The Yale Scientific Magazine, established in 1894, is the nation’s oldest college science publication and the premier science publication at Yale. Our Mission The Yale Scientific Magazine is a student-run quarterly science publication featuring groundbreaking scientific research at Yale and beyond. Composed of writers, editors, photographers, artists, designers, and businesspeople, our interdisciplinary team is united by the belief that science should be accessible and exciting to everyone—even those without a scientific background. This is exemplified not only in our magazine but in our outreach through Synapse, which hosts STEM outreach programs to empower New Haven youth. We hope you join our team of more than 200 students and over 2,000 worldwide subscribers as we share the stories of science.

2024 YSM Masthead

Managing Team

	Hannah Han Editor-in-Chief Hannah Han is a junior in Grace Hopper College from Los Angeles, double-majoring in MCDB and the Humanities. She has been involved in YSM since her first semester at Yale as a special sections editor, copy editor, senior staff writer, layout designer, photographer, artist, and director of development for Resonance. Outside of YSM, she performs in Jook Songs and conducts research on protein degradation and epigenetic regulation in cancer. She can often be found reading short stories, sketching plants in her notebook, and drinking an excessive amount of tea.
	Kayla Yup Managing Editor Kayla Yup (PC ’25) hails from Baltimore, Maryland. She is an MCDB major, Global Health Scholar, Yale Journalism Scholar and pig lover. She previously served as Articles Editor and copy editor for YSM and has been a senior staff writer since her first year. Outside of YSM, she is an undergraduate scicomm fellow at the Women’s Health Research at Yale (WHRY) center, an undergraduate researcher at the Yale School of Medicine, a health policy research assistant at the Yale School of Public Health, and a volunteer medical debt counselor at Haven FREE Clinic. Outside of everything Yale-related, she loves eating sandwiches and crocheting clothes.
	Sophia Burick Managing Editor Sophia Burick is a junior in Timothy Dwight College from San Clemente, California. She is a Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry major, and she is particularly interested in using advanced imaging and structural biology techniques to interrogate human disease mechanisms. Outside of YSM, Sophia is a member of the New Blue, Yale’s oldest women’s acapella group and women’s organization of any kind, leads the sound engineering department at WYBC Yale Radio, and conducts research in the Schlieker Lab. In her free time, she enjoys taking long walks and making cardamom lattes.

Editorial Team

	Evelyn Jiang Articles Editor Evelyn Jiang is a sophomore in Morse College majoring in neuroscience. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she has previously contributed to YSM as a writer and artist. Outside of YSM, Evelyn conducts research on synaptic plasticity at the Koleske Lab and works at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit. She is also involved with BridgesESL, Community Health Educators, and the HAVEN Free Clinic on campus. In her free time, Evelyn enjoys café hopping, snowboarding, and rewatching Succession.
	William Archacki Features Editor William Archacki (PC ‘26) is a chemistry major and a (secretly Canadian) resident of the Baltimore area. He has been involved with YSM since his first semester as a writer, copy editor, artist, and Synapse volunteer. Alongside YSM, he is a fiction editor for Cortex Magazine, a STEM tour guide, and a student researcher interested in materials and inorganic chemistry. He enjoys birdwatching, reading classics, and exploring marine biology Wikipedia.
	Keya Bajaj Special Sections Editor Keya Bajaj (BF ’26) is a Chemistry and English double major from Mumbai, India. Outside of YSM, she has a column in the Yale Daily News Magazine, using literary texts to write a coming-of-age account.
	Mia Gawith News Editor Mia Gawith (GH ’26) is a Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology major from Boise, Idaho. She has previously been involved in YSM as an online editor, staff writer, and layout designer. Outside of YSM, she conducts cancer research at the Yale School of Medicine, volunteers in healthcare settings, and is involved in the Yale Undergraduate Prison Project. In her free time, she enjoys drinking boba, binge-watching Netflix series, and curating Spotify playlists.
	Cindy Mei Online Editor Cindy Mei (GH ’25) is a junior majoring in Neuroscience from Chicago, IL. Outside of YSM, she is involved with epilepsy and Tourette’s syndrome research at the Yale School of Medicine, the Junior Class Council, Yale University Science Olympiad, and Yale Math Competitions. Outside of class, she enjoys playing video games with friends, exploring new places, and ranking restaurants on Beli.
	Lawrence Zhao Online Editor Lawrence Zhao is a sophomore in Pierson College, prospectively majoring in computer science and math. He has been writing for YSM since his first semester at Yale and previously served as an outreach coordinator for Synapse. Outside of YSM, he conducts research on applications of machine learning to cellular data and works as a teaching assistant for various classes. In his free time, he enjoys playing late-night basketball with friends, trying new recipes, and risking it all at the poker table.
	Matthew Blair Scope Editor and Archivist Matthew is a sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College from Manchester, New Hampshire. He is a History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health Major and a Global Health Scholar. He previously served as a copy editor for YSM and has been involved with the magazine since his first semester. Outside of YSM, Matthew pursues non-small cell lung cancer research in the Schalper lab, is a campus outreach leader in the Public Health Coalition, a tour guide, and plays for the club ice hockey team. In his free time, Matthew can be found in the Franklin buttery or binging Grey’s Anatomy.
	Lea Papa Scope Editor Lea Papa (ES ‘26) is a Neuroscience major from South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has been involved with the YSM as a staff writer since her first year, and joining the editorial team is her first foray into editing. Outside of YSM, Lea is involved in Yale’s Questbridge Chapter, Yale Undergraduate Research Journal, the Albanian Student Society, and reviving a former science outreach club called Girls in Science. This year, she has started doing neuroscience research in the Before and After Baby Lab (BABL) under Dr. Helena Rutherford. In her free time, you can find her hanging out around Stiles, baking with her friends, and watching murder mysteries.
	Katrin Marinova Copy Editor Katrin Marinova is a first-year in Benjamin Franklin College potentially majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Coming all the way from Sofia, Bulgaria, she is here to pursue her passion for science. Outside of YSM, she is involved in volunteering and A Capella (Yale SOBs!). In her free time, you can find her in the recording studio, in the gym, or in the ocean/sea/whatever large body of water is the closest.
	Patrick Wahlig Copy Editor Patrick Wahlig (BC ‘27) is a Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry major from Falmouth, Maine. An avid fisherman, Patrick developed his research skills studying the Atlantic striped bass in the beautiful Gulf of Maine. Patrick is a member of the Yale Men’s Club Water Polo team, the Yale Cushing Society, and the Yale Fishing Club. Patrick aims to pursue a career in medicine and is particularly interested in pioneering neurovascular techniques to treat brain aneurysms. In his free time, Patrick enjoys sailing, tying flies, and powerlifting the Rippetoe way.
	Yossi Moff Copy Editor Yossi Moff is a first-year in Saybrook College from the San Francisco Bay Area—Foster City, to be precise. He is a prospective Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology major, but hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a chemistry degree…Besides exploring the scientific breakthroughs of Yale researchers, Yossi is involved with the club frisbee team and multiple IM sports. During his free time, he can often be found at the Slifka Center for Jewish Life, trying to improve his juggling skills, or exploring new study spaces across campus.

Production Team

	Kara Tao Production Manager Kara Tao (MC ’26) is a Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology major from Chicago, Illinois. Outside of YSM, she does immunology research in the Hafler lab, volunteers at the Yale New Haven Hospital and HAVEN Free Clinic, and teaches for Community Health Educators. Kara loves coffee, Shin ramen, and boba.
	Madeleine Popofsky Layout Editor Madeleine Popofsky is a sophomore in Pauli Murray College from Washington, DC. She is majoring in either Neuroscience or Chemistry or MB&B and will hopefully decide by graduation. She has been writing and designing layouts for YSM since her first year, and is additionally a member of the Yale Debate Association as well as serving as the Visual Arts Director of the Hippo Literary and Arts Magazine. She enjoys drawing, reading, creative writing, chocolate, and listening to the same song on repeat for days on end.
	Nina Yorou Liu Layout Editor Nina Liu (GH ’26) is majoring in Physics and Computer Science. Since her first year, she has been illustrating and designing layout for YSM. Outside of YSM, she researches exoplanet formation in the astronomy department and leads bookmaking workshops. In her free time, she enjoys drinking tea and boba as well as scrapbooking.
	Luna Aguilar Arts Editor Luna Aguilar (TC ’25) is a Biomedical Engineering major on the biomechanics track from northern New Jersey. She’s been making art for YSM for several semesters and is excited to support other artists in this role. On campus, she is involved with Yale Public Health Coalition, Sube, and volunteers for the Community Health Care Van. In her free time, you can find her painting something for her friends and watching a youtube video essay.
	Emily Poag Photo Editor Emily (she/her) is a sophomore interested in chemistry and economics. She has been contributing photos to YSM since her first year. In addition to YSM, her other science-related extracurriculars include Yale Undergraduate Science Olympiad and doing chemistry research in the Ellman Lab. In her free time, she likes to read, crochet, and hang out with her friends.
	Annli Zhu Cover Artist Annli Zhu is a first-year in Benjamin Franklin College from the Bay Area, California. She plans to major in Mathematics and is also interested in physics and economics. In addition to writing and illustrating for YSM, she is active in Yale’s quantum computing club, Figure Skating Team, and research on campus. In her free time, Annli enjoys reading, collecting stuffed animals, and consuming copious quantities of bread.

Business Team

	Tori Sodeinde Publisher Tori Sodeinde is a junior in Ezra Stiles College from State College, Pennsylvania. She is a Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology major and studies telomere biology in Dr. Sandy Chang’s lab. Tori has previously served as an online editor and an operations manager as part of YSM. Apart from being a part of YSM, she is involved in Danceworks and the American Cancer Society. In her free time, you can find her playing classical guitar or taking walks around campus and New Haven.
	Samantha Liu Community Coordinator Samantha Liu (GH ’26) is an English & MCDB double major and Global Health Scholar from Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Outside of YSM, where she formerly served as Scope editor, she edits for The New Journal and co-chairs the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee at Yale Daily News. She also researches DNA repair at the Yale Cancer Center and volunteers for HAVEN Free Clinic as a medical debt and insurance counselor. In her free time, she likes browsing Grey Matter Books and flipping quesadillas at the Hopper buttery.
	Gia-Bao Dam Operations Manager Gia-Bao Dam (MY ’26) hails from Hanoi, Vietnam. She double majors in Biomedical Engineering and Statistics and Data Science. Outside of YSM, she conducts protein engineering research at the Isaacs Lab, tutors Vietnamese, and serves on the board of Y-BioIncubate. You can usually find her taking long walks around New Haven, wasting Thursday nights at Yale Film Archives’s screenings, and hammering on the Pauli Murray piano past 10pm.
	Megan Kernis Operations Manager Megan Kernis is a first-year in Ezra Stiles College from Hazleton, Pennsylvania. She is a prospective MCDB major interested in bridging the communication gap between the scientific community and larger audiences to educate and inspire healthier lifestyles. Alongside YSM, she is an active member of STARS I, volunteers at Connecticut hospice, and runs with Yale Club Running. In her free time, you can find Megan running around New Haven, hanging out in the TD courtyard, or grabbing coffee at Common Grounds.
	Henry Chen Subscriptions Manager Henry Chen (JE ’26) is a History and CS-Econ double major hailing from Orlando, FL. He has been involved in the YSM since his first year as a writer, layout designer, and, most recently, web and subscriptions manager. Henry loves the outdoors and can be found leading FOOT backpacking trips or performing carbon credit research with the School of the Environment. In his free time, he loves to travel the world, make Ferandillas at the buttery, lose money in poker, and re-read/watch the Hunger Games.

Synapse Team

	Hannah Barsouk Co-President Hannah Barsouk (MC ’25) is a Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry major from Pittsburgh, PA. Having been an Outreach Coordinator for Synapse in 2021-2022, they’re super excited to return to Synapse for another year! Outside of YSM, they are Public School Intern at Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School, and conduct non-coding RNA research at the Breaker Lab. In their free time, they enjoy skateboarding around New Haven, endlessly scrolling on biochem TikTok, and forcing their friends to watch scary movies.
	Brandon Quach Co-President Brandon Quach (DC ’27) is a freshman majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Los Angeles, California. He first became involved within the YSM serving as Scope contributor and the Synapse Director of Operations of the 2023 Resonance Conference. Outside of YSM, Brandon is a teacher for the Environmental Education Collaborative and Community Investment member of Dwight Hall Socially Responsible Investment Club. Brandon loves trying new food in New Haven, studying fish and plants, and listening to R&B.
	Jordan Thomas Vice President Jordan Thomas (PC ‘27) is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and plans on majoring in Biomedical Engineering along the Biomolecular engineering track. He participated in YSM’s Resonance conference as a teacher, leading a lesson on pluripotency and Stem cells. Outside of YSM, he helps lead interactive STEM activities at Hill Career High School and is involved in cardiovascular tissue engineering research at the Qyang lab. During his free time, he enjoys playing table tennis, watching Tottenham soccer matches, and cooking anything sweet.
	Michael Sarullo Synapse Events Coordinator Michael Sarullo is a first-year in Branford College from Royal Palm Beach, Florida. He is a prospective double major in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Statistics and Data Science. Michael has previously served as a staff writer for YSM in addition to teaching for Synapse. Outside of YSM, Michael is involved in Yale iGEM, Yale Artificial Intelligence, and Yale Entrepreneurial Society. During his free time, Michael enjoys brewing cappuccinos and visiting the beach.
	Sarah Li Synapse Outreach Coordinator Sarah Li (MC ’27) is prospective Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry major with a concentration in medicine from Baton Rouge, LA. She became involved with YSM through being the Synapse Director of Development of the 2023 Resonance Conference and writing for the magazine. Outside of YSM, she is involved in Yale Science Olympiad, YEMS, and volunteers with HAPPY.
	Sunny Vuong Synapse Outreach Coordinator Sunny Vuong is a freshman in Saybrook College from San Antonio, Texas, and a prospective double major in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology and English. She has written articles for YSM, and was previously a Director of Publicity for the Resonance Conference. Outside of YSM, she dances with the Yale Ballroom Dance team and volunteers with Yale Peristalsis at the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. In her free time, Sunny enjoys funky cheeses, writing poetry, playing soccer, and making dining hall vlogs.

Web Team

	Abigail Jolteus Web Manager Abigail Jolteus is a junior in Berkeley College from Toronto, Canada, and West Palm Beach, Florida. Outside of YSM, she conducts research in the Konnikova Lab. She enjoys poeticizing the mundane, the smell of books, and the sound of rain. She also loves canoeing, swimming, and gardening.
	Elizabeth Watson Head of Social Media Elizabeth Watson (MY ’25) is a double major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (E&EB) and Humanities. She first worked with Yale Synapse as a publicity director for the 2021 Resonance Conference and then as a social media coordinator for YSM before becoming Social Media Head. Outside of YSM, she’s the editor-in-chief of Hippo Literary and Arts Magazine, a student researcher at Yale Clinical Neuroscience Neuroanalytics, a volunteer with the HAVEN Free Clinic, and a member of Danceworks. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing and drawing.
	David Gaetano Web Coordinator David Gaetano is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles college majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He has been involved in YSM since his first year as a staff writer. Outside of YSM, he is director of Splash at Yale and actively involved in the Yale Undergraduate Aerospace Association. In his free time, you can find him drinking coffee with friends, going for a run, or reading a new book.
	Henry Chen Web Developer Henry Chen (JE ’26) is a History and CS-Econ double major hailing from Orlando, FL. He has been involved in the YSM since his first year as a writer, layout designer, and, most recently, web and subscriptions manager. Henry loves the outdoors and can be found leading FOOT backpacking trips or performing carbon credit research with the School of the Environment. In his free time, he loves to travel the world, make Ferandillas at the buttery, lose money in poker, and re-read/watch the Hunger Games.
	Sunny Vuong Social Media Content Creator Sunny Vuong is a freshman in Saybrook College from San Antonio, Texas, and a prospective double major in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology and English. She has written articles for YSM, and was previously a Director of Publicity for the Resonance Conference. Outside of YSM, she dances with the Yale Ballroom Dance team and volunteers with Yale Peristalsis at the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. In her free time, Sunny enjoys funky cheeses, writing poetry, playing soccer, and making dining hall vlogs.

Senior Staff Writers

Will Archacki, Hannah Barsouk, Matthew Blair, Sophia Burick, Kenny Cheng, David Gaetano, Hannah Han, Evelyn Jiang, Abigail Jolteus, Megan Kernis, Genevieve Kim, Cindy Mei, Lea Papa, Madeleine Popofsky, Brandon Quach, Ignacio Ruiz-Sanchez, Kayla Yup, Annli Zhu

Yale Scientific Magazine Advisory Board

Kurt Zilm, Chair Chemistry

Priyamvada Natarajan Astronomy

Scott Strobel Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics

Robert Bazell Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology

Fred Volkmar Child Study Center

Stanley Eisenstat Computer Science

James Duncan Biomedical Engineering

Steven Stearns Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Jakub Szefer Electrical Engineering

Werner Wolf Emeritus

John Wettlaufer Geology & Geophysics, Mathematics & Physics

William Summers History of Science & History of Medicine

Ayaska Fernando Undergraduate Admissions

Elissa Dunn Levy Yale Science & Engineering Association