Science Cheerleader Hilary here! While working on my PhD at Brown University I have had the opportunity to work with the Brown University Cheerleaders–an amazing group of girls who balance athletics and academics flawlessly. Meet the Science Cheerleaders of Brown University below!
Brown University Cheerleaders
Sarah Skelton (Dover, Arkansas)
“I am concentrating in Biology with a focus on Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Animals of all sorts have always captivated me, and my adoration for them expanded into a desire to protect the environment so they’ll have a place to live in. I feel it is our responsibility as humans to try and be good stewards of the environment, to preserve the Earth for everyone on it. I love biology because I love to learn about the forces that shaped everything that is here on the planet. The amount of diversity in life here on Earth is absolutely amazing. Thinking about all of the years of evolution that occurred to get us to where we are today is mind blowing! I would like to work for an organization such as the Nature Conservancy to help prevent further degradation of the environment.”
Bella Norvig (Palo Alto, California)
“I’m concentrating in computer science (and Italian studies!). I grew up in the Bay Area so I’ve always been surrounded by technology, but it wasn’t until I got to Brown that I really got to try out CS. I took one of the introductory courses, and was soon doing things I never dreamed I could do. After just one semester I made a program similar to MS Paint! Even though it takes a lot of time and perseverance to concentrate in CS, being able to solve new and challenging problems makes it worth it. This summer I’ll be interning at Udacity, and after graduation I’d like to work with education or in another field that allows me to help others. I’m also very passionate about girls’ education, especially in STEAM, so I would like to work on something related to that!”
Maria Burgos (Los Angeles, CA)
“I am concentrating in Health and Human Biology. I study biology and ultimately want to be a pediatrician. I wish to be part of the solution and combat the health and educational effects of poverty by influencing policymakers to level the playing field to ensure the best possible health. I love having the opportunity to investigate the relationships between biological mechanisms and the resource scarcity, environmental exposures, and limited opportunities that are ubiquitous in disadvantaged communities. My science background could help decision-makers improve the outcomes and the overall health and safety standards for minorities, incarcerated populations, and the undocumented. Eradicating health problems stemming from unequal access to services is my ultimate goal.”
Gillian Lee (Frisco, Texas)
“I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Applied Math-Economics. I chose this field because I enjoy working with numbers, and I love learning about both economic theory and the international economy.
I love my work because I love being able to apply my knowledge of economics to things I see or read on the news. In the future I’d like to either work in finance or be an actuary.”
Janice Havasy (Port Washington, New York)
“I am getting an S.c.B in Biology with a focus in Immunology, and I’m an EMT. I chose to concentrate in Immunology because the immune system is crucial to complex organisms, such as humans. While it is vital for human existence, the immune system is also beautifully complex and it’s interesting to learn about the many ways the immune system fights off pathogens. Learning about the human body not only allows me to understand my own body better, but also will undoubtedly help me in my endeavors to become a doctor. In the future, my plan is to become either a trauma surgeon or an ER physician. Either way, I plan to do pediatrics because I love children.”
Ellen Sukharevsky (Boston, MA)
“I am working on my degree in Health and Human Biology and I’m pre-med. I hope my concentration will give me more of a global perspective on medicine, as I am passionate about improving healthcare in developing countries. My favorite part about studying science and doing research is applying classroom concepts to practical problems in the lab. One of my long-term career goals is to help advance diabetes treatments, especially in children, in the developing world. As a doctor, I see myself creating clinical trials in genetics as well as working as a family physician in a global health field, concentrating on women and children’s health.”
Alyssa Garrett (Sammamish, WA)
“I am concentrating in Applied Mathematics-Economics to better understand and model the world around me. My chosen degree allows me to combine qualitative observation and quantitative measurement to interpret the world. I love studying math because of has allowed me to learn to think in abstract terms as well as simplify complex ideas. Growing up, I always wanted to know ‘why’ and ‘how much’. Studying math has allowed me to start to answer these questions. I am about to start a career in finance quantifying risk. Given the drastic changes our economy has seen in my lifetime, I’m excited to continue learning about the driving forces of the market and how to best predict risk and reward.”
Megan Ly (San Diego, California)
“I am planning on concentrating in neuroscience because it is an emerging field that is constantly being amended with new discoveries. Neuroscience intrigues me because it is interdisciplinary in the way that it combines aspects of biology, chemistry, and psychology, among other fields. The multifaceted nature of the study allows me to receive a diverse education that is applicable in a wide variety of settings beyond the classroom. In the future, I would like to pursue a career as a doctor where I can apply my knowledge to helping others.”
Aashna Mansharamani (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
“My major is Architecture in the ‘Self and the Society’ track. Architecture is a perfect blend of design and logic. It involves aesthetics, spatial relations, physics and personal engagement within society to understand and design for a site. Architecture gives the designer an opportunity to accept social and environmental responsibility while challenging systems of representation to communicate creativity, logic and the final product. In the future, I would love to design low-income housing for communities that need it, designing systems that increase access to health care. Another project I have been considering is the revamping of the slums in India. So much of the population would benefit from restructuring of these areas and with cheap local materials and local labor this would be possible.”