Peer Mentoring

College

Peer Mentors

Bios

Benjamin Franklin

Colin Kim

colin.kim@yale.edu

YC 26

Himani Pattisam

himani.pattisam@yale.edu

YC 26

Alanna Butcher

alanna.butcher@yale.edu

YC 25

Maxim Yaskolko

maxim.yaskolko@yale.edu

YC 25

Grace Kostecki 

grace.kostecki@yale.edu

YC 26

Grace Kostecki is a junior in Branford College from Honolulu, Hawaii, studying MCDB on the pre-med track. She is currently conducting research in the von Blume lab at the Yale Medical School on protein trafficking through the trans-Golgi complex and in the Dakshanamurthy lab at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center on the carcinogenic effects of PFAS chemicals. Additionally, she is the Vice President of the Yale Public Health Coalition and a Captain of the Yale Women’s Club Soccer Team. She is excited to be a peer mentor and is happy to answer any questions about the MCDB major or student life at Yale!

Daniel Mendoza

d.mendoza@yale.edu

YC 25

Ralph De Guzman 

ralph.deguzman@yale.edu

YC 26

Ralph De Guzman is a third year at Davenport College. Ralph is a Filipino-American born in Chicago. During his first year, he was part of First-Year Scholars @ Yale (FSY), STARS I, and did a summer fellowship @ the Jiang Lab in the Yale School of Medicine. Apart from previous experience in Microbiology, his other non-biology endeavors include introductory Statistics, Forensic Psychology at the University of Cambridge, and three semesters of American Sign Language. 

Kaley Mafong 

kaley.mafong@yale.edu 

YC 26

Kaley Mafong is a junior in Davenport College studying MCDB with a certificate in Spanish. Her academic interests lie in exploring how biological processes can be placed in context with societal factors to better understand human health and alleviate disease disparities. Outside class, she participates in a translational genetics research laboratory and loves to dance, spend time outdoors and indulge in the New Haven ice cream scene; feel free to reach out to join her for a sweet treat or with any questions about the MCDB major and pursuing STEM at Yale!

Iva Knezevic

iva.knezevic@yale.edu

YC 25

Tori Sodeinde 

tori.sodeinde@yale.edu

YC 25

Tori Sodeinde is a senior in MCDB pursuing the B.S. Intensive degree. Tori’s research at the medical school involves studying telomeres in a molecular biology lab. Tori is involved with the STARS II program, summer research, and MCDB research for credit. She has participated in a summer study abroad program and is the publisher for the Yale Scientific Magazine. Tori is pursuing a French language certificate and can answer questions about balancing MCDB requirements and research with other interests. She is applying to Ph.D. programs this year and is available to talk about graduate school and careers in research.

Mia Gawith 

mia.gawith@yale.edu

YC 26

Mia Gawith is a junior in Hopper College pursuing a B.S. in MCDB on the pre-med track. Mia is currently conducting research in the Rogers Lab at the Yale School of Medicine investigating how gene technology can be used against gene-amplified cancers. Outside the classroom and lab, you can find Mia doing some clinical volunteering, editing for the Yale Scientific Magazine, or peer tutoring for the introductory biology sequence. Feel free to reach out to Mia if you have any questions about extracurriculars, pre-med life, or blue booking!

Hannah Han 

hannah.han@yale.edu

YC 25

Hannah Han is a senior in Grace Hopper College double-majoring in MCDB and Humanities on the pre-medical track. She conducts research at the Yan Lab on protein degradation and epigenetic regulation in cancer and serves as the editor-in-chief of the Yale Scientific Magazine. Her interests lie at the intersection of literature, creative writing, and medicine, and she has been involved in many literary publications on campus.

Melanie Nguyen 

melanie.nguyen@yale.edu

YC 25

Melanie Nguyen (she/her) JE ‘25 is originally from Sacramento, California and is currently on the pre-med track. Her personal journey has been largely shaped by being a low-income (go QuestBridge!), Vietnamese-American student. Besides studying MCDB, she is also involved in the CCE (Communication and Consent Educator) program, Camp Kesem at Yale, the Education Studies Certificate program, and research at the Yale Cardiovascular Research Center. She is very excited to continue as a pediatric volunteer at the Yale New Haven Hospital this year. Outside of academics, she loves curating niche Spotify playlists, trying different iced lattes, and meeting new people, so please feel free to reach out!

Joanna Chen 

joanna.li.chen@yale.edu

YC 25

Joanna Chen is a senior majoring in MCDB at Morse College. Originally from Jefferson City, Missouri, she has been a dedicated member of the Lu Lab for the past three years, starting as a STARS student. Her research focuses on developmental biology, specifically investigating the complexities of HOX gene patterning and its potential implications for cancer progression. Joanna aspires to become a physician specializing in oncology, and she views her current research as a vital link between her academic work and future career goals.

Pol Berger Romeu 

pol.bergerromeu@yale.edu

YC 26

Pol Berger Romeu is a junior in Pauli Murray College pursuing an intensive BS in MCDB with a concentration in Biotechnology. Outside of the classroom, Pol is an undergraduate researcher in the Dimitrova Lab studying the impact of dysregulated long non-coding RNAs in cancer disease development and progression. Following a great summer experience working for a pharmaceutical company, Pol hopes to further explore industry research post-grad. In his free time, Pol enjoys playing soccer, traveling, and being a Yale tour guide.

Christian Guirgis

christian.guirgis@yale.edu

YC 26

Crystal Liu 

crystal.liu.sl2782@yale.edu

YC 26

Crystal Liu is a junior in Pierson College, pursuing a B.S. degree in MCDB and certificates in data science and in French. She did plant molecular biology research with the Irish Lab during her first two years and switched to molecular biochemistry research with the DiMaio Lab her junior year. She is still open to both graduate programs and industry opportunities. She is happy to discuss blue booking, research, international identity, club/intramural sports, publications, and her gap year experience!

Xander Calicdan

xander.calicdan@yale.edu

YC 25

Gina Lee

gina.lee@yale.edu

YC 25

Alex Nelson

a.nelson@yale.edu

YC 25

Alex Nelson is a senior in Silliman double-majoring in MCDB and Comparative Literature. Alex is also part of the BS/MS program in MCDB, and has some experience taking graduate-level STEM classes. Alex has spent many (many, many) hours working in the Vaccarino Lab over the past two years. Outside of classes and lab work, Alex enjoys working on layout and design for the YHR (Yale Historical Review) and JoLT (Journal of Literary Translation), as well as helping members of the New Haven community through HAVEN Free Clinic. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Alex at a.nelson@yale.edu!

Kayla Sohn

kayla.sohn@yale.edu

YC 26

Kayla Sohn (TD’26) is a Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology major and Global Health Scholar from Long Island, New York. Kayla is currently a member of the Lee Lab in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Yale School of Medicine where she conducts research in human and translational immunology and immune related adverse events. She is also a writer for the Yale Scientific Magazine and a violinist for the Davenport Pops Orchestra. As a World Food Prize Borlaug Scholar, Kayla hopes to learn more about the connections between governance, food security, scientific communication, and public health to drive her career pursuits in healthcare. 

Krupa Subramaniam 

krupa.subramaniam@yale.edu

YC 25

Krupa Subramaniam is a senior in TD planning to pursue an MD/PhD and eventually work in academic medicine: running a research lab, seeing patients, and teaching students. His academic interests lie in immunology (particularly innate immunity and cancer immunology) and tissue engineering, and he is currently involved in research in The Foxman Lab, studying the antiviral response to respiratory viruses — a highlight of his time at Yale! Outside of the classroom and the lab, Krupa is a co-director for HAVEN Free Clinic, and leader of multiple clubs, including Yale e-NABLE, a club that makes prosthetics for disabled kids, and Demos, one of New Haven’s largest elementary school volunteering organizations. He is happy to answer any questions regarding the MCDB major, must-take courses, finding research at Yale, and much more!

Angela Morka 

angela.morka@yale.edu

YC 26

Angela Morka is a junior in Trumbull College from Mansfield, Texas. On campus she is involved in the Black Pre-Health organization and many other organizations at the AfAm House, volunteers at Yale New Haven Hospital, and works in the Lucas Lab conducting immunobiology research at the medical school. Outside of academics she loves music production, playing intramural volleyball, and watching reality TV. She would love to help answer questions about selecting/planning courses, joining a lab, being pre-med or pre-MD/PhD, summer activities, the MCDB major in general, and much more!

Sourav Roy 

sourav.roy@yale.edu

YC 25

Sourav Roy is a senior in Trumbull currently on the BS/MS track. Sourav currently works on heterochromatin and CRISPR engineering in Arabidopsis as a member of the Jacob lab, where he has been since his first summer at Yale. Outside of biology, Sourav is an avid climber with YCT and OCAY, and enjoys practicing the piano and card magic in his spare time. Sourav plans to take a gap year after graduation to continue his research and apply to MD/PhD programs.