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.
RIA PATEL
TREASURER
riapatel@unc.edu
Ria Patel is a senior from High Point, North Carolina and currently serves as the treasurer for Carolina Scientific. In previous years she has also been a staff writer and the fundraising chair for Carolina Scientific. She is majoring in neuroscience and nutrition with hopes of attending medical school. On campus, Ria is involved in neuroscience and food insecurity-based research, UNC Holi Moli, and is a peer tutor. In her free time, Ria enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling, and spending time with friends/family.
JULIA ELLINGTON
SECRETARY
jelling@unc.edu
Julia Ellington is a sophomore 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 previously conducted microbiome research in the McCoy Lab, studying ecological relationships using Hydra as a model system. She currently works as a veterinary assistant and has extensive hands-on experience in veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation, including enrichment-based research with spider monkeys in Costa Rica. Julia 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 junior from Chapel Hill and currently serves at the Copy Editing Chair of Carolina Scientific. She is a Neuroscience and Psychology double major and a member of the Social Neuroscience and Health Lab where she explores the link between social stress and neuroinflammation. Off campus, she is the Content Development Intern for Well, a health and wellness tech company. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and playing board games with her roommates.
DANIELA DANILOVA
MANAGING EDITOR
daniela3@unc.edu
Daniela is a senior from Chapel Hill studying Quantitative Biology. Outside of CS, she acts as Director of Communications at Railcare Health, a mobile healthcare clinic serving North Carolina's rural communities. She also writes and edits for the NC DNA Day Blog and is currently a Communications Intern at UNC’s Institute for the Environment. When she isn't sharing stories, she enjoys promoting constructive discourse through BridgeUNC and unwinding on the jiu-jitsu mats.
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.
JULIA BOLTZ
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
jlboltz@unc.edu
Julia Boltz is a senior at UNC studying quantitative biology, data science, and Spanish. She has been in Carolina Scientific since she was a freshman, and she has been an associate editor since she was a sophomore. She does research using genomic data from liver cancer cells in the Raab Lab in the Department of Genetics. She loves all things scientific literature, which is why she loves to be a part of 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!
RYAN PARSAEE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
rparse06@unc.edu
Ryan Parsaee is a sophomore 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 SALLEAN
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
jsallean@unc.edu
Julia Sallean is an Associate Editor for Carolina Scientific and a senior from Apex, North Carolina. She is majoring in biology and works in the Matera lab on campus to study epigenetics. In her free time, Julia can be found running, cooking a new pasta recipe, or writing in her favorite coffee shop. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Molecular Biology to study the intersection of metabolism and genetics.
GAYATRI VENKATESAN
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
gavenkat@unc.edu
Gayatri Venkatesan is a junior from West Chester, Pennsylvania, and currently serves as an Associate 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.
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!
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.
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.