Officers

Anka is from Bremanger, Norway recieved her B.S. in Exercise Science (2014) and M.S. Exercise Science (2016) from The University of Texas at San Antonio. She is now a Ph.D. Student in Exercise Physiology at The University of Texas at Austin studying neural cardiovascular control in health and disease. Her overarching career goals are to perform impactful research that has the potential to improve cardiovascular health and longevity as a faculty researcher. In her free time, Anka also enjoys soccer, hiking, traveling, and trying out local microbreweries. She became involved with GWIS because she wanted to connect with others passionate about empowering women in science and to get more involved by starting a local Austin chapter to make an impact locally by building a small community where advocates for women in science can connect, network and share their experiences as well as obstacles to inspire and help each other and others towards a successful career in science.

Pooja was born in India, where she completed her B.Sc. (2007) and M.Sc. (2009) in Microbiology. She also received her M.S in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Wright State University (2012). Pooja then worked as a Research Technologist in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine for two years. Pooja is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas at Austin and works in the field of DNA damage and repair. In her free time, she likes to ‘experiment’ in the kitchen and enjoys travelling. Pooja became a part of GWIS to connect and network with other women in science. Like Anka, she believed that starting the local chapter of GWIS in Austin would help provide a space for women from different branches of science to connect, network, empower and support each other.

Erin was born in Austin, Texas and raised in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. She is a former collegiate basketball player and received her B.S. in Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2019). Erin is pursuing her M.S. in Exercise Physiology in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at UT-Austin. In her free time she likes hiking, watching sporting events, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Erin is excited to become more involved with GWIS, continue to grow as a female scientist, and is looking forward to meeting and networking with other enthusiastic women engaged in science in the Austin community.

Email: ejcrownover@utexas.edu

Sophie grew up in Mount Hope, NY and completed her B.S. in Geology in 2017 at the University at Buffalo. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Geological Sciences at UT Austin with a focus on glaciers in Greenland. She studies the ice-ocean boundary of the Greenland Ice sheet to better understand how and why glaciers are changing in a warming climate. She joined GWIS to feel more connected to other women in academia and grow the organization in Austin! In her free time she enjoys kickboxing , roller skating, and embroidery. She is also interested in the intersection between science and policy and how to better communicate science to non-experts.

Email sgoliber@utexas.edu

Audrey Stone has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas at Austin since 2015. Audrey received her BS from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Health Science, MS from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in Exercise Science/Athletic Training, and PhD from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in Exercise Science. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa. Audrey studies the autonomic control of circulation during exercise in attempt to understand why adverse cardiovascular events occur in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Audrey became involved in GWIS when her graduate student expressed an interest in the organization and was looking for faculty support. She has always been committed to providing mentorship for young women scientists and supporting women in science as a whole. Audrey and her wife have a one-year old child and two very loving dogs.