Meet the Writers


Brain Matters Staff
Chief-Editor

Laura is a Ju-
nior majoring 
in Molecular 
and Cellular 
Biology and 
is pursuing a 
minor in Food 
Science. She 
is very excit-

ed to showcase the new volume 
and hopes to expand the jour-
nal to new horizons. Aside from 
working on the journal, she is an 
assistant researcher in the Rob-
inson Lab, is an MCB leader, an 
Orientation Leader, a member of 
Bioscience Journal club, and an 
executive board member of the 
Undergraduate Neuroscience So-
ciety.

Assistant Chief-Editor 
Fiza is a Ju-
nior majoring 
in Molecular 
and Cellular 
Biology on the 
pre-med track. 
In addition to 
her involve-
ment in the 
Neuroscience Journal Committee, 
she has communicated her Illinois 
experience by being a former UIUC 
admissions blogger and enjoys sci-
ence through volunteering at a local 
free clinic and doing research at Vet 
Med. She is thrilled to promote a 
neuroscience dialogue on campus!  

Editor
Carolyn is a 
junior major-
ing in Molecu-
lar and Cel-
lular Biology 
and is current-
ly conducting 
research in 
neurochemis-
try in Dr. Jonathan V. Sweedler’s 
lab. Outside of academics, she is 
passionate about IlliniThon, the 
University of Illinois’ Dance Mar-
athon program that fundraises 
for St. John’s Children’s Hospital 
in Springfield, IL. She is excit-
ed to collaborate with the other 
students behind “Brain Matters” 
and promote brain awareness on 
Campus.

Editor
Samantha is a 
junior majoring 
in Journalism 
with a minor 
in Astrono-
my. Outside 
of academics, 
Samantha pho-
tographs and 

models for The Fashion Network. 
She is excited about mixing her 
skills of writing and photography 
to promote brain awareness and 
neuroscience knowledge on cam-
pus. 



Editor and Designer
Jade is a third 
year undergrad-
uate in Cognitive 
Science with a 
concentration in 
Linguistics. She is 
passionate about 
voice technology 
and its effects on 
human behavior. 
In her free time she sings, plays guitar and 
piano, and loves trying new foods. She also 
enjoys traveling and immersing herself 
in other cultures. Her love of writing and 
editing is shown through her work for the 
Illinimedia Company and article written 
for SoundHound Inc’s Speech-to-Meaning 
blog. She is happy to be editing and design-
ing for the “Brain Matters” journal.

Designer and Writer
Apil is a sopho-
more majoring 
in Molecular and 
Cellular biology 
with interests in 
Neuroscience 
Research. Outside 
of studying biolo-
gy, he volunteers 
at both Riverside 
hospital and Riverside Senior Life Center 
where he works with Alzheimer patients. 
His other hobbies include playing Basket-
ball and Soccer.

Editor
Eva is a junior 
majoring in 
Molecular and 
Cellular Biology 
and minoring in 
Creative Writ-
ing. Aside from 
her passion for 
mental health 
and neurosci-

ence awareness, she enjoys writing and 
dancing, and is a proud member of UI-
UC’s Legend Dance Company. She is so 
excited to work with her fellow students 
to expand our campus’s appreciation for 
neuroscience through Brain Matters!

Editor 
Sarah is a Ju-
nior majoring 
in Biochemistry 
and Intradisci-
plinary Psychol-
ogy. In addition 
to editing for 
Brain Matters, 
Sarah works 
in Dr. Aui-

nash Kalsotra’s biochemistry lab as a 
research assistant and in Dr. Kara Fed-
ermeier’s cognitive neuroscience lab. 
In the future, Sarah hopes to pursue an 
MD-PhD in Biochemistry to study the 
mechanisms of neurodegenerative disord

Brain Matters Staff