Olivia Asher (she/her) received her PhD at the Institute of Bioinformatics at the University of Georgia. Her research focused on fungi that live in 80 percent of land plants and can be used to promote plant growth. Olivia used DNA sequencing and high-performance computing to better characterize these fungi and their microbiomes. Olivia was also a Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellow. As part of this fellowship, Olivia conducted research at Los Alamos National Laboratory on Mollicutes-Related Endobacteria and on optimizing enzymes for digesting plastics. In her free time, Olivia has taken on leadership roles in the Coalition of Athens Scientists, University of Georgia’s Graduate Pride organization, the Bioinformatics Graduate Student Association, and the Plant Center Spring Symposium Planning Committee. Public service is one of Olivia’s core values, and she regularly volunteers with local organizations including Science for Georgia, Campus Kitchen, Concrete Jungle, and Sandy Creek Nature Center.

Emily Costa (she/her) earned her PhD in chemistry from the University of Michigan. Her dissertation research applied analytical techniques to study the sources and chemistry of atmospheric aerosol particles, which have important impacts on climate and human health. In addition, she completed a Science, Technology, and Public Policy graduate certificate and serves as a student leader for the campus organization Engaging Scientists in Policy and Advocacy. Emily grew up in Queens and completed her BS in chemistry at Stony Brook University.

Viet Dinh (he/him) is an integrative physiologist who received a PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (UNT Health Fort Worth). As a graduate student, he worked on developing a novel therapeutic intervention to improve survival from severe blood loss, with his dissertation focusing on brain blood flow and oxygenation in both human and animal models of hemorrhage. He joined the New York State Science Policy Fellowship to help bridge science and policy and is passionate about translating scientific advancements into actionable, systemic change that improves the lives of people.

Hannah LeBlanc (she/they) received her PhD in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her dissertation focused on how gene sequences direct cells to make molecules in specific quantities through the lens of messenger RNA. In addition to her doctoral research, she has worked with the MIT Teaching + Learning Lab on the implementation of inclusive educational practices and represented fellow graduate students by serving on the board of the MIT Graduate Student Union. She is interested in policy solutions to ensure full and equitable realization of the benefits of scientific research, and is excited to apply her background in molecular biology and higher education to serve the people of New York.

Briana McRae (she/her) received her PhD in neurobiology and behavior from Columbia University, studying how the brain changes to support motherhood. She earned her BS in brain and cognitive sciences with a minor in computer science from MIT. In her graduate research, she combines whole-brain imaging and behavioral quantification methods in mice to analyze how brain-wide responses to infant cries are altered by maternal experience. Outside the lab, Briana has been recognized for her leadership in science outreach, communication, and advocacy. She is co-president of Columbia University Neuroscience Outreach, overseeing multiple community engagement programs in New York City. She was selected as an Early Career Policy Ambassador with the Society for Neuroscience, which empowered her to advocate for federal research funding on Capitol Hill throughout her PhD. Briana is now looking forward to applying her analytical and communication skills to evidence-informed public health policy.

Cody Shaw (he/him) recently earned his PhD in chemistry from Stony Brook University. His dissertation took an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the geochemical processes that influence the efficiency and ecological safety of ocean alkalinity enhancement, a novel approach for atmospheric carbon removal in marine environments. He has led collaborative projects with academic, federal, and private-sector partners to advance climate mitigation strategies. During his studies, he also engaged with local stakeholders to communicate the importance of scientific innovation and methodology. He is committed to environmental stewardship, shaped by his upbringing in rural Maine, and is eager to apply his scientific expertise at the state level to strengthen the connections between policy and the communities they serve.