Our editorial board is composed of senior undergraduate students with extensive research experience. They are passionate about making publishing opportunities accessible for all undergraduates.
Emma Lo
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Emma (she/her/hers) is a Biochemistry student at the University of British Columbia, whose research interests focus on understanding how biological systems are regulated at the molecular level. She has experience in both clinical and wet lab research, including investigating yeast population diversity as well as retrotransposons and their targeting factors. More recently, she has shifted her focus toward bioinformatics, where she is exploring molecular markers of healthy aging. In her free time, Emma enjoys hiking, reading, and exploring local cafés.
Sarina Saffarian
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Sarina is a Biology student at the University of British Columbia with an interest in the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie disease and inform therapeutic development. Her research has investigated nucleolar regulation in prostate cancer, focusing on how the expression and function of nucleolar proteins are associated with disease aggressiveness. She is also broadening her interests into neurobiology, with curiosity about how molecular regulation shapes neural repair and regeneration. Outside of academics, Sarina enjoys learning to play the guitar, finding calm moments in nature, and spending time with family and friends.
Melanie Chan
Senior Advisor
Melanie (she/her/hers) is a fifth-year Microbiology & Immunology student interested in using our understanding of diseases to inform therapeutic and treatment development to improve health outcomes. Currently, she is involved in vaccine development against chronic wasting disease in cervids. In her free time, she enjoys studying languages and writing poetry.
Anna Divinagracia
Senior Advisor
Anna (she/her/hers) is a recent UBC Biochemistry graduate and a current research assistant with UBC’s Multispecies Archaeology Research Group. She is highly interested in the intersections of biochemistry and archaeology, specifically in ancient DNA and ancient diseases, to understand the evolution of humans and nonhumans. Currently, she is exploring past human-animal interactions in Peru. Beyond research, Anna is a self-proclaimed cinephile who also loves playing along to some pop punk and rock tunes.
Mido Luo
Senior Advisor
Mido (she/her/hers) graduated from UBC’s BSc Pharmacology program and is currently a second-year medical student at UBC. During undergrad, she was involved in different kinds of research along the drug development pipeline before discovering a love for clinical research, which led her to work in the BC Children’s ED and the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and watching films with friends.
Ashley Bacay
Editor
Ashley (she/her/hers) is a second-year Microbiology and Immunology student at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests include the gut microbiome, and exploring how environmental and social determinants of health influence disease, healthcare delivery, and patient outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, swimming, and watching movies.
Maria Cheema
Editor
Maria (she/her/hers) is a fifth-year Biology student with a minor in Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia. Her current research interests include fish metabolism, plant genomics, and the advancement of clinical care. Specifically, she is interested in improving health outcomes for patients through the creation of accessible resources and knowledge translation. Most recently, she investigated the effects of hypoxia on the metabolic activity of three-spined sticklebacks. In her free time, Maria enjoys creating art, learning languages, reading comics, and playing volleyball with her friends!
Tania Ghassemi Tari
Editor
Tania (she/her/hers) is a fourth-year Biology student at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests include molecular genetics, neurobiology, computational biology, and the application of machine learning in biomedical research. She has contributed to research involving the application of machine learning and optimization techniques in healthcare and biomedical sciences. She is currently involved in research using Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying synaptic development and neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of academics, Tania enjoys playing tennis, travelling, playing the piano, and attending conferences.
Ramayani Papneja
Editor
Ramayani (she/her) is a Microbiology and Immunology student at the University of British Columbia with a profound interest in bioinformatics, cancer research, and therapeutic development. She has previously been involved in a data analysis project studying the taxonomic changes of the gut microbiome of irradiated mice and understanding the temporal impacts of varying radiation doses for future therapeutic targets. Currently, her research focuses on harnessing cancer immunotherapies through using CRISPR-Cas9-based gene edits for tumour-associated macrophages within mouse models. Outside of the lab, she enjoys taking hip hop dance classes, reading various novels, and spending time with friends and family.
Xuan Zhao
Editor
Xuan is a fourth-year Sociology student with a minor in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. She is passionate about health and aging research, and hopes to contribute to a society where everyone can live well. Most recently, her research has focused on the mental health conditions of adolescents in custodial settings. Outside of academics, Xuan enjoys playing soccer and watching soccer games with friends.