2025 Honor Society inductees

Hanan Abdi

Hamline University

Hanan Abdi is a biochemistry, English and communication student. Her interest in biochemistry stems from a fascination with understanding the origins of life. Abdi aspires to pursue a career in dentistry and is actively working toward this goal. Recently, she conducted research with Dr. Martinez–Vaz, investigating the use of mutated enzymes to degrade common water contaminants, such as Guanylurea, a byproduct of the pharmaceutical drug metformin. This summer, Abdi will expand her research experience by interning at the University of Minnesota Medical School through the LSSURP program, where she will focus on dental craniofacial research. At Hamline, she is a dedicated leader in the pre-health organization and an active member of the 91亚色传媒 Student Chapter, which has helped her develop strong leadership skills. She also serves as the vice president of the Muslim Student Association, further showcasing her commitment to her community. Outside of academics, she enjoys playing badminton and crocheting to unwind and express her creativity.

Samira Babiker

Khalifa University

Samira Babiker is a senior cell and molecular biology student. Her passion for science began early, driven by curiosity about how life functions at a molecular level. Her research has explored molecules involved in reproductive biology and cardiovascular diseases. Under the mentorship of Junaid Kashir, Babiker is conducting senior research on the molecular cloning and characterization of phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ), a protein crucial in fertilization. She has also worked with Moni Nader on investigating striatin, a protein linked to diabetic cardiomyopathy and hypertension, contributing to a novel study on cardiomyoblast membrane potential — a milestone achievement for her. Babiker aims to pursue a Ph.D. and postdoctoral research in molecular biology and genetics to explore their role in disease progression and real-world applications. Beyond research, she is the founder and president of the 91亚色传媒 Student Chapter at Khalifa University, leading initiatives promoting scientific curiosity. Her leadership includes organizing career panels, outreach events, and journal discussions, and she has dedicated over 200 hours to community service as a peer tutor and mentor. Her journey with 91亚色传媒 has been transformational, providing a platform to connect with researchers worldwide and inspire students in molecular biology. She embodies 91亚色传媒’s values: mentorship and the pursuit of knowledge for societal benefit.

Caroline Chandler

Purdue University

Caroline Chandler is currently a senior in biochemistry. After graduation, Chandler plans to attend veterinary school to become a small animal veterinarian. She first became fascinated by science when she was 5 years old and observed the butterfly life cycle from a chrysalis until they hatched. Chandler was an undergraduate research assistant for four semesters studying the enzyme Phospholipase C. She is currently the vice president of the Purdue biochemistry club, a member of the Purdue pre-vet club, a member of the honorary fraternity Alpha Zeta, and a student receptionist at the Purdue small animal emergency hospital. Being a part of this chapter has allowed her to teach younger children around the Lafayette community how fun science is. Outside of college, she loves to crochet and go on walks with her dog Charlie.

Kyle Gaviria

University of South Alabama

Kyle Gaviria is a third-year biomedical sciences student aspiring to become a physician scientist specializing in pathology. His interest in science began in high school when a teacher invited him to shadow a chemistry research lab at the University of South Alabama. Eager to learn more about biomedical research, he started volunteering in a breast cancer research lab during his freshman year and has remained involved ever since. He has contributed to three research projects, each of which received an award or was accepted for presentation at a conference. Gaviria credits his mentors, both faculty and peers, with providing invaluable advice, encouragement, and inspiration to pursue challenging opportunities, including the 91亚色传媒 Honor Society. These mentors have fueled his passions for physiology, research and treating human disease, motivating him to become a mentor himself. As an officer of his 91亚色传媒 Student Chapter, he advertises research opportunities, leads tours of a local research facility and helps students find research mentors. Gaviria believes his experiences in research and the 91亚色传媒 Student Chapter will serve him well in his future academic and professional pursuits.

Mihika Iyer

Boston University

Mihika Iyer is a senior studying biochemistry and molecular biology with a public health minor and is pursuing a master's in biotechnology. She has been actively involved in research for the past three years and is currently studying chronic traumatic encephalopathy and amyloid beta under Jonathan Cherry at the BU CTE Center. As a committed member of 91亚色传媒, Iyer is passionate about expanding equitable opportunities in science and research, both within Boston University and the broader Boston community. She tutors English to adults pursuing careers in healthcare and works with her university’s sexual assault response and prevention office to raise awareness about gender harassment in science and academia. Driven by her love for science and commitment to social justice, Iyer plans to pursue a career in healthcare or academia.

Dannj Kanj

Purdue University

Dannj Kanj is a senior graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. He discovered his interest in biochemistry and anatomy during high school through AP biology, becoming fascinated by macromolecules, metabolic pathways and anatomical structures in the human body. This led him to apply to the biochemistry program and pursue undergraduate research. Kanj served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for biological sciences and medical biochemistry courses and will be a biochemistry teaching assistant/residential mentor for the 2025 Summer Science Program. He has been involved in the Purdue University 91亚色传媒 Student Chapter since his freshman year, and currently serves as an outreach officer for the Purdue Biochemistry Club, leading initiatives to increase STEM accessibility for underserved communities. His involvement in student organizations and research has helped him grow as a student, leader and scientist, and he looks forward to presenting his research at the 2025 91亚色传媒 Annual Meeting. After his gap year, Kanj plans to attend an accredited U.S. allopathic medical school to earn his M.D.

Mia Kushner

Rochester Institute of Technology

Mia Kushner is a fourth-year biochemistry major with a psychology minor. Her love of science began at an early age, and she developed an interest in medicine during her freshman year of high school. Now, she conducts research with Lea Michel as a group lead on a project exploring bacterial extracellular vesicles as a diagnostic tool for sepsis. On campus, Kushner manages the RIT Overwatch club and she's the vice president of COS ALANA, a group dedicated to providing resources to and connecting African, Latina, Asian and Native American students in the College of Science. She has also been a teaching assistant for an organic chemistry lab and participated in the peer mentor program at her college. 91亚色传媒 has provided her many opportunities to network with other students who share her passion for science and to spread knowledge and resources to the Rochester community. After graduation, Kushner will take a gap year before pursuing medical school in the fall of 2026. Her time working in a daycare cemented her love of working with children, so she's interested in a pediatric specialty. Outside of academics, she loves reading, cross-stitching and baking.

Mindy Navarrete

Purdue University

Mindy Navarrete is graduating in May of 2025 with a major in biochemistry and two minors in forensic science and Spanish. Her long-standing interest in true crime, coupled with a passion for biochemistry, has shaped her desire to pursue a specialization in forensic pathology. Navarrete hopes to become a voice for those whose lives have been tragically cut short and to contribute to the pursuit of justice through science. She initially chose to major in biochemistry due to her fascination with chemistry as it relates to the human body. However, her involvement in scientific outreach and research has ignited a deeper love for science than she ever anticipated. Through the 91亚色传媒 student chapter, Navarrete has had the opportunity to participate in outreach in Purdue's community and made science accessible to school-aged children from lower income backgrounds. Navarrete has also participated in research with Scott Briggs for the past two years. Her contributions led to a co-authored publication released in October 2024, with Dr. Saha as the first author. Aside from science and outreach, Navarrete enjoys sewing, running and playing with her elderly dog.

Grace Perna

Rochester Institute of Technology

Grace Perna is a junior majoring in biotechnology and molecular bioscience. Growing up with chronic illnesses and an autoimmune disease, she was drawn to a career in research as a way to improve the treatment of conditions like hers. Perna began her undergraduate career at Binghamton University, where she fell in love with microbiology and drug delivery at the nanoscale. The skills she obtained while under the mentorship of Caitlin Light have been monumental in supporting her career — and served as her first introduction to bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs). After exploring her interests in organic chemistry with Hosea Nelson at Caltech, Perna went on to join Lea Michel’s research group at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is now working on probing the therapeutic potential of grape-derived EVs and evaluating a vaccine candidate for non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. She has become increasingly interested in the ways that bacteria can contribute to or protect against the development of autoimmunity; Perna intends to obtain a Ph.D. in immunology to investigate these interactions further for therapeutics development. Her goal is to serve as a mentor for aspiring researchers while improving the status quo treatment of autoimmune and infectious diseases. Perna’s involvement in 91亚色传媒 has offered pivotal opportunities for community outreach that she believes is necessary to success in her career.

Sophia Schlink

Hamline University

Sophia Schlink is a senior biochemistry student. As a student with a deep appreciation for both art and science, she is passionate about exploring their intersections and finding ways to blend these disciplines. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted research in Betsy Martinez–Vaz's lab, where she explored bacterial degradation of biguanide compounds. Schlink is deeply engaged in campus life, serving as the president of the Biology Club and a tutor for biology, chemistry and biochemistry, while actively participating in additional extracurricular activities including serving as the director of Camp Kesem. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school, combining her passion for biochemistry with her dedication to making a positive impact on others.

Jenna Schoonmaker

Purdue University

Jenna is a graduating senior majoring in biochemistry. She has always been curious about the world, and a love of science was fostered in her home and classes from an early age. Schoonmaker is passionate about improving environmental health through biochemical research, and currently works in an ecotoxicology lab at Purdue, where she investigates mechanisms of neurotoxicity related to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. Before studying ecotoxicology, she worked in a mammary gland biology lab, and has also worked at a biotechnology company, studying tissue repair, and the National Institutes of Health, studying the macrophage proteome. She values diverse experiences and perspectives, which is why she chose to study abroad in Dublin, Ireland. Schoonmaker plans to pursue her Ph.D. in environmental microbiology after graduating to further her mission of driving positive environmental change. Being a part of the 91亚色传媒 community has been transformative for her scientific communication skills, and attending the annual meeting has been one of her favorite activities for the past three years. Aside from science, she also enjoys reading, painting and playing tennis. Moving forward, she is excited to collaborate with fellow scientists, mentor future researchers and inspire a love for science in all communities.

Phyllis Schram

Wesleyan University

Phyllis Schram is a senior majoring in biochemistry and neuroscience. Schram had an innate curiosity for the biological sciences from a young age which led her to the lab of Alison O’Neil in 2022. With Dr. O’Neil, she investigated the structural profile of a novel SOD1 mutation, N53D, with the goal of studying any implications it may have towards the formation of toxic SOD1 aggregated in patients with ALS. Schram has enjoyed sharing her passion for science with children as the outreach chair of the Wesleyan 91亚色传媒 chapter, Major Groove. With Major Groove, she has developed an unabashed love for scientific conversation, not only between experts and scientists but between any two curious humans. Outside of campus, Schram has had the privilege of serving her community as an EMT for two years where her perspectives on healthcare have been enriched and reshaped by every patient she has met. She plans to take these perspectives to medical school, as she is actively pursuing an M.D., with a specialization in emergency medicine down the line. Apart from science, Schram enjoys figure skating, both as a coach and a skater, and has a habit of pursuing cross-stitching projects that are much larger than she initially thought.

Tanuskh Sharma

University of Nebraska鈥揕incoln

Tanuskh Sharma is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in biochemistry with the goal of becoming a board-certified attorney. Serving as a member of the UNL 91亚色传媒 Student Chapter has proven to be highly valuable for Sharma’s collegiate experience, as it has provided a sense of belonging and a “home away from home.” College can present numerous challenges, and having a supportive community of high-achieving students and faculty has given him a framework of confidence. There have been many instances where a peer or faculty member in the biochemistry department has offered advice or guidance, which has been instrumental in his academic journey. This support led to involvement in research with Donald Becker focused on proline metabolism and enzyme kinetics. Sharma's involvement extends beyond the biochemistry department as well. Currently, he serves as the president of a campus fraternity and is part of the executive operating council for Special Musicians, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing music education to children ages 7–14.

Shelby Sliger

Purdue University

Shelby Sliger is a senior biochemistry major minoring in bioinformatics and professional writing. She developed an interest in science through the Science Olympiad and Academic Super Bowl in high school. After discovering her passion for research, she began undergraduate research in Joe Ogas’s lab, studying the histone variant protein H2A.Z and the CHD3 chromatin remodeler PKL in Arabidopsis. Sliger has attended seven conferences to present her work and has received the Goldwater and Astronaut Scholarships for her research contributions. She has served as president of the Purdue University 91亚色传媒 (PU-91亚色传媒) chapter for two years, leading STEM outreach initiatives with local K–12 schools. She is also the test event coordinator for Purdue Science Olympiad, a College of Agriculture Ambassador, and has been an undergraduate teaching assistant for six semesters. Next year, Sliger will attend graduate school at the University of Michigan to earn her Ph.D. in biochemistry or cancer biology. Her career goal is to become a cancer epigeneticist at an R1 institution, where she can teach and conduct independent research. Her experiences with PU-91亚色传媒 and 91亚色传媒 national meetings have inspired her to become a PI and honed her scientific communication skills for her future career.

Jacob Swallow

Stephen F. Austin State University

Jacob Swallow is a junior biochemistry major with a minor in biology. His interest in science was sparked in the third grade, and his passion for medicine was cemented while taking a medical terminology class in high school. Currently, Swallow is involved in researching microplastics in the wastewater treatment plants of Deep East Texas, a project he began in February 2024. At his institution, Jacob served as the secretary of the 91亚色传媒 student chapter for a year, and in November 2024, he was elected student chapter president, a position he continues to hold. As president, he works to facilitate science outreach to rural elementary, middle and high school students by hosting and volunteering at various events. His efforts to promote scientific outreach include hosting STEM days, organizing alumni panel events and serving as a student ambassador for his chemistry and biochemistry department. In recognition of his academic achievements and commitment to medicine, Swallow was selected to participate in the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine Early Assurance Program. After completing his degree in biochemistry, he hopes to attend graduate school and join an M.D./Ph.D. program, intending to earn a Ph.D. in biochemistry or infectious diseases. He aspires to become a research-oriented physician who leads biomedical research projects which lead to direct clinical applications.

Cole Vonderheid

St. Mary's College of Maryland

Cole Vonderheid is a senior biochemistry major. Initially, research was part of his coursework at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. However, his passion ignited with an ongoing iodonium salt project under Andrew Koch. The research covers the reductive elimination applications of iodonium salts. Vonderheid aspires to become a cancer researcher with a medicinal chemistry background who can guide and provide opportunities to students. He is pursuing a career in cancer research because he took part in the Nathan Schnaper Intern Program in Translational Cancer research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Being a part of the 91亚色传媒 student chapter allowed him to give back to his community and foster relationships with students and faculty. Vonderheid serves as vice president of SMACS/BOSS, and the 91亚色传媒 chapter on campus. He plans to work for a few years as a post-baccalaureate before pursuing a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry. His hobbies include hiking and camping.

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