Bios

professors

Dr. Tanyaradzwa Muzata, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Hampton University

Tanyaradzwa “Tanya” Muzata is an Assistant Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Hampton University. His research area is in polymer processing, mainly focusing on the structure-property correlation of multi-phasic polymeric nanomaterial-filled systems, the development of sustainable technology for upcycling post-consumer waste plastics, and the rheology of multiphasic systems. He obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Packaging at Michigan State University under Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz and Dr. Laurent Matuana, working on upcycling plastic waste.

postdoctoral researchers

Dr. Devontae Baxter, Postdoctoral Researcher in astronomy & astrophysics,

University of California San Diego

Dr. Devontae Baxter is a dual NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics and UC Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow at UC San Diego. He researches galaxy formation and evolution, and his work combines cosmological simulations with multi-wavelength observations to investigate the drivers of galaxy growth — the processes fueling star formation — and quenching, the mechanisms that halt it, across a range of cosmic environments and epochs. Additionally, Devontae is dedicated to constructing inclusive STEM spaces, particularly for individuals from historically excluded groups. He engages with this by organizing and teaching mentorship and coding workshops, as well as participating in community outreach events. In his free time, he enjoys learning new languages (currently French and Japanese), skateboarding, traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Dr. Don Dixon, Postdoctoral Researcher in astronomy, Vanderbilt University

Dr. Don Dixon is a first-year postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University and alumnus of the illustrious Cal-Bridge and Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge programs. His research includes a range of stellar astrophysics topics, with an emphasis on connections between stellar rotation, magnetic activity, and binary stars. Through these connections, he has helped to characterize several interesting active binaries, and during his tenure as a graduate student, he was awarded the most outstanding student publication award for his work on developing empirical relationships for the rotational activity of red giant branch stars. In addition to scientific research endeavors, Don also acts as the lead organizer for the BLack Academic Support and Advisory gRoup (BLASAR), which serves as a networking apparatus for Black scholars in STEM. He has also previously served on a graduate student and postdoctoral council to support the NASEM Roundtable on Mentorship, Well-being, and Professional Development in their goal to develop a more inclusive and equitable higher education research ecosystem for the sciences. Apart from academia, Don volunteered as project lead for the Open Jails project created by Code for Nashville, where he developed a web scraper pipeline to help identify candidates for non-profit bail funds in the Nashville-Davidson County area.

Graduate students

Jae Eniraiyetan, PhD Student in Philosophy, University of California San Diego

Jae Eniraiyetan is a PhD Student in Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Her research interest focuses on the philosophy of physics in general and the metaphysics and foundations of quantum mechanics.

Omobolade Odedoyin, MSE Candidate in Data Science, Johns Hopkins University

Omobolade Odedoyin is a Master of Science in Engineering candidate in Data Science at Johns Hopkins University, where he also earned his Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. He is a Rubenstein Fellow and a GEM Fellow, currently conducting research as an assistant at both Idaho National Laboratory, where he develops machine learning models for nuclear sensor data analysis, and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he applies AI to medical imaging for histology analysis. His research spans machine learning, optimization, and statistical modeling, with applications in energy systems and healthcare. With a deep commitment to bridging gaps in opportunity and education, he actively seeks to uplift and empower others through outreach, teaching, and advocacy. Omobolade is passionate about mentorship, diversity in STEM, and community engagement. As a coordinator for the First-Generation, Limited-Income (FLI) Initiatives Program at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Student Success, he has led efforts to improve access to academic resources, expand funding opportunities for underrepresented students, and foster mentorship.

Keyora Wharry, MS Candidate in Biotechnology, California STate University Fresno

Keyora Wharry is a master’s student in biotechnology at California State University- Fresno. She is a dedicated researcher investigating the molecular pathways through which chalcones, environmentally sustainable nematicides, induce death in Caenorhabditis elegans. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) present a significant challenge to global agriculture, with current control methods relying on harmful pesticides. Under the guidance of Dr. Calderón-Urrea, Keyora contributes to research identifying Chalcone 17, Chalcone 25, and Chalcone 30 as effective nematicides at a concentration of 10⁻⁴ M. However, their precise mechanisms of action remain unknown. Her work explores whether these chalcones exert their effects through the oxidative stress or neuropeptide signaling pathways, which are commonly targeted by other nematicides. Using Reverse Transcription-Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), she analyzes gene expression within these pathways to better understand chalcone-induced nematicidal activity.

Beyond her research, Keyora is deeply passionate about addressing education disparities in Fresno. She is an active member of Black Excellence in Science and Technology (BEST), an organization committed to increasing Black student participation and retention in STEM fields. Through BEST, she helps organize events that inspire Black children to explore science and technology while fostering a sense of community for Black STEM students on the Fresno State campus.

In addition to her academic and advocacy work, Keyora has a unique background in professional basketball. A former athlete, she now gives back to the sport by coaching young women who aspire to pursue similar dreams. In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring aspiring athletes, combining her passion for leadership, discipline, and empowerment both on and off the court.

Raechel Walker, PhD Student in Media Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Raechel Walker, originally from Temecula, CA, is a PhD student in the Media Lab's Personal Robots Group at MIT. She coined the framework “liberatory computing” to ensure that African American students can leverage their computing skills to challenge systemic oppression. To implement this framework, she founded the Data Activism Program, empowering African American students with liberation tools and data science skills to support social justice organizations. Her research combines Black Critical Theory, Critical Participatory Action Research, and data science to develop transformative computing practices. Notably, Raechel holds several prestigious fellowships, including the MIT Presidential Fellowship, Amazon Robotics Fellowship, and Graduate Education for Minorities (GEM) Fellowship. Her leadership played a pivotal role in her team's success, leading them to win the MIT Open Data Prize and the Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT) Best Paper Award.

Oluchi Ofoegbu, PhD Candidate in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine,

University of Southern California

Oluchi Ofoegbu is a PhD Candidate at the University of Southern California in the Development, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine PhD program. Upon admission to the program, she was awarded the USC Keck School of Medicine Dean’s Award and the USC Provost Diversity, Inclusion, and Access (DIA) Fellowship. She is completing her thesis in the lab of Dr. Gage Crump where she is currently working to create a model for joint cartilage regeneration in zebrafish. She was awarded an NIH NIDCR F31 fellowship for this work. In the summer before PhD, Oluchi began research in the lab of Dr. Niels Ringstad at New York University, with the goal to determine the effect of an observed mutation on serotonin synthesis in C. elegans. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with Honors in Biological Science. As an undergrad, she began research on innate immunity in Drosophila melanogaster in the lab of Dr. Zeba Wunderlich. Here she was awarded the Robert Ernst Prize in Biological Sciences and became a Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) scholar, the highest scholarship program funded by the NIH. At USC, She is a founding member and the Vice President of EmpowerED Graduate Student Alliance, a student-led organization dedicated to celebrating, empowering, and providing support for racial/ethnic underrepresented minority graduate students at the USC Health Sciences Campus. Outside of the lab, Oluchi is a yoga teacher and a proud cat mom.

Khamyl Cooksey, PhD Student in Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced

Khamyl Cooksey is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California, Merced. His research focuses on developing sustainable chemical transformations through electrochemical catalysis, an emerging platform for efficient and selective chemical synthesis with industrial applications. Additionally, his work explores the N-functionalization of saccharin to design tunable bioactive compounds with potential applications in catalysis, drug discovery, and materials science. He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from California State University, Fresno, where he conducted research on Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) and the synthesis of tetracyclic bis-piperidine alkaloids as potential anticancer agents.

Preston Dozie Rukewe Willard Itie, Paleontologist, Industry Professional

Hello, my name is Preston Dozie Rukewe Willard Itie. I am a nigerian-american Igbo and my tribe is Imo-state. My bachelors in Geology was obtained from San Diego State University. After graduating from college, I have worked in the field of Paleontological Monitoring and education work.

undergraduate students

Samira Shirazy, Undergraduate in Human Centered Design and Eng., University of Washington

Samira Shirazy is a senior at the University of Washington, majoring in Human-Centered Design & Engineering. Her research interests focus on the intersection of technology, education, and computing for marginalized populations, particularly through community-based participatory research.

She has been actively involved in organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and A Vision for Engineering Literacy & Access (AVELA), where she has held leadership positions supporting underrepresented students in STEM. Her research includes studying how students engage with AI and designing equitable tech systems.

Outside of school, Samira enjoys building Lego sets. She has a growing collection of nearly 40 sets!

ndeye diop, Undergraduate in informatics, University of washington

Ndeye Diop is a junior at the University of Washington, Seattle, studying Informatics with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction and a minor in Data Science. Her research centers on AI auditing for diversity and fairness, specifically evaluating race and ethnicity representation in large language models and text-to-image systems. She has presented her work at academic conferences and is passionate about leveraging technology for equitable and inclusive AI systems. Beyond research, Ndeye is actively involved in leadership and mentorship, serving on the regional board for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and as an instructor for A Vision for Engineering Literacy & Access (AVELA), where she teaches coding and AI concepts to K-12 Black and Brown youth.

Jaylene Gardner-Perales, Undergraduate in Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine

My name is Jaylene and I’m currently an undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine majoring in biological sciences. My research interests include studying mesenchymal stem cells through dielectrophoretic devices. Another one of my greatest interests is in studying the health disparities experienced by the black community, and my current research brings important concepts and statistics to the light. Aside from research, I enjoy painting abstractly, playing a few instruments, and going on random adventures at times. I also enjoy spending time with student government and volunteering at the clinic. Those are a few of the many activities that make me happy. Something else that makes me happy is being able to advocate for my community and the issues not discussed nor investigated as much, in-depth through the medium of research. The research I’ve done relating to the black community’s healthcare experience regarding primary providers, racial discrimination, and emergency room use is not only academic but personally meaningful.

Joyce Nimely, Undergraduate in computer science, berea college

Joyce Nimely is an international undergraduate student from Liberia at Berea College, majoring in Computer and Information Science and Psychology. While studying sensation and perception as part of her psychology coursework, Joyce developed a deep interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and human cognition, particularly focusing on computational models of perception. She is passionate about exploring how AI can be designed to better replicate human sensory processing. Beyond her academic pursuits, Joyce is a self-published author, an avid reader, and a strong advocate for educational and technological advancement in underserved communities, especially in Africa.

Grace Nwankwo, Undergraduate in Health & Human Sciences, University of Southern California

Grace Chisom Nwankwo is a fourth-year student at the University of Southern California (USC) majoring in Health & Human Sciences with minors in Web Development and Healthcare Studies. Inspired by her upbringing in both Chicago and Nigeria, she aspires to address cardiopulmonary health disparities among patients of color. This past summer, Grace worked as a clinical research assistant at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where she investigated the transcriptomic profiles of long COVID and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (ILD) to identify genetic risk markers associated with disease progression. Her work reflects a broader commitment to addressing healthcare disparities, particularly in underserved communities. Beyond research, Grace is deeply involved in student life at USC, serving as the president of USC’s Pan-African Student Association, the Director of Special Events for African Americans in Health, a weekly science experience session leader at a neighboring elementary school through Science Outreach (SCout), an in-class learning assistant for inorganic chemistry, a volunteer at a Tijuana clinic through Flying Samaritans, and a founding member of USC’s first African dance team.

Kennedy Walker, Undergraduate in Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University

Kennedy Walker is a fourth-year undergraduate student from Prince George’s County, MD, majoring in Chemical Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of Cohort 9 of the Penn State Millennium Scholars Program and a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. Kennedy serves as the President of the Penn State Chapter of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. Her research endeavors include studies on metal-complexable monoazo dyes for hair dyeing, as well as the development of macroporous hydrogels via cryogelation. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, she plans to pursue a career in research and development. Beyond her academic and research pursuits, Kennedy enjoys dancing and traveling.

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