.

Yin (Grace) Tang (she/her)

Undergraduate Coordinating Officer

My name is Grace Tang and I am currently a sophomore majoring in biology. Some of my hobbies include reading, listening to music, playing basketball, and binge-watching shows in my spare time. My favorite genres to read are science fiction and detective novels!

Yingyi Zhou (she/her)

Undergraduate Coordinating Officer

I’m a third-year undergraduate majoring in Biological Sciences and am excited to continue serving as one of the undergraduate representatives for WiSE. It’s been incredibly rewarding to connect with people from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds, and I look forward to meeting even more of you through upcoming events and activities. During my free time, I really enjoy photography, traveling, and appreciating nature anytime possible.