Current Participants
NASA/BMSIS YOUNG SCIENTIST PROGRAM IN SPACE BIOSCIENCES
Ananya Bansal
![Thumbnail of Ananya Bansal](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AnanyaBansalResized-200x200.jpg)
Education
AB Degree in Astrophysics and Physics from Harvard University
Advisor
Drs. Sylvain Costes & Egle Cekanaviciute
Giovanna Basile
![Giovanna Basile](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screen-Shot-2024-06-07-at-11.33.09-PM-200x200.png)
Education
First-Year Student at the University of California, Santa Cruz
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Dr. Eduardo Almeida
Genesis Berlanga
![Genesis Berlanga](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/genesisberlanga.png)
Education
M.S. Geology and Geophysics (University of Hawaii at Manoa 2017)
Location
Mountain View, California
Advisor
Dr. Tom Bristow (NASA Ames)
Karina Bhavsar
![Karina Bhavsar](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-10-at-11.54.37-PM-200x200.png)
Education
Undergraduate at the University of San Francisco, majoring in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Philosophy
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Dr. Eduardo Almeida
Sofia Birchenall
![Sofia Birchenall](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/YSP-Photo-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Biology major at the University of San Francisco also pursing Professional Science Master's in Biotechnology
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Dr. Eduardo Almeida
Rukmani Cahill
![Rukmani Cahill](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Profile-Pic-2023-200x200.jpg)
Education
Undergraduate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Drs. Eduardo Almeida & Liz Blaber
Cybele Collins
![Cybele Collins](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/At-WCH-200x200.jpg)
Education
Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Rhode Island
Location
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Advisor
Dr. Niki Parenteau
Ellen Cook
![Ellen Cook](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Screen-Shot-2022-10-19-at-2.26.39-PM-200x200.png)
Education
B.S. in Microbiology & Immunology at University of Texas at San Antonio 2022
Advisor
Dr. Niki Parenteau
Mélissa Costes
![Mélissa Costes](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_4839-200x200.jpg)
Education
Master's Degree in Science, Technology and Health
Advisor
Drs. Sylvain Costes
Skylar D’Angiolillo
![Skylar D'Angiolillo](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DAngiolillo_Photo-200x200.jpg)
Education
Honors Student at The College of New Jersey, majoring in Biology and minors in Astrophysics and Classical Studies.
Location
New Jersey, USA
Advisor
Drs. Sylvain Costes and Barbara Novak
Erin Denny
![Erin Denny](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4357-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Undergraduate Student at Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Dr. Richard Quinn
Amelia Espinosa
![Amelia Espinosa](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Amelia-Espinosa-200x200.png)
Education
B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Dr. Yasaman Shirazi
Radha Ganesh
![Radha Ganesh](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Radha-Ganesh-200x200.jpg)
Education
BS in Computer Science from SJSU
Location
San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA
Advisor
Drs. Sylvain Costes and Barbara Novak
David Ho
![David Ho](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/received_565785873950303-1-200x200.jpeg)
Education
B.S. Forensic Chemistry student at SJSU with a minor in Bioinformatics
Location
San Jose, California, USA
Advisor
Drs. Sylvain Costes and Barbara Novak
Thalia Leyton
![Thalia Leyton](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-200x200.png)
Education
MSc student in Biomedical Engineering
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Egle Cekanaviciute
Enya Mistry
![Enya Mistry](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Enya-Mistry.jpg)
Education
Irvington High School
Location
Mountain View, California
Advisor
Dr. Eduardo Almeida
Charlotte Nelson
![Charlotte Nelson](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Nelson_headshot-200x200.jpeg)
Education
PhD Biological and Medical Informatics
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Dr. Sam Gebre
Phani Paladugu
![Phani Paladugu](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_2441-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Currently an MD Student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
Advisor
Dr. Sylvain Costes
Lilja Quinn
![Lilja Quinn](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_1077-200x200.jpg)
Education
Currently working on a B.A. in Biology on the Ecology & Evolution Track at Washington University in St. Louis
Location
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Advisor
Tori Hoehler & Alta Howells
Sebastian Ruiz
![Sebastian Ruiz](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_5859-200x200.jpg)
Education
B.S. in Biology | M.A. in Teaching anticipated in 2025
Location
Montclair, New Jersey, United States
Advisor
Dr. Lauren Sanders
Modasser Sheer
![Modasser Sheer](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_2072-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Students at SJSU in Molecular Biology
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Drs. George Cooper and Andro Rios
Miggy Silva
![Miggy Silva](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Nasa-Square-Photo-200x200.jpg)
Education
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at Stanford University
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Dr. Tony Ricco
Tara Vaddiraj
![Tara Vaddiraj](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image0-200x200.jpeg)
Education
B.S Biochemistry student at SJSU, expected Fall 2025
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Dr. Andro Rios
Cameron Wolff
![Cameron Wolff](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cam-200x200.jpg)
Education
BS Computer Science, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Location
California, USA
Advisor
Drs. Sylvain Costes and Kirill Grigorev
BMSIS YOUNG SCIENTIST PROGRAM
Zheen Salih Abdullah
![Zheen Salih Abdullah](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/D86E9795-C677-4A4D-A618-A6AD2A3486A0-Zheen-Salih-Abdullah-200x200.jpeg)
Education
I am a Software Engineering Student at the American University of Sulaymaniyah
Advisor
Drs. Ekaterina Khramtsova & Alexander Kaurov
Clayton Xavier Vanegas Aguilar
![Clayton Xavier Vanegas Aguilar](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Clayton_Xavier_Vanegas_Aguilar-Clayton-Xavier-Vanegas-Aguilar-200x200.jpg)
Education
St Petersburg University; Bachelor in Biology
Advisor
Drs. Afshin Khan, Steve Thorne, & Afshin Beheshti
Ceren Balkan
![Ceren Balkan](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG-20230806-WA0036-Copy-ceren-balkan-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Istanbul Technical University, BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Celia Blanco, McCullen Sandora
Estuardo Sebastián Valle Bances
![Estuardo Sebastián Valle Bances](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Estuardo-Sebastian-Valle-Bances-Estuardo-Sebastian-Valle-Bances-200x200.jpg)
Education
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
Advisor
Drs. Lev Horodyskyj & Tara Lennon
Carly Brown
![Carly Brown](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Carly_Brown-Carly-Brown-200x200.jpg)
Education
Missouri University of Science and Technology; B.S. in Physics, Minor in Mathematics (2023)
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Stuart Bartlett, & Anirudh Prabhu
Danny Caizapanta
![Danny Caizapanta](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Danny-Caizapanta-200x200.jpg)
Education
National Polytechnic School/ Geologist Engineering
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Anirudh Prabhu, & Huan Chen
D. Deivy Zambrano Castellano
![D. Deivy Zambrano Castellano](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Darwin-Deivy-Zambrano-Castellano-Deivy-Zambrano-Castellano-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Universidad Yacambú (Laws) Universidad de La Plata (Astronomy and Medicine)
Advisor
Drs. Lev Horodyskyj & Tara Lennon
Cory Cowden
![Cory Cowden](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Cory-Cowden-Cory-Cowden-200x200.jpg)
Education
A.S. Computer Science - Hartnell College
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Stuart Bartlett, Anirudh Prabhu
Benjamin C Crawford
![Benjamin Crawford](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0675-1-Benjamin-Crawford-200x200.jpg)
Education
Appalachian State University, B.S in Cellular and Molecular Biology, May 2023
Advisor
Dr. Haritina Mogosanu
Kelly Dobitz
![Kelly Dobitz](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kelly-Dobitz-Kelly-Dobitz-200x200.jpg)
Education
The Open University - intended degree title: BSc Natural Sciences (Biology concentration)
Advisor
Dr. Lauren Seyler
Kaoutar Elasri
![Kaoutar Elasri](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kaoutar_Elasri-Kaoutar-El-Asri-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Al Akhawayn University, Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence , expected to graduate in 2026
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Celia Blanco, McCullen Sandora
Alexander Hope Ferdinand Ferguson
![Alexander Hope Ferdinand Ferguson](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Alexander-Hope-Ferdinand-Ferguson-Alexander-H.-Ferdinand-Ferguson-200x200.jpg)
Education
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Advisor
Dr. Jacob Haqq-Misra
Dylan Fernandes
![Dylan Fernandes](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Headshot_Dylan-Fernandes-Dylan-Fernandes-200x200.webp)
Education
Toronto Metropolitan University, Mechanical Engineering - Mechatronics specialization, 2021
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Anirudh Prabhu, & Huan Chen
Jonathan Fussell
![Jonathan Fussell](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_1414-Jonathan-Fussell-200x200.jpg)
Education
Oral Roberts University, B.S. Medical Molecular Biology
Advisor
Drs. Celia Blanco & Ricardo Cabrera
Sally Ha
![Sally Ha](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sally-Ha-200x200.jpg)
Education
University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Intended degree: B.S. Bioengineering: Bioinformatics
Advisor
Dr. Afshin Khan
Ameena Hashmi
![Ameena Hashmi](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ameena-Hashmi-Minn-H-200x200.png)
Education
National University of Sciences and Technology. BS Biotechnology, Computer Science Minor
Advisor
Drs. Celia Blanco & Ricardo Cabrera
Julia Jakiela
![Julia Jakiela](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Julia_Jakiela-Julia-Jakiela-200x200.jpg)
Education
MChem from the University of Edinburgh (graduating 2025)
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Anirudh Prabhu, & Huan Chen
Nicole Jimeno
![Nicole Jimeno](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Foto_Nicole-Nicole-Jimeno-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Mayor De San Andres University- Geological Engineering - Aug 2024
Advisor
Dr. Sanjoy Som, Serhat Sevgen, & Dana Jaimes
Eungi Jo
![Eungi Jo](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Eungi-Jo-_조은기사범대학-과학교육과-200x200.jpg)
Education
Ewha Womans University, Bachelor of Science
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Celia Blanco, McCullen Sandora
Prajwal Kamath
![Prajwal Kamath](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Prajwal-Kamath-Prajwal-Kamath-200x200.jpg)
Education
Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi / Integrated Dual Degree (B.Tech. in BIOENGINEERING and M.Tech. in BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY)
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Stuart Bartlett, Anirudh Prabhu
Praveen Kumar
![Praveen Kumar](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Praveen-Kumar-Praveen-Kumar-5-Year-IDD-Biochemical-Engineering-200x200.jpg)
Education
IIT (BHU), Varanasi, India. Integrated Dual Degree (IDD): Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Advisor
Dr. Jacob Haqq-Misra
Ibrahim Mahmood
![Ibrahim Mahmood](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_5287_square-Ibrahim-Mahmood-200x200.png)
Education
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, BS Data Science
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Anirudh Prabhu, & Huan Chen
Niyati Anil Mule
![Niyati Anil Mule](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Niyati-Anil-Mule-200x200.jpg)
Education
Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous) Shivajinagar, Pune-05; Bachelor of Science (Blended) Bioscience, 2023
Advisor
Drs. Celia Blanco & Ricardo Cabrera
Minh Duc Nguyen
![Minh Duc Nguyen](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Duc-Nguyen-Duc-Nguyen-Minh-200x200.jpg)
Education
University of South Florida - Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Stuart Bartlett, & Anirudh Prabhu
Ruth Nichols
![Ruth Nichols](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ruth-Nichols-Ruth-Nichols-200x200.jpg)
Education
Florida Institute of Technology, Dual Degree in Astrobiology and Mathematical Sciences, Graduation May 2024
Advisor
Dr. Rafael Loureiro, Luke Concollato, Sam Humprey, & Chad Vanden Bosch
Gavin Ockert
![Gavin Ockert](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Chapel-Shot-Copy-Gavin-Ockert-200x200.jpg)
Education
Duke University; intended B.S. degree in physics
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Anirudh Prabhu, & Huan Chen
Ariana Patterson
![Ariana Patterson](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ariana-Patterson-Ariana-Patterson-200x200.jpg)
Education
Northeastern University, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, 2023
Advisor
Dr. Kirt Robinson
Bhawana Paudel
![Bhawana Paudel](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Bhawana-Paudel-200x200.jpeg)
Education
University of Colorado Boulder, BA Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2024
Advisor
Drs. Celia Blanco & Ricardo Cabrera
Danyal Reyaz
![Danyal Reyaz](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Danyal-Reyaz-DANYAL-REYAZ-RA2211037010002-200x200.png)
Education
SRM Institute of Science and Technology, BTech in Biotechnology with specialization in Genetic Engineering
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Stuart Bartlett, Anirudh Prabhu
Saptadip Saha
![Saptadip Saha](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Saptadip-Saha-Saptadip-Saha-200x200.jpg)
Education
National Institute of Technology Agartala
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Stuart Bartlett, Anirudh Prabhu
Tapaswini Sharma
![Tapaswini Sharma](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Tapaswini-Sharma-200x200.jpg)
Education
Bachelors of Science in Information Technology from Shri Vaishnav Institute of Management
Advisor
Dr. Graham Lau
Anna Su
![Anna Su](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AnnaZiyanSu-Anna-Ziyan-Su-200x200.jpg)
Education
UC Berkeley: Genetics and Plant Biology, Data Science
Advisor
Drs. Ekaterina Khramtsova & Alexander Kaurov
Sabine Sulka
![Sabine Sulka](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sabine-Sulka-Photo-Sabine-Sulka-200x200.jpg)
Education
Mount Holyoke College intended Physics and Astronomy degree
Advisor
Dr. Hari Mogosanu, Sam Leske, Milky-Way.Kiwi, & NZAN
Fearghal Twomey
![Fearghal Twomey](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Fearghal-Twomey-Fearghal-Twomey-200x200.png)
Education
Dublin City University, BSc in Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Anirudh Prabhu, & Huan Chen
Esin Üsküplü
![Esin Üsküplü](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Esin-Uskuplu-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Boğaziçi University, Physics undergrad with a double major in Molecular Biology and Genetics
Advisor
Drs. Afshin Khan, Steve Thorne, & Afshin Beheshti
Cynthia Valenzuela
![Cynthia Valenzuela](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Cynthia-Valenzuela-200x200.jpg)
Education
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Bachelor of Science in Genomic Biotechnology
Advisor
Dr. Lauren Seyler
Srinidhi Venkatesan
![Srinidhi Venkatesan](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Srinidhi-Venkatesan-Srinidhi-Venkatesan-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Sri Siva Subramaniya Nadar (SSN) College of Engineering; Bachelor of Engineering, 2021
Advisor
Dr. Afshin Khan
Aditya Yadav
![Aditya Yadav Aditya Yadav](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Aditya-Yadav-Aditya-Yadav-200x200.jpg)
Education
Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Anirudh Prabhu, & Huan Chen
Jin Yeh
![Jin Yeh](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jin_Yeh-Jin-Yeh-200x200.jpg)
Education
University of Washington, BS in Earth and Space Sciences (Physics), 2023
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Anirudh Prabhu, & Huan Chen
Ruixian Zhu
![Ruixian Zhu](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ruixian-Zhu-Ruixian-Zhu-200x200.jpg)
Education
Shandong University, Bachelor of Arts in International Politics
Advisor
Dr. Jacob Haqq-Misra
Itziar Zubeldia
![Itziar Zubeldia](https://bmsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0030-Ichi-Zubeldia-200x200.jpeg)
Education
Northwest Mississipipi Community College/ Computer Science
Advisor
Drs. Jim Cleaves, Anirudh Prabhu, & Huan Chen