Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy

Winter 2000 Fellow Biographies

		Achal Bhatt (SSB/BB), since finishing her Ph.D in microbiology and molecular genetics at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, she has been selected as a Presidential Management Intern and is working at the National Immunization Program at The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. Her thesis works involved using a genetic approach to identify novel drug targets within the bacterium that causes Tuberculosis. Achal obtained her BS in Biotechnology from Cook College at Rutgers University. Prior to her current studies, Achal worked as a Lab Assistant at the Center for Theoretical and Applied Genetics at Rutgers University and as a Lab Technician at Perrit Laboratories. She hopes that this fellowship will impact her future career goals by increasing her understanding of the interactions between the scientific community, the public and policy makers. Contact by email (Updated 08/01).
		Erika Engelhaupt (NAS/OPUS) recently completed her Master's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, specializing in Biogeochemistry, at Tulane University. She has a BS, also from Tulane University, in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as well as a minor in Psychology. Prior to her current studies, Erika taught wetland ecology classes for elementary and High School students at the Louisiana Nature and Science Center and also has worked as a Technician in a coastal biogeochemistry laboratory at Tulane University. Contact by email.
		Carlos Gonzalez (PD/COSEPUP) is an International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Asia and Americas Division of the Foreign Agricultural Service. He is the Mexico Desk Officer for the agency and focuses on promoting agricultural imports and exports and resolving agricultural trade disputes between the United States and Mexico. In August 2006 he will move to Lima, Peru, where he will be posted as an agricultural attaché at the U.S. Embassy and represent U.S. agricultural and trade interests in Peru, as well as in Bolivia and Ecuador. Previously, he worked on sanitary and phytosanitary issues affecting agricultural imports and exports of livestock and poultry, most notably Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Prior to working at USDA, Carlos was Director of Research and Analysis at DTB Associates, a consulting firm in Washington, DC specializing in agricultural policy and international trade. Carlos earned his PhD in Food Safety and International Trade at Yale University where he also received his MS in International Environmental and Pesticides Policy.  His did his undergraduate work at Cornell University in Natural Resources. At Yale, he served as Program Director for International Food Safety Policy at the Yale Environment and Health Initiative (formerly Center for Children's Environmental Health).  In his free time, Carlos enjoys playing ultimate frisbee in between bouts of home improvement projects.  Contact by email. (Updated 05/06)
		Carla Hanash (IOM/GH) has a MS in Public Health from The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. She also has her BS in Biology with a minor in Psychology from The George Washington University. In the past, Carla has worked for the National Institutes of Health as a Pre-Intramural Training Award Fellow. This experience has allowed her to publish a paper in the journal of "Biological Chemistry" describing the effects of a newly described protein in relation to insulin. After completion of her fellowship, she wants to gain further experience in the research realm of public health. Through these experiences, she hopes to acquire a sound understanding of public health issues facing populations today. Contact by email
		Jianjun Ji (CBSSE/CPOP) is currently an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He received both his MS and PhD from Mississippi State University, where he majored in sociology with a speciality in demography and family studies. He received his BA in English Language from Zhengzhou University in China. Janjun has also had training in population studies and demography from respected institutions in Beijing and India. Prior to his current work and studies, he was a visiting scholar at Portland State University in Oregon and was an associate professor in the Population Research Center at Zhengzhou University in China. Contact by email (Updated 09/01)
		John Kucewicz (IOM/NCPB) is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering, specializing in clinical, diagnostic ultrasound, at the University of Washington. He has his BS from Texas A&M University in Computer Engineering. Prior to his current studies, John worked as a research engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory and as a software developer at National Instruments, Inc. in Austin, Texas. Contact by email
		Maarika Liivak (PD/STL) has an MS in Genetics at Yale University. She received her BA in Molecular Biology with a minor in Art History from Rutgers College and Rutgers University. Maarika will begin her studies at law school in the Fall of 2000. Prior to her present course of study, she worked in laboratories at the Waksman Institute of Rutgers University and in the Pharmacology Department at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She hopes that this fellowship will serve as a transition between graduate and law schools and that it will focus the direction of her future studies. Contact by email
		Christopher Meaney (CSMEE) is a PhD candidate in Molecular Virology and Microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh, interested in gene therapy. He graduated from the College of Wooster (Ohio) with a BA in Biology. Chris received a MS in Genetics from the University of North Carolina, worked as an Instructor for an undergraduate Drosophila laboratory at MIT, and then in research labs at Massachusetts General Hospital before moving to Pittsburgh. When he isn't working as an fellow, or finishing his dissertation, Chris would enjoy hiking and sightseeing in the DC area. Contact by email
		Susan Morrissey (CPSMA/BCST) received a BA in chemistry from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, and a Ph.D. also in chemistry from Texas A&M University, College Station. In her graduate studies, she had an opportunity to presented her research to the Texas State Legislature as part of a Texas A&M research showcase to demonstrate the continued need for basic research funding. Sue is an associate editor for Chemical & Engineering News-a weekly news magazine published by the American Chemical Society. At C&EN, she writes about science and policy issue that impact the chemical community. Contact by email. (Updated 10/05)
		Elena Rodriguez-Vieitez (CGER/BRWM) is a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She completed her MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering also at the University of Utah, and received her BS in Physics from the University of Santiago de Compostela, in Spain. Before her current choice of studies, Elena worked at EnviroEnergetics, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, conducting research on anaerobic biogasification of solid wastes. As an fellow at the National Academies she is focused on radioactive waste management. Elena also has a professional degree in music (piano). Contact by email
		Barbara Pastina (CLS/BRER) joined the Board on Radioactive Waste Management (now called the Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board) in May 2000 after completing an internship program within the Board on Radiation Effects Research. Prior to joining the National Academies, Barbara was a staff scientist at the Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique in France. As research chemist, she worked on the effects of ionizing radiation on water and particularly on radiolysis-related problems in the cooling circuit of nuclear reactors. Barbara began her chemistry curriculum at the University of Bologna, Italy, and was then accepted at the University of Paris, France, where she received her Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry. Soon thereafter, she joined the Radiation Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame as a postdoctoral fellow to continue research on water radiolysis. Contact by email. (Updated 10/05)
		Brett Piercy (OIA/IOAC) is a master's candidate in Pacific International Affairs at UC San Diego. She received her BA in Political Science with a minor in Spanish from California State University, Fresno. Brett has also studied abroad in Mexico at the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla and Mexico City, as well as at other universities in Mexico. She has previously worked with PROBEA, an environmental education organization in the San Diego/Tijuana region, the Los Angeles Community Development Bank, and co-managed Strategic Community Consulting (SCC), a graduate student-run consulting agency for non-profit organizations. Contact by email
		Julie Schneider (PD/STEP & GUIRR) recently completed her PhD in molecular biology and human population genetics at the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Institute of Biological Anthropology at Oxford University. She received her MS in Human Biology from Oxford University as well, and completed her BA in Biology at Yale University. Prior to her current studies, Julie has worked as a Research Assistant at Consulting Resources Corporation in Lexington, MA and conducted biotechnology marketing research for RHG in New York, NY. Julie has played viola in the Yale Symphony Orchestra and the Oxford University Chamber Orchestra, and has also played on the Oxford University Women's Basketball Team in 1993-94, which won the British National Championship. Contact by email