William Archacki

Editor-in-Chief

William Archacki (PC ’26) is a chemistry major and a Canadian-American hailing from Baltimore, Maryland. He has been involved with YSM since his first semester at Yale. Outside of YSM, he conducts research on the structural properties of inorganic materials in the Bartholomew Lab, aids in X-ray crystallography work at the Chemical and Biophysical Instrumentation Center, and leads campus tours focused on science. He enjoys hiking, and you might find him reading Clarice Lispector or Han Kang.

Mia Gawith

Managing Editor

Mia Gawith (GH ’26) is a Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology major from Boise, Idaho. She has previously served as Online Editor and News Editor and has been involved as a writer and layout designer since her first year. Outside of YSM, she conducts cancer research at the Yale School of Medicine, peer tutors for the introductory biology sequence, and volunteers in various settings. In her free time, she enjoys binge-watching Netflix series, hanging out with friends, and searching for the best boba.

Evelyn Jiang

Managing Editor

Evelyn Jiang (MC ’26) is a neuroscience major from Toronto, Canada. She has previously served as Full-Lengths Editor, senior staff writer, and artist for YSM. Outside of YSM, Evelyn is involved with neurodevelopmental disorder research at the Koleske Lab, clinical volunteering, and BridgesESL. In her free time, she enjoys café hopping, snowboarding, and rewatching her favorite episodes of Succession.

Max Watzky

Full-Lengths Editor

Max Watzky is a sophomore majoring in Physics and Applied Mathematics. Proudly hailing from New Jersey, he now resides in Benjamin Franklin College. Max currently works in the astronomy department researching the properties of low-mass black holes. He also serves as co-president of Yale’s Society of Physics Students and enjoys volunteering at the university’s community kitchen. You can often find him running, reading, or extending his Duolingo streak.

Michael Sarullo

Features Editor

Michael Sarullo is a sophomore in Branford College from Royal Palm Beach, Florida. He is a double major in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Statistics and Data Science. Michael has previously served as a staff writer in addition to being Events Coordinator and teaching for Synapse. Outside of YSM, Michael is involved in Yale iGEM, researches pharmaceutical consequences of biological dynamics within the Lemmon Lab, and is exploring new approaches to novel drug design. During his free time, Michael enjoys brewing cappuccinos, playing poker, and hanging out with friends.

Asuka Koda

Special Sections Editor

Sarah Li

News Editor

Sarah Li (MC ’27) is sophomore majoring in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She became involved with YSM in her first semester and has contributed to Resonance, Synapse, and article writing. Outside of YSM, she conducts research in the 3D Orthopedics Lab and the Iwasaki Lab. She is also involved in organizations like HAVEN Free Clinic, Yale Undergraduate Science Olympiad, and HAPPY. In her free time, you can find her in a practice room playing piano, at the gym, or attempting to befriend a campus squirrel.

Patrick Wahlig

Online 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. He currently conducts structural biophysical research in the Tang Laboratory. Patrick is also involved in several clinical research projects focusing on validating and streamlining contemporary neurosurgical approaches. Outside of academic life, he enjoys sailing, swimming, and hanging out with his Labrador Retriever, Baron. Patrick previously served as a copy editor for YSM.

Aiden Zhou

Online Editor

Aiden Zhou is a first-year student in Pierson College prospectively majoring in mathematics and computer science, and is particularly interested in the scientific applications of data science and machine learning. Outside of YSM, he writes for the Yale Daily News, plays in the Collegiate Chess League, and is an investment analyst for the UP Fund. In his free time, he enjoys pickup basketball, 3 a.m. conversations, running, and watching cooking shows.

Brandon Quach

Scope Editor

Brandon Quach (DC ’27) is a Sophomore majoring in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from Alhambra, California. He first became involved in YSM as the Director of Operations of Synapse and co-President of Synapse, and has been a senior staff writer since his first year. Outside of YSM, he conducts research at the Sorrells Lab in the School of Medicine on transgenic mosquitoes. Brandon loves trying new food around New Haven, drinking all types of tea, and (poorly) trying new sports.

Jordan Thomas

Scope Editor

Jordan Thomas (PC ’27) is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and plans on majoring in Biomedical Engineering along the Biomolecular engineering track. He previously served as YSM’s Synapse Vice President and has been involved with YSM since his first year. Outside of YSM, he helps lead interactive STEM activities at Hill Career High School and is involved in cardiovascular computational modeling research. During his free time, he enjoys playing table tennis, watching Tottenham matches, and cooking.

Makena Senzon

Copy Editor

Makena Senzon (PC ’28) is a prospective chemical engineering major and is from Jupiter (not the planet), Florida. When she is not writing or editing stories, she may be working at a garden, thinking about her next adventure, or reading books across genres. Alongside YSM, Makena is involved with Society of Women in Engineering, Yale Climbing Team, and Yale Taps.

Michelle So

Copy Editor

Michelle So (TD ’28) is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major from Los Angeles, California. She previously contributed to the YSM as a writer. Outside of the YSM, Michelle serves as a Planetary Health Campus Ambassador, conducts aquatic ecology research in the Post Lab, and volunteers with the YNHH Living History Project. She also plays violin in Berkeley College Orchestra and Davenport Pops Orchestra. For fun, she likes pressing flowers, birding, and sipping olive oil.

Lawrence Zhao

Multimedia Manager

Lawrence Zhao (PC ’26) is a computer science and math major from Champaign, IL. He previously served as Synapse outreach coordinator and as an online editor for YSM. Outside of YSM, he conducts research on machine learning for biological data at the van Dijk Lab and works as a teaching assistant. In his free time, he enjoys drinking chocolate milk, playing basketball with friends, and watching movies.

Madeleine Popofsky

Production Manager

Madeleine Popofsky (MY ’26) is from Washington, D.C. and is majoring in Chemistry (Intensive). She has been involved in YSM since her first semester as a senior staff writer, artist, and layout editor. In addition to her work for YSM, she conducts research at the Slavoff Lab. She is a member of the Yale Debate Association as well as serving as the Visual Arts Director of the Hippo Literary and Arts Magazine and volunteering for Yale New Haven Hospital. She enjoys drawing, painting, reading, creative writing, chocolate, and listening to the same song on repeat for days on end.

Annli Zhu

Layout Editor

Annli Zhu is a sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College from the Bay Area, California. She is a Mathematics major and is also interested in physics and computer science. In addition to writing and illustrating for YSM, she is active in Yale’s quantum computing club, Taekwondo, and Figure Skating Team. In her free time, Annli enjoys card games, trying new restaurants, and collecting stuffed animals.

Lynn Dai

Layout Editor

Lynn Dai (PC ’28) is a Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry major from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been involved with YSM since her first semester and loves contributing to writing, layouts, and art. Outside of YSM, she advocates for accessible health through Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM). She enjoys making traditional Chinese watercolors and watching nature documentaries in her spare time.

Melody Jiang

Layout Editor

Melody Jiang is a prospective in MCDB and neurobiology major in Jonathan Edwards College (’28) from Queens, New York. Within YSM, she enjoys illustrating, writing, and curating the layout for the magazines. Beyond YSM, Melody is involved in research and Danceworks. In her free time, you can find her painting, reading, and exploring local cafes.

Ryder Lariviere

Layout Editor

Ryder Lariviere is a first-year in Ezra Stiles College from Northern California. He is a prospective Biomedical Engineering major and is eager to explore the intersection of healthcare and innovation. In addition to designing and illustrating for YSM, he is active in Yale’s Undergraduate Aerospace Association, volunteers at the Haven Free Clinic, and loves to cook for Y Pop-Up. In his free time, you can find Ryder enjoying a good book in Stiles, backpacking for fun, or playing the ukulele.

Alondra Moreno Santana

Arts Editor

Alondra Moreno Santana (SM ’27) is psychology and neuroscience major from Maryland. Starting in the spring semester of her freshman year, she has written, drawn, and designed for YSM, and taught at the 2024 Resonance Conference. Outside of YSM, she is an editor of the Hippo Literary and Arts Magazine and the Yale Layer. She is also a member of Latina Women at Yale, Yale Visionary Artists, and the CANDLab. In her spare time, she loves playing Bananagrams with friends, exploring interesting places, and running around with her little siblings.

Emily Poag

Photography Editor

Emily Poag (ES ’26) is a junior double majoring in chemistry and economics. She has previously been involved in YSM as a photographer and as the 2024 Photography Editor. Outside of classes, she enjoys reading, getting boba with friends, and drawing.

Malina Reber

Cover Artist

Malina Reber is a second year in TD, majoring in painting while studying for medical illustration school. Outside of YSM, she is a scientific illustrator at the Yale Cancer Center, data visualist for Yale Environment 360, layout designer for the YDN magazine, and a participant of any and every art event on campus. Besides painting and biology, Malina also enjoys embroidery, Russian literature, orange cats, and jasmine tea.

Matthew Blair

Publisher | Archivist

Matthew is a junior in Benjamin Franklin College from Manchester, New Hampshire. He is a History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health Major, a Global Health Scholar, and also pursuing his Master of Public Health in Chronic Disease Epidemiology through the joint degree program at the Yale School of Public Health. He previously served as a copy editor, Scope editor, and Archivist for YSM and has been involved with the magazine since his first semester. Continuing as the Archivist, Matthew leads the ongoing digitization process of YSM’s archival issues, dating back to 1894. 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 going on runs around New Haven or binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy.

Claire Zhong

Community Coordinator

Claire Zhong is a first-year in Branford from Vancouver, Canada. She is in the Directed Studies program and hopes to major in Cognitive Science. Outside of YSM, she enjoys doing research in the Brain Function Laboratory. She also sings with the Yale Glee Club and has been involved in various productions by the Opera Theater of Yale College. She is a member of Yale Undergraduate Net Impact and volunteers with Yale VITA. In her free time, she enjoys playing NYT games, bingeing Jane Austen adaptations, and reading in the Silliman Acorn. 

Nikolai Stephens-Zumbaum

Operations Manager

Nikolai Stephens-Zumbaum (BF ’26) is studying Mechanical Engineering and Energy Studies from here in Connecticut. He has been writing for the YSM for the last year and is excited to serve as the Operations Manager for this year. Outside of the YSM, he is a percussionist in the Yale Concert Band, as well as a part of YUAA, MathCounts Outreach, and Engineers Without Borders. You can typically find him walking through New Haven or in the Beanjamin, with a coffee.

Edis Mesic

Operations Manager

Edis is a first-year in Saybrook College from San Jose, California, and a prospective double major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Spanish. Outside of YSM, Edis is involved with Yale Men’s Club Volleyball, the Yale Daily News, the Yale Global Health Review, and Yale Undergraduate Capital Partners. He also works as a laboratory assistant in the LusKing Lab and volunteers at DESK and the HAVEN Free Clinic. In his free time, he enjoys movies, basketball, and creative writing.

Ethan Powell

Subscriptions Manager

Ethan Powell (DC ’27) is a sophomore Biomedical Engineering major from Toronto, Canada. With a passion for the intersection of science and business, Ethan is the COO of Yale-based biotech startup Simplex Sciences, where he leads strategic growth and develops single-stranded DNA products. Fascinated by synthetic biology, he leads Yale iGEM in developing enhanced cancer therapeutics using protein engineering and conducts genetic code expansion research at the Yale Systems Biology Institute. Ethan has been writing for the Yale Scientific Magazine since his first year. In his free time, he enjoys composing music, playing chess, reading literature, and exploring bioinvesting trends.

Gabriela Berger

Synapse Co-President

Gabriela Berger (BF ’27) is a Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has previously contributed to YSM as a writer, layout editor, and Director of Operations for the Resonance conference. Outside of YSM, she is a cellist in the Yale Symphony Orchestra and conducts research on parasitic tropical diseases in the Cappello Lab at the Yale School of Public Health. She also serves as the Protocol Coordinator for Demos and is involved in the Public Health Coalition. In her free time, she enjoys tending to her plants, running, and playing card games with friends.

Mia Cooper

Synapse Co-President

Mia Cooper is a sophomore in Grace Hopper College from New York City. She majors in the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health and is a Global Health Scholar. She became involved in YSM as a teacher in Synapse’s 2024 Resonance Conference. Alongside YSM, she is part of Yaledancers, conducts immunology research in the Lieping Chen Lab, and works for Girls on the Run at the Truman School. In her free time, Mia can be found baking with friends, going on runs, or reading historical novels.

Mahitha Ramachandran

Synapse Vice President

Mahitha Ramachandran is a sophomore in Morse College majoring in Astrophysics. She transferred to Yale in the fall of 2024 after one year at the University of Pittsburgh. Outside of YSM, she is involved with the Yale Astronomical & Space Student Society, the Leitner Family Observatory & Planetarium, and astrophysics research. You can also find her doing various art & crafts or reorganizing her concerningly large earring collection. She loves prime numbers and cats.

Joelle Kim

Synapse Events Coordinator

Joelle Kim (PC ’28) is a prospective Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry major from Southern California. She has been involved with YSM as a writer and served as a teacher liaison for the 2024 Resonance Conference. Outside of YSM, she plays flute in the Berkeley College Orchestra and is a member of Christian Union Lux. In her free time, she enjoys cafe hopping and crocheting.

Wyatt Aiken

Synapse Outreach Coordinator

Wyatt Aiken (GH ’28) from Fairhope, Alabama and plans to major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, mostly with an interest in plants. He has previously written for YSM, worked for the Alabama Coastal Foundation, and tutored chess. Currently, he is a horticultural intern at Marsh Botanical Gardens and is involved with mycorrhizal fungi research. In his free time, Wyatt enjoys reading, tennis, low budget British crime dramas, aimlessly walking around, and sitting in Koffee? for too long.

Megan Kernis

Web Manager

Megan Kernis (ES ’27) is a Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology major from Hazleton, Pennsylvania. She previously served as the 2024 Operations Manager and Director of Publicity for the 2024 Resonance Conference. Outside of YSM, she volunteers with Connecticut Hospice and the Hypertension Awareness Prevention Program at Yale (HAPPY), writes for the YDN and School of Public Health, and studies women’s health at the Kliman Lab. In her free time, you can find Megan running around New Haven or studying at Book Trader.

Sammy Feingold

Web Coordinator

Sammy Feingold is a first-year in Pauli Murray College from Long Beach, New York. She is a neuroscience major and loves nerding-out on all things brain-related. Outside of YSM, she is involved in Alzheimer’s research at the Arnsten Lab, YNEURO, and the Yale Concert Band as a clarinetist. She spends her free time watching Grey’s Anatomy, gymming, traveling the world, and ogling all the dogs in New Haven.

Sunny Vuong

Social Media Manager

Sunny Vuong is a sophomore in Saybrook from San Antonio, Texas, majoring in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology with a neurobiology concentration. She was previously a Director of Publicity for the Resonance Conference, social media content creator, and Synapse outreach coordinator. Outside of YSM, she dances with the Yale Ballroom Dance team and is president of Yale Peristalsis, which volunteers at the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. In her free time, Sunny enjoys funky cheeses, playing Bed Wars on her iPad with friends and family, and making dining hall vlogs.

Claire Chang

Social Media Content Creator

Claire Chang is a sophomore in Berkeley College from Yorktown, Virginia. She is pursuing a cognitive science major with a certificate of data science. Outside of YSM, Claire is involved in National Alzheimer’s Buddies, research in the Grutzendler lab, and social media work at the Yale Kavli Institute of Neuroscience. In her free time, she enjoys making friendship bracelets and trying new makeup.