Yale Open Labs Science Café April 7th, 2019
Talks: Peyton Williams, Grace Swaim, Johannes Lange
MC: Josie Jacob-Dolan, Matt Cook
Location: Sterling Chemistry Laboratory, Yale University
Date: April 7th, 2019
Peyton Williams: Peyton is a first year PhD student studying organic chemistry at Yale. Peyton previously attended North Carolina State University where he started doing research as a sophomore and developed a passion for making molecules. In his talk, Peyton discusses what organic chemistry is, and explains how organic chemistry is being used for new and exciting medical applications. In his free time, Peyton enjoys working out and tending to his army of house plants.
Grace Swaim: Grace is a PhD student in the department of Cell Biology here at Yale. In her research, Grace uses worms as a model system for human diseases so that we can figure out cures at much faster rates than if we had just looked at the human body, which is much more complex. In this talk, Grace answers the question: Worms, what are they good for? In her free time, Grace enjoys reading and video games.
Johannes Lange: Johannes is a 5th year graduate student in the astronomy department, who will tell us all about dark energy: What it is, Why do we care, and how we might discover more about it through the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey being conducted on the Mayall telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory starting in 2019. Born and raised in Berlin, Germany, Johannes achieved a bachelor’s degree at the free University of Berlin, and a Masters degree at the University of Heidelberg. Johannes is quite the traveler, having spent time in Santa Barbara, California as well as Hong Kong, China. When Johannes isn’t working, he enjoys badminton, biking, soccer, and board games.
Yale Open Labs Science Café November 11th, 2018
Talks: Malena Rice, Josie Jacob-Dolan, Chris Spalding
Location: Kroon Hall, Yale
Date: November 11th, 2018
Malena Rice is a 2nd year graduate student in the astronomy department working with Dr. Greg Laughlin studying planetary system formation and evolution in the context of extrastellar systems and our own solar system. In her talk, Malena discusses Exoplanets: what they are, and the ways we explore them. Malena was born in southern California and completed her degrees in physics and astronomy at UC Berkeley. In her free time she loves to read, tutor, play the flute, and explore contemporary art galleries.
Josie Jacob-Dolan is a 1st year graduate student in the chemistry department. Before coming to Yale, Josie researched methods to make solar cells more efficient while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Fordham University. Josie then spent a year teaching physical education in Montana before returning to the east coast to pursue graduate studies at Yale University. In this presentation, Josie discusses Renewable Alternatives to Conventional Energy, including solar power, wind, and other potential replacements for fossil fuels.
Chris Spalding is a postdoctoral researcher in the astronomy department whose research involves investigating exoplanets. Although Chris is very interested in planets that lie in other solar systems, earth remains one of his favorite rocky planets to study. Specifically, Chris is interested in the Lesser Known Wonders of Life that have lived on earth during its 4 billion year history; in his talk he discusses creatures from dinosaurs to creatures much more ancient and mysterious. In his free time, Chris enjoys experiencing nature firsthand by climbing trees and running through forests.
Yale Open Labs Science Café April 8th, 2018
Talks: Arthur Adams, Rick Crouse, Angelo Ricarte
Location: Kroon Hall, Yale
Date: April 8th, 2018
Rick Crouse is a 3rd year graduate student in the neuroscience department conducting research with Dr. Marina Picciotto. Though Rick studies many aspects of the brain, here he explains the concept behind How Memories are Formed. Rick was born in Palatka, Florida, and later attended the University of South Florida where he received his bachelors degree in Cell and Molecular Biology with honors. When not doing research, you can find Rick at a number of other science outreach events including Yale Science Diplomats, Flipped Science Fair, Pathways to Science Scholars program, and many others. Aside from outreach, Rick enjoys board games, hiking, and taking walks with his cats.
Angelo Ricarte is a 5th year graduate student in the astronomy department working with Dr. Priya Natarajan. In his talk, Angelo discusses how earth could become a black hole, and in general, How Supermassive Black Holes are Formed. Previously located in California, Angelo was born and raised in La Mirada, LA county, and attended UC Berkeley where he ultimately graduated with honors witha degree in astrophysics and applied mathematics. Outside of the lab, Angelo enjoys role-playing games, both online and tabletop, and giving planetarium shows to the New Haven community at the Leitner Observatory.
Arthur Adams is a 3rd year graduate student in the astronomy department studying physics and astronomy. Arthur's main scientific interests include planetary science and observational exoplanet research. In his talk, Under the Sea, Under the Stars, Arthur explains what other planets would need to harbor life by examining what exactly led to earth being such a good place for it. Arthur obtained his bachelors of science in physics from Brown University and his masters in science from San Francisco State University. Arthur also enjoys linguistics, swimming, playing and writing music for piano, and solving Rubik's Cubes.
Yale Open Labs Science Café October 29th, 2017
Talks: Johannes Lange, Kimmy Cushman, Lily Zhao
Location: Kroon Hall, Yale
Date: October 29th, 2017
Johannes Lange is a 4th year graduate student in the astronomy department, who will discuss Uncovering Dark Matter through Galaxy Motion. Born and raised in Berlin, Germany, Johannes achieved a bachelor’s degree at the free University of Berlin, and a Masters degree at the University of Heidelberg. Johannes is quite the traveler, having spent time in Santa Barbara, California as well as Hong Kong, China. When Johannes isn’t working, he enjoys badminton, biking, soccer, and board games.
Lily Zhao is a 2nd year graduate student in the astronomy department who will speak about Life, the Universe, and Everything. Lily grew up in Philadelphia, where it is in fact, not always sunny. As an undergrad, Lily triple majored in math, physics, and biology at the University of Chicago. Currently, her work focuses on discovering exoplanets, planets that orbit stars other than the sun. In her free time, Lily enjoys running triathlons, tending house plants, and partaking in scavenger hunts.
Kimmy Cushman is a 1st year graduate student in the physics department who will unveil the Mysterious World of Particle Physics and describe how life operates at the smallest scale imaginable. Kimmy obtained her bachelor’s degree in physics at the City University of New York, and after graduate school hopes to obtain a professorship in theoretical physics. When not studying physics and math, Kimmy likes to run and learn about languages and other world cultures.
Yale Open Labs Science Café April 2017
Talks: Yana Bebieva, Sarah Millholland, Veronica Galvin
Location: Kroon Hall, Yale
Date: April 2017
Yana Bebieva, Ph.D. student in Neuroscience, speaks about the The Human Brain: An Intro to the Prefrontal Cortex
Sarah Millholland, Ph.D. student in Astronomy, discusses the Search for Planet Nine
Yana Bebieva, Ph.D. student in Geology and Geophysics, addresses the effects of Double-diffusive Mixing in the Arctic Ocean
Yale Open Labs Science Café November 13th, 2016
Talks: Susan Knox, Holly Merta, Lydia Hoffstaetter
Location: Kroon Hall, Yale
Date: November 13th, 2016
Susan Knox, Ph.D. student in Chemistry, speaks about Understanding the Ingredients in Toothpaste. Susan is a first year Ph.D. student in the Chemistry Department at Yale University, with a focus in chemical biology. In 2016, she graduated from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) with a major in chemistry and a minor in biology. While at TCNJ, she founded TCNJ Connect, a program where undergraduates visit local high schools and present their research experiences. In 2014-15, she was selected as a NJ Governor’s STEM Scholar, for which she developed and conducted an experiment about lateralization in the trigeminal nerve while mentoring four high school students. At Yale, Susan participates in Open Labs, ManyMentors, and Yale Swing & Blues.
Holly Merta, Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, will discuss Microscopy as a window into a new world! Holly is a second year graduate student in Shirin Bahmanyar’s lab at Yale. She is originally from Houston, Texas, where she graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She enjoys cell photography (microscopy), cooking, taking her cat on walks, and discussing the ins and outs of education with her husband David, who is a middle school Spanish teacher. Holly hopes to one day become a professor and teach students of all ages about how cool cell biology is.
Lydia Hoffstaetter, Ph.D. student in Neuroscience, will talk about Hibernation. Lydia grew up in Ithaca, NY, and graduated from Cornell University in 2012 with a double major in biological sciences and in philosophy. During high school and college, she worked in several research labs during the summers to explore different areas of biology, which eventually lead to her interest in the nervous system. Now she is a 5th year graduate student at Yale University in the department of Neuroscience, studying hibernation and temperature sensation. Lydia loves to share science with students of all ages, and participates, with her lab, in other Pathways to science events, such as Brain Education Day and the summer Scholars program. To relax, she likes to dance, draw, and play piano.
Yale Open Labs Science Café July 15th, 2016
Talks: Tyler Rice, Eric Jin, Danielle Widner
Location: Kroon Hall, Yale
Date: July 16th, 2016
Tyler Rice, Ph.D. student in Immunobiology, speaks about the topic of Healthy Bacteria. He is studying the relationship between gut bacteria and the immune system of mammals, through the influence of a protein called IgA. Tyler came to Yale from the NIH Postbac program in Bethesda, MD where he studied the effects of probiotics on alveolar macrophages. Previously he attended Auburn University in Alabama where he enjoyed learning about plant biology, engineering, and eating lots of BBQ. In his spare time he enjoys playing volleyball and, whenever possible, spending time with family on the sunny beaches of Florida.
Eric Jin, Ph.D. student in Applied Physics, will discuss Creating Fuel from Sunlight. Eric spent most of his life in California, where he attended college at the University of California at Berkeley, majoring in physics. He is now working toward his Ph.D. at Yale in the Applied Physics department, where he uses fancy vacuum chambers to grow and characterize atomic nanostructures. By having precision down to the atom (literally!), we can design new materials for the future in the fields of renewable energies, advanced electronics, biotechnology, and aerospace engineering. Eric will talk about the renewable energy component; notably, how to use these new materials to effectively convert sunlight into usable fuel. When Eric isn’t doing physics, you might find him hiking, taking photos, or swing dancing!
Danielle Widner, Ph.D. student in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry will talk about Antibiotic Resistance. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Dani became fascinated with the natural world. In college at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point that love of nature transformed into a fascination with the intricacies of life on a molecular level. She is a graduate student in the Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry graduate program at Yale and studies non-coding RNAs in bacteria. Outside of lab Dani enjoys rollerblading, board games, and sushi.
Yale Open Labs Science Café November 2015
Talks: Robin Canavan, Darryl Seligman, Sharif Kornemer
Location: Kroon Hall, Yale
Date: Nov. 8th, 2015
Robin Canavan, graduate student in Geology & Geophysics, will help you Life on a Different Planet - The Secret Past of Our Own Earth. You might not even recognize our planet when it looked more like the ice planet Hoth in the Star Wars Universe. Learn how scientists can unravel past climate information and how Earth might be headed back to resembling the tropical greenhouse world of the age of the dinosaurs.
Darryl Seligman, graduate student in Astronomy, will talk about Stellar Astrophysics. The Sun is the only astrophysical object that directly impacts us, and its behavior profoundly influences our life on Earth. Space weather and geomagnetic storms from solar eruptions such as flares and coronal mass ejections present high risk to power stations, GPS systems and satellites. Therefore, understanding mechanisms driving these eruptions and predicting space weather is one of the most compelling and societally relevant astrophysical goals. There are many theories about how energy is transported from deep within the sun to the exterior. My talk is on research I have done on the relationship between the plasma and the magnetic fields in active regions.
Sharif Kronemer, graduate student in Biology & Biomedical Science, will talk about Consciousness - What is it and How do we define it?