The Board
The Board is here to serve you, our members. Meet our current leadership board:
PRESIDENT
Natalie Alexander
Graduate Fellow in the Fuchs Lab
Natalie is excited to engage with the Rockefeller community in her role as Secretary of the WISeR board. She is looking forward to bringing new voices to campus and expanding the role of WISeR through outreach and mentorship initiatives. Before coming to Rockefeller Natalie studied Biology and History at Boston College. Following her undergraduate education, she continued exploring her passion for biomedical research as a technician at Massachusetts General Hospital profiling neutrophil function in patients suffering from recurrent infection. Now, Natalie is pursuing her PhD in the Fuchs lab studying the consequences of chronic inflammation on the skin microenvironment. When she’s not in lab Natalie enjoys attending concerts, reading, and wandering the neighborhoods of NYC in search of the perfect matcha latte.
SECRETARY
Ashni Vora
Graduate Fellow
Ashni is excited to serve as a Friday Breakfast coordinator and to contribute more towards creating a stronger community of women within Rockefeller. She is passionate about creating equitable change and looks forward to collaborating with the other groups on campus and creating more resources for scientific outreach. Before joining Rockefeller, she studied Biochemistry and Cell Biology at the University of California San Diego. In her free time, she likes running in central park, exploring the city and eating great food!
VICE PRESIDENT
Nicole DelGaudio
Graduate Fellow in the Birsoy Lab
Nicole is thrilled to join the amazing group of women that comprise WISeR. She is looking forward to brainstorming new ways to extend the reach of WISeR throughout the Rockefeller community. Before coming to Rockefeller, she studied Biology at Wesleyan University and was then a technician for two years at Memorial Sloan Kettering across the street studying the genetic and epigenetic basis of myeloid malignancies. She is currently in the Birsoy lab studying the metabolic dependencies of cancer. Outside of the lab, you can find her spinning, doing barre, or cheering for the Mets!
EVENTS COORDINATOR
Clare Cahir
Graduate Fellow in the Marraffini Lab
Clare is excited to serve as a WISeR co-president this year. She is looking forward to helping plan the events that amplify and celebrate the voices of women in science. Before starting at the Tri-Institutional Program in Chemical Biology, she attended the University of Notre Dame and studied Chemistry and Italian. In the Marraffini lab, she is studying the molecular mechanisms of CRISPR systems in different bacteria. Outside of the lab, you can find Clare exploring the NYC food scene or running with the UES running club.
TREASURER
Jana Bilanovic
Graduate Fellow in the Victora Lab
Jana is thrilled to serve her third year on the Board of WISeR. In her role as Co-President, she aims to empower and inspire the WISeR community and create a welcoming environment for everyone. She is excited to organize career development and community building events and keep supporting WISeRs initiatives to promote the success of women in STEM. Before joining the Rockefeller PhD Program, Jana studied Biochemistry at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. In the Victora Lab she is interested in understanding T cell-B cell crosstalk in the germinal center reaction. Outside of lab, she enjoys exploring the city, yoga and trying out new cuisines.
EVENTS COORDIANTOR
Deniz Abdusselamoglu
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Fuchs Lab
Deniz is very excited to join WISeR community and be a part of this inspiring group. Her mission in WISeR is to cultivate an environment of inclusivity that particularly empowers women in STEM, fostering their growth and success. Deniz firmly believes that science knows no bounds, welcoming all who possess a passion for learning, and she champions the notion that a diverse and inclusive scientific process leads to unparalleled advancement. Prior to her time at Rockefeller, Deniz earned her PhD at IMBA in Vienna, Austria. She is currently a postdoc in the Fuchs lab, where she is studying the complexities of cancer stem cells. Beyond her research, Deniz likes to climb and is always on the lookout for new city eateries to discover.