Our Team
Meet the team that makes it happen.
JOURney is a student-run organization with an editorial board and a publicity team. The Co-Editors-in-Chief manage and oversee all operations. Our field editors – Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities – get a first-hand look at the variety of exciting research UNC students do. Through a systematic process, editors review submissions in their respective fields and recommend select papers to be included in the journal. They also work with accepted authors to add finishing touches to the paper before publication. The Layout Editor keeps our journal fresh, working on all creative design aspects. As for our publicity team, they work the behind-the-scenes to spread innovative student research on campus. This includes implementing creative market strategies to promote JOURney, publicizing the recently released journal, and recruiting submissions.
This organization is sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research at UNC.
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Roshni Arun
Junior | Neuroscience and Biology Majors
Roshni is a junior with research interests in genetics, oncology, and immunology, specifically on the development of non-standardized precision medicine treatments for cancers. Outside academia, she loves singing with the UNC Loreleis, hiking, and traveling.
Riley Harper
Senior | Statistics and Analytics & Applied Mathematics Majors
Riley has developed an interest in the fields of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, particularly in their application to statistical methods. He further develops this interest as a research assistant under the guidance of Dr. Julieta Lischinsky in the Neurobehavioral Circuits Group of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Yasmine Ackall
Junior | Chemistry (Biochemistry track) Major
Yasmine is a junior passionate about the biomedical sciences and using basic science research to develop treatments for human diseases. Her research interests lie specifically in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, cell signaling pathways, and RNA biology. Currently, she works in the Rob Dowen Lab investigating lipid metabolism using C. elegans.
Shivank Kancharla
Sophomore | Quantitative Biology Major
Shivank is a sophomore with research interests in nerve regeneration, orthopedics, and machine learning. Currently, Shivank works as an undergraduate research assistant at Duke’s School of Medicine Orthopedic Department, working on pose estimation in mice with nerve injuries and much more!
Editors
Jake Cheng
Freshman | Biology and Music Majors
Research interests in molecular and cellular biology, specifically gene therapy and nanomedicine for treating ocular and gastrointestinal diseases.
Taylor Goldberg
Freshman | Social Science Major
Research interests in cognitive psychology, public policy, and language, particularly linguistic relativity and politicized language.
Dhriti Gupta
Freshman | Biology Major
Passionate about uncovering the molecular basis of complex diseases, including genetic mutations driving metabolic and hereditary disorders.
Nicholas Hamilton
Junior | History and Global Studies Majors
Interested in the Interregnum (1649-1660) and the impact of Cromwellian rule on Scotland and Ireland.
Nicki Kaplan
Junior | Political Science and Peace, War and Defense Majors
Interests in immigration policy, diplomacy, and American history. Experience in mass tort litigation and local campaign work.
Mia Liu
Junior | Exercise Sports Science Major
Interested in lower extremity walking biomechanics and changes after ACL injury. Research assistant in STARHeel Performance Lab.
Wangfei Liu
Freshman | Economics Major
Interested in macroeconomics theories, international economics, gender equality, and how investment banking decisions impact daily lives.
Adarsh Magesh
Freshman | Neuroscience Major
Research interests in neurodegenerative diseases, regenerative medicine, and genetics.
Hima Manne
Freshman | Neuroscience and Psychology Major
Interested in anesthetics, perioperative care, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Jada McGlothin
Junior | Political Science and History Majors
Interested in how class treatment and structures manifest during and after widespread crises such as natural disasters.
Sophia McReynolds
Junior | Biostatistics and History Majors
Interested in environmental health risk prevention, disease outbreak management, and social determinants of health. Research assistant at the UNC Water Institute.
Nikita Muthakana
Junior | Quantitative Biology Major
Research interests in applying computational methods to analyze proteomics datasets and single-cell data. Research assistant at the Marsico Lung Institute.
Vraj Parikh
Junior | Health Policy & Management and Statistics Majors
Interested in improving healthcare systems and predictions for neurodegenerative disorders. Research assistant at the UNC Methods of Incomplete Data Lab.
Marwa Sharib
Senior | Neuroscience and Biology Majors
Interested in neurobiology, 3D stem cell cultures, and genetic changes in neurological conditions. Research assistant at the UNC School of Medicine AMP Lab.
Disha Sharma
Freshman | Neuroscience and Medical Anthropology Majors
Research interests in genetics, reproductive public health, and the health humanities.
Alina Sohail
Freshman | Neuroscience Major
Research interests in cardiology, molecular biology, and therapeutic development. Currently involved in research related to aptamers and myocardial reperfusion injury.
Cire Wang
Freshman | Anthropology & Sociology Majors
Interested in how states control belonging through migration governance and surveillance systems. Research assistant in UNC Sociology under Dr. Peng.
Yajing Zheng
Sophomore | Biology Major
Research in generating liver/brain organoids from iPSCs to study SLC13A5 deficiency.
Publicity Team
Alexa Anquilo
Senior | Psychology and English & Comparative Literature
Passionate about accessible health education, health intervention design, and community health practices. Research assistant at the NERD Lab and UPSIDE Team.
Alyna Sigel
Senior | Public Policy, Environmental Justice, PPE
Interested in global environmental justice research and policies. Currently focusing on research about nonprofit ethics.
Nicolette Tandradinata
Sophomore | Psychology and Advertising/PR
Research interests in mental health, particularly how media exposure and digital communication influence emotional well-being among young adults.
Layout Team
Hoang Luu
Junior | Biology
Passionate about research that contributes to curing diseases and helping underserved communities.
Lekha Singh
Freshman | Nutrition and Statistics
Passionate about the intersection of public health and nutrition in creating a more resilient food system.
Hana Nakhle
Junior | Biology
Research interests in microbial interactions and phage therapy. Undergraduate researcher in the Dangl Lab.
Sindhu Paladugu
Freshman | Neuroscience
Interested in nutrition education interventions, healthcare equity, and technology to improve public health outcomes.
Ambassadors
Sanjita Srinath
Sophomore | Biomedical Engineering
Research interests in pharmacology, immunology, and genetics. Research assistant at the Viventi Lab at Duke and the Lai Lab at UNC.
Lola Larsen
Freshman | Neuroscience
Interested in the neuropharmacology of addiction. Research assistant in the Kash Lab at the UNC School of Medicine.
Kriti Peechu
Freshman | Biology, Chemistry and Medicine
Research interests in cancer biology, regenerative medicine, and population health, with the goal of advancing more equitable healthcare.
Aida Xue
Sophomore | Psychology & Music
Research interests in psychological and cognitive effects of developmental and social factors. Research assistant at St. Jude and the Bardone-Cone Lab at UNC.
Annabella Rozin
Freshman | Peace War and Defense, Hispanic Studies
Fascinated by how languages can never be translated perfectly and the multitudes each language contains.
Ramya Khelgi
Sophomore | Neuroscience
Research interests in neurodegenerative diseases and regenerative medicine. Research assistant in the Anton Lab at the UNC School of Medicine.
Kaavya Vemuri
Freshman | Neuroscience
Interested in pediatric brain development research and how developmental disorders translate to changes in behavior and learning.
Prisha Kumari
Freshman | Neuroscience & Pre-Health Policy
Interested in the intersection of pain mechanisms and addiction, and the role of policy in healthcare delivery.
Janvi Perabattula
Freshman | Biology & Pre-HPM
Research interests in healthcare access in rural communities, cancer biology, biomaterials, and oral disease.
Jamileth Olvera
Sophomore | Neuroscience Major
Interested in developments on blood and spinal fluids and their use to find biomarkers tracking the progression of ALS.
Salma AHassanein
Freshman | Biology Major
Passionate about how biology and health policy intersect to improve healthcare accessibility for underrepresented communities.
Elizabeth Alene
Sophomore | Global Studies, Public Policy
Research interests in China-Africa relations, debt sustainability, and the political economy of trade and development.