President

Meghan Reynolds

Email: meghan.reynolds@duke.edu

Meghan is a fourth-year PhD student in Brent Hoffman’s Cell and Molecular Mechanobiology lab.  Her research focuses on elucidating the mechanosensitivity of the cell’s plasma membrane.  This is her second year serving as one of BEPSA’s events co-chairs and she is excited to once again take part in planning and organizing various events for the department.  Outside of work, Meghan enjoys traveling, reading, and finding new restaurants and breweries around Durham.

Vice President

Alan Rosales

Email: alan.rosales@duke.edu

Alan is a fourth-year PhD student in Aravind Asokan’s lab and works on engineering novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids for improved targeted gene delivery/gene editing to different organs. Outside of the lab, he enjoys baking, hiking and any other outdoor activity. As one of the Outreach Chairs, he is excited to help plan volunteering opportunities and help build a stronger connection with Durham Public Schools.

Chief Technology Officer

Cyrus Tanade

Email: cyrus.tanade@duke.edu

Cyrus is a third-year PhD candidate in the Randles lab and works on using massively parallel computing and deep learning to study cardiovascular disease. As CTO, he aims to maintain and manage digital resources, expand on BEPSA's website to showcase our community's achievements, and better connect with prospective students. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, golf, and binging tv shows. 

Chief Finance Officer

Grayson Hamrick

Email: grayson.hamrick@duke.edu

Grayson is a second-year PhD student in the You synthetic biology lab. In his research, he aims to engineer robust microbial communities for biotechnological and biomanufacturing applications. His primary duty as CFO is to aid the rest of the executive board and the committee chairs in realizing their goals by acquiring and approving funding. Outside of the lab, he enjoys reading, coaching lacrosse, and hanging out with his two dogs, Wrangler and River. 

Events

Nicole Angel

Nikki is a second-year PhD student in the Hoffman and Varghese labs and is beginning her research in biomechanics. As a first year rep, she is especially excited to get to know and help her own cohort and Duke better through BEPSA! In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with friends. 

Events

Amit Narawane

Email: amit.narawane@duke.edu

Amit is a third-year PhD candidate in Joseph Izatt’s biomedical optics lab. His research focuses on novel optical technologies to aid ophthalmic diagnostics and therapeutics. Outside of the lab he enjoys reading a good book, baking for friends, traveling and learning languages, and exploring the Durham food scene. As an events co-chair he is excited to be a part of the in-person events revival and help strengthen the BME community.

Outreach

Wren Wightman

Email: wren.wightman@duke.edu

Wren is a second-year PhD student in Junjie Yao’s lab and they study photoacoustic imaging. Outside of the lab, they like cooking, tending their plants, making music, and playing with their kitten! Will, as a first year representative, aims to get to know their cohort better and help them become more at home at Duke!

Outreach

Helen Streff

Email: helen.streff@duke.edu

Helen is a third-year PhD candidate in Charlie Gersbach’s lab working on in vivo liver regeneration CRISPR screens and iPSC reprogramming. As a chair for Outreach, she is looking forward to organizing a blood drive and coordinating volunteering with the Museum of Life and Science. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, baking, watching the Bachelor, and cross-stitching.

Resources

Josh Milligan

Email: joshua.milligan@duke.edu

Josh is a fourth-year PhD student in the Chilkoti lab and works on engineering thermally-responsive elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) for delivery of cancer vaccines and immunotherapy. Outside of the lab, he enjoys running, cooking, watching hockey, and traveling to the mountains and beaches in North Carolina. As Resources Chair, he aims to create new resources such as for new students transitioning into the Department.

Shea Middleton

Email: shea.middleton@duke.edu

Shea is a first-year PhD student in the Bass lab, studying injury biomechanics. As a first-year officer, Shea is eager to foster a sense of community within his own cohort, and is excited to help them integrate with Duke in a meaningful way. When off campus, Shea enjoys taking care of his pet blue crayfish, gaming, and spending time with friends.

Lauren Onweller

Email: lauren.onweller@duke.edu

Lauren is a first-year PhD student in Tatiana Segura’s biomaterials lab. Her research focuses on injectable hydrogels for stroke treatment and regenerative medicine. Outside of the lab she enjoys hiking, baking and trying out local coffee shops. As a first year representative co-chair she is excited to get first year students involved and help strengthen the BME community.