Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellows Fall 2007 Biographical Sketches
		Robin Ackerman (CSTL/PGA) graduated from Northeastern University School of Law with a JD in May of 2007. Before law school, she earned a SM in environmental health, concentrating in occupational health at the Harvard School of Public Health and an MS in nursing at Simmons College, through a traineeship from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. While in law school, Robin was a summer fellow in the Rappaport Program in Law and Public Policy; working with a non-profit law firm, she developed a legal strategy to challenge noncompliance with inmate grievance procedures at a local county house of correction. In the course of her studies in occupational health, she collaborated on a study investigating dermal absorption of phthalates, a family of chemicals found in a wide variety of consumer products. Throughout her studies, Robin has been drawn to the intersection between science and law. She hopes to continue to explore this area while working with the Committee on Science, Technology, and Law. In her free time, Robin enjoys bicycling, reading, and spending time with friends. Robin can be contacted at
		Boonchai Boonyaratanakornkit (BCST/DELS) graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a PhD in Chemical Engineering in June 2006. Boonchai hails from a Thai-Chinese background hence the long last name. His doctoral research focused on the cultivation of extremophiles from deep-sea hydrothermal vents and the elucidation of genes that allow for survival in such extreme environments. Boonchai received his B.S. in Biochemical/Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Davis where he got to enjoy the rural life, biking around campus, and research in air quality and viticulture. He recently worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and explored enzymatic and electrochemical means to convert carbon dioxide into dense, carbon-neutral liquid fuels. He is excited to be living on the East Coast and learning about the interrelationship between policy and research instead of doing bench science. During his time at BCST, he hopes to apply and expand his speaking and writing skills in order to pursue possible careers in scientific writing and patent law. In his free time, he enjoys working out, reading, learning new languages, writing chorales, and playing tennis, basketball, and softball.
		Sarah Case (BEES & DEPS EO/DEPS) defended her PhD thesis in soft condensed matter physics at the University of Chicago in September of 2007, just before starting her fellowship at the NAS. Her graduate research focused on experimental fluid dynamics, and in particular, her thesis work involved the development of an electrical method to study the earliest stages of the coalescence of two droplets of salt water. While in graduate school, she worked with non-profit organizations serving sustainable development and the environment, and traveled to Rwanda and rural Costa Rica to learn about environmental concerns in the developing world and their human impact. She also worked part-time with an environmental engineering laboratory at the Illinois Institute of Technology, helping to develop technology for solar concentrators. She is looking forward to working with BEES, where she will likely focus on the “America’s Energy Future” project. She hopes that this fellowship will help her to learn about energy and environmental policy, and about the world outside academia. Ultimately, she hopes to use her training to facilitate the interaction between scientists and engineers and decision makers in Washington. In her free time, she enjoys singing, playing guitar, bicycling, and cooking.
		Jennifer Flexman (GUIRR/PGA) completed her PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Washington in August 2007, where she used molecular imaging techniques to study cellular and molecular processes.  Specifically, she studied neural stem cell migration in the brain using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging.  She completed a B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering at McGill University and working in the field for two years in Boston, MA. While in graduate school, she was a Co-Director of the Forum on Science Ethics and Policy (FOSEP), a student and post-doctoral fellow group devoted to promoting dialogue among scholars, policy experts, and the public about the role of science in society.  Jennifer also represents over 3,500 students as Student Representative to the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.  She completed the Program on Technology Commercialization at the University of Washington, where she developed a business plan for an emerging bioengineering technology.  Because of her interests in science policy, commercialization and the translational aspect of her discipline, Jennifer hopes to learn more about university-industry relationships through working with GUIRR.  A native of Vancouver, Canada, she enjoys just about any sport involving snow, reading, jogging and traveling to new places.
		Mark Fleury (CASEE/NAE) recently completed his PhD in biomedical engineering at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland where he studied the role of small convective flows in the promotion of cancer metastases and new blood vessel formation. He received an M.S. from Northwestern University in chemical engineering as well as a B.S. in the same field from Kansas State University. Mark is a licensed professional engineer and prior to graduate school he worked for Cargill Incorporated as a process engineer in the corn sweetener industry and as a project engineer with experience in wastewater treatment design. Mark plans on continuing his research career with a post-doc studying the misregulation of cellular signaling pathways in cancer, but would like to use the fellowship opportunity to explore ways to become more involved in bringing the needs of researchers and the public together. In his free time Mark enjoys travel, cooking, black and white photography, reading, and mountain sports.
		Shikha Gupta (NMAB/DEPS) is currently finishing a Ph.D in the Applied Science and Technology Program at the University of California, Berkeley. Her interdisciplinary doctoral work focuses on the development of experimental and numerical microscale materials characterization methods for both natural and synthetic orthopaedic biomaterials, particularly for biological tissues from small animal models. During her time as a graduate student, Shikha has also been involved in engineering education research that focuses on the assessment and evaluation of cognitive sophistication in project-based engineering instruction. Prior to joining graduate school, Shikha spent a year working, volunteering, and traveling in Bangalore, India. She received her B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from MIT. Shikha is quite fond of research, and hopes to continue her scientific endeavors in the future in a national lab setting or in academia. Shikha is excited about her tenure with the National Materials Advisory Board at the National Academies--she is eager to apply her technical expertise outside the laboratory setting and to add a new, enriching dimension to her education by interfacing with both lawmakers and scientists in a policy-making capacity. In addition to her left-brained work, Shikha engages herself in a variety of right-brained athletic and musical pursuits, including tennis, hiking, salsa dancing and singing.
		Kofi Inkabi (BICE/DEPS) is currently completing his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. His doctoral research examines human and organizational influences on engineered water resource systems like dams and reservoirs. Kofi received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from UC Davis in 1999 and his M.S. in Structural Engineering from UC Berkeley in 2000. He then worked as a structural designer and assistant project manager for Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas before returning Berkeley where he participated on the forensic investigation of the New Orleans flood defense failure following Hurricane Katrina with the generous support of the National Science Foundation. Kofi hopes the fellowship will broaden his perspective and knowledge of infrastructure risk analysis and methodology and the implications it has for national and state policy. In his free time, Kofi enjoys hiking, tennis, sailing, swimming, and discussing politics.
		Bridget Kelly (BCYF/DBASSE) recently completed an MD and a PhD in Neurobiology as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Duke University. She is looking forward to this fellowship with the Board on Children, Youth and Families as an ideal opportunity to learn more about the policy process and to continue to integrate her combined background in basic science and clinical medicine, with a particular interest in the fields of neuroscience and mental health. Bridget received her BA in Biology and Neuroscience from Williams College, where she was also the recipient of the Hubbard Hutchinson Fellowship in fine arts. She is a modern dancer and choreographer and volunteers with Choreo Collective and the North Carolina Dance Alliance, two nonprofit organizations that serve dance artists in North Carolina.
		Julia Kregenow (STS/PGA) completed her PhD in astrophysics at UC Berkeley, finishing in May 2007. Her stated mission in life is to bring science and math to the masses. Phase one is complete: Julia brought science and math to herself. Wittenberg University (in Ohio) hosted her happy undergraduate exploration of the space between math teacher and neurosurgeon via things like internships in atmospheric sciences and mechanical engineering. In her thesis, Julia studied how the gas in the Galaxy recycles itself through successive generations of stars, providing the raw materials for stars, planets, and ultimately life. This is how the Universe sustains itself. Julia hopes that humans can follow that example. Still reeling from her triumphant grad school finish, Julia was thrilled to be selected to work in the Science and Technology for Sustainability unit at the NAS. Here she looks forward to finding how she can put her science background to practical use helping humanity and the planet. Following this fellowship, she may continue in policy, or may pursue science education research, outreach, or teaching. She is an easygoing gal who likes cheese, gardening, science phenomena as metaphors, and sweatshirts with pockets.
		Divine Kumah (BISO/PGA) completed his Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor in Physics from Southern University. He is currently working on his PhD in Applied Physics also at Michigan where he is investigating the internal structure of novel ferroelectric and semiconductor materials using x-rays.  During the National Academies’ fellowship, he looks forward to gaining a different perspective on how scientific research can be applied in developing policy on a global scale for energy sustainability. After this fellowship, he plans to complete his PhD and work in academia. He also plans to help less-developed countries develop sound policies in the areas of energy, science and technology. Divine loves to travel, read and play soccer and chess.
		Frank Hiroshi Ling (Koshland/NAS) is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California at Berkeley where he is studying energy scenarios for a lower carbon future. In his models, Frank is evaluating various options for energy efficiency, renewable energy systems, nuclear power, alternative engine technology, biofuels, and vehicle standards.  He holds a PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Caltech. Frank also produces the Berkeley Groks science radio show and podcast from the campus radio station. He was previously a AAAS Science Media Fellow in which he interned at the Voice of America. For his future goals, he plans to study and promote sustainable development through academia and the media. Frank speaks Japanese and Chinese and he hopes to engage these issues at the international level.  In his spare time, Frank enjoys playing the piano, gardening, and tennis.
		Beth Masimore (BPA/DEPS) is currently completing her PhD in physics at the University of Minnesota. Her doctoral research focuses on adapting theories and techniques developed for condensed matter physics for use with neurological data obtained from behaving animals. She has been involved with an interdisciplinary Neuro-Physical-Computational Sciences group at the University of Minnesota including receiving an NSF-IGERT fellowship for interdisciplinary research. Prior to graduate school, Beth completed her B.S. at Juniata College during which she spent a year abroad at the University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. Beth is excited about the opportunity to learn the process of policy analysis by working on a project identifying research forefronts at the intersection of the physical and life sciences. She also hopes that the fellowship will help her identify post-PhD opportunities beyond academic research.
		John McMurdy (CASEE/NAE) is currently working towards his Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering at Brown University. The scope of his research has been in biomedical optics, applications in noninvasive characterization of tissue and biofluids, and implementation of ultra-compact optical sensors fabricated using liquid crystalline materials in these applications. He also acts as the chief technology officer for Corum Medical, a start-up company developing a noninvasive anemia-screening device for hospital triage and blood banking markets. John’s graduate studies are supported by a NASA GSRP fellowship focused on compact medical sensors in crew healthcare. He previously completed his B.S. and M.S. in Optics at the University of Rochester. John hopes his experience with the Mirzayan program and CASEE will be both an exposition to technology education policy and a forum in which he can speak about his own unique educational experiences in entrepreneurship, working with start-up companies as a student, and innovation management. In the short term, he intends to find a career in technology consulting for a biotech investment house, R&D institution, or government agency, but eventually hopes to find his way back into academia. John spends free time playing as much golf as possible interspersed with the occasional bicycle ride and Steelers football game.
		Cesar Perez-Gonzalez (COSEPUP/PGA) is currently completing his postdoctoral work at the National Institutes of Health. He holds a PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Rochester and a B.S. in genetics from Iowa State University. His research work has focused on the dynamics of retrotransposable elements in both Drosophila and humans. Thanks to his work on the NIH Fellows Committee and the National Postdoctoral Association’s Diversity Committee, Cesar has realized the need for scientists to become more engaged in policy, which has motivated him to come to the National Academies. He hopes to eventually have a career in science policy, focusing on diversity issues, with the goal of increasing the number of Latinos and other underrepresented groups in academic and government research positions. He hopes his work at the Academies will help him develop the skills to achieve this goal. In his spare time Cesar usually enjoys listening to music of all genres, writing, and making his way through his Netflix queue. He is currently though busy planning his April wedding with his fiancée.
		Julia Skapik (PHPHP/IOM) is in the last year of her M.D. at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, having recently completed her M.P.H. at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Originally from Licking County, Ohio, she attended New College of Florida, graduating with dual B.A.s in Biology and Psychology in 2001. Subsequently, she spent a year at the FDA in Bethesda performing viral and vaccine neurovirulence research. Since then, she has worked on many research projects at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, primarily examining medical errors and the junction of mental and medical illness. She is also the author of the chapter “Psychotic Disorders, Severe Mental Illness, and HIV Infection” in the Comprehensive Textbook of AIDS Psychiatry and was an editor and author of the sixth edition of the review book First Aid for Step 2 CK She also serves as the 2007-8 Health Policy Action Committee chair for the American Medical Student Association, where she works on national projects, promoting legislation and education about universal health care, medical quality improvement, smoke-free indoor air, student activism, nutrition policy, and climate change.
		Albert Swiston (COSEPUP/PGA) is currently pursuing a PhD in Polymer Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He holds a BS and MSE in Materials Science and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland, his hometown. Albert’s graduate research focuses on the application of ultra-thin polymer films in biological applications, such as immune system engineering. With the generous support of an NSF Fellowship, Albert has had the opportunity to pursue several different projects, including the surface modification of custom-made ocular devices in conjunction with the local non-profit Boston Foundation for Sight. On campus, Albert co-founded the MIT Science Policy Initiative, which seeks to educate graduate students in the US innovation system; as part of the Initiative, students travel to Washington DC to participate in the legislative process by speaking with their elected representatives and their staff. During this Fellowship, he hopes to learn more about how science and government interact. Albert is an avid outdoorsman, and always eager to go cycling, backpacking, canoeing, or rock climbing.
		Antwuan Wallace (EEC/NAE) is completing a PhD in Policy Analysis at Milano, The New School for Management and Urban Policy. His doctoral research Digital Inclusion from Margin to Center expands digital divide scholarship by examining how US federal, state and local telecommunication, cable and information service policies reinforce structural barriers that impair the socio-economic mobility prospects of inner-city, ethnic-minority youth in low-income households. Antwuan appreciates the Academies’ fellowship as an occasion to learn about and inform the creation and implementation of US technology policy. He looks forward to developing web content and contributing to the first installation of a national conference series on Engineering Ethics and Leadership focusing on engineering, humanitarian action, social justice and sustainable community. Antwuan’s career goals include opportunities within and outside academia that utilize emergent technology and socio-cultural work to elevate and achieve equitable policy innovations and solutions. He serves as an advisor to Consumers Union’s HearUsNow.Org, the Association for Community Networking (AFCN) and the UCC Media Empowerment Project (MEP). Antwuan earned a BA from Hampton University-Virginia, a MPA in Policy Analysis from Indiana University-Bloomington and MS in Survey Methodology from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Antwuan lives to play tennis.