Established in 2018, the E.E. Just Undergraduate Fellowship is a two-year fellowship—held during the junior and senior years—designed to increase the number of underrepresented minorities at Dartmouth who choose to enter a doctoral program in a STEM field after graduation. New fellows are selected each spring by a faculty committee.
At present, our fellows are Isabella Fox '24, Daniela Garcia '24, Lord Charité Igirimbabazi '24, Ashley Laveriano '24, Victor Sanni '24, Alexander Stanford '24, Stephen Adjei '25, Kwabena Asare' 25, Maryanne Barasa '25, Jason Davis '25, Angelic McPherson '25, Patience Mukundirukuri '25, and Melody Tsutsumi Cruz '25. Read on to find out more about some on them.
I am Kwabena Asare from Ghana, majoring in geography. My current research interests lie in examining CRISPR tools and studying how sociological/environmental phenomena affect humans. At present, I am at the Hayden Lab at the Geisel School of Medicine and investigating CRISPR's therapeutic potential for Merkel Cell Carcinoma. It is through the E.E. Just program that this is possible, and I am excited to continue building on my research interests, network, and skills through this program!
My name is Jason Davis '26, and I am from Dallas, Texas. I am a Psychology and Cognitive Science major, and am interested in how perceptual and affective information reach our conscious awareness. As a member of Tor Wager's Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, I am examining neural representations of valence and arousal in the movie Kung Fury. Through the E.E. Just Community, I can develop into an effective research scientist with the support of like-minded students engaging in research.
My name is Angelic McPherson and I am from Concord, North Carolina. I am a Computer Science major and Statistics minor, specifically interested in data analysis and machine learning. I am a part of the Minds, Machines, and Society Lab and work under Professor Vosoughi in the Computer Science department. In this lab, I conduct research on natural language processing (NLP) and social media. My current research focuses on analyzing the performance of NLP models on high and low-resource languages. I am deeply grateful to be a part of the E.E. Just community because it serves as a safe space for me to discuss my interests, as well as receive and give support to like-minded individuals.
Research Mentor: Matthew Havrda, Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine
My name is Isabella Fox and I'm from Tucson, Arizona. I am a Neuroscience major and Classical Studies minor, and am interested in the cellular and genetic mechanisms that underlie the progression of glioblastoma. As a member of the Havrda Lab at the Geisel School of Medicine, I am examining the role of the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in glioma recurrence. Through the E.E. Just community, I can discuss my research interests and what it means to be a scientist with like-minded students who share a similar passion for STEM.
Research Mentor: Kyle Smith, Psychological and Brain Sciences
My name is Daniela Garcia, and I am currently a '24 working under Dr. Smith's lab while majoring in Neuroscience and Mathematics. I primarily focus on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying reward learning behavior, specifically relating to the cholinergic interneurons and dopaminergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens. In the lab, we utilize rat models to investigate the effects of cholinergic signaling in said brain region on the flexibility of sign-tracking responses. Sign tracking refers to the display of motivational value towards a cue when it has been previously associated with a primary reward. By examining the circuitry behind learned associations between cues and rewards, we hope to expand our knowledge of maladaptive behaviors such as addiction and binge eating. The E.E Just Program has offered me an incredible opportunity to continuously work in a revolutionary project with a great group of graduate and undergraduate students in the lab. Not only have I acquired new skills such as performing implant surgeries on rats, infusing them with antagonist-cholinergic drugs (scopolamine and mecamylamine) and preparing brain slices for further imaging analysis, but the program itself has also taught me the value of mentorship and academia.
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My name is Victor Sanni, a '24 majoring in Computer Science and Engineering Sciences from Abuja, Nigeria. I work at the Hautier Lab at Dartmouth which focuses on exploring potential properties of novel materials using computational techniques. My research specifically focuses on potential ferroelectric materials, which are useful because they are polarized spontaneously in the absence of any external electric field. Like ferromagnets, ferroelectrics are used in a wide range of electronic devices. My research is thrilling because it is completely computational and so I work at my own time at my own pace (as long as I meet deadlines for results). My research has empowered me with invaluable tools that will go with me throughout my academic career, and I am grateful for the opportunity the E.E. Just Program has provided me.
Research Mentor: Elisabeth Newton, Physics & Astronomy
My name is Chase Alvarado-Anderson and I am a '23 from Dallas, Texas. I am majoring in Astronomy and minoring in Environmental Studies, while also following the pre-medical track. My research aims to focus on the intersection between astronomy and environmental studies, particularly the way in which we look at climate modeling and the search for habitable planets. My work in the Newton Lab looks at stellar and planetary properties in relation to the evaporation of planetary atmospheres. Particularly we are looking at how planetary exospheres are shaped by the host star's radiation and stellar winds, which will give us insights necessary to tailor the methods that observers use to select exoplanets to study. Through my involvement in the E.E. Just Program - Dartmouth Adventures in STEM (DAS), Summer Internship, and the Undergraduate Fellowship - I have been able to find a supportive community to learn and grow as a researcher.
Research Mentor: Katherine Nautiyal, Psychological and Brain Sciences
My name is Djemila Compaore, and I'm originally from Burkina Faso, and currently live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I am majoring in neuroscience and minoring in African and African American studies. I am interested in studying the neural circuitry underlying behaviors that are expressed in psychiatric disorders. I work in the Nautiyal Lab, where we use a mix of genetic mouse models to manipulate neural signaling and rodent behavior assays to study how the serotonin 1B receptor (5-HT1B) underlies impulsive behavior. The E.E. Just Program has given me great support to explore my research interests and the tools to develop my skills and become a better researcher. I have grown significantly as a researcher through the E.E. Just Program and I'm ecstatic to be a part of a great community.
Research Mentor: Erik Griffin, Biological Sciences
My name is Anyoko Sewavi and I'm from Charlotte, North Carolina. I am a Biology and African & African American Studies double major here at Dartmouth. I am interested in studying genetics specifically and understanding the genetic mechanisms behind embryonic development in C. elegans. I work with Dr. Erik Griffin in the Griffin Lab where I am re-examining overlooked embryonic genes in C. elegans and their necessity in embryonic development. The E.E Just program not only allows me to pursue research that excites me, but it also helps me grow as a well rounded scientist.
My name is Citlalli Vergara and I am from Los Angeles, California. My parents are from Mexico City. I am a double major in biology and sociology, and am interested in the intersections between these two subjects, social determinants of health, and ecology in general. I work with Dr. Hicks Pries in her soil ecology lab at Dartmouth's Biology department. Our current project's focus is on carbon soil's vulnerability to climate change using soil samples collected from various location in Greenland. Dr. Hicks Pries' lab is an amazingly engaging place to learn and grow and I'm always excited to explore further into different topics of ecology, such as soil aggregation properties and soil-metal interactions. As a students with no previous experience in research before coming to Dartmouth, all the support and mentorship Dr. Hicks Pries, the lab team, and the E.E. Just community have provided have been invaluable. I've been able to grow confident in my ability as a researcher through the various hands-on experiences and guidance my support network has provided. I am beyond thrilled to be part of E.E. Just's program not only for the representation and opportunities it gives to marginalized students in STEM, but the enthusiastic and strong community of students, mentors, and alumni alike.
Research Mentor: Xia Zhou, Computer Science
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My name is Jose Hernandez Barbosa and I am a current Dartmouth 2023 from Chicago, IL. I am currently pursuing a BA in Computer Science modified with Engineering Sciences. My current research interests lie in the intersection between health sciences, computer science and engineering. Currently I am working in the Augmented Heath Lab on creating and testing a non-invasive glucose sensor utilizing machine learning. The E.E. Just program has been a wonderful resource that has allowed me to conduct research and be a part of a wonderful like-minded community. It has also given me the opportunity to explore new concepts and become a more professional student and researcher.
Research Mentor: Kyle Smith, Psychological & Brain Sciences
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I work in the Smith Lab which researches the neural circuits that underlie motivation and habitual behavior. I am currently conducting an independent research project on the role of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the nucleus accumbens core for flexible, sign-tracking behavior. Sign-tracking is defined as behavior that is directed towards a stimulus as a result of a learned association between that stimulus and a reward. Previous research has implicated the nucleus accumbens core (NAc) dopamine signaling in assigning a cue's motivational value during sign-tracking training. However, little is known about which receptor system is responsible for the relationship between the NAc and dopamine. Considering the broad distribution of acetylcholine receptors throughout the NAc, I decided to research the two subtypes of cholinergic receptors (nicotinic and muscarinic) to identify whether they have a causal role in increasing dopamine release in the NAc to concurrently improve the motivational value of a cue. To determine this, I am training rats on a sign-tracking regimine, performing surgery to implant cannulas bilaterally into the NAc, injecting Scopolamine (a muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist) into the NAc, and then conducting another round of sign-tracking training. Given the connection between amplified reward-seeking behaviors and disorders such as OCD and addiction, this research ultimately aims to identify a neural network that could be manipulated to develop a future therapeutic. The E.E. Just Program has been incredibly supportive to me with providing the resources required to develop an independent research project. I began working with the E.E. Just Program the summer after my freshman year through their Summer Internship where I learned basic laboratory techniques and analytical tools. By progressing into the fellowship program, I am now able to organize and conduct my own research which has been very rewarding. Through weekly fellowship meetings and financial support, the E.E. Just Program helped me pick the right research mentor and develop a project that I am proud of. The professional development stipend is also enabling me to attend the Society for Neuroscience conference in Chicago this fall which will be an amazing opportunity to learn about novel neuroscience research and network with future labs. I am very grateful for all the support that the E.E. Just Program continues to provide me as I would not have been able to conduct this research without it.
My name is Jeff Maina and I am a Dartmouth '22 from Nakuru, Kenya. I am a Neuroscience major and a Computer Science minor. I am interested in research surrounding computational neurobiology focusing on creating brain models using code and mathematical models to understand the principles underlying the cognitive capabilities of the nervous system. I work in The Gulledge Lab at Geisel School of Medicine investigating the role of neurological modulators in cognition with a focus in understanding their role in neurological and psychological disorders such as Schizophrenia. The E.E. Just Program has supported and facilitated the foundation of my research by providing numerous resources to guide me in my research journey The program has also been influential in providing mentorship and helping me develop my skills as a researcher and creating a community of like-minded intellectuals who have been influential in my ongoing journey as a neuroscience researcher.
My name is Tinotenda Kuretu, I am an aspiring global health and development economics researcher from Harare, Zimbabwe. I am a junior majoring in Development and Public Economics and minoring in Global Health. I am interested in one day helping developing nations escape health-based poverty traps through innovative and sustainable public health, public policy, and economic solutions. To prepare myself for this task, as an E.E. Just scholar, I have pursued wide-ranging academic and research experiences. In my freshman year, I worked in an antifungal drug discovery lab at the Veterans Affairs Hospital with a Giesel professor and in a biomass systems lab at Thayer.
In my sophomore year, I developed a great interest in development and public economics. And, given my sustained interest in global and public health, I started looking for opportunities that lie at the intersection of these two fields. After conversations with several Dartmouth, Tuck, and TDI professors, I, fortunately, started research work with Dr. Carrie Colla, a professor at The Dartmouth Institute of Health of Policy and Clinical Practice. My research with Professor Colla investigates the health economics of low-value care focusing on opioid prescribing practices and explores intervention methods that can be used to reduce low-value care in the U.S.
The E.E. Just Program has provided the Dartmouth experience I imagined when I was in Zimbabwe, and I hope to use the experiences that the program has provided me very soon in graduate school as a Ph.D. student.
I'm Michael Moyo '22 from Lusaka, Zambia. Majoring in Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Global Health, I'm particularly interested in helping eradicate health care inequities by deploying improved healthcare through technological innovations especially in marginalized and medically underserved populations. I work in the Ragusa Lab, Chemistry Department led by Professor Michael J. Ragusa. I'm currently investigating mitochondrial degradation (Mitophagy) triggered by nitrogen and oxygen deprivation in mammalian cells. The goal of this project is to determine the structure of ATG32, a mammalian mitophagic protein. Since freshman year and beyond, the E.E. Just Program has allowed me to utilize resources that have exposed me to so many opportunities that continue to sharpen my research, academic, and professional skills.
My name is Alex Rodriguez and I am a Dartmouth '22. I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. My parents are immigrants from the Dominican Republic. My research interests lie in the intersection of electrical engineering and computer science. Additionally, I have an interest in quantum computing and quantum technology. I am currently working at the Dartmouth Reality and Robotics Lab under Professor Alberto Quattrini Li. The E.E. Just program has been a wonderful program that has both provided community and guidance in academic and non academic contexts, assisting me in my academic goals.
I am a Dartmouth '22 from Lakewood, New Jersey. I am a computer science major and am thinking about adding in a math minor. I definitely want to explore discrete mathematics because the whole field is pretty sick, but in terms of research interests I really want to explore quantum computing, machine learning, and wearable devices (especially in the age when we're hitting 2.5nm transistors). I'm grateful to the E.E. Just Program for the community it has introduced me to as well as for the support it has and is giving me to pursue my passions.
I am a Dartmouth '21 from Washington, DC on the pre-health track. I have research interests in neurodegenerative diseases and social determinants of health. I work with Dr. Francesca Gilli in her neurology lab at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Our research focuses on neuroinflammation in murine models of Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Gilli's lab is exciting and I enjoy learning about research methods involving animals. The work I have done with Dr. Gilli has solidified my career pursuits, which is to acquire a dual degree in medicine and research. I admire the E.E. Just program's impact on minority students who want to pursue degrees in STEM. It is comforting to know that there is a community for those who are overlooked. Support and reliable resources is what students in STEM need to thrive. It is my wish that the E.E. Just Program continues to serve minority students for many years to come and expand its influence in the Dartmouth community.
My name is Ashley Francisco, and I am from Philadelphia. I am a Computer Science major and Neuroscience minor graduating with the class of 2021. Currently, I am doing research on depression under the guidance of Professor Jeremiah Brown. More specifically, my research focuses on using machine learning to predict the onset and severity of depression in adults and identify important biomarkers. E.E. Just has given me the opportunity to pursue long-term research and to be a part of a supportive community of students and mentors. I really enjoy being able to attend Jam Sessions and meet other students who have similar interests as me, and I also enjoy the E.E. Just Dinners where students are able to hear from leading scientists in different fields.
I am a Dartmouth '21 from Columbia, Maryland. I have general research interests in Environmental Health Sciences, Heart Disease, and Social Determinants of Health. I work with the Geisel School of Medicine's Department of Epidemiology Cardiovascular Outcomes Team (EPICO), led by Dr. Jeremiah Brown. With Dr. Brown's and PhD student Devin M. Parker's assistance, I have ongoing projects which combine qualitative and qualitative methods to identify risk factors which are associated with adverse health outcomes. The E.E. Just Program has been helpful in providing resources which exposed me to the peer-review publication process, as well as developing my skills in long-term research study design.
I am Princilla Minkah, a '21 and Ghanaian-American from Worcester, MA. At Dartmouth, I am a Cultural Anthropology and Global Health major with a minor in African and African American studies, on the Pre-med track. Most of my research interests lie in the field of Infectious Diseases (with a very strong passion for HIV/AIDs research), but I also have strong interests in Preventive Care, Social Care, Social Determinants of Health, and in Behavioral Medicine. As an E.E. Just Undergraduate Research Fellow, I work with Professor Ruth Craig, a Geisel Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology and a passionate Genealogist over at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Our research uses immunology and epidemiology to explore the past history and effects of flu pandemics over time, specifically looking at the 1797 and 1918 flus. Our current projects use both qualitative and quantitative methods to identify the internal & external causes of deaths in Hanover, NH during these time periods. My favorite part of this research is exploring how infectious diseases disproportionately affect underrepresented communities through various socioeconomic factors. The E.E. Just Program has not only helped clarify my research interests, but it has also provided me with an outlet to engage in new research methods and opportunities where I have developed professional research skills that can be applied in other endeavors.
My name is Sade Akinfe and I am from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. As a neuroscience major and chemistry minor my research focused on improving the diagnostic accuracy of concussions for physicians. In The Hill Lab, we worked with various athletic teams on campus to determine if molecules exhaled one's breath could be a potential biomarker indicative of a concussion. The E.E. Just program allowed me to work in this lab for over 2 years at Dartmouth and being track and field athlete on campus made this research especially important to me. I was also able to expand my understanding of biomarker research at the University of Michigan and attend numerous neuroscience conferences through this program. I am so grateful to the E.E Just program for the sense of community and opportunities it gave me to make the most of my Dartmouth experience.
I am a Dartmouth '20 living in Houston, TX. I majored in Computer Science and am currently pursuing my master's in computer science at Dartmouth. My research interests lie in the intersection of computer science and social issues. In my research I worked with Professor Vicki May (ENGS) focused on improving the quality of the pattern of youth's usage of technology to foster digital citizenship. Through this project we have analyzed and catalogued the digital ecosystem of El Salvador and reverse engineered various technologies to understand what their uses are versus how they are utilized by Salvadoran youth. The skills that I learned from the project on El Salvador carried over to my senior thesis in CS with Professor Andrew Campbell. Through my senior thesis I explored the food flow from California counties to demonstrate that farmworker food insecurity is not a supply issue and investigate food access data that suggests that farmworkers are indeed at heightened risk of food insecurity and hunger. I was only able to accomplish this through the support, advice, and encouragement of the E. E. Just Program. This program introduced me to a great community of peers and mentors that enriched my Dartmouth experience for the better. I am very grateful for the E.E. Just Program!
I am Melanie Kanine and I graduated from Dartmouth in 2020 with a double major in Earth Sciences and Native American Studies. I will be pursuing a PhD at Caltech in the Division of Geology and Planetary Sciences starting fall 2020. I am currently doing research on Martian geomorphology in the Palucis Planetary GIS Laboratory at Dartmouth.
Shawn's profile and research description to follow.
I am a Dartmouth '20, Thayer '21, from San Diego, CA. I majored in Engineering Sciences and minored in Environmental Studies, and am currently pursuing my BE in mechanical engineering. Generally my research interests lie in understanding climate dynamics, and adapting our technology and infrastructure to meet the challenges created by anthropogenic climate change. In my research I work with Professor David A. Lutz (ENVS) and Dr. Jennifer Brentrup from the University of Vermont to monitor seasonal and geographical variations in water quality in the Lake Sunapee area. The project seeks to construct a local understanding of how different winter road salting regulations impact the quantity and timing of chloride loading in local waterways. This opportunity to construct my own research project and work so closely with such amazing faculty has been one of the most enriching parts of my Dartmouth experience, and would not have been possible without the support of the E.E. Just Program.
I was born in Nicaragua, and I was three when we moved to Los Angeles. At nine years old, I was terrified by the prospect of global climate catastrophe, so I promised myself that I'd engineer solutions to the problem. My research project uses organisms to sustainably produce chemicals. Specifically, the project focuses on evolution aided by bio-circuits to speed up organism engineering. E.E. Just gave me the freedom to develop the project how I see fit. Also, the program gave us amazing experiences, like when we shared a cozy breakfast with the Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center (think 'Houston, we have a problem').