Meet The Conference Commitee

Involvement: Shreya is the Sr. Co-Chair: Advocate for the Empower Mission, Leading the Empower vision. Curator, Executive Producer, Event Manager, Sponsorship and Budgets Manager, Designer, and Communications and Marketing Director.

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Bio: Shreya is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the Chemistry department at Penn State. Her research focuses on unraveling the exciton dynamics in two-dimensional materials using cutting-edge ultrafast laser spectroscopy techniques. By delving into the behavior of excitons, she contributes significantly to the advancement of knowledge crucial for the development of next-generation semiconductors and electronics. Beyond the confines of the laboratory, she likes to cook, read, and explore all the cafes and restaurants around her.

Involvement: Shilpa is the Jr. Co-Chair: Advocate for the Empower Mission, Leading the Empower vision. Curator, Executive Producer, Event Manager, Sponsorship and Budgets Manager, Designer, and Communications and Marketing Director.

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Bio: Shilpa is a 2nd-year Ph.D. student exploring the world of structural biology and virology. Her work focuses on bacteriophage-host interactions using cryo-EM, bioinformatics, and protein engineering, with the goal of designing virus-like particles as next-gen platforms for drug delivery and vaccines. Originally from India, she loves hiking, discovering new places and cultures, and marveling at architecture. She's equally passionate about building supportive communities through mentorship and leadership.

Involvement: Sam is now the Treasurer and Mentor for Empower, supporting its mission through financial stewardship and guidance for future leaders.

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Bio: Sam is a third year Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Sciences (MCIBS) PhD Student at Penn State. Her current research focuses on improving antimicrobial resistance surveillance by increasing the panel of genes examined and incorporating real-time sequencing technology. She is also interesting in examining the relationship between dysbiosis and digestive disease. In her free time, Sam enjoys exercising, hiking, reading, and volunteering at PAWS.

Involvement: Xiaoling is an informal mentor of the Empower Committee. She was a previous Empower Co-Chair. ​

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Bio: Xiaoling's PhD research is in looking at how functional foods and ethnomedicinal plants regulate gut homeostasis and immune function through the Aryl-hydrocarbon Receptor. She has always wanted to shine a scientific light on the rich history of ethnomedicinal plants and aspires to build a more secure bridge between Eastern and Western medicine for a better personalized medicine experience.

 

She joined the Graduate Women in Science, and the Empower Committee, in Fall 2021 while looking for a science communication opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the community. The Empower Committee is special to her because it is an opportunity to build your own idealized space to exchange stories and learn from each other to push important topics as it relates to womxn and other marginalized communities in and tangential to STEM, and the impact is extremely tangible. In her free time she likes to cook and bake, and explore all the cafes and restaurants around her. She also likes gardening, star gazing, and running through obstacle courses. 

Involvement: Lola is a part of the communications committee where she assists in streamlining conversations  between speakers, attendees, sponsors, and the Empower committee​

Bio:  Lola is from Aix-en-Provence, France and moved to Minnesota in 2019 where she obtained a BS Biochemistry and Chemistry at MSUM.  She is currently a 2nd year graduate student in the Chemistry PhD program and a member of the Boal Group. Her research focuses on the characterization of iron dependent metalloenzymes, specifically the study of the structural changes arising from cofactor and substrate binding. Outside of the lab, Lola enjoys working on logic puzzles, climbing, and hiking. She also enjoys discovering new recipes to bake and cook whenever she can.

Involvement: Kiran is a part of the communications committee, where he assists in finding and maintaining information streams between speakers, interpreters, and the committee, as well as supporting fundraising efforts.

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Bio: Kiran is currently pursuing his Ph.D in the Chemistry department at Penn State. His research specifically delves into the intricate realm of organic-organic interactions and their profound impact on the phase transition properties of aerosol particles. This line of inquiry holds significant implications for understanding heterogeneous chemistry in the atmosphere. During his free time, Kiran enjoys creating art, playing multiple sports, learning musical instruments, and experimenting with new cooking recipes.

Involvement: Maia is a part of the communications committee where she assists in finding and maintaining information streams between speakers, interpreters, and the committee​

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Bio: Maia is a research technologist in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. She received a BS in Physics from Bowling Green State University. Her work currently involves creating observing schedules for Swift Observatory, coordinating Swift follow-up of gamma-ray bursts, and researching X-ray binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Outside of research, she enjoys baking, trying new restaurants, and writing music.

Involvement: Savi is a part of the fundraising committee where she assists in raising money to support the Empower conference efforts.

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Bio: Savi is a fifth-year graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Penn State. Her current research focuses on probing the mechanisms of mixed-valent non-heme diiron oxygenases by trapping and characterizing the intermediates in the reaction pathway using different spectroscopic techniques like Mössbauer spectroscopy and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy. She is also involved in operating the Mössbauer spectrometer at Penn State under the supervision of Dr. Carsten Krebs. She is currently volunteering at PAWS and Discovery Space, State College. In her free time, Savi enjoys baking, hiking, and crocheting. 

Involvement: Arpit is a part of the communications committee where he assists in finding and maintaining information streams between speakers, interpreters, and the committee

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Bio: Arpit hails from Punjab in northern India and did his undergrad in materials science from NIT Trichy. He is currently a 4th year PhD student in the Materials Sciences department working with Prof Joshua Robinson and Prof Shengxi Huang. His graduate work involves reducing elements to atomically thin sheets in two dimensions and studying their use for sensing applications. Outside of work, he likes to be involved in science outreach events, especially for school students. His hobbies include cooking, baking, cycling, and gardening.

Involvement: Komal is a part of the planning committee where she assists in making the conference enjoyable and professional.

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Bio: Komal is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry at the Pennsylvania State University. Her research is focused on advancing the understanding of the physical and chemical properties of aerosol particles, given their substantial implications for human health, heterogeneous chemistry, and climate. Beyond her research, Komal pursues a range of personal interests including reading, cooking, baking, and wheel-thrown pottery.

Involvement: Sohini is a part of the advertising committee where she assists in creating and distributing promotional material for the conference across multiple platforms

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Bio: Sohini is a fifth year Chemistry PhD student. She grew up in India, where she completed her undergraduate and master’s degree in chemistry. In the Bollinger-Krebs lab at Penn State, her research involves elucidating the mechanism of iron containing metalloenzymes, that are involved in antibiotic biosynthesis pathways. Outside of research, she enjoys taking care of her plants, baking, playing board games and exploring new places and cuisines.

Involvement: Udeshi is a part of the fundraising and advertising committee where she assists in raising money to support the Empower conference efforts and creating promotional material for the conference across multiple platforms

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Bio: Udeshi is a 4th year Ph.D. student in the Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences program. Before coming to Penn State, she graduated from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, with a BSc. in Immunology and Integrative Molecular Biology.  In the lab, she is looking how gut microbiota interacts with peroxisome proliferator activator receptors and help protect against metabolic diseases. Outside of research, she loves photography, promoting positivity and self-love through photography, kayaking, and watching Netflix.