2019-2020 Executive Board
Sonali Bahl President
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Medicine, specializing in Molecular and Cellular Oncology, in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at GW. My current research focuses on the regulation of and by histone deacetylase enzymes. I graduated from Stony Brook University with a major in biochemistry and minors in writing and chemistry. I joined GW COMPASS because I have recognized that science does not progress in isolation. I think COMPASS is a great platform for everyone in the STEM to come together and learn from one another. I am looking forward to what we can achieve as a team!
Kristy Johnson Co-Vice President & Treasurer
I’m Kristy and I received my BS in Molecular and Microbial Biology at CSU Stanislaus. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in the IBS program researching the role of NMDA receptors on the visual map and topographic map alignment in Dr. Triplett’s lab at Children’s National Medical Center. I joined GW COMPASS to navigate potential careers after graduate school and help fellow STEM students prepare for their next step and reach their career goals.
Julie Ahn Co-Vice President
I am a fourth year Ph.D. candidate in the Neuroscience program in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at GW. I have a B.S. in human biology, and before starting graduate school, I worked at Johns Hopkins with an immunology group. Now, my research combines both immunology and neuroscience. My project focuses on the role of CNS inflammation in multiple sclerosis. I joined GW COMPASS to be part of a community where STEM students can help each other succeed and become mentors and leaders in STEM fields.
JT Howard Secretary
From: Birmingham, AL
Undergrad: Auburn University (Microbio)
I am passionate about maternal-fetal medicine and care from a pharmacological lens. During my time in the IBS Pharmacology and Physiology program I hope to further develop my familiarity with the latest investigative techniques, increase my clinical thinking capabilities, and align myself with a network of other pioneers of biomedical innovation.
Rose Yin SEAS Representative & Mentorship Program Coordinator
I am a first-year biomedical engineering Ph.D. student in the lab of Dr. Igor Efimov studying cardiac electrophysiology. Just this past May, I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis as a part of the class of 2017. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking, rock climbing, listening to podcasts like “Hidden Brain,” and playing Bananagrams. Having grown up in Vermont, every Vermonter has a favorite flavor of Ben & Jerry’s, and mine is Strawberry Cheesecake. I’m not sure what I want to do in the future, so I joined GW COMPASS to be part of a community to help me figure this out since it takes a village to raise a researcher.
Erin Bonner Media Coordinator
I graduated from Bryn Mawr College in the spring of 2017 with a degree in Biology, and am now pursuing a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine with a concentration in Neuroscience/Oncology. I joined GW COMPASS to help build a stronger network for GW STEM graduate students, to learn about career paths in the sciences, and to help spread the word about events and opportunities to other students.
Anik Tarefder Media Coordinator
I’m a PhD student in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at GW. My research interest includes multi-phase flows, soft particles and viscoelastic fluids. I received my BS in Mechanical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. I joined GW COMPASS to get involved in the current events that have been going on in the campus and get to know more about the fellow students as I believe GW COMPASS is a great platform to meet new people and share ideas. Beside my work I love to play guitar and music has always been my one and only hobby.
Jaclyn Brennan Founder and Former President, Science Policy Hub Member
I am a 5th year Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering and the founder of GW COMPASS. I started this organization to help GW graduate students in STEM get access to and understand their various career options after graduation. Networking is one of the most important skills we can develop while in graduate school, so I wanted GW COMPASS to be a friendly and professional platform for bringing graduate students from various disciplines together to encourage new collaborations, open doors to new opportunities, and foster a general sense of community. I currently study cardiac electrophysiology in the laboratory of Dr. Igor Efimov.
Dr. Alison Hall Faculty Advisor
Dr. Hall joined GW in July 2017. She is the Associate Dean for Research Workforce Development for GW’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Hall earned her PhD in Developmental Genetics & Anatomy/Neuroscience and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Pharmacology at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She received her BA in Biochemistry & Cell Biology from the University of California, San Diego. We are happy to have Dr. Hall as our faculty advisor!
2018-2019 Executive Board:
Jaclyn Brennan (Founder and President), Jenna Osborn (Co-Vice President & Media Coordinator), Kristy Johnson (Co-Vice President & Treasurer), Mohammad Reza Najjari (Senior Graduate Student Advisor), Sonali Bahl (Secretary & Media Coordinator), Rose Yin (Mentorship Program Chair), Mahdis Bisheban (Membership Chair), Stephanie Gomez (SMHS Representative & Membership Chair), Erin Bonner (Media Coordinator), John-Hanson Machado (CCAS Representative)
2017-2018 Executive Board:
Jaclyn Brennan (Founder and President), Jenna Osborn (Co-Vice President & Media Coordinator), Mohammad Reza Najjari (Co-Vice President), Yaprak Ozakman (Treasurer), Fangfei Yang (Secretary), John Liang Zhang (Webmaster), Rose Yin (Mentorship Program Co-Chair), Devon Guerrelli (Mentorship Program Co-Chair), Mahdis Bisheban (Membership Chair), Stephanie Gomez (Membership Chair), Kristy Johnson (Social Events Committee), Sonali Bahl (Social Events Committee & Media Coordinator), Erin Bonner (Social Events Committee & Media Coordinator), Ian Carr (Networking Event Coordinator)
GW COMPASS 