President:  Tess Killpack

I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Zoology. I am interested in physiological ecology and developmental physiology of animals. My research involves investigating the impacts of food restriction on growth and digestive physiology of birds and also the development of immune function in birds. I am also involved with the Delta program in Research, Teaching and Learning and have taken courses in training to be an effective teacher and mentor of diverse students in the sciences. I joined GWIS because I was interested in connecting with a community of women graduate students and faculty on campus, to share struggles and achievements and to learn how to navigate graduate school and beyond. In my free time, I am part of a West African dance group in Madison and enjoy biking around town and taking yoga classes.

Vice-President:  Mandy Pertzborn

I am a 2nd year PhD student in the Solar Energy Laboratory (SEL) in the department of Mechanical Engineering. My research focuses on using numerical models to evaluate several aspects related to the performance of ground source heat pumps in order to improve design methodology. I joined GWIS in order to find a community of women, who are a rare site in engineering, going through some of the same experiences as me. In my free time I enjoy reading, running, hiking and volunteering.

Secretary:  Chelsey Smith

I am a third year graduate student in the Neuroscience Training Program and am working towards a PhD in the lab of Dr. Ian Duncan. In my lab, I use one particular myelin mutant (models in which there is a mutation in one of the genes that encodes a key myelin protein) to study oligodendrocyte function and how it relates to subsequent myelin development and loss. In the time I spend out of lab I enjoy reading, swimming, volunteering, and most of all spending time with my family and other people who make me happy.

Scholarship and Grant Coordinator:  Daria Fedyukina

Treasurer: Mira Kolodkin

I am a 6th year graduate student in the Neuroscience Training Program. I work in Dr. Anthony Auger’s laboratory where I am attempting to elucidate the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms, like DNA methylation, to the organization of sex differences in rat behavior. When not in the lab, I enjoy reading, watching movies, ultimate frisbee, bar trivia, and consuming food other people have made for me. When I graduate, I have no idea what I am going to do, but I imagine it will have something to do with science.

Website Coordinator: Tina R. Hill

I am a geoscientist beginning my third year of PhD research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My research in the nanogeoscience lab in the Geoscience department utilizes high resolution transmission electron microscopy to characterize the crystallography and properties of minerals and their interfaces at the nanoscale in igneous and ultra high pressure metamorphic rocks. I enjoyed my appointment as a teaching assistant, and I intend to seek a professorship in academia teaching mineralogy and petrology. I am currently Vice-President of the National Chapter, where I am excited to contribute to the stewardship of an organization that awards thousands of dollars in research scholarships every year and helps to support all women in science in a variety of ways. One of my main goals this year is to facilitate communication between the national and local chapters. I love to practice yoga (in my spare time) and travel and camp as much as possible.