Meet Cornell's McNair Scholars
McNair Scholars 2021-2022 Cohort
Isabella Crame is a current Junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is pursuing a double-major in Psychology and Sociology, with a concentration in Social Psychology and minors in both Latino Studies and Inequality Studies. Isabella is currently a part of the Krosch Lab which focuses its research on the social psychology underpinning inequality and discrimination. Her research interests lie at the intersection of psychology and race, and she is particularly interested in bias formation, racial self-concept, and multiracial identity flexibility. She aspires to a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, focusing on race and racism, and hopes to uplift diverse voices in her field, creating scholarship by and for minoritized individuals and increasing access to academia.
Anya English is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences pursuing a major in Psychology and a minor in Health Equity. Anya is currently researching at SUNY Upstate Medical University, investigating ADHD and cardiometabolic disorders. Anya is also a research assistant in the Krosch Lab, which focuses on the social-cognitive processes behind inter-group bias. In the lab, her research currently focuses on the biases behind intergroup pain perception and Black maternal experiences. Anya is passionate about health equity for Black women and plans to become a doula. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with the goals of providing community mental health care with a focus on women’s health, preventative care, and public health policy.
Adam Shaifi is an Environment & Sustainability major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) with a concentration in Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology (EBAE). In addition to being a McNair Scholar, he is also an OADI Research Scholar (2020) and is currently the Director of Industrial Relations for the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Studies (IAAS). Adam has a strong passion for research in the field of sustainable agriculture with extensive experience in multiple labs such as Cornell’s Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Lab and Dairy Cattle Biology Lab. Adam’s primary research is conducted in the Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab under Dr. Matthew R. Ryan where he is leading a 2-year, multi-site experiment across East and Central US on the effects of seeding rate in organic no-till black bean production. As a first-generation college student, he aspires to attain an M.S./Ph.D. in order to become a professor and teach the next generation about the importance of sustainable farming while also using his research to fill the gaps of knowledge in the field of agriculture.
Ariana Taboada is a junior in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, pursuing a major in Animal Science with a concentration in Integrative Physiology and Nutrition. In addition to being a McNair Scholar, Ariana is also a Kessler Presidential Scholar (2020). She is currently involved in research in the Ren Lab in the Animal Science Department. Her interests lie in fundamental reproductive biology and women’s health. In the future, she hopes to pursue biomedical research to better understand female reproductive biology and assist in conservation efforts of endangered species.
Jada Vyphuis is a sophomore majoring in Human Biology, Health, and Society at the College of Human Ecology. She plans on pursuing an MD/Ph.D. in Nutritional Science to understand the ways nutrition can impact an individual's life, specifically those belonging to historically underserved populations. After Cornell, she seeks to help her community back in the Bronx by developing medical interventions for chronic disease like type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease, obesity, etc. that primarily focus on food and nutrition education. Aside from academics, Jada is a peer mentor with the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives and volunteers with Big Red Buddies in Head Start programs in Ithaca.
Jailyn Wilson is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences pursuing a double major in Psychology and Biology and Society with a specific focus on neuroscience. She is currently a research assistant in the Life History Lab conducting research on executive functioning using FMRI to understand how early childhood can affect behavior in adults. In the future, she hopes to continue doing research to understand how early childhood, especially negative events, can affect behavior later in life. She also plans to pursue a clinical PhD to become a professor and clinical psychologist.