Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellows
Fall 2008 Fellow Biographies

Gavi Begtrup (COSEPUP/PGA) received his PhD in physics at the University of California, Berkeley in August 2008.  His research focused on in situ electrical and thermal transport measurements of carbon nanotube devices during concurrent transmission electron microscopy.  Specifically, he explored the high temperature stability of carbon nanotubes and the electromigration of encapsulated metals for memory applications.  He was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.  While in graduate school, he somehow found time to serve in student government, to chair the American Physical Society Forum on Graduate Affairs, and to front a rock band (The Thrillionaires, now on hiatus).  His BS is from Western Kentucky University, where he majored in physics and mathematics with a minor in computer science.  During his Fellowship, Gavi worked with COSEPUP on evaluating and designing Breakthrough Science Projects.  He is now an analyst at Analytic Services, where he is exploring policy issues related to homeland security.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Leslie Brandt (BASC/DELS) is a PhD candidate in ecology, evolution, and behavior at the University of Minnesota.  Her dissertation research, supported by an EPA STAR Fellowship, focuses on understanding the role of photodegradation in decomposition of plant litter in grassland ecosystems.  In addition to her dissertation research, Leslie has been working on an internship at the Nature Conservancy examining state-level invasive species policies.  Prior to coming to the University of Minnesota, Leslie worked in the Chicago Botanic Garden's conservation science department studying rare and endangered plants.  She received her bachelor's degree in biology from Gustavus Adolphus College.  Upon completion of her PhD, Leslie would like to pursue a career combining environmental science and policy at the state or federal level.  She hopes her Mirzayan Fellowship at The National Academies working with BASC will help her prepare for a career at the intersection of science and policy in state or federal government or a non-governmental organization.  In her spare time, Leslie enjoys community gardening, theater, knitting, canoeing, hiking, camping, and cooking.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Yousaf Butt (CISAC/PGA) is a staff scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and holds a PhD in nuclear astrophysics from Yale University.  His research work has involved trying to figure out the celestial origins of the very energetic cosmic rays that continually rain down on earth, using ground- and space-based observatories.  He holds bachelors degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in physics and in mechanical engineering.  From 1999- 2004, he worked on NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory project.  More recently, he was a research fellow in the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists where he was mostly involved with the technical and policy aspects of space security.  In his spare time, he is an avid offshore sailor and most recently completed a Boston-to-Venezuela open-ocean passage in a 35-foot sailboat. (Updated 4/09)

Amber Carrier (DEW/NAE) is completing her PhD in biology at the University of Louisville.  Her work focuses on the interaction of infectious agents and the immune system and the influence of reproductive hormones and evolution.  She received her BS in biophysics from the University of Southern Indiana in 2005.  Amber was elected to serve as President of the Graduate Student Council and serves on the University's Commission on the Status of Women, roles that she hopes will help her to start programs that make the transition into graduate and professional school easier and encourage women to pursue advanced degrees.  She also hopes she can use the experience in a future career in academia or as a member of an administrative or policy advisory board.  In her time away from research she enjoys running, cooking, travel, working on her house, and spending time with her family.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Lisa Cockrell (AFSB/DEPS) received her PhD in molecular systems and pharmacology from Emory University in August 2008. While there, Lisa studied the protein signaling pathways involved in determining a cell's decision to undergo death or maintain survival. Although Lisa's expertise is in cancer biology, her pharmacology training allows her to understand a whole host of physiological processes and diseases, and the drugs that treat them. Over the past two years, Lisa also started a scientific medical writing company, Cockrell Scientific Communications, through which she has sharpened both her technical writing, as well as her business skills. As a Mirzayan Fellow, Lisa has been working with the Air Force Studies Board.  Lisa is a proud wife of a U.S. Army soldier, and the happy owner of two cats who constantly keep her on her toes.  Contact my email.
 

Andrew Crowther (BCST/DELS) completed his PhD in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in August 2008.  His graduate work used lasers to follow the time evolution of reactants and products in condensed phase CN radical reactions, thus forming a comprehensive picture of how these reactions proceed.  These ultrafast, time-resolved experiments, combined with theoretical calculations, reveal the importance of molecular complexes in simple condensed-phase bimolecular reactions.  A National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship supported Andrew for part of his doctoral work.  Andrew has been enthusiastic about working with BCST on projects with energy sustainability implications, like the Review of the DOE Catalysis Program.  He believes that energy and resource sustainability is an important national issue, and he hopes to learn how the scientific community and government interact on this topic during his Mirzayan Fellowship.  In the future, Andrew hopes to remain involved in the science policy arena on sustainability issues.  Andrew obtained a BA in chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis in 2002. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, going to baseball games, reading, and watching movies.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Baruch Feldman (BPA/DEPS) received his PhD in physics in August 2008 from the University of Washington and his undergraduate degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2001.  His research focuses on condensed matter physics with applications to electronics and nanotechnology.  In addition to science, Baruch is interested in public affairs and policy.  In between his bachelor's degree and PhD, he received a master of public administration degree at City University of New York, graduating in 2003.  He has also consulted for several nonprofit organizations and worked on economics research.  During his Mirzayan Fellowship, he worked the Board on Physics and Astronomy, particularly on the Astro 2010 Decadal Survey. (Updated 4/09)

Kiran Gupta (BGH/IOM) is currently working towards her MD at Harvard Medical School. She graduated from Harvard College in 2005 with an AB in government and a certificate in health policy. While in college and medical school, Kiran has focused on a variety of domestic health policy issues including healthcare privacy legislation, medical errors, and insurance coverage. She has also explored international disparities in healthcare working to expand treatment of those affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho, Africa. Kiran is very much looking forward to her Mirzayan Fellowship supporting the Roundtable on Evidence Based Medicine. She views her time here as a valuable chance to learn about and engage in the complexities of healthcare policy issues. In her free time, Kiran enjoys traveling, running, cooking, reading, and writing.  Contact by email.

 

Cristina Kapustij (CSTL/PGA) graduated from Georgetown University with an MS in biotechnology.  The internship component of this degree program was her first foray into the world of science policy, when she worked in the American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) Science and Policy Directorate.  Within AAAS' Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law Program she co-authored a bioethics brief for the Hastings Center.  This experience is what attracted her to the Mirzayan Fellowship.  She hoped the Fellowship would provide her with the skills to increase productive communication between scientists and policy makers as well as foster an understanding of technology in the general public in order to ensure all of society benefits from scientific innovation.  While at Georgetown, she participated in the DC Reads program tutoring District students in math and science.  During graduate school she worked as a senior analyst for an interactive public relations firm.  She received a BS in biology and a BA in Russian language and civilization from Oakland University.  Her Russian degree afforded her the opportunity to study in St. Petersburg.  Cristina practices yoga and is attempting to design an experiment that would offer insight into the addictive properties of The Food Network. Contact by email. (Updated 4/09)

Amy Hee Kim (BEES/DEPS) is currently pursuing her PhD in physical chemistry at the University of Chicago.  For her graduate research, Amy is investigating insulin granule transport in pancreatic β- cells by developing new microscopy techniques and image analysis tools.  Her graduate work is in collaboration with researchers in the endocrinology department at the University of Chicago, in hopes of finding a link between insulin granule transport and Type II diabetes.  Outside of her research efforts, Amy has helped organize a career panel series for her department, where alumni were invited to meet current graduate students and share their career experiences from various fields of expertise.  Recently, Amy has become very interested in energy policy issues, especially exploring how scientists can contribute to solutions for the current energy crisis.  After her graduation, Amy wishes to work for science funding agencies in hopes to improve communication between research scientist and policy makers.  In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching movies, exploring new neighborhoods and trying new restaurants with her friends.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09) 

Carly Langlais (BGH/IOM) earned a PhD in molecular microbiology and immunology in 2005 from Oregon Health & Science University and holds a BS in microbiology from Michigan State University.  Her dissertation research examined molecular mechanisms of immune evasion of a herpesvirus using a model system of virus-induced cancer development in the context of an immunosuppressed (HIV+) host.  For the two years following graduation, Carly pursued her passion for teaching and serving as an advocate for science as an assistant professor of biology at a small liberal arts college in Vermont.  Inspired by the critical roles of scientists in the policy realm, Carly initiated a career change and moved to Washington, D.C.  Carly appreciates the invaluable learning opportunities and experiences that the Mirzayan Fellowship provided in preparation for a science policy career.  Carly enjoys running, playing softball, cooking, wine tasting, farmers’ markets, and exploring all that D.C. has to offer.  Contact via email.  (Updated 4/09) 

Guruprasad Madhavan (STEP/PGA) is a program officer in the Committee on Science, Technology, and Law and the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy at The National Academies.  Guru completed his PhD in biomedical engineering at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton where his research was directed toward developing non-invasive, non-pharmacologic, neuromuscular stimulation approaches for enhancing circulation.  Guru received his BE (honors with distinction) in instrumentation and control engineering from the University of Madras, and his MS in biomedical engineering from SUNY-Stony Brook.  Following his medical device industry experience as a research scientist at AFx, Inc. and Guidant Corporation in California, Guru completed his MBA in leadership and healthcare management from SUNY-Binghamton.  He is a co-editor of Career Development in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (Springer, 2008) and the forthcoming book Pathological Altruism (Oxford University Press).  Guru enjoys traveling, reading, occasional cooking, and searching for black swans.  Contact by email.  (Updated 8/09) 

Sanjay Magavi (BLS/DELS) has recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The MIT Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, where he studied factors influencing the generation and integration of new neurons in the adult brain.  He did his undergraduate studies at Brown University and completed his PhD in neurobiology at Harvard University, where he demonstrated that the adult brain can generate new neurons in response to injury.  Sanjay is particularly interested in fostering interdisciplinary and translational research, and understanding how policy influences the choices scientists make and the type of research they do.  He and his wife recently renovated a house to LEED environmental standards.  Sanjay enjoys sports of all kinds, especially soccer, ultimate Frisbee, and bicycling.  He also has a weakness for science fiction.  His two daughters are tiny geniuses.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09) 

Maureen McCamley (NMAB and BMED/DEPS) is currently completing her PhD in biomedical engineering at Brown University.  Her research focuses on biomedical optics, and the application of liquid crystalline technology in medical applications.  Specifically, her project involves the development of a liquid crystal based sensor for the detection of a bacterial biomarker for sepsis.  Her translational research project includes physicians specializing in infectious disease, as well as physicists and engineers, and is funded by a NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program Fellowship. F or her master's degree, she worked in the area of experimental fluid mechanics, studying the control of turbulent channel flow.  Prior to graduate school, Maureen earned a BS in mechanical engineering from New Mexico State University.  She is excited for the opportunity to observe and participate in the process of science policy and analysis.  Maureen plays Ultimate Frisbee, loves being outside, and tries to watch as much football as possible (especially the Redskins).  (Updated 4/09)

Ami Patel (Koshland Science Museum/NAS) is currently completing her PhD in chemistry at Northwestern University, having already received her BS in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Her graduate research examines the dynamics involved in the transfer of an electron across a protein-protein interface.  Through her studies she not only hopes to better understand the electron transfer process but the general nature of protein-protein interactions.  Ami is excited to begin developing public program ideas and hands-on activities for the Koshland Science Museum.  Her interest in science museums stems from her work at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry as a Science Connections volunteer.  Ami hoped that her experiences teaching science to elementary students in the student run organization, Science In The Classroom, would be an asset during her Mirzayan Fellowship.  During her free time, Ami enjoys exploring the city of Chicago.  In 2007, Ami and a fellow classmate received a grant from The Graduate School to begin the Chicago Cultural Club, which organizes free excursions for students to cultural institutions in Chicago.  Ami also spends time volunteering with the South Asian Progressive Action Collective to help increase voter registration within the South Asian community.  Contact via email.  (Updated 4/09)

Mark Peterson (BGH/IOM) received his PhD in biological and medical informatics from the University of California, San Francisco, where his doctoral research focused on protein structure and evolution.  Prior to joining UCSF, he studied the epidemiology of influenza while at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.  He holds a BS in electrical engineering from Stanford University and an MS in computer science from the University of Illinois.  After completing his Mirzayan Fellowship, Mark joined the New York office of the Boston Consulting Group.  He hopes that through his experiences at the Academies, BCG, and beyond, he can have a significant positive impact on health and health care in the U.S. and abroad.  In his free time, Mark enjoys playing tennis, running, hiking, learning Mandarin, and playing dodge ball on trampolines.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Kacy Redd (BHEW/PGA) is a Howard Hughes Predoctoral Fellow at Columbia University where she will earn her PhD in neuroscience in the fall. Her thesis work investigates the interaction of a widely used anesthetic with HCN pacemaker channels – channels that set the pace in rhythmic circuits in the brain and heart. Before becoming an electrophysiologist, she completed research projects on learning in dolphins, fruit fly sleep at Yale, fly olfaction at Rockefeller, plasticity of the motor cortex at the NIH, and measured the reproducibility of fMRI at Stanford. In addition to research, she has always had an interest in governance and policy and has been actively involved in campus government working with faculty and students on issues of diversity, students’ rights, and increasing opportunities for research. She would like to extend her perspective past the bounds of a college campus to continue to work on these issues and is excited by the opportunity to see how policy decisions are made and implemented on a national scale. When she isn't serving on committees or recording from frog oocytes, she tries to play international sports. She is currently playing Australian Rules Football and trying to decide which is more fun – footy, soccer, or rugby.  Contact her by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Milan Shrestha (CHDGC/DBASSE) received his PhD in anthropology from the University of Georgia (UGA) in August 2007.  In his dissertation research, supported by the NSF Dissertation Improvement Grants (Cultural Anthropology), he analyzed the coupled human-ecological system of a mountain landscape in Nepal.  The main focus of the dissertation, which integrated ethnographic and spatially-explicit survey data with remote sensing and GIS applications, was to study household conditions and community contexts under which mountain smallholders change their agricultural land-use strategies, and how such land-use strategies are linked to the district scale land-cover change patterns identified from multi-temporal Landsat images.  His graduate studies were supported by the NASA Earth System Science Fellowship and Dissertation Writing Award of UGA.  Before coming to UGA, Milan was Robert McNamara Fellow of the World Bank and a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) in Nepal.  Milan has a MA in international development from Clark University and a BSc in agriculture from Tribhuvan University.  He was excited about his Mirzayan Fellowship at the CHDGC and hopes to learn more about U.S. climate change policies and knowledge base from leading scientists.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Anu Swaminathan (GUIRR/PGA) is a program manager at the Biomedical Research Institute at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.  She recently completed her PhD in biomedical science at the University of Connecticut.  Her doctoral thesis focused on pilus assembly in the diphtheria causing Corynebacterium diphtheriae.  Specifically, she analyzed the role of sortases, enzymes central to the cell wall anchoring of proteins in C.diphtheriae and other Gram-positive bacteria.  Anu expects that her thesis work will have significant implications for novel therapeutic strategies against drug- resistant bacteria.  Her passion lies at the interface of science, business and law.  She is presently exploring the same through her internship at the Center for Science and Technology Commercialization at UConn.  Anu enjoys mentoring local high school students interested in pursuing a scientific career through the Farmington High School Cutting Edge program.  She is also a fellow with the non-profit organization CARTHA whose mission is to advance global health and global good through academic-practitioner collaborations.  Her leisure activities include reading biographies, playing Scrabble, and debating politics, science and religion with her husband.  She eventually hopes to pursue a career in policymaking either in the U.S or back home in India.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Michael Tu (DSC/ PGA) holds degrees in history (BA, Swarthmore College), electrical engineering (BS, Swarthmore College) and bioengineering (MSE, University of Pennsylvania).  He is currently working with the radiology and bioengineering departments at the University of Pennsylvania, developing magnetic resonance elastography tools for studying hepatic fibrosis in a murine model.  Between his undergraduate and graduate degrees, Mike worked at Raytheon Missile Systems as a space systems operations manufacturing and test engineer, analyzing sensor components of the EKV ground-based missile interceptor and developing a deep interest in the relationship between science and technology and defense policy.  Mike continues to work towards gaining insight into the relationship between science and the law and their respective influences on national security.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)

Wraegen Williams (PGA/COSEPUP) graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in December 2007 with a PhD in organic chemistry.  Her interdisciplinary research focused on enhancing the sensitivity and reliability of an immunosensor response through the synthesis of novel fluorophores.  Prior to attending graduate school she participated as a summer research intern at the Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute.  After completing her doctoral studies she obtained a lectureship position at a small university where the minority population of both students and faculty was limited.  This issue piqued her interest in discovering more about diversity issues in higher education.  As a Mirzayan Fellow at The National Academies, she gained insight as to how polices are prepared, reviewed, and implemented to create a diversified workforce.  She feels that the Fellowship aided her pursuit of a career in higher- educational administration.  As an administrator she will strive to increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities pursuing advanced degrees within science and technology disciplines.  In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, puzzles, and training her puppy.  Contact by email.  (Updated 4/09)