Meet the Executive Board
The 2023 - 2024 YSACNAS executive board is excited to serve this year!
Grad President
David is a 3rd year physics PhD candidate studying network theory. Specifically how networks in the brain are used to store and process information. This year he is excited to be a part of YSACNAS leadership. He is hoping to grow our chapter membership and create a community where we support each other in our academic journey's.
Undergrad President
Carla Becerra
Carla is a sophomore studying Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology. She is interested in studying cancer biology and the processes that lead to chromosomal instability. This year she is excited to meet new graduate and undergraduate students and expand the SACNAS branch on campus. She is also looking forward to hosting events with New Haven Public Schools to promote science learning experiences for underrepresented students.
Grad Secretary/Treasurer
Isa is a thrid year PhD studnet in the Astronomy Department. This year she is serving as the graduate secretary and treasurer for YSACNAS. She is excited to host new events this year including Planetarium Spanish Public Night as well as growing membership numbers.
Undergrad Secretary/Treasurer
Kathia is a first year at Yale College planning to study Chemical Engineering. She is interested in exploring how we can modify existing chemical practices and materials to create a more sustainable standard of living for everyone.
She is excited to get to know other undergraduates in STEM, learn from graduate student members, and grow our undergraduate membership.
Grad Outreach Co-Chair
Sandra (she/her) is serving as an outreach co-chair on the 2024 YSACNAS Executive board. She is currently a second year PhD student in the Cell Biology department studying nuclear mechanotransduction. Aside from being a nucleus enjoyer, she's also a big fan of horror movies, dogs, and pupusas. Since arriving at Yale she has been super interested in doing outreach to the New Haven community. There are so many fun opportunities for graduate students and undergrads alike to come together with New Haven locals and give them the opportunity to engage in fun science and learning. She is super happy to fulfill this role this year and is looking forward to the outreach projects to come!
Grad Outreach Co-Chair
Nori Toyosato Bracken
Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics, and Development/ Pathology
Nori is passionate about the development of oncological treatments to improve the lives of patients using molecular and computational approaches. Currently rotating with Dr. Richard Bucala (Rheumatology / Pathology) working on the development of a skin cancer vaccine. Prior to that she rotated with dr. Yung-chi Cheng (pharmacology) on a cancer adjuvant YIV-906.
She loves coffe, coding, and cooking Peruvian cuisine. Her favorite restaurant is Chacra in New Haven.
Undergrad Outreach Chair
Alanna Butcher
Junior, B.S. MCDB with a concentration in Neurobiology
Home Area: San Diego
Alanna is a junior studying Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology with a concentration in Neurobiology. She is from San Diego, California and also plays on the Women's Soccer team here at Yale.
She is looking forward to helping plan outreach events tailored to educational outreach and family nights with fun and science oriented activities. Her role will be helping plan, organize, and publicize these events. She is excited to get connected with the New Haven community and share her passion for science.
Professional Development Grad Co-Chair
Leena Sen
PhD, 1st Year, Biochemistry, Quantitative Biology, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
She is from Buffalo, NY. She graduated from Cornell University in 2021 with a BS in geology and biology. She came to Yale the fall of 2023 after spending 2 years as a Research Assistant in NYC. At Yale she is interested in studying biophysics and biochemistry in the context of the innate immune system and cancers.
This year she is excited to join the YSACNAS E Board as Professional Development co-chair and she is excited to build on what YSACNAS has previously offered. A goal she has for this year is venturing into personalized mentorship programming.
Professional Development Grad Co-Chair
Sebastian is a third year in the Astronomy Department involved in several DEI initiatives. In his own department, he is a steering member of the Astronomy Climate and Diversity Committee (ACDC). He also serve as his department's elected Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) representative where he is a member of GSA's DEI committee. Outside of his own department, he recently became part of the American Astronomical Society's (AAS) Committee for the Status of Minority Students in Astronomy (CSMA). He is also a founding member of the Astro Grad Congress which is set to have its first official, nation-wide virtual meeting this semester. At the campus level, he recently became a co-chair of the professional development committee for the Yale SACNAS branch. He is excited to continue his advocacy efforts and develop programs for our branch that help underrepresented students feel more prepared for academic challenges at Yale.
Social Co-Chair
Frankie (they/them) is one of our other social co-chairs this year. They were born and raised in South East LA but lived in Zacatecas, Mexico for a couple years prior to moving to the states. They are a first gen Chicane Queer student who is passionate about science and social justice. Their current research looks into roles of mitochondrial GTP signaling and insulin biosynthesis. Beyond SACNAS, they are part of the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning Student Advisory Board and the Graduate Student Assembly.
They are most excited about all the fun social events we have planned along with getting to learn more about the Yale/New Haven community.
Social Co-Chair
Jeremy Barrios
PhD, Physics
Jeremy is out other social co-chair and he is excited about broadening the SACNAS community at Yale.
Social Media Manager
Liv is a 1st-year graduate student pursuing her masters of public health in Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health. This year, she is looking forward to collaborating with the other members of the Executive Board to produce engaging and useful content to grow our scientific community.
Communications Manager
Lex is a first year graduate student in the Neuroscience program. This year she is excited to be a part of the executive board of YSACNAS and she is looking forward to working as a team in gaining more membership and updating all of our resources.
Besides YSACNAS, Lex is in the Tango club and likes to paint and crochet during her free time. She's also an avid traveler and her number one goal is to go to all the continents.
National Liaison
Nathalie Alomar (she/her) is a 3rd year PhD candidate in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. She currently does research on the ecophysiological evolution of lungless salamanders in the Muñoz lab. She has worked with YSACNAS for the last year and a half and is currently the National Liaison. She’s also an avid runner, and is always happy to learn about different trails around New Haven.
She is excited about getting to meet more undergrad and graduate student members as well as the National Diversity in STEM conference in the fall!