Jose Antunes (he/him) has a PhD in environmental science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) with a focus on understanding the enzymes in Group 6 of the Soluble Diiron monooxygenase family involved in 1,4-dioxane (dioxane) degradation. His work comes amid increasing dioxane regulation across the country, as it is a probable human carcinogen. Throughout his doctoral studies, Jose has seen the benefits of cross-disciplinary collaboration in his own work and the importance of effective and accessible language in the communication of ideas. He believes that focusing on the availability of information and appropriate illustration of concepts is the first step towards establishing a positive relationship between the public and science.

Ashmita Das (she/her) is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist passionate about community-engaged research and involving diverse publics in environmental decision-making. She holds a PhD in environmental science from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where she studied the intersecting social, political, and economic factors that influence the ecology of how food is produced, distributed, and consumed. Her dissertation research examined the socio-ecological drivers and effects of agricultural technology use, with an emphasis on understanding diverse stakeholder perspectives toward the potential sustainability impacts of new gene editing techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9. Das is excited to apply her skills and expertise to equitably advancing environmental and agricultural research and policy initiatives in New York State.

Maggie DeLessio received her PhD in Earth and environmental sciences from Columbia University. She conducted her doctoral research at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), working at the interface of atmospheric chemistry and climate to study the effect of organic particles and wildfire emissions in the atmosphere. As the seminar organizer at NASA GISS, Maggie coordinated with experts working at the intersection of climate with other fields like economics, public health, and law. She is excited to apply her climate expertise and passion for interdisciplinary work to climate law and policy on the state and local scale.

Samantha Doonan (she/her) holds a PhD in population health from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine, where she was affiliated with the Center for Opioid Epidemiology and Policy. Her dissertation research focused on policy solutions to equitably address the American overdose crisis. Previously, she conducted research at the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and supported evidence-based treatment implementation at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD. She is passionate about bridging research and policy domains to advance health equity.

Tim Morris (he/him) earned his PhD in conservation biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), where he researched management of the invasive emerald ash borer. As a graduate student, he received the Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award from the Ecological Society of America, sparking his interest in scientific communication and advocacy. He is dedicated to maintaining New York’s ecological health through science-based conservation strategies that support biodiversity and resilience across both natural and developed landscapes.

Khandker Sadia Rahman (she/her) is a computer scientist with expertise in machine learning, network science, and data-driven policy analysis. She recently completed her PhD in computer science at the University at Albany, where her research focused on developing predictive models to inform high-stakes decision-making, particularly in the areas of homelessness and financial inclusion. Her work bridges the gap between technical innovation and public need, with the goal of supporting more equitable and effective service delivery.

As a research assistant at the Intelligent Big Data Analytics Lab, Sadia contributed to a National Science Foundation-funded initiative aimed at improving homeless service outcomes across New York State. She has also collaborated with nonprofit organizations—including Women’s World Banking—to design models that enhance financial service delivery for underserved populations. Her research has been published in leading peer-reviewed venues in artificial intelligence and computational social science.