Women in STEM Officers

2022-2023 Officer Board

Karli Swenson

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: President
• Role on campus: Integrated Physiology PhD Student
• Research: I study how marijuana consumption during pregnancy impacts embryonic brain development and postnatal anxiety.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I am in WiSTEM because it is a fun and inclusive community that focuses on issues that are relevant to both me and the greater campus community.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Hiking in the mountains
  2. Taking long naps
  3. Relaxing with friends
• Website
• Twitter and Instagram: @KarliSwenson

Libby Murphy

• Pronouns: she/her/they
• WiSTEM position: Vice President
• Role on campus: Professional Research Assistant
• Research: Our lab is interested in how RNA binding proteins regulate gene expression. I study a protein that induces decay of its target RNAs, maybe to prevent overproduction of aldosterone and by extension, prevent hypertension.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I want to be an active participant in promoting inclusivity and diversity in our community, because inclusivity and diversity lift the whole community together.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Playing the cello
  2. Hiking
  3. Playing video games with my cat

Kathryn Walters

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Secretary & Webmaster
• Role on campus: Molecular Biology PhD Candidate
• Research: I research how the RNA binding protein MSI2 controls gene regulation in the context of adrenal steroidogenesis. I use a variety of methods such as large sequencing experiments, computational biology, and basic molecular biology.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I joined WiSTEM to be a part of an organization that is actively making a difference in our community. From reaching out to undergrads to promote science to helping those on campus find a support group and feel comfortable and welcome here, WiSTEM is a group that seeks to be inclusive and supportive of all and I'm so happy to be a part of it.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Zoom dates with friends
  2.  Baking
  3.  Scrapbooking and quilting

• Twitter

Maddie Mason

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Treasurer
• Role on campus: Neuroscience PhD Student
• Research: I’m developing a novel mouse model for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma to understand how early onset cancer develops and to advance the treatments available for this disease.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I joined WiSTEM because I’m passionate about educating up-and-coming scientists and developing a community at CU Anschutz that is inclusive of all.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Baking
  2. Watching new TV shows
  3. Nature hiking

Gigi Hunn

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Campus Outreach Coordinator
• Role on campus: Professional Research Assistant for Neuronal Injury and Plasticity Program
• Research: My lab studies plasticity and behavioral changes after an injury, such as stroke or cardiac arrest. We also use ephys to understand how LTP may be affected after said injuries. I primarily focus on cerebellar stroke.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I am passionate about giving back to the science community (and those who are interested) and connecting with scientists who are doing amazing things!
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Traveling
  2. Spending time with family and friends
  3. Watching crime shows
• LinkedIn

Kayla Sompel

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Educational Outreach Coordinator
• Role on campus: First Year Medical Student
• Research: Pursuing clinical analysis of immunotherapy toxicities in advanced cancers.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? WiSTEM is an amazing way to support women and equity in STEM and within the community. I love providing underserved communities with the tools to either pursue STEM careers or interact with their local STEM community.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Ski
  2. Cook
  3. Exercise

Amber Baldwin

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Parent in STEM Coordinator
• Role on campus: Lab Manager/Professional Research Assistant in the RNA Bioscience Initiative
• Research: I study RNA systems biology and RNA binding proteins in the context of human steroidogenesis and disease.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I have a passion for educating others about science and encouraging younger students to be more involved in STEM.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Gardening
  2. Trying new craft beers
  3. Cooking and baking
• LinkedIn

Dr. Ilham Essafri

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Postdoc Liaison
• Role on campus: Postdoctoral Researcher in the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Lab
• Research: My work focuses on studying the Right ventricle Free wall changes on the microcirculation upon acute pressure overload in Pulmonary hypertension disease. 
• Why are you in Women in STEM? Sharing my experience as a women in science and help other women to enjoy their experience.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Reading books
  2. Traveling and discovering new cultures
  3. Cooking
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Claire H. Levitt

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Social Media/Marketing
• Role on campus: Bioengineering PhD Student
• Research: TBD
• Why are you in Women in STEM? WiSTEM provides an awesome platform to discuss and explore different topics relating to social advances and issues in the scientific community in a way that helps us move towards a more inclusive environment both in and outside of the context of academia! 
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Extreme swimming (scuba diving)
  2. Extreme walking (hiking)
  3. Extreme hiking (climbing)

Lauren E. Thompson

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Mentorship Program Director, Girl Scout STEM Day Co-Lead, & Webmaster
• Role on campus: Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD Candidate
• Research: I study how to prevent kidney toxicity caused by the common chemotherapeutic cisplatin. I build models that predict an individual patient's risk of kidney injury based on general demographics, genetics, and concomitant medications.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I'm passionate about working to create an inclusive community for all within STEM and I hope to inspire the next generation of diverse scientists through education and mentorship. I began this work by serving as Co-Lead of Girl Scout STEM Day and have since served as Co-Outreach Coordinator (2020-21) and President (2021-22) of WiSTEM. I joined WiSTEM to help advance STEM educational opportunities for women/girls in the local community, and I've stayed because I found an incredible, passionate group of people who support me and my ambitions.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Crafting
  2. Hiking
  3. Watching reality television with my cat
• LinkedIn

Mlana Lore

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Mentorship Program Secretary
• Role on campus: Molecular Biology PhD Student
• Research: I research quality control of RNA decay and how it can go awry in disease. 
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I joined WiSTEM because I want to help encourage young women to pursue careers in STEM and to be a part of a supportive community of scientists.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Knitting
  2. Gardening
  3. Spending time with my friends and animals
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Danae Mitchell

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: High School Program Co-Coordinator & Girl Scout STEM Day Co-Lead
• Role on campus: Professional Research Assistant/PIKE PREP Scholar
• Research: I study functional outcomes to the brain after Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO); currently we are working to categorize injury to the hippocampus after MCAO.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I want to encourage and support women and young people to pursue any and all of their STEM goals as well as create a diverse and inclusive community here on Anschutz. 
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Dungeons and Dragons
  2. Martial arts
  3. Bake

Amber Truitt

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: High School Program Co-Coordinator
• Role on campus: Pharmacology PhD Student
• Research: Studying neurological deficits and diseases in pharmacology.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I enjoy supporting and encouraging women of all ages to think big and reach high towards their dreams, especially within the science community.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Skiing, hiking, and camping - outdoor mountain fun!
  2. Spending time with family and friends
  3. Cooking, a glass of wine, and a good movie

Shilpa George

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Mentor-Mentee Relations
• Role on campus: Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD Student
• Research: My research is mainly focused on developing novel drug delivery platforms to treat the posterior segment diseases of the eye.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? WiSTEM provides a great place for me to interact with women from diverse research and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, being in this organization will also help me to encourage the younger generation of research enthusiasts, especially women, to join STEM programs and thereby cover the gender gap in the field of research.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Spending time with friends
  2. Swimming
  3. Binge-watching TV shows
• LinkedIn

Kate Segar

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Mentor-Mentee Relations & Girl Scout STEM Day Co-Lead
• Role on campus: Graduate Student
• Research: My research is focused on understanding how RNA structure can inform mechanisms of non-canonical translation initiation. 
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I'm a part of WiSTEM to help further gender equity and inclusion in science and research.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Climbing
  2. Eating
  3. Yoga

Michelle Williams

• Pronouns: she/her
• WiSTEM position: Mentorship Program Event Coordinator
• Role on campus: Postdoctoral Fellow in Department of Pathology
• Research: I'm passionate about understanding how breast tumor cells evade the immune system and spread to distant sites, or metastasize, particularly to the liver.
• Why are you in Women in STEM? I'm excited to be on the Women in STEM board for the first time because this group is a passionate community dedicate to providing the tools and support needed for women to achieve their career and life goals.
• 3 things you like to do besides STEM:
  1. Irish dancing
  2. Enjoying the beauty of Colorado
  3. Reading a good book
• Twitter