WISAY Board Members
The Board of Women and Gender Minorities in Science at Yale is made up of dedicated graduate and undergraduate students, and postdoctoral fellows across a variety of STEM departments at Yale. Meet our current leadership below!
Karina Gonzalez Herrera, Ph.D.
she/hers
Associate Dean of Collaborative Excellence, Yale School of Medicine
Club Advisor
Board member since 2023
Hometown: San Marcos, CA
In addition to her passion for education and scientific research, Dr. Gonzalez is passionate about mentoring and advising to empower individuals to reach their goals and become the next generation of leaders. She collaborates with faculty, students, and staff with the goal of fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive training environment.
Fun Fact: Dr. Gonzalez enjoys plants and making connections with students like-minded individuals.
Allison Cairns
she/hers
Ph.D. Candidate
Applied Physics & Physical Engineering Biology
Co-President
Board member since 2021
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA
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Favorite WISAY activity: The research chats and socials.
Fun Fact: Allison enjoys hiking, backpacking, skateboarding, surfing, cliff diving, and practicing MMA.
Christine Ruibing Wu
she/hers
Ph.D. Candidate in INP
Vice President
Board member since 2025
I’m a current Third Year PhD candidate in INP. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, where I double majored in Biochemistry and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. I have been a passionate long-distance runner for the past 18 years. Outside of running, I enjoy hiking, playing table tennis, basketball, swimming, writing music, and baking. My favorite treat to make is Cantonese-style egg tarts. More recently, I have started rock climbing with a group of friends, which has been incredibly fun. :)
Han Yang
she/hers
Ph.D. Candidate in Genetics
Director of Mentorship
Board member since 2025
Han is a Ph.D. Candidate in Genetics. She first became involved with WISAY by participating in the mentorship program and now she's excited to join the amazing team! Outside of science, she loves spending time with her cat and has recently discovered her love for hiking. She also writes poems and hosts poetry clubs.
Abigail Ama Koomson
she/hers
Ph.D. Candidate in Cellular & Molecular Physiology
Director of Community Engagement
Board member since 2025
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
Madeline Pitre
she/hers
B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry
Co-President
Board member since 2023
Hometown: Biloxi, MS
Favorite WISAY activity: Coming into my first year at Yale, I found WISAY's mentorship program to be very foundational to my STEM experience. My WISAY mentor was amazing and helped me navigate finding a lab and my overall success in a very unfamiliar scientific environment.
Fun Fact: Within the past 6 months, I have visited every state in New England, most for the first time!
Yona Lei
she/hers
MD/PhD Student in Immunobiology
Vice President
Board member since 2025
Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Favorite WISAY activity: The mentorship program & socials!
Fun Fact: I enjoy going to the gym, traveling, and trying new foods. One of my life goals is to try every form of sweet potato that exists.
Lucille Tsao
she/hers
Ph.D. Candidate in Chemistry
Director of Community Engagement
Board member since 2022
Hometown: Succasunna, NJ
Favorite WISAY activity: The mentorship program!
Fun Fact: I love to embroider! I am always working on a fun and challenging project during my free time!
Ashleigh Smirnov
she/hers
Director of Community Engagement
Board member since 2025
Favorite WISAY activity: The mentorship program
Fun Fact: I love spicy food!
Ming Ma
she/hers
Ph.D. Candidate
Psychology
Director of Finances
Board member since 2022
Favorite WISAY activity: The career panels
Fun Fact: I really want to go to Switzerland this year!
Ada Ates
she/hers
Ph.D. Student in INP
Vice President of Communications
Board member since 2025
Hometown: Izmir, Turkiye
I'm a first-year PhD student in the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, originally from Turkey. I double-majored in Neuroscience and Computer Science at Oberlin College. I am passionate about leveraging computational approaches to advance neuroscience and am particularly interested in how disruptions in neural circuits contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. Outside the lab, I love baking, painting, reading, and traveling. Recently I have started to play board games and DND that I have been really enjoying!
Disha Sharma
she/hers
M.S. in Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics
Director of Finances
Board member since 2025
Hometown: Aurora, IL
Favorite WISAY activity: The winter social. It was nice to take a break during finals week through this event and socialize with yummy hot chocolate!
Fun fact: I used to dance competitively in high school!
Sarosh Kayani
she/hers
Postgraduate Associate in Neuroscience
Board Member
Board member since 2024
Hometown: Islamabad, Pakistan
Favorite activity: WISAY socials!
Fun fact: I love origami! I'm currently on the hunt for a pattern for a human brain.
Alumni
Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Favorite WISAY activity: The mentorship program & socials!
Fun Fact: I enjoy going to the gym, traveling, and trying new foods. One of my life goals is to try every form of sweet potato that exists.
Rana Gbyli
she/hers
Ph.D. Candidate
*DEPT*
Vice President
Board member since 2024
Hometown:
Dinara Bolat
she/hers
B.S. in Neuroscience
Board member since 2022
Hometown: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Favorite WISAY activity:
Favorite WISAY activity: The career coffee chats! They're so helpful :)
Fun Fact: My goal for this summer is to learn how to surf.