Sarah Caldwell (she/her) is a junior Human Development major pursuing a minor in Inequalities Studies (health equity track) in the College of Human Ecology. She is a research assistant in the Life History Lab where she finds herself contributing to multiple projects that utilize fMRI and psychophysiological measures to understand how environmental factors are related to cognition and the stress response system. She plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology where she hopes to specialize in research working with adolescents to explore how different forms of stress calibrate neural mechanisms and any further implications this has on the expression of future psychopathological symptomatology. Further, she aspires to use this information to shape how and what therapeutic interventions are applied to patients. Sarah is also an active member in multiple campus organizations such as the Varsity Track and Field team, Red Key Athletic Honors Society, EARS empathy chairs, and Women of Color in Athletics.

Angelia Henry is a junior in the School of Industrial Labor Relations with a minor in Psychology. Angelia’s passion involves the interaction between Psychology and Law. She is currently involved in the Innocence lab, where she conducts archival research involving in-depth mining of a wide range of variables and factors from the National Registry of Exonerations (NRE). Additionally, Angelia is in the Attention, Memory, and Perception Lab investigating the effect of emotion on event segmentation and memory to understand how people perceive and understand experiences. Outside of research, Angelia is a peer mentor for EARS and the Committee Chair for diversity, equity, inclusion, and service in an academic fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi. After graduation, Angelia would like to obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in forensics. She hopes to work with law enforcement and the judicial system to make essential changes in how we investigate and try criminals in our court of law.

Moustafa Kassem is a sophomore at Cornell University pursuing a double major in Applied Engineering Physics (AEP) and Computer Science (CS). His research interests lie at the intersection of machine learning, signal processing, and optics, particularly in applications to biomedical imaging and neuroscience. Moustafa is currently conducting research in the Chris Xu Group, where he is investigating methods to optimize fluorescence microscopy for improved neuron spike detection. His work involves comparing traditional physics-based approaches with machine learning models to enhance signal extraction from high-noise biological imaging data. Outside of academics, Moustafa enjoys reading, playing basketball, and skiing. After graduating, he hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in applied physics.

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Alex Miloszweski is a first-generation student with Polish immigrant parents from Berlin, Connecticut. He is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) studying Environment and Sustainability with a concentration in Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology as well as minors in Urban Regional Studies and Theater. Alex is currently a research assistant in the DiTomasso lab of Weed Ecology and Management and working on projects centered on understanding the ecology and photosynthetic processes of the invasive weed Parthenium. After graduation, Alex plans on pursuing a PhD in Urban Ecology with research interests in public access to biodiverse green spaces in cities and ways in which cities can benefit from increased biodiversity. Alex strongly believes that integrating diverse ecosystems into cities can bolster the world’s threatened biodiversity as well as increase the quality of life for all. Outside of academics, Alex is involved with the performing arts at Cornell, having acted in Melodramatics Theater Company’s productions of Chicago, Heathers: The Musical, and Company.

Ooreofeoluwa Ogunyinka is currently a junior studying Human Development at the College of Human Ecology. She is a Program for Research on Youth Development and Engagement (PRYDE) research scholar, helping to promote positive youth development through translational research. As a PRYDE Scholar, she works alongside Dr. Inniss-Thompson in the Black Girl Visions Collaborative Lab to investigate the knowledge and lived experiences of Black girls and femme-identified folks through centering their ways of knowing and holding space for them to be their full selves. Oore is passionate about Black Girlhood Studies and disability justice. Her primary research is centered on the differences in cognitive and social development between neurodiverse Black girls and their white male counterparts. Recognizing a gap in this field, she seeks to inform medical providers on the distinct traits neurodiverse Black girls exhibit, so they can attain earlier diagnoses and get equipped with necessary accommodations. Ultimately, she hopes to develop effective tools that foster safe spaces for neurodivergent Black girls in classrooms and communities. After receiving her bachelor's degree, Oore plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, establish a private practice, and teach at the university level.

Izi Penafiel is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, majoring in Biology with a concentration in molecular and cell biology and minors in Dyson Business for Life Sciences, Global Health, Infectious Disease, and Animal Science. Izi is currently an intern at the Aguilar-Carreno Lab, assisting in paramyxovirus vaccine projects with multivalent riVSV and saRNA platforms. After Cornell, Izi hopes to pursue an MD/PhD focusing on oncolytic viruses and immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies.

Salma Perez is a sophomore at the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Biological Sciences with a concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior, and a minor in Classical Studies. Salma is currently working in the Brain and Computation Lab (AYA) at Cornell, using AAV and optogenetics to study memory consolidation in the hippocampus. She is also involved in a new project focused on developing a flexible neural probe to record neural activity over longer periods of time while minimizing tissue inflammation. In her free time, Salma volunteers at NYU Langone hospital and a clinic back home. After Cornell, she intends to pursue an MD-PhD program and become a physician-scientist who translates lab discoveries into patient care improvements, merging clinical practice with research to advance medical knowledge.

Andy Ramnauth is a first-generation, sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences studying neuroscience and psychology. He is currently an undergraduate research assistant in the Goldberg lab studying the neural mechanisms of motor control and learning in mice. After graduating, he plans to complete a PhD in behavioral neuroscience or psychology and be a research professor. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking, and practicing photography. On campus, he is a writer for the Cornell University Undergraduate Research Magazine and participates in the South American Students Association along with the CALS Dean's Community Leadership Council, P3, and Cornell Barbell Society.

Pedro Reyes is a sophomore from the Bronx, NY, studying Biological Sciences with a focus on Genetics, Genomics, and Development. He is passionate about understanding how genetic alterations impact reproduction, cancer, and protein function. His interests also extend to genome stability, particularly the role of enzymes in DNA replication, repair, and recombination—fundamental processes that drive his curiosity for innovative research and therapeutic advancements. He is currently conducting research in the Schimenti Lab, where he investigates the MLH1 K618A mutation and its effects on fertility. His project focuses on how this mutation influences Multi-Oocyte Follicle (MOF) formation in mouse models. By studying these genetic variations, he aims to deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying female fertility. Beyond his current research, he is eager to explore how genomic technologies can be applied to disease modeling, cancer prevention, and other areas of biomedical innovation.

Elliot Serna Is a sophomore at Cornell University's Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and a first-generation Mexican American student from Riverside, California. His studies center on the U.S. administrative state, focusing on how micro-level bureaucratic behaviors shape macro-level policy outcomes. His research interests include formal modeling of institutional decision-making in executive agencies, with empirical applications using novel computational methods. Elliott is a research assistant to the American Economic Association's Data Editor, replicating forthcoming economics articles before publication. He also serves as the Center Director for the Domestic Policy Center at the Cornell Policy Group, where he is launching the CPG Applied Policy Lab—an initiative to create opportunities for undergraduates to engage in computational social science research closely. After Cornell, Elliott plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Political Science, seeking to develop machine learning and simulation methodologies to study how bureaucratic discretion and agent-level noncompliance shape policy implementation across contexts.

Amena Shamia (she/her) is a junior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a minor in Mathematics. She is deeply passionate about researching infectious diseases and exploring how pathogen-host interactions can be analyzed to develop treatments and vaccines for chronic illnesses such as malaria and HIV. Currently, she is conducting research in the Feaga Lab, which focuses on ribosome quality control in bacteria. Her role involves creating a database of protein ribosome interactions by engineering target proteins in plasmids to support this research. Beyond academics, she is actively involved in campus life as a member of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), advocating for meaningful change at Cornell, in Ithaca, and beyond. She is also part of the First-Gen Support Group, where she connects with and supports fellow first-generation college students.

Benny Sun is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in astronomy with a minor in data science. He is currently a research assistant in the Crites TIME lab, which studies the Epoch of Reionization by building a 200-300 GHz spectrometer. Upon graduation, he wants to pursue a PhD in astrophysics with particular interests in cosmology and dark matter. Outside of McNair and the lab, he is involved in Project Hope at Cornell, Alpha Phi Omega Gamma Chapter, and is a learning assistant for Physics II: Electromagnetism.