Student Advisors

Bianca is concentrating in Neurobiology & Behavior with plans to take two gap years to do research and take the MCAT before pursuing an MD/Ph.D. in neuropsychiatry. On campus, she is a Peer Mentor in the Biology Scholars Program and the Community Outreach Coordinator of Cornell Minds Matter. She also does research in the Ophir Lab where she studies neural projections in prairie vole brains. Bianca's favorite class is BIONB 2220: Neurobiology and Behavior II because it confirmed her love for neuroscience and connected her with other people who think the brain is really weird and really cool! For fun, Bianca likes to play the piano and ukulele, write, and hang out with friends. This summer, she volunteered at local hospices, virtually volunteered for 7 Cups as an emotional support listener, and studied for upcoming classes. You may see her twin sister around on campus (but don’t worry because they’re not identical!) This upcoming school year, she is looking forward to one-on-one meetings so she can get to know her advisees better. Bianca’s words of encouragement for incoming students: " Give yourself a try! It's okay to take a lighter schedule your first semester, explore new interests, and ask for help when you need it.”

Zack is concentrating in Genetics, Genomics & Development with plans to attend graduate school for either a Ph.D. or a Master’s in a genetics-related field after graduation. On campus, he is involved with the Biology Scholars Program, Alpha Chi Sigma – the professional chemistry fraternity, Kappa Sigma as the Environmental Sustainability Chair, and Deixa Sambar – a Brazilian percussion ensemble. He also conducts research in the Berry Lab where he studies how adipose and muscle stem cells regulate metabolism and tissue regeneration. Zack loves listening to music, especially rock, punk, metal, and hip hop. He loves fishing and catering to his aquarium hobby. Zack has also been learning how to play the guitar for about a year now. His favorite class is BIOSM 1780: Evolution and Marine Diversity. This summer, Zack applied to be a COVID-19 contract tracer, took a class, and worked on music in his free time. He is looking forward to BioFest this upcoming school year! Zack’s advice for incoming freshmen: “Don’t take on too much at once! Cornell's resources and endless opportunities will seem overwhelming, and it's important to realize that there's not one correct or expected way to do things. Remember to live YOUR life, and not other people's.”

Catie is concentrating in Genetics, Genomics & Development with plans to pursue a Ph.D. in developmental or integrative biology. On campus, she is involved with Von Cramm Cooperative and Cornell Running Club. Catie previously did research in the McCune Lab in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology but she currently does research in the Simoes-Costa Lab in Genetics, Genomics & Development. For fun, she likes to run, cook, bake, and go thrift shopping. Her favorite class is BIOMG 3850: Developmental Biology. This summer, Catie worked remotely on a computational research project in her lab. She is looking forward to meeting new students during orientation and welcoming them to Cornell. Her words of advice for new students: “There is so much room in bio sci to explore your interests--there may be an area of biology that you don't know exists yet, but turns out to be what excites you the most!”

Catherine is concentrating in Computational Biology with plans to take a gap year before going to graduate school. On campus, she is involved with the Cornell Daily Sun, the Smart is Strong Foundation, and Alpha Phi Omega. Her favorite classes are BIOMG 3310: Principles of Biochemistry – Proteins and Metabolism, and BIONB 2220: Neurobiology and Behavior II. This summer, she interned at a pharmaceutical company. Catherine is looking forward to BioFest and orientation this school year!

Timothy concentrates in Molecular & Cell Biology with plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry after graduation. On campus, he is a member of Hortus Forum, the undergraduate horticulture club, and a researcher at the Liu Worm Lab. For fun, he enjoys gardening, painting, reading, and embroidery. His favorite medium for painting is gouache and his favorite genres to read are historical fiction and mystery. Timothy’s favorite courses are BIOEE 1780: Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity and BIOMG 1350: Introductory Biology – Cell and Developmental Biology. This summer, he continued his research at the Liu Worm Lab. He is looking forward to Cornell Days and talking to new students/parents! Timothy’s words of advice for new students: “Approach all things coming your way with an open mind and you'll find many different paths towards the future. Here, a growth mindset trumps a fixed mindset any day.”

Sheri concentrates in Neurobiology & Behavior with plans to attend medical school or an MD/Ph.D. program after graduation. On campus, she is a part of the Peer Review Board and Human Elements. For fun, she enjoys running, sketching and baking. Sheri’s favorite class is BIONB 2220: Neurobiology and Behavior II. This summer, she applied to research labs and she is looking forward to BioFest and orientation this upcoming school year. Her advice for incoming students: “Don’t be afraid to try new things! Cornell has so many wonderful opportunities for you to explore.”

Luke is concentrating in Genetics, Genomics & Development with plans to attend medical school after a gap year working in a clinical setting. On campus, he is an RA for the Townhouse Community and a student worker for Cornell’s Student Disability Services. He also conducts research at the Behavior Analysis of Beginning Years (B.A.B.Y) Lab where he investigates questions related to communicative development and language, studying both human infants and zebra finches. To relax, Luke enjoys listening to new music, spending time with friends, and catching up on his favorite Netflix shows. He also loves going to Deixa Sambar, a Brazilian drumming ensemble, where he loves exploring Brazilian music and playing drums with friends at the end of the week. His favorite class is BIOMG 2800: Lectures in Genetics and Genomics. This summer, Luke spent time studying for the MCAT, doing remote work for his lab, volunteering for the Crisis Text Line, and getting involved with remote volunteering opportunities at his local hospital. He is looking forward to meeting his advisees at the beginning of the semester as well as attending BioFest. Luke’s advice for incoming freshmen: “Use your first semester to get adjusted to college and to Cornell. You have plenty of time so you don’t need to be very concerned with fulfilling a bunch of major and distribution requirements right away! I’d recommend making a schedule with a good balance of required classes and classes that you want to take just because they seem interesting to you.”

Siddharth concentrates in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology with plans to attend graduate school after graduation. On campus, he is involved with Science Olympiad and Mafia Club. He also does research at the Paleontological Research Institution. Siddharth's favorite class is BIOEE 4790: Paleobiology and this summer, he took online classes. He is looking forward to any and all advising events this upcoming year!

Jennifer concentrates in Animal Physiology with plans to go to medical school after graduation. On campus, she is an Outreach Co-Chair for Cornell Undergraduate Research Board (CURB), a member of Kappa Phi Lambda, and a TA for BIOG 1445. For fun, she likes to draw, paint, go to the gym, and find new places to eat with friends. Jennifer’s favorite class is BIOAP 3110: Principles of Animal Physiology. This summer, she taught herself RStudio and studied for the MCAT. Jennifer is looking forward to orientation, meeting new students, and attending BioFest this school year. Her words of advice for new students: “Use your free time to explore your passions, take fun classes that interest you, and don't forget to reach out and get involved on campus!”

Diego concentrates in Plant Biology with plans to attend graduate school after graduation. On campus, he is a member of the Agriculture and Life Sciences fraternity Alpha Zeta and the Student Advisory Council to the Dean of CALS. He enjoys playing sports, staying active, dancing, and meeting new people. Diego’s favorite class is BIOMG 2801: Lab in Genetics and Genomics. He felt it was a great hands-on experience with lots of genetic methods and experimentation. This summer, he took summer classes and did some job exploration. He is looking forward to orientation and meeting new students in person this upcoming school year! Diego is a transfer student who is always willing to extend a helping hand. His words of advice for incoming students: “You can always learn something from anyone anywhere at any time, be humble and keep an open mind.”

Ananya is concentrating in General Biology with plans to pursue an MD/Ph.D. after graduation. On campus, she is involved in Cornell Undergraduate Research Board (CURB), Callbaxx A Capella and PCAT. She is also working on an undergraduate research project in neuroscience in the Deitcher Lab. Ananya loves singing with her acapella group and having board game/movie nights with her friends! Her favorite class is CHEM 3590: Honors Organic Chemistry I. This summer, she continued remote computational research with the NIH and prepped for the MCAT. Ananya is looking forward to mentoring students and helping them get involved in on-campus research. Her advice for incoming students: “Take some time to really explore what Cornell has to offer! Even though it’s tough, there are a lot of people that are ready and willing to support you with any and all aspects of your transition to Cornell!”

Sarah concentrates in Neurobiology & Behavior with plans to attend medical school after graduation. On campus, she is a member of Sabor Latino Dance Ensemble, an A&S Ambassador, and the Membership Recruitment Chair for Phi Sigma Sigma. Sarah enjoys reading, baking, playing the violin, going for long walks, and spending time with her little sister (most likely playing Animal Crossing). Sarah’s favorite classes are PSYCH 2090: Developmental Psychology and an FWS called The Political Force of Love. She is also minoring in Psychology. This summer, she volunteered for a crisis hotline and studied for the MCAT. Sarah is most looking forward to meeting new students and advisees during Orientation Week and BioFest this upcoming school year. Her advice for incoming students: “As much as you are able, try to go the extra mile in each and every class you take, and involve yourself whenever you can.”

Eugene concentrates in Neurobiology & Behavior with plans to attend an MD/Ph.D. program after graduation. On campus, he is involved with the A&S Dean’s Advisory Council, A&S Ambassadors, and PCAT. He also does research in the Goldberg Lab where he studies motor learning systems. Eugene's favorite classes are BIOMG 2800: Lectures in Genetics and Genomics and BIOMG 2801: Lab in Genetics and Genomics. He worked remotely on data analysis for ongoing research projects in his lab this summer. This upcoming school year, he is looking forward to meeting new prospective biology students in the first week and attending BioFest!

Matthew is concentrating in Neurobiology & Behavior with plans to attend medical school after graduation. On campus, he is the Goalie and Vice President of Cornell Roller Hockey Club, and he is involved in Weill-Ithaca Network (WIN), PCAT, and Sigma Alpha Mu. He also does research in the Linster Lab. He enjoys playing videogames or hockey with friends for fun. Matthew’s favorite class at Cornell has been PSYCH 3250: Adult Psychopathology. This summer, he studied for the MCAT and he is looking forward to attending as many OUB advising events as he can participate in this upcoming year! Matthew’s words of advice for incoming freshmen: “Enjoy every moment, as it passes quicker than you think.”

Yasoda concentrates in General Biology with plans to take a gap year before going to medical school. On campus, she is involved with Phi Delta Epsilon, GlobeMed, and Thread Fashion Magazine. She also does research at the Cheong Lab. Yasoda loves to watercolor paint, hike, and watch sports (especially football). Her favorite course is BIOEE 1781: Introduction to Evolution and Diversity. This summer, Yasoda prepped for the MCAT and virtually tutored high school students. She is looking forward to orientation and BioFest this upcoming school year. Yasoda’s words of advice for new students: “Take advantage of every bright, sunny day to explore Ithaca's beautiful nature. A great stress reliever!”

Jacob is concentrating in Neurobiology & Behavior with plans to apply to medical school after graduation. On campus, he is a CALS tutor, a Physics TA, and a member of the Cornell Surgical Society. He also conducts research in the van der Meulen Lab in biomedical engineering. Jacob enjoys hanging out with friends and swimming for exercise. His favorite class is BIOMG 2800: Lectures in Genetics and Genomics. This summer, he did injury/clinical research at the University of Washington through the Pediatric Injury Prevention Student Internship Training Program. Jacob is looking forward to BioFest this upcoming school year! His words of advice for new students: “Take advantage of all the amazing academic resources Cornell has to offer!”

Katie is concentrating in Molecular & Cell Biology with plans to attend graduate school and gain a Ph.D. in molecular biology. On campus, she is a lifeguard for Cornell Aquatics and an undergraduate researcher in the Yen Lab. Katie's favorite classes are BIOMG 1350: Introductory Biology – Cell and Developmental Biology and STSCI 2150: Introductory Statistics for Biology. She likes to bake, go to hockey games, and hang out with friends for fun! This summer, she did research in her lab on campus. Katie is also looking forward to BioFest and orientation this school year!

Se Jin concentrates in Plant Biology with plans to attend graduate school after graduation. On campus, she is a Rose Scholar in Flora Rose House and a member of Cornell Undergraduate Research Board (CURB) and Golden Key Honor Society. She also conducts research in the Moghe Lab studying the secondary metabolites found in latex produced by the Euphorbiaceae family. Se Jin enjoys making miniatures out of clay, trying new restaurants, exploring Ithaca, and hanging out with friends. Her favorite class is PLBRG 2250: Plant Genetics. This summer, she took online courses and volunteered. Se Jin is looking forward to seeing everyone in person and attending BioFest! Her advice for incoming students: “Take some time to explore your interests during your first semester at Cornell."

Shriya concentrates in Genetics, Genomics & Development with a double major in English. She plans to attend medical school after graduation. Within the Cornell community, she is the Editor in Chief and co-founder of Phoenix Medical Humanities Magazine. She is a senior staff writer for the Cornell Daily Sun and served as Science Editor on the 137th Editorial Board. Shriya is also Dance TA and Volunteer for Ballet and Books and a member of the Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee, Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-medical Honors Society, and Sitara. As a member of the Lammerding Lab, Shriya is interested in understanding the role of DNA damage in the pathophysiology of LMNA-Dilated Cardiomyopathy. For fun, she loves to read, spend time with friends, write short stories and poems, dance, and go for runs outside. Two of Shriya's favorite classes are NS 3090: Global Health Case Studies from Weill Cornell Medical College and ENGL 2270: Shakespeare. She loves talking to fellow students in the OUB and is looking forward to weekly office hours! This summer, Shriya started working on her honors thesis, created an online platform for Phoenix Medical Humanities Magazine, and stayed active in the community by volunteering virtually. Her words of advice for new students: “Don't be afraid to pursue diverse interests. College is the time to be open to new experiences and expand your worldview.”

Emily is concentrating in Genetics, Genomics & Development with plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology after graduation. On campus, she is a member of the Cornell Cycling Club and she works in the Plant Transformation Facility, helping to develop methods for industrial hemp tissue culture. Emily enjoys running, cycling, and playing the guitar for fun. Her favorite class is BIOMG 1350: Introductory Biology – Cell and Developmental Biology. This summer, she continued research in a genetics lab at Binghamton University. She is looking forward to BioFest and working with her advisees this upcoming school year! Emily's words of advice for incoming students: “Go to office hours!”

Hal concentrates in General Biology with plans to work as a research assistant for a year before going to medical school. On campus, he works for the Virtual Embodiment Lab, which explores Virtual Reality in a social context. He is also involved in Greek life. For fun, Hal loves to play chess and piano and hang out with his friends. His favorite class is MUSIC 1312: History of Rock Music because he got to learn about old music, the Beatles and other major music hits. This summer, he completed a virtual internship in informatics with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This upcoming school year, Hal is looking forward to attending BioFest and playing all the fun, biology-themed games. His words of encouragement for new students: “You are going to be fine! I know it is stressful coming into Cornell especially during this uncertain time. Lucky for you we have a great community of smart, hard-working people ready to help you out. Also, don’t worry about making friends. Everyone is in the same boat and are looking for friends too.”

Andrew concentrates in Neurobiology & Behavior with plans to spend a year or so conducting research and volunteering before going to medical school. On campus and around Ithaca, he is a biology tutor for the Learning Strategies Center, a Research and Development Assistant on Cornell DEBUT, Secretary of Cornell SEED, and a clinical volunteer at Cayuga Medical Center. He is also a research assistant at the Attention, Memory and Perception Lab under Dr. Khena Swallow. His favorite class is COGST 2621: Minds and Machines because it’s a very fun and relaxed philosophy/cognitive science class where you learn and think about AI, free will, and consciousness. Andrew likes to play guitar, read, watch shows and documentaries, and hang out with friends and family for fun. This summer, he studied for the MCAT, virtually volunteered, and worked on a website/club with fellow SA Steven Persaud to help high school students with the college application process during the COVID-19 crisis. This upcoming year, he is looking forward to BioFest and orientation! Andrew’s words of advice for new students: “Cornell can be overwhelming at first, but I promise you will make great friendships and you will become a better learner. Just keep an open mind, be proactive, always remember what you want to achieve, use your resources and reach out if you ever need academic or personal help.”

Alejandro is concentrating in Microbiology with plans to pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology after graduation. He is considering pursuing work in biotech or academia to follow his Ph.D. On campus, Alejandro is a student manager at the Tatkon Center, a member of AIR, Cornell’s pre-professional healthcare organization, a board member of the CALS Academic Integrity Hearing Board (AIHB), and an undergraduate member of the Cornell Student Library Council. He also conducts research in the Angert Lab in microbiology. There, he investigates Epulopiscium bacteria, a group of gut bacteria found in surgeonfish. Alejandro loves hiking and ice skating for fun! He also occasionally crochets. His favorite class is either BIOMI 2900: General Microbiology Lecture or BIOMI 4140: Microbial Diversity. This summer, he continued his research and advanced his bioinformatics skills. Alejandro is looking forward to BioFest and attending research panels this upcoming academic year. His words of encouragement for incoming students: “Cornell is very humbling and exciting, so take advantage of the brilliant opportunities presented to you!”

Anna concentrates in Neurobiology & Behavior with plans to go to medical school after graduation. On campus, she is a Service Committee member for Cornell Health International. Her favorite classes are ITAL 2201: Italian III and BIOEE 1780: Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity. Anna loves cooking, traveling, reading, skiing, and building puzzles. This summer, she continued Parkinson's Disease research at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Anna is looking forward to meeting her advisees during orientation and visiting the OUB for Doggy Days! Her words of advice for new students: “Don't hesitate to use office hours and/or other resources for help with classes.”

Demetra is concentrating in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. After graduating, she has hopes of either working for an environmental-based NGO/non-profit, a government agency like the EPA or Department of Interior with an environmental research focus, or continuing her education in graduate school! Her favorite class is STSCI 2150: Introductory Statistics for Biology. On campus, Demetra is on the Varsity Women’s Swimming and Diving Team and she works in the Goodale Lab. She enjoys going to the gym, having movie nights with friends, and eating lots of chocolate. This academic year, she is looking forward to Orientation Week! Demetra's words of advice for new students: “While college may be stressful at times, don't forget to relax, take time for yourself, and have fun.”

Melissa is concentrating in Biochemistry with plans to attend dental school and specialize in orthodontics after graduation. On campus, she is an A&S Ambassador and a participant in the Prisoner Express program. She is also involved in research at the Attention, Memory and Perception Lab led by Dr. Khena Swallow. Melissa enjoys eating her way through Ithaca, cooking with friends, and getting into water balloon/water gun fights. Her favorite class at Cornell has been CHEM 2870: Physical Chemistry. This summer, Melissa applied to dental school, took classes at the University of Missouri at St. Louis, and taught English. She is looking forward to visiting bubble tea places with her advisees! Her words of encouragement for incoming freshmen: “People at Cornell are truly kind and understanding. It’s possible to make new friends every semester!”