Meet our Organizers

Co-Chair

TARA SPENCER

Hello friends! I'm a 3rd year Ph.D. student in the Dutton Lab at UCSD. I grew up in Antigua and Barbuda and did my undergraduate studies at Howard University. I am a first-generation college student, and the first in my family to pursue a Ph.D.  I study the interactions between phages and other microbes in cheese. When I am not in lab, I am colouring, writing or cuddling my pup, Mecca.

Co-Chair

SUMEDHA RAVISHANKAR

Hi! I’m a 3rd year Ph.D. student in Dr. Cressida’s Madigan’s lab at UCSD. I study bacterial infections that affect the nervous system, such as bacterial meningitis, using zebrafish as a model organism. I’m from Tucson, AZ, but got my bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley. Go Bears! I then spent two years as a research scientist at the University of Washington before beginning my graduate work. In my free time I love watching baseball/playing fantasy baseball, cooking, running, and spending time with friends!

Finance Chair

IVY FERNANDES

Hi! I am a 3rd year Ph.D. student in Dr. Deborah Yelon's lab at UCSD, where I research heart development using zebrafish as a model organism. I was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. I attended Santa Clara University for my bachelor's degree in bioengineering. During my free time, I love baking, running, and trying various DIY projects.

Event Chair

MEGAN HAYES

Hello! I am a 3rd year Ph.D. student in Dr. Cressida Madigan’s lab at UCSD. I grew up in Tucson, AZ, and received my bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Arizona. Now, as a graduate student in Dr. Cressida Madigan’s lab, I study tuberculosis meningitis in a zebrafish model. Outside of lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors, crafting, and playing with my dog!

Faculty Advisor

DR. SONYA NEAL

I'm an assistant professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at UCSD. I'm Black in STEM, first generation college student and a proud mother of two. My research strives to understand the basic biology of protein homeostasis and how organisms use quality control pathways to mitigate this universal biological stress. I enjoy mentoring, outreach, spending time with family, running, and watching basketball and football.

Undergraduate Representative

FAITH ALOBOUDI

I am a second-year Neurobiology major undergraduate student at UC San Diego from San Diego, CA. I have a great interest and passion for neurobiology, genetics, and bioethics and am hoping to pursue either clinical or scientific research in the future. I am also a huge dessert/baking enthusiast and love listening to music, learning more about eco-friendly/sustainable/POC-owned fashion, and spending time with friends.