THE CAROLINA SCIENTIFIC
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Get to know the team!
NICOLE BRANCH
EDITOR IN CHIEF
nicolelb@unc.edu
Nicole Branch is a senior from Carrboro, NC and currently serves as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Carolina Scientific. She is majoring in Biostatistics and Medical Anthropology, with a minor in Biology. On campus, she does research with the B.I.T.E. Study, works at Wilson Library, and volunteers with Magic of Science to spread her love of science with kids. She loves reading, going to concerts, hiking, and traveling. In the future, Nicole hopes to pursue a graduate degree and career in public health.
NEHA PANDA
EDITOR IN CHIEF
nehap2@unc.edu
Neha is a junior double-majoring in Neuroscience & Statistics. She hopes to apply her interdisciplinary education to a career in industry, research, or health technology. On & around campus, she chairs Publicity for CPALS, volunteers with the beginner-friendly hackathon Pearl Hacks, and supporting research on emotion recognition with machine learning. When she's not triple-checking every detail of the magazine's latest edition, you can find her reading historical fiction, attending group yoga, and birdwatching in the arboretum.
RYAN PARSAEE
TREASURER
rparse06@unc.edu
Ryan Parsaee is a senior from Malvern, Pennsylvania, and currently serves as an Associate Editor of Carolina Scientific. He is studying neuroscience, health policy & management, and creative writing. On campus, he is a part of the Magic of Science club and participates in undergraduate research at the Redinbo lab studying microbial interactions with medication. Ryan loves to parallel play with his friends, learn languages, and play music. He's interested in academic medicine as a career path.
JULIA ELLINGTON
SECRETARY
jelling@unc.edu
Julia Ellington is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and serves as Secretary of Carolina Scientific. She is majoring in Biology and History with a minor in Chemistry and tutors in these subjects. Julia works as a veterinary assistant and has extensive experience in veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation, including enrichment-based research with spider monkeys in Costa Rica and lions in South Africa. She hopes to pursue a career in veterinary medicine with a special interest in wildlife and conservation medicine.
ANA BARTON
COPY EDITING CHAIR
mabarton@unc.edu
Ana Barton is a senior from Chapel Hill and currently serves as the Copy Editing Chair of Carolina Scientific. She is a Neuroscience and Psychology double major with a minor in Chemistry, and she hopes to pursue a career in research. Ana is a member of the Social Neuroscience and Health Lab where she explores the link between social stress and neuroinflammation. In her free time she enjoys reading comics, finding new coffee shops, and playing board games with her roommates.
GAYATRI VENKATESAN
MANAGING EDITOR
gavenkat@unc.edu
Gayatri Venkatesan is a senior from West Chester, Pennsylvania, and currently serves as the Managing Editor of Carolina Scientific. She is double majoring in Neuroscience and English & Comparative Literature. On campus, she assists with gastrointestinal cell biology research in the McCauley Lab to investigate how specialized gut cells called enteroendocrine cells influence digestion, nutrient absorption, and metabolism using mouse and human organoid models. She is also involved in a longitudinal project in the Brain and Early Experience Lab studying how early childhood conditions shape brain development, behavior, and cognition. In her free time, she enjoys watching films, reading literary fiction, listening to music, going on long walks, and sipping on matcha. Gayatri hopes to pursue an MD-PhD to advance research and clinical care in pediatric gastroenterology.
hANA NAKHLE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
eagarwal@unc.edu
Hana Nakhle is a senior from Raleigh, NC and is serving as an associate editor. She is majoring in biology with minors in chemistry and medical anthropology. Hana is an undergraduate research assistant in the Dangl Lab, where she studies plant-microbe interactions. She is also involved in UNC’s Journal of Undergraduate Research, JOURney, where she serves as Layout Lead. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, playing ukulele, and binge-watching shows.
Risha Solanki
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
rsol@unc.edu
Risha Solanki is a third-year Neuroscience major at UNC-Chapel Hill with minors in Biology and Chemistry. She conducts neuroscience research examining the effects of adolescent alcohol exposure on the brain and memory and is interested in pursuing a career as a physician-scientist. Outside of research, Risha enjoys learning guitar, traveling, tutoring, and cooking. She is excited to make science accessible through writing and editing for Carolina Scientific.
ALEX LI
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
jungan@unc.edu
Alex is a Junior from Beijing, China majoring in biomedical engineering. This is his second year serving as an editor at Carolina Scientific. He is highly interested in the engineering techniques on the DNA or cellular level, as well as communicating all these awesome knowledge to other people! He plans to further his interest in genetics by completing a PhD program, and in his free time, he enjoys landscape photography, table tennis, and traveling!
JACKIE BODYCOMB
FUNDRAISING CHAIR
jacb@unc.edu
Jackie Bodycomb is a junior from New York who currently serves as the Fundraising Chair of Carolina Scientific. She is a Chemistry and English and Comparative Literature major and a Biology minor. On campus, Jackie is a part of Health Careers Club, Carolina Forum for Education and Diplomacy, Pi Beta Phi, and Phi Sigma Pi. Jackie hopes to pursue an MD/PhD program post-grad focusing on becoming an orthopedic surgeon. In her free time, she is a huge Bills fan, volunteer at UNC memorial hospital, and loves to read.
SAADHVI PRAKASH
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
saadhvi@unc.edu
Saadhvi is a sophomore from Apex studying Neuroscience. Outside of CS, she works as a medical assistant at a neurodevelopmental clinic and teaches dance. She is also involved in fundraising for UNC’s SHAC. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and being in nature.
sWARA REPALA
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
srepala@email.unc.edu
Swara Repala is a junior from Charlotte, NC, and serves as an Associate Editor of Carolina Scientific. She is double majoring in Neuroscience and Nutrition, Health, and Society. She is a researcher in the Akerman Lab, studying aortic aneurysm biomarkers, and is part of the UNC Food Allergy Initiative, increasing participation in the Food Allergy Research Repository. In her free time, she loves spending time with friends and family.
MASHA DIXON
PUBLICITY (SOCIAL MEDIA) CHAIR
madixon@unc.edu
Masha Dixon is a senior from Maryland who currently serves as the Publicity Chair of Carolina Scientific. She is a Biology major and a Creative Writing minor. On campus, Masha is a part of Magic of Science, bringing STEM activities to kids in the Triangle. Masha hopes to pursue an advanced research degree focusing on conservation science or animal behavior. In her free time, she is a DJ with UNC’s radio station, WXYC, she loves to read, and spends too much time outside.
ALEXIS HIRTH
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
akhirth@unc.edu
Alexis Hirth is a senior from Wake Forest, North Carolina. She is a Biology major with Chemistry and Health and Society minors. Alexis has worked as both a staff writer and copy editor for Carolina Scientific, and is now an associate editor. At UNC, she works in the Matera Lab studying transcriptional mechanisms and histone post translational modifications. She also works as an EMT around the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area and is an instructor of UNC ACERIP’s EMT course. In her free time, she loves listening to music and trying new coffee drinks!
JANE RIPPS
ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER
jvripps@unc.edu
Jane Ripps is a sophomore from Athens, Georgia, and currently serves as Online Content Manager for Carolina Scientific. She is studying Neuroscience and Chemistry. On campus, Jane is a Chemistry Undergraduate Learning Assistant, conducts pancreatic cancer research in the Kovalski Lab, volunteers with Dive-In Swim Lessons, and is a member of the UNC Club Swim Team. She is interested in the intersection of quantitative science, research, and healthcare and hopes to continue exploring these fields throughout her time at Carolina. In her free time, Jane enjoys swimming, writing, trying new coffee shops and restaurants, and traveling.
LANEY MCDERMOTT
DESIGN CHAIR
pelaine@unc.edu
Lainey McDermott is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and currently serves as the Design Chair for Carolina Scientific. She is double majoring in Biology and English and Comparative Literature with a plan to pursue a career in forensic science as well as earning graduate degrees in forensic science and/or English and Comparative Literature. On and around campus, you can see her serving as Service Co-Chair for Phi Sigma Pi or studying in Wilson Library. In her free time, she enjoys taking walks around campus, watching tv shows/movies, and reading all kinds of books.