Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellows

Winter 2008 Fellow Biographies

Sage C. Arbor (COSEPUP/PGA) earned his PhD in biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis in 2008.  His thesis work involves computationally designing and synthetically producing rigid scaffolds to act as therapeutics.  Sage has always been interested in the fields he believes are central to life.  This passion has led him to complete four summer internships in nanotechnology research at NIST, earn a BS in both biology and chemistry from Duke University, engage in protein pharmaceutical chemistry in graduate school, and drove him to public policy.  During his thesis work designing drugs to combat HIV, Sage was awed by the greater speed and cost effectiveness that public policy and education could have on reducing the global impact of HIV/AIDS.  Sage recently designed an hour-long climate change PowerPoint lecture that he delivers in high schools in an effort to continue educating local residents and neighbors on the topic.  After graduating Sage worked at Pfizer as a systems biologist analyzing genomic data in an effort to elucidate novel targets as well as increase the success rate of compound go through clinical trials.  Contact by email. (Updated 4/09)

Jessica Buono (CWSEM/PGA and NAEPO/NAE) is a research associate with the Board on Military and Veterans Health at the Institute of Medicine.  She is currently working on a study assessing the qualifications of licensed mental health counselors to practice independently under the Department of Defense’s health care system, TRICARE.  Prior to this, she worked as a research associate in the Policy and Global Affairs Division at the National Academies and was a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow with the National Academy of Engineering Program Office and the Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine.  During her fellowship, she conducted research for a study on the application of systems engineering tools and techniques to improve the quality of care of traumatic brain injury in the Military Health System and worked on initiatives to enhance the involvement of women in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary health careers.  Ms. Buono received a BS in behavioral neuroscience from Lehigh University and will earn her MPH in epidemiology from the George Washington University in May 2009.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Sarah R. Carter (STEP and CHR/PGA) is a AAAS Fellow with the Environmental Protection Agency working on cross-Agency climate change issues.  As a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow, she was placed with the Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy where she contributed to a project to develop best practices in the commercialization of university inventions.  While at the Academies, she also worked with the Committee on Human Rights to support the Israeli-Palestinian Scientific Organization.  In 2006, Sarah worked on the Jack Carter for U.S. Senate campaign in Nevada as the Director of Online Communications.  In that role, she maintained the official campaign Web site, and developed and implemented an online outreach strategy as a way to raise funds, recruit voters, engage volunteers, and increase publicity.  Sarah earned her PhD in neuroscience at the University of California-San Francisco in 2007 and her bachelor's from Duke University in 2000.  Contact via email.  (Updated 4/09)

Christina Chaivorapol (BGH/IOM) is currently working as a bioinformatics scientist at Genentech to discover biomarkers in auto-immune diseases.  She completed her PhD in biological and medical informatics at the University of California, San Francisco.  Her doctoral research examined the regulation of gene expression at the genome-wide level in mouse and human embryonic stem cells by combining the fields of computational and molecular biology.  Christina's graduate studies were supported by a pre-doctoral fellowship from the National Science Foundation.  She holds a BS in microbiology and molecular genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles.  Christina greatly enjoyed her Mirzayan Fellowship at the Academies and will use her experiences in science policy for the rest of her career.  In the long term, she plans to pursue a career in scientific research and eventually transition to non-profit work.  In her free time, Christina enjoys cooking, trying out the numerous restaurants in San Francisco, working as a volunteer to bring sustainable, local agriculture to the Bay Area, swimming, diving, and practicing Ashtanga yoga.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09).

Tooba A. Cheema (GUIRR/PGA) is a postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital.  She completed her PhD in pharmacology at the University of Michigan in December 2007.  Her thesis research focused on investigating the signaling mechanisms activated by G-protein coupled receptors on neural cells in response to osmotic stress.  These studies were funded by a pre-doctoral fellowship from NIH/NINDS.  Throughout graduate school, Tooba has actively participated in science outreach programs such as Brains Rule and was also a student representative for her department and biomedical student council.  After Tooba spent her schooling years in Pakistan, she received her BS in biochemistry from Tufts University in May 2002.  In the future, Tooba hopes to continue her scientific endeavors in translational research in academia, or in biotech/pharmaceutical industries.  In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, dancing, outdoor activities, and spending time with friends.  Contact via email.  (Updated 4/09)

Brad Cohn (HSP/IOM) is currently completing his MD at the University of California, San Francisco.  During his tenure at UCSF, Brad accepted a Clinical & Translational Science fellowship to conduct research on magnetic resonance-detectable biomarkers of fetal development.  His thesis is aimed at providing a foundation for future non-invasive fetal diagnostic techniques.  He completed his undergraduate training at the University of California, Irvine in June 2004 with a BS in neurobiology.  Among his activities in medical school, Brad volunteered as a consultant at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Bangkok, Thailand.  While abroad, he observed firsthand the impact of health and science policy on the well-being of a region's populous and presented a report titled The State of Student Health in Asia and the Pacific to the UNESCO Division of HIV/AIDS and School Health.  While Brad has not yet selected his medical specialty, he is committed to a career combining academic medicine and public service.  He is very grateful for the opportunity to participate in HSP projects and hopes this experience will help him define the manner in which he can make his greatest contributions. (Updated 4/09) 

Clark Cully (CISAC/PGA) is a nonproliferation fellow with the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, focusing on research and development of nonproliferation technologies.  Previously he was a Mirzayan Fellow with the Committee on International Security and Arms Control.  Clark finished his PhD in particle physics from the University of Michigan.  His bachelor's degrees in physics and math were earned at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.  He conducted his research at Fermi National Lab, using its accelerator to search for undiscovered forms of matter.  He and his wife Martina are new to D.C. and enjoy exploring the city's museums and activities, volunteering, and involvement in their local church.  Contact him by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Ana M. Ferreras (CASEE/NAE) is a program officer for the Board on International Scientific Organizations (BISO) at The National Academies, supporting the U.S. National Committees for mathematics, mathematics instruction, crystallography, theoretical and applied mechanics, and physics.  Dr. Ferreras holds a PhD in industrial engineering at the University of Central Florida.  She also holds a master's in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology and a bachelor's in electrical engineering from UCF.  During her doctoral research, she assisted the IE Department at UCF in reengineering the undergraduate curriculum by developing a national model, new programs, experiential laboratories, and research centers. Contact via email. (Updated 4/09)

Jamila R. Greene (COSEPUP/PGA) is currently working towards her PhD in physical chemistry at Purdue University.  Her dissertation focuses on the photodissociation of brominated molecules in the upper atmosphere.  She completed her MS at Purdue University and BS at Hampton University.  Jamila developed an interest in a career dedicated to chemistry, environmental research, and global affairs as an undergraduate student when she studied at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.  She believes The Mirzayan Fellowship has given her the opportunity to learn more about the development and promotion of sound policies related to the advancement of STEM research and education.  She hopes her involvement on the Committee on Science Engineering and Public Policy (COSEPUP) extended her knowledge of policy that develops and supports America's diverse talent.  Jamila has held leadership roles in the chemistry community as a member of the American Chemical Society's Younger Chemists Committee.  Also, she served as the National Student Representative for the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.  In her spare time, Jamila enjoys practicing yoga, gourmet cooking, singing, and salsa dancing. (Updated 4/09) 

Kathrin Humphrey (DSC/PGA) is an associate program officer with the Office of Foreign Secretaries at the National Academies.  During the last semester of her master's program in International Affairs and Development, she was a Mirzayan Fellow with the Board on Development, Security and Cooperation, and learned more about the opportunities and challenges modern science and technology can pose for the development of less advanced countries.  Kathrin was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to focus on socio-economic development during her graduate studies at The New School University, where she graduated in May 2008.  Prior to this, Kathrin worked as a rural development volunteer in Nepal and as an intern in NGO management intern in India.  She has spent two months living in rural Mali and later worked for the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Bamako on democracy and governance issues.  Born in Berlin, she earned her bachelor's in international business from the University of Applied Sciences in Dresden, Germany.  In her spare time, Kathrin enjoys traveling, exploring new cultures, learning new languages, discovering cities on foot and reading.  Contact via email.  (Updated 4/09)

Pushkar Joshi (DSC/PGA) graduated from the University of Rochester with a PhD in neuroscience in August 2007.  During his doctoral research, Pushkar investigated the genetic basis of neocortical arealization, a process that creates different areas in the neocortex (a brain structure) that regulate movement, sensory perception and cognition.  Pushkar completed a part of his undergraduate studies in Bombay, India, then transferred and received his undergraduate degree in neuroscience from Rutgers University.  Having grown up and studied in countries such as India, Afghanistan, and the U.S., Pushkar is interested in how international affairs affect the progress of science and technology.  During his Mirzayan Fellowship, he researched the effects of permeable national borders in a globalized world on America’s national security and its scientific enterprise, in the hopes that it would give him a formal exposure to a policy career to pursue after post-doctoral research.  In his free time, Pushkar enjoys playing squash, traveling, and reading.  Contact him via email.  (Updated 4/09) 

Elizabeth Keller (DSC/PGA) received a PhD in physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara in September of 2007.  Her dissertation research focused on numerical methods in theoretical quantum chaos.  Liz has a BA in physics and philosophy from Dartmouth College.  After completing her PhD, she spent a month volunteering in a small rural village in central Peru, where she worked on the clearing and restoration of newly-discovered Inca ruins and helped out in the local community.  Her fellowship project at the National Academies focused on Israeli- Palestinian relations.  She is currently living in New Zealand, where she is a policy adviser in the International Linkages group of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.  She enjoys traveling, soccer, snowboarding, hiking and backpacking, running, and reading. (Updated 4/09) 

Christine Micheel (NCPF/IOM) joined the IOM in January 2008 as a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellow in the National Cancer Policy Forum.  Since that time, she has worked on NCPF activities including Improving the Quality of Cancer Clinical Trials, Implementing Colorectal Cancer Screening, and Multi-site Phase III Clinical Trials and NCI Cooperative Groups. She is now the study director for the Committee on Qualification of Biomarkers as Surrogate Endpoints of Chronic Disease Risk, which is housed in the Board on Health Care Services.  Prior to joining the IOM, Dr. Micheel completed a postdoctoral position at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, Calif., where she studied interactions between biomolecules --  such as DNA and antibodies -- and nanomaterials.  She completed her PhD in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2005, under the direction of Paul Alivisatos and with the support of a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral Fellowship.  Her research was focused at the boundary between nanoscience and biophysics.  Outside of her research pursuits, Christine volunteered in the library at the Women's Cancer Resource Center in Oakland, California, a community resource for women with cancer and their families.  Dr. Micheel obtained her bachelor’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis, where she graduated magna cum laude with a major in chemistry.  She enjoys salsa dancing, knitting, hiking, exploring cities, and her cat Luna.  Contact by email. (Updated 4/09)

Dorothy Miller (BEES/DEPS) completed her PhD in physical chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  For her graduate research, Dorothy investigated competition and cooperation between non-covalent interactions in gas-phase cluster ions using vibrational spectroscopy and ab initio calculations with implications in environmental, atmospheric, and biological systems.  While in graduate school, Dorothy founded the Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee--a national program that facilitates programming by graduate students at American Chemical Society National Meetings--and was appointed to the American Chemical Society's Younger Chemists Committee.  Before beginning her 2008-2009 AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship at the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency, Dorothy was a Winter 2008 Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Research Council where she served in the Board on Energy and Environmental Systems within the Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences.  While a Mirzayan Fellow, she supported the National Academies America's Energy Future Panels on Electricity from Renewable Energy and on Alternative Liquid Transportation Fuels.  She also coordinated public outreach for the National Academies Summit on America's Energy Future. (Updated 4/09)

Nilah Monnier (BLS/DELS) is currently a graduate student in the biophysics program at Harvard University, where she also earned her B.A. in biochemistry.  Contact by email.

Deirdre Parsons (CSTL/PGA) graduated with a master’s degree in molecular genetics and microbiology from Duke University in December 2007.  Her graduate thesis focused on the development of high-throughput SNP genotyping, genomic technology used for conducting personalized medicine and diagnostic research.  Deirdre received her AB from Dartmouth College in 2004 with a major in genetics, cell & developmental biology and a minor in linguistics.  She then worked for four years in molecular biology laboratories at Dartmouth College, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and New York University School of Medicine.  As a Mirzayan Felllow with the Committee for Science, Technology, and Law, she explored issues surrounding the regulation of synthetic biology and genetic testing.  She is currently an analyst at Accenture in its Health & Life Sciences Strategy Consulting division, where she works with pharmaceutical companies to improve clinical research processes.  When Deirdre is not at the Continental President's Club in an airport or in a Hitlon Family hotel, she is working on her music career or running the National Mall.  (Updated 4/09) 

Shelby Perkins (CEE/NAE) completed her JD and master’s in environmental law at Vermont Law School.  Following the completion of her law degree, Shelby became a member of the New Mexico Bar and practiced nuclear waste law as an attorney for the U.S.  Department of Energy, where her work was largely focused on the preparation of the natural systems portions of the Department's Yucca Mountain construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  In addition, her work supported environment regulatory and budgetary issues concerning the U.S. nuclear weapons complex.  In 2006, Shelby traveled to Antarctica and was inspired to expand her study of environmental policy to additional human impacts on the environment.  Following her fellowship at the Academies, Shelby handled voter protection for the Obama campaign in southern New Mexico.  An entrepreneur, painter, casual geologist and former outdoors guide, Shelby is also a member of the Explorer's Club, and a Director of its Washington Chapter. (Updated 4/09)

Sarah Ryker(WSTB/DELS and CSTL/PGA) is currently at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, which provides science policy analysis to the Executive Office of the President.  Prior to her Mirzayan Fellowship, Sarah held a National Science Foundation fellowship for doctoral research in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.  Her dissertation combined technical and policy approaches to prioritize the risk assessment and regulation of mixtures of chemicals in drinking water.  Prior to her PhD, Sarah worked for the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment.  At the Academies, Sarah's work on the WSTB's global drinking-water project integrated her professional and academic experiences in water science and policy analysis, and broadened her knowledge of developing-world infrastructure issues.  Her time with the CSTL similarly enriched her perspective on the role of risk science in policy and law. (Updated 4/09)

Sunbin Sylvie Song (CSTL/PGA) is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health, studying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and its application to rehabilitation in stroke with Dr. Leonardo Cohen.  Previously, she was a Mirzayan Fellow with the Committee on Science, Technology and Law with Dr. Anne-Marie Mazza.  She received her PhD in neuroscience from Georgetown University and a BS in biology from MIT.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Anthon Sonnenberg (TRB Studies/TRB) is currently working towards a PhD in the Transportation Systems program at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  His doctoral research focuses on the quantification of transportation carbon emissions in the U.S. and strategies to reduce them.  He hopes that the policy fellowship will provide exposure to the workings of the political process as they relate to innovation, energy, climate, and transportation policy.  It will also help establish a firm analysis foundation for the types of problems he would like to examine during his career.  Originally from the Netherlands, he holds a BS in civil engineering and an MSc in philosophy of science, technology and society.  He initially attended Georgia Tech as an exchange student at the School of Public Policy where he conducted a technology assessment of the infrastructure requirements associated with a large-scale conversion to a hydrogen economy.  His research especially focused on how technological developments are influenced by different social and institutional factors.  Anthon is an entrepreneur and world traveler.  At the moment he owns a real estate consulting firm and he has been traveling, working and living all over the world.  In his spare time, he enjoys sports, outdoor activities, going out with friends, and sipping a glass of wine.  (Updated 4/09)

Rafi Soulé (CASEE/NAE) is a graduate student at George Washington University and expects to complete her Masters of Science in systems engineering/project management in May 2008. In her graduate research, she collaborated in developing new policy for reducing the spread of the Ebola virus in central Africa. She also worked on writing requirements for the United States “VIP Gunfire Protection System” using systems engineering tools. Rafi was particularly focused on the shield system, the system’s deployment, and its testing. She holds a BS in finance from the State University of New York in Plattsburgh and an Associate of Science in Business Administration and Management from Clinton Community College. Throughout her studies, Rafi has been drawn to the intersection between micro business and macroeconomic factors in international markets and systems development and Integration. She has been a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honors society, since 2003. Her career goal is to work on different governmental risk management systems and in international systems management projects. As a Mirzayan Fellow, Rafi aspires to learn US government management systems and the framework for international economy norms based on system engineering.  Rafi enjoys playing Scrabble, tennis, reading, international traveling, and debate on current issues.  Contact by email.

Priya Sreedharan (STS/PGA) is a 2008-2009 fellow with the American Association for the Advancement for Science (AAAS) working on clean energy analysis and policies (efficiency, renewables, smart grid) as they relate to climate change with the Climate Protection Partnerships Division, at the Environmental Protection Agency.  Most recently, Priya was a Mirzayan Fellow at the National Academy of Sciences where she worked on biofuel sustainability initiatives.  She graduated with a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, just before beginning the NAS fellowship.  In her doctoral research, she developed statistical (Bayesian) algorithms to model the uncertainties of airborne contaminant releases and incorporated these into real-time sensor systems.  Priya completed her MS in mechanical engineering also at Berkeley, during which she developed real-time commercial building thermal systems models for energy efficiency applications.  During her MS and PhD she collaborated with the Energy and Environmental Technologies Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.  She holds a BS in environmental engineering from the University of Windsor, Canada.  Priya has professional experience in the environmental and energy fields that includes design & analysis of energy efficient mechanical systems for data centers and commercial buildings, sustainable design methods, industrial air quality engineering & consulting, and power sector reform policy in India.  In her spare time, she performs classical Indian dance, hikes & volunteers. (Updated 4/09) 

Michael Tomlinson (CASEE/NAE) graduated with a PhD in chemical and biomolecular engineering from North Carolina State University in 2005.  His postgraduate research focused on modifying surfaces with end-tethered macromolecules, also known as polymer brushes.  During this time, he served on the leadership committee for the Self Knowledge Symposium, a non-profit student organization focused on living authentically.  After graduation, he accepted an offer to join the PolyFilm Network (an EU-funded Marie Curie Research Training Network) and was based at the University of Sheffield in England.  Using neutron reflectometry, he studied the interface of reversibly adhesive polyelectrolyte surfaces.  Working in Europe enabled him to meet network colleagues from around the world, with whom he has spent his leisure time hiking through historical and natural sites.  During his Winter 2008 Mirzayan Fellowship, he worked with CASEE to analyze current teaching practices among engineering faculty.  His work with CASEE also allowed him to attend the 2008 Frontiers in Education Conference, where he presented his findings.  Michael's passions include teaching, learning, and traveling.  He is currently pursuing his passions as a Transition from Laboratory to Classroom (TLC) Fellow with The University of Maryland and the Montgomery County Public Schools and plans to teach chemistry in Montgomery County starting in the fall of 2009.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Ricardo Verdugo Salgado (GUIRR/PGA) completed his PhD degree in genetics at the University of California, Davis.  Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, he obtained his DVM degree from the Universidad de Chile in Santiago.  A Fulbright fellowship allowed him to pursue his doctorate in the U.S.  His research involves the identification of novel genes affecting complex traits in animal models.  In particular, for his dissertation he used high- throughput technologies for the identification of parental origin of small segments of chromosomes in mice from large crosses.  Since paternal and maternal strains are genetically different for obesity predisposition, this technique allowed the identification of a small segment of DNA harboring a pair of candidate genes that are associated with obesity in mice.  During his time in the U.S., he worked for creating a bridge between communities here and people in need back in Latin America.  He founded two non-profit organizations in Davis to raise funds to support projects for needy children in Chile and four other Latin American countries.  Ricardo saw his Mirzayan Fellowship as an opportunity to explore how scientists can get involved in the development of policies that can produce beneficial impacts in society: specifically, to address inequality.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Ulyana Vjugina (CPOP/DBASSE) is a scientific affairs manager in the Department of Government Relations and Practice at the American Society of Hematology in Washington.  In her current position, she provides scientific and technical expertise for legislative/regulatory activities and scientific programs.  Ulyana recently completed the Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellowship at the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Population, where she was involved in a project on collecting, storing and protecting biological samples and data.  Ulyana holds a PhD in biochemistry from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she studied the molecular mechanisms of mammalian fertilization.  (Updated 4/09)

Greta Zornes (DEW/NAE) completed her PhD in environmental health sciences at Tulane University in New Orleans.  Her doctoral research focused on understanding the status and potential of water reuse in Hyderabad and Delhi, India.  Greta received her MS in environmental engineering from Manhattan College in 2000, where her research focused on biofilm formation in drinking water systems.  Her undergraduate studies were completed in Environmental Science at the University of Oklahoma, and included a year at the University of Dundee, Scotland.  Greta has completed a variety of internships including working with the World Health Organization in India and with the Socio-Economic Union in Russia.  She is currently with CH2M HILL and is the consulting leader for New South Wales (NSW), Australia.  In Australia she has worked on a variety of water reuse studies and designs, for treating wastewaters for industrial use and for indirect potable reuse.  As consulting leader, she's responsible for the success of the business in NSW as well as maintaining and expanding her own technical capabilities.  Greta is active in the Australian Water Association, International Water Association, and Engineers Without Borders.  During her Mirzayan Fellowship, Greta worked with the Diversity in the Engineering Workforce (DEW) program supporting the Engineer Girl and Engineer Your Life projects.  Contact her by email. (Updated 4/09)