Meet the WiNUK Team
Founder
Elizabeth English 'Lizzie'
She/Her
Lizzie is a third-year PhD student at the University of Cambridge, characterising protein aggregates and their toxicity in Alzheimer's disease.
With a passion for science communication and equity, she established WiNUK to connect fellow women in neuroscience. Lizzie drives WiNUK to work together to catalyse change through facilitating conversations about gender bias and discrimination in scientific research and research cultures.
In her spare time, she enjoys engaging the public with science in person and on social media, and taking part in dance classes.
Advisor
Oluwatomi Akingbade'Tomi'
She/Her
Tomi is a third-year PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge, investigating inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases.
Tomi's passion for equality and representation in science led her to create the Black Women in Science (BWiS) Network in 2018: a global networking platform giving Black women opportunities to further their careers/interests in science.
Chief Operating Officer
Charlotte Bell
She/Her
Charlotte is passionate about human performance and wants to empower and uplift those around her. She is excited to join WiNUK as a Business Strategy advisor, helping to expand its reach and impact. Charlotte holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Bath and began her career in Prime Brokerage at Morgan Stanley. After five years, she left to pursue her passion for human performance, focusing on better understanding the human brain. Charlotte graduated with an MSc in Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire as well as an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience from University College London, where she explored the exciting impact of exercise on cognitive function and wellbeing. Charlotte now works as an applied cognitive neuroscientist, helping to transform the way adults learn new skills at the UK's largest Edtech company. Charlotte is also a passionate triathlete and coach for London Fields Triathlon Club, where is she is an advocate and supporter for women in sport. She looks forward to bringing her energy and passions to WiNUK.
Operations Team
Secretary
Anna Margaret Jansson
She/Her
Anna is a recent MPhil from the Basic and Translational Neuroscience program at the University of Cambridge. A wet lab girly at heart, she is currently working on an assortment of neuroscience projects including characterizing monoamine G-protein coupled receptors in octopus (at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology) and exploring short-term synaptic plasticity in parvalbumin interneurons associated with mouse whisker reception (Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research).
Anna is passionate about contributing to a more equal environment for women in STEM through her past work in UW-Madison’s WISER (Women in Science Education and Research) and Undergraduate Neuroscience Society. She is excited to help make a difference in the UK and hopes that her lived experience as a midwestern American will benefit the organization.
Meetings Chair
Daisy Stringfellow
She/Her
Daisy is a BBSRC PhD student at the University of Nottingham. She has a particular interest in neuroinflammation and is currently studying neuroimmune changes in myotonic dystrophy and motor neurone disease. Through her experience in neuroscience, she appreciates the importance of advocacy and support for women in STEM fields. She is passionate about supporting education within and beyond the scientific community, about how important and amazing science is. She enjoys continuing this as a member of the WiNUK team.
Secretary Coordinator
Love Onwuzuruike
She/Her
Love is a 1st year PhD student studying Neuropharmacology in the department of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience at the University of Bristol.
Her research uses a combination of computational techniques/programming skills alongside wet lab experimental methods to study how the membrane shapes the pharmacology of serotonin receptors and how they respond to psychedelics.
Love is dedicated to supporting and uplifting underrepresented and minority groups in neuroscience and STEM. This led her to become an ambassador for the ‘Black in biomedical science initiative during her MSci. Striving to increase representation and create environments where underrepresented individuals can succeed and thrive, Love will be joining WiNUK as the Secretarial Team Coordinator.
Newsletter Coordinator
Giada Vanacore
She/Her
Giada is a Research Assistant at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. She has previous experience in the field of stem cells and neurogenesis in the adult brain. In her new role, she studies neonatal brain regeneration after acquired brain injury to identify the key mechanisms that could stimulate regeneration in the adult brain. She joined WiNUK to support women in STEM by offering them access to a network of neuroscientists but also, to encourage them to pursue a career in science.
Newsletter Coordinator
Dana Visnitchi
She/Her
Dana recently graduated with an MSci in Neuroscience with Psychology and Industrial Placement from the University of Aberdeen. She has a strong interest in mood and neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as in treatment inequality. She hopes to use her knowledge to promote mental health, create a safe space for womxn in the field, and encourage young neuroscientists to pursue their ideal career, with a work-life balance. Dana will do all this and keep the WiNUK audience updated on what's going on through her new role as a newsletter co-director.
Progress Manager
Charlotte McGuinness
She/Her
Charlotte is a PhD student at the University of Southampton. Her research involves understanding the roles of microglia in chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. She focuses on a particular protein of interest shown to have significant association with AD but which is heavily underrepresented in the literature. Charlotte is excited to work alongside so many empowering women as Subteam Coordinator. She hopes to contribute to the supportive and welcoming WiNUK network, enabling women to thrive in scientific research and beyond.
People Team
HR Lead Interviewer
Amy Boyack
She/Her
Amy is a PhD student at Newcastle University studying the brain areas and pathways involved in decision making. Her commitment to equity and diversity drives her to foster an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive in neuroscience. Amy is thrilled to support WiNUK's mission by helping to expand their vibrant network of volunteers. She believes that the diverse backgrounds and experiences of these volunteers can inspire, connect, and advocate for women in neuroscience. When she's not delving into her research, Amy enjoys running, exploring new places, and taking long walks with her dog.
HR Coordinator
Ciara McCready
She/Her
Ciara works in industry and has experience managing professional research studies and in NHS-funded clinical trials, developing a medical device for neurodevelopmental conditions. Ciara has a Masters from the University of Nottingham and is particularly interested in the manifestation of neurodevelopmental conditions in females and aims to conduct research that advocates for and supports neurodivergent individuals. Ciara is looking forward to a career in scientific research, currently working with researchers to demonstrate, measure, and communicate the broader impact of their research beyond academia, ensuring that findings have a meaningful and positive effect on society, policy and industry.
HR Onboarding
Ruta Cakla
She/Her
HR Wellbeing
Sofia Johnston
She/Her
HR Administrator
Kristi Ulicna
She/Her
Partnerships & Sponsorships Team
Sponshorships and Partnerships Officers
Chloe Blackery
She/Her
Chloe is a first-year BBRSRC DTP-funded PhD student at University of Nottingham, having recently graduated from Univeristy of Leeds with an MBiol in Neuroscience. She is interested in all things neuroscience, but especially molecular neuroscience and neuropharmacology. Chloe is excited to have joined WiNUK to assist in aiding their mission to inspire, connect, and advocate for women and girls interested in neuroscience!
Outreach Officer
Kerry Gregory
She/Her
Sponsorships and Partners Officer
Abi Parsons
She/Her
Abi is a final year PhD student at the University of Plymouth. Her research interest is the development of cancer therapies with reduced side effects compared to traditional treatment options. Her PhD topic focuses on the optimisation of a non-invasive cancer treatment known as Tumour Treating Field therapy, which is used to treat aggressive brain cancers. She is passionate about supporting women who work in science and hopes to help WiNUK continue to do so by working as the Sponsorships and Grants officer.
Partnerships Lead
Storm Johnson
She/Her
Storm is currently in Business Development at a health-tech company supporting people with neurodegenerative disease to access genetic testing and treatments through clinical trials. Storm holds a BSc Hons in Biomedical Science from the University in Surrey and has previously worked in the NHS as well as in academic publishing. Storm has a passion for all things science, particularly neuroscience and genetics. She is an advocate for equity and representation of women and people from marginalised communities in scientific research and across STEM in wider public and private sectors. She enjoys collaborating with individuals, organisations and companies across the scientific landscape and engaging with the new generation of young women scientists to build a future where scientific education, work, research and healthcare is more equitable and inclusive.In her spare time she enjoys reading, spending time by the sea, arts and crafts, and exploring artistic and cultural exhibitions.
Finance and Strategy Team
Strategic Finance Lead
Binuri Wijesinghe
She/Her
Funding and Income Development Officer
Jess Woods
She/Her
Jess is currently studying MSc Cognitive Neuroimaing and Data Science at the University of Birmingham after completing her BSc Human Neuroscience degree there. Her dissertation project is using MRI data to investigate if there is a link between the glymphatic system, sleep quality, and cognitive decline.
Jess joined WiNUK because she is eager to raise more awareness about pursuing neuroscience degrees in younger generations. She hopes that in her role she can help do so, as well as make neuroscience more accessible to more people. Throughout her degrees, Jess played rugby and so is passionate about advocating for women in often male-dominated areas.
Business Strategy Advisor
Charlotte Bell
She/Her
Charlotte is passionate about human performance and wants to empower and uplift those around her. She is excited to join WiNUK as a Business Strategy advisor, helping to expand its reach and impact. Charlotte holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Bath and began her career in Prime Brokerage at Morgan Stanley. After five years, she left to pursue her passion for human performance, focusing on better understanding the human brain. Charlotte graduated with an MSc in Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire as well as an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience from University College London, where she explored the exciting impact of exercise on cognitive function and wellbeing. Charlotte now works as an applied cognitive neuroscientist, helping to transform the way adults learn new skills at the UK's largest Edtech company. Charlotte is also a passionate triathlete and coach for London Fields Triathlon Club, where is she is an advocate and supporter for women in sport. She looks forward to bringing her energy and passions to WiNUK.
Financial Operations Manager
Izzy Ellis
She/Her
Izzy is a second year PhD student at the University of Nottingham, using EEG and tACS to investigate cognitive aging and the neural basis of working memory, how these relate to cognitive decline in aging, and the possibility of using non-invasive brain stimulation as an intervention. She believes that the best ideas arise when a diverse range of voices are allowed to shine and is excited to work with alongside the rest of the finance team to help WiNUK grow and to promote this ethos in neuroscience. In her free time, she enjoys bike rides, overanalysing reality tv, and spending her stipend in charity shops.
Impact Evaluation Team
Impact Evaluator: Virtual Events
Devika Shenoy
She/Her
Impact Evaluator: Social Media
Isabella Tugulu
She/Her
Impact Evaluator
Freya Wardell
She/Her
Freya has previously completed a BSc in Psychology and is currently completing a MSc in Occupational and Organisational Psychology at the University of Surrey. She is particularly interested in investigating workplace accessibility for neurodivergent employees. Freya joined the WiNUK team as she is passionate about advocating for increased recognition of women and their achievements within this industry. She is excited to be working with like-minded women and building a supportive network. In her spare time, Freya enjoys staying active by going for walks and hikes, as well as doing yoga. She also enjoys relaxing with a good book.
Website Team
Website Officer: Impact
Hana Ajeti
She/Her
Hana is a third year Neuroscience student at the University of Bristol with academic interests in exploring psychedelic treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders and investigating the impact of sleep on mood and mental health. In her free time, she is a keen traveller and recently spent a month volunteering in a rural village in Western Fiji, promoting positive mental health by leading and facilitating important sessions with Fijian youth. Hana can't wait to use everything she has learnt to help contribute to WiNUK and encourage more young women to enter the exciting field of Neuroscience.
Website Officer: Analytics
Kendra Melville
She/Her
Kendra is an MSc student on the Translational Neuroscience programme at Imperial College London. She aspires to specialise in research surrounding neurodegenerative diseases and the seeding activities of different prion-like proteins such as tau, amyloid beta, and alpha-synuclein. She strives to contribute to research to help make a difference in people living with neurodegenerative diseases and to inspire young scientists to pursue neuroscience as their careers. In her free time, Kendra loves experimenting with new cooking and baking recipes and playing volleyball during the summer. Kendra is thrilled to have joined WiNUK and hopes to help in fulfilling its mission to inspire, connect, and advocate for women in neuroscience!
Website Officer: Design
Dorcas Cheung
She/Her
Dorcas is a research assistant in synaptic neuropathology in Imperial College London and UK Dementia Research Institute. She is interested in the field of synaptic proteostasis in neurodegenerative diseases. She aims to understand synaptic protein turnover in neurons affected by synulceinopathies, which could also be extended in answering question regarding synaptic vulnerability and therapeutic development in synaptopathies.
Dorcas is originally from Hong Kong and came to pursue her studies in the UK. She hopes to increase exposure for women in neuroscience and inspire the younger generation of all backgrounds to pursue science.
In her free time, she is part of a competitive volleyball team in London and loves painting/ design related activites.
Graphics & Design Team
Merch/Logo Designer
Olena Shtoda
She/Her
Olena is a professional Graphic Designer with a deep commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. While not a neuroscientist, she has always been passionate about medicine, science, and neurodiversity. She advocates for reducing gender biases in science and making the world accessible in every sense of the word. Joining WiNUK as a Graphic Designer is both an honour and an opportunity for her to create designs that truly matter.
Graphics Creator: Social Media and Awareness / Blog illustrator
Suzana Sultan
She/Her
Suzana is a final-year medical student hoping to pursue a Master’s degree in Neuroscience once she graduates. She is fascinated by neuroplasticity, particularly its applications in the fields of neuropsychology, neuropharmacology, and translational neuroscience. She is a junior academic researcher, has just published her first paper, with more than 6 other submitted papers to prestigious journals and a scientific illustrator blending her artistic skills with her passion for science.
At WiNUK, Suzana serves as a social media and Awareness Graphic Designer, where WiNUK’s inspire, connect, and advocate mission aligns with Suzana’s own ambition to simplify and mainstream the neurosciences. She is also a guest research blog writer and occasionally writes book reviews on some of her favorite readings.
Suzana believes in the power of being a ‘Jack of all trades’ by combining different fields into creative solutions. When she is not studying, researching, or illustrating, Suzana pursues her other talents in filmmaking, animating, fine art, piano playing, writes about clinical communication in her email newsletter ‘The Medicine of Words,’ and co-runs ‘Hands-On Papers,’ a peer-teaching initiative in research. She loves basketball, watching films, reading all sorts of books, and talking about them!
Graphics Creator: Social Media and Events
Maria Fraser
She/Her
Design Coordinator
Ginevra Sperandio
She/Her
Ginevra is a 3rd year PhD candidate in Neuroscience, working between Germany and France as part of a Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions European Joint doctorate. Her research is conducted on huge longitudinal datasets, and is focused on the role of childhood abuses and maltreatments as predictors of chronic pain and mood disorders. She is a convinced feminist and joined the WiNUK as an International Outreach Officer. Her aim is to build an international network of young women committed to Neuroscience research to promote the equality in the field, fighting the gender gap in authorships and positions, and to support new generation of female scientists in pursuing the research career.
Deputy Coordinator/ Graphics Creator: Social Media and Awareness
Georgina Savastano
'Georgie'
She/Her
Georgie is a Neuroscience graduate of the University of Oxford. Her final year research project focused on the contributions of molecular chaperones to selective neuronal vulnerability in Alzheimer’s disease.
Georgie is passionate about increasing the access of underrepresented groups to higher education and STEM, and strives to make science more accessible and inclusive. She now works for the University of Oxford as an Outreach and Admissions Officer.
Graphics Creator: Newsletter and emails
Ananya Ramamurthy
She/Her
Ananya is currently a 2nd Year Neuroscience Student at Queen Mary University of London. She is particularly interested in the Neuroscience of Spirituality, specifically the impact of meditative practice in promoting positive neuroplasticity. In her role as a Graphics Creator at WiN UK, Ananya is excited to contribute her skills and creativity to an organisation that inspires and guides other young women in the field, just as it has guided her own journey.
Blog Illustrator
Lilly Green
She/Her
Lilly is studying neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh. She is currently in the third year of her undergraduate degree, where she is particularly interested in neuropharmacology and also tutors science to younger students. Driven by a personal connection to the field, Lilly is keen to research and raise awareness of neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders, and hopes her passion for science communication will aid her in this
Social Media Team
Administrator: YouTube
Eva Borras
She/Her
Eva holds a Biomedical Engineering MEng degree from Imperial College London and is currently working as an Innovation Consultant. For her master’s dissertation she investigated about the relationship between histamine and serotonin to try to learn more about depression.
She has gained experience in medical writing and editing through her work experience and time being committee of university clubs along with social media management and content creation.
Coming from Spain, She joined the WinUK social media team as a the Youtube admin and she is excited meet like-minded people by contributing to video editing and sharing knowledge from researchers in neuroscience.
Video Creator
Melanie Lee
She/Her
Melanie is a second year pharmacology student at UCL, with an interest in studying pharmacological therapeutics in neurodegenerative disorders. She joined the WinUK social media team as a video creator as she is keen on integrating her passion in video editing with neuroscience, as well as promoting gender equality in STEM. Originally from Malaysia, she is excited to explore the advanced STEM field in the UK and meeting like-minded people. In her free time, she enjoys painting and journaling.
Social Media Content Creator: Educational content
Menessa Mundu
She/Her
Menessa Mundu holds a master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience from King’s College London and a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Her master’s dissertation investigated various factors influencing depressive symptoms, highlighting her interest in understanding complex mental health issues.
She has gained experience in medical writing and editing through internships, along with social media management and content creation. Menessa enjoys simplifying scientific and healthcare topics to make them accessible and engaging for a wider audience.
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue bridging the gap between research and public understanding by combining her scientific background with creative communication. Menessa is particularly passionate about fostering awareness and inclusivity in neuroscience and healthcare.
Senior Video Editor
Riya Verma
She/Her
Riya is a recent Neuroscience graduate from the University of Warwick, with a specific interest in the understanding and treatments of neurodevelopmental disorders as well as the clinical applications of neuroplasticity surrounding injury or trauma to the brain.
She joined WiNUK because of her passion to ensure that there is female equality across STEM careers and to create a greater awareness for studying neuroscience at higher education amongst young individuals. In addition, she is excited to part of the WiNUK community and to work amongst like-minded, empowering women of all different career paths and specialisms.
In her free time, she enjoys baking sweet treats for her family and friends and going on long walks listening to her favourite self-help podcasts.
Social Media Coordinator
Abinayah John
She/Her
Abinayah is a third-year PhD student at the University of Cambridge. Her project aims to investigate the role of GABAergic interneuron dysfunction in the Mecp2-knockout model of Rett syndrome. By combining her passion for science, public engagement and gender equality, she created a personal blog where she continues to share her love for neuroscience. Having joined WiNUK, she hopes to create a space for women of all backgrounds to pursue a career in neuroscience.
Administrator: Instagram
Rachel Grasmeder Allen
She/Her
Rachel is a final year BBSRC-funded PhD student at University of Nottingham. Her project aims to investigate hippocampal activity in cognition and behaviour, using in vivo models. She is a firm believer that science is, and should be, for everyone and hopes to help increase the diversity of people in science. She believes that we need to educate younger people early on about the opportunities that are available to them and encourage them to pursue degrees and careers in neuroscience. She also wants to help improve opportunities for women in neuroscience, particularly increasing the representation of women at the higher end of the ladder. She is passionate about science communication and public engagement, so joining WiNUK as Instagram admin seemed like the perfect fit. She is excited to be working with like-minded neuroscientists to promote equality in neuroscience and to help more women follow careers in neuroscience.
Administrator: Bluesky / X
Kimberly "Kim" Cheam
She/Her
Kimberly is a second year MRC-DTP-funded PhD student at University of Cambridge. Her project aims to use stem-cell derived models to understand the biology of tau spreading and aggregation in diseases. She joined WiNUK to contribute to this fantastic platform to promote and encourage women to empower other women scientists to improve, develop and build connections amongst each other. As an international student, she would also like to use WiNUK to allow other international students studying and working in neuroscience within the UK to meet and discuss any issue that they might face. She hope to do this through the use of the Twitter-sphere and connect like-minded neuroscientists across the UK together.
Administrator: LinkedIn
Emily Wilson
She/Her
Emily is a research assistant at The University of Birmingham. Her current work explores diagnosis techniques, sensory processing and language processing in Autism using MEG, OPM and MRI. She has a master's degree from The University of Birmingham where she studied Brain Imaging and Cognitive Neuroscience. She is interested in using neuroimaging techniques to research neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Her current focus is to explore autism spectrum disorder in children using neuroimaging techniques such as MEG, EEG, fMRI and OPM. As a first-generation woman in STEM, she understand the struggles and hardships women may face when entering neuroscience. Emily Joined WiNUK to meet and support other women and show that everyone is welcome in neuroscience, regardless of their background. She hopes to help create a safe space for women to ask questions and encourage the younger generation to pursue an exciting career in neuroscience.
Deputy Content Researcher
Marleigh Smith
She/Her
Marleigh is a second year BSc Neuroscience student at King's College London. Her main interests within the field are neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism. Additionally, she is interested in the intersection between women's health and neuroscience. Outside of her degree, Marleigh is the president of KCL's Womxn in Bioscience society, which aims to help womxn studying bioscience feel heard and included. Marleigh wanted to join WiNUK to contribute to creating a space for like-minding women wanting to advance their careers and engage with the other incredible women in this field! By being a content researcher for WiNUK, Marleigh hopes she can connect to others within this platform to help deliver relevant and thrilling content
Deputy Content Researcher
Marina Ramzy Mourid
She/Her
Marina is an MBBCh candidate at Alexandria University. She is an author, researcher, and medical writer with a primary focus on epilepsy, as reflected in her two related books. Additionally, she has a strong interest in neurodegenerative diseases and the use of artificial intelligence in this area. Marina aims to become a doctor-entrepreneur, finding both passion and business in writing books. Her goal is to globally raise awareness about neuroscience, emphasizing that knowledge is power in the field of medicine. Marina also loves connecting with people from different cultures and actively seeks research collaborations with individuals worldwide. She is delighted to be a Deputy Content Researcher at WINUK, where she looks forward to contributing to the success of this supportive and empowering platform for women in the neuroscience field worldwide
Content Researcher
Peehu Jain
She/Her
Peehu recently graduated and holds a MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Nottingham. Peehu has worked on several research projects such as using statistical tools to analyse EEG data to investigate visual memory and finding a relationship between post-stroke depression and cognitive impairment. Peehu has a strong interest in data analysis and hopes to use her skills for drug development or to build neuro-technology. As an international student she understands the difficulty in navigating a career in STEM as a woman and wants to help others build a career in neuroscience. Peehu realises the power of social media as a tool to make resources more accessible so she hopes to use her position as a Content Researcher to empower women within the field and inspire upcoming peers.
Content Strategist/ Reality Video Editor/ Senior Content Creator & Caption Developer
Neave Smith
She/Her
Neave is a second year BBSRC-funded PhD student at the University of Nottingham. Neave's research is investigating the impact of pre- and post-natal opioid exposure on the development of pain systems. When entering her postgraduate studies, she noticed that there was a limited online presence for PhD students sharing their experiences. Neave is co-creator of the Tiktok channel @nottsneurogals, designed to share and actively promote a healthy work-life balance for PhD students. TikTok and other social media platforms are becoming a powerful tool for reaching a wide audience, in and outside of academia. Neave believes these platforms are essential for increasing exposure of underrepresented groups in science. She is excited to carry out her role as Content Strategist and Video editor to share the realities of life as a woman in neuroscience.
Virtual & In-person Events Team
In-person Events: Communication Liaison Officers
Menessa Mundu
She/Her
Menessa Mundu holds a master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience from King’s College London and a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Her master’s dissertation investigated various factors influencing depressive symptoms, highlighting her interest in understanding complex mental health issues.
She has gained experience in medical writing and editing through internships, along with social media management and content creation. Menessa enjoys simplifying scientific and healthcare topics to make them accessible and engaging for a wider audience.
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue bridging the gap between research and public understanding by combining her scientific background with creative communication. Menessa is particularly passionate about fostering awareness and inclusivity in neuroscience and healthcare.
In-person Events Deputy Coordinator
Sakaorna Jeyanathan
She/Her
Sakaorna is a third year PhD student at the University of Nottingham. Her project entails using neuroimaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualise novel biomarkers that have been postulated to alter in Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI) such as Stroke and Traumatic brain Injury. Her key focus in on metabolism and the pathways affected by ABI such as excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. Sakaorna has joined WiNUK as she is deeply passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI), and is committed to creating a brighter and more welcoming future for underrepresented groups in neuroscience. She strives to inspire and empower individuals from all backgrounds to join the neuroscience community, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to the field. In her free time, Sakaorna loves to travel, go paddle-boarding in the summer and sometimes goes to the gym.
In-person Events Logistics Team
Karnika Gupta
She/Her
In-person Events: Communication Liaison Officers
Tracy Chong
She/Her
Tracy is currently a third year BSc Neuroscience and Psychology student at King’s College London. She is particularly interested in computational neuroscience and neuroplasticity, with a current focus in improving algorithms for neuroimaging. Hoping to pursue a career in research and inspire people along this journey, she is thrilled to be part of WiNUK. She is deeply passionate in inspiring more girls and women to pursue neuroscience. Combined with her beliefs in gender equity in research, she aims to support WiNUK’s mission through organising fun and informative in-person events! In her free-time, she likes playing the guitar and belting out to musicals.
In-person Events: Creativity and Engagement Officers
Shauna Angell
She/Her
Shauna is currently an MRes Translational Neuroscience student at UCL. She has a keen interest in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly those affecting movement such as Parkinson's and Huntington's.
Shauna joined WiNUK as she is passionate about connecting and inspiring women in neuroscience, particularly other students from widening participation backgrounds. She hopes that increasing female representation will lead to more credible and inclusive research. In her spare time, Shauna enjoys yoga, live music and long walks with her cocker spaniel.
In-person Events Creativity and Engagement Officers
Jaimee Kennedy
She/Her
Virtual Events Promotion
Kimran Chahal
She/Her
Virtual Events Officer
Nada Salah
She/Her
Nada recently earned her BSc in Biomedical and Bioinformatics Engineering from Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology. She is interested in the computational aspect of neuroscience. Her current focus lies in Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) where she has worked on several projects tackling neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Epilepsy. She aims to develop innovative models and enhance neurotechnologies to address neurological disorders. She is also dedicated to promoting women in STEM by organizing events and fostering collaboration within the neuroscience community. In her free time, she enjoys long walks, volleyball, and reading/drawing Manga!
Virtual Events Coordinator
Anwesha Chakraborty
She/Her
Anwesha is a masters student at the University of Nottingham studying Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research interests lie in neurodegenerative disorders, memory, decision-making and exploring neural dynamics in age-related disorders. Anwesha's journey is driven by a passion to spread awareness about neurological conditions. She joins the WiN Virtual Events Team to connect with a diverse and vibrant network of inspiring women dedicated to neuroscience. Being a strong advocate for women in science, she aims to empower and encourage more women to carve their niche in neuroscience and related fields.
Virtual Events Officer
Aarushi Vaidya
She/Her
Aarushi is a first year PhD student at the University of East Anglia. She is developing 2D and 3D models of holoprosencephaly (HPE) using human iPSCs. Aarushi is Neuroscience BSc (University of Nottingham) and Neuroscience and Translational Medicine MSc (Queen Mary University of London) graduate. Aarushi wants to raise awareness for Neuroscience related opportunities targeted for students and early researchers through WiN UK. She has strong experience in organising virtual Neuroscience events and collaborating with external speakers during her MSc degree.
Virtual Events Officer
Shloka Dhareshwar
She/Her
Shloka is a third-year undergraduate student in Neuroscience at Cardiff University. Her current interests revolve around speech pathology in neurodegenerative diseases. She aims to use her passion for communication and graphics in her roles.
Her primary goal in WiNUK is to provide exposure and opportunities to students in undergrad biosciences by planning and hosting talks or events that shed light on the clinical aspect of this subject. She is very much looking forward to getting mentored by every member of the team!
Virtual Events Officer
Sirjan Chhatwal
She/Her
Sirjan is a PhD student in neurosciences at the University of Wyoming, U.S.A. She is interested in investigating mechanisms underlying neuronal dysfunction, atrophy in systemic diseases that have manifestations in the visual system. With a keen interest in active clinical and translational neurobiological research, she is passionate about exploring the role of small-molecule based therapeutics for treating neuro ophthalmic disorders.
In addition, she is actively involved in communication of research outputs in science to both niche and lay audiences in an engaging manner. In her spare time she loves to travel, read science-fiction and go hiking. Having joined WiN UK, she is passionate about contributing towards reducing gender disparities in STEM and making science accessible.
Virtual Events Officer
Lakshaa Srishankar
She/Her
Lakshaa is currently a 2nd year Neuroscience Student at Queen Mary University of London. Some of her academic interests included the gut-brain axis and how the distribution of the microbiome has a potential effect on mental health disorders. She has also gained a new liking in Genetics at University and is looking forward to learning the role of genetics in Neurodevelopment. Lakshaa is looking forward to contributing to WiN in her role as Virtual Events Officer; encouraging, finding and working alongside like-minded individuals in the rapidly growing world of Neuroscience.
Virtual Events Officer
Ayesha Sherif
She/Her
Ayesha is a recent graduate with an MSc in Neuropharmacology from Nottingham Trent University, brings a passion for neuroscience and a dedication to raising awareness about neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease. With a focus on disease modelling and understanding the aetiology of such conditions, Ayesha is committed to increasing public access to treatment options and prognosis information related to dementia. Driven by a desire to support and empower women in neuroscience, Ayesha aims to create a safe and inclusive space for female neuroscientists. In her role as a Virtual Events Officer, Ayesha is eager to utilize her skills to contribute to the organization and coordination of virtual events. She aims to foster engaging scientific conversations and promote collaboration among women neuroscientists through her position with WiNUK.
In-person Events Coordinator
Becky Csöndör
She/Her
Becky is a PhD candidate working between University College London and the Rosalind Franklin Institute. Here, she aims to investigate the interplay between protein aggregation in dementia and synaptic dysfunction by developing novel workflows for correlative light and electron microscopy.Through joining WiNUK, Becky hopes to connect and collaborate with other talented scientists to create events that inspire women and girls to explore opportunities within neuroscience. With a passion for innovation and creativity alongside previous events management experience, she believes WiNUK is the perfect platform for utilising her skillset to promote inclusivity and equality across all disciplines within the neuroscience landscape.
Blog Team
Floating Editor/Writer
Rachel Grasmeder Allen
She/Her
Rachel is a final year BBSRC-funded PhD student at University of Nottingham. Her project aims to investigate hippocampal activity in cognition and behaviour, using in vivo models. She is a firm believer that science is, and should be, for everyone and hopes to help increase the diversity of people in science. She believes that we need to educate younger people early on about the opportunities that are available to them and encourage them to pursue degrees and careers in neuroscience. She also wants to help improve opportunities for women in neuroscience, particularly increasing the representation of women at the higher end of the ladder. She is passionate about science communication and public engagement, so joining WiNUK as Instagram admin seemed like the perfect fit. She is excited to be working with like-minded neuroscientists to promote equality in neuroscience and to help more women follow careers in neuroscience.
Resident Writer: Reality
Riya Verma
She/Her
Riya is a recent Neuroscience graduate from the University of Warwick, with a specific interest in the understanding and treatments of neurodevelopmental disorders as well as the clinical applications of neuroplasticity surrounding injury or trauma to the brain.
She joined WiNUK because of her passion to ensure that there is female equality across STEM careers and to create a greater awareness for studying neuroscience at higher education amongst young individuals. In addition, she is excited to part of the WiNUK community and to work amongst like-minded, empowering women of all different career paths and specialisms.
In her free time, she enjoys baking sweet treats for her family and friends and going on long walks listening to her favourite self-help podcasts.
Resident Writer: Research
Freya Wardell
She/Her
Freya has previously completed a BSc in Psychology and is currently completing a MSc in Occupational and Organisational Psychology at the University of Surrey. She is particularly interested in investigating workplace accessibility for neurodivergent employees. Freya joined the WiNUK team as she is passionate about advocating for increased recognition of women and their achievements within this industry. She is excited to be working with like-minded women and building a supportive network. In her spare time, Freya enjoys staying active by going for walks and hikes, as well as doing yoga. She also enjoys relaxing with a good book.
Resident Writer: Reviews
Alejandra Rebollar
She/Her
Blog Coordinator & Blog Editor: Reviews
Rebecca Pope
She/Her
Rebecca is a final year Neuroscience PhD candidate at the University of Nottingham, investigating the inflammatory mechanisms involved in chronic pain. Rebecca has always been very keen to encourage, support and network with other women in STEM careers, and has been involved in outreach activities for several years, including participating in, and leading, a Neuroscience Pint of Science team in Nottingham. She is incredibly passionate about equality and the provision of support for anyone to pursue STEM, whether through mentorship or enthusing about science! She regularly interacts with neuroscience undergraduates and is enthusiastic about encouraging them to pursue a career in science. By working both as Blog Coordinator and Editor, Rebecca aims to ensure that Neuroscience is fun, interesting and more accessible for everyone.
Blog Editor: Research
Julia Dabrowska
She/Her
Julia is a current Interdisciplinary Bioscience DTP student at the University of Oxford, with a focus on neuroscience. Her interests include memory, attention, neuropharmacology and psycholinguistics. Passionate about scientific writing and sharing her experiences, Julia also holds the position of Science Editor in her university newspaper, and likes to swim, row and travel in her free time.
Blog Editor: Reality
Lauren Wallis
She/Her
Lauren recently graduated from MSc Neuroscience at King's College London after completing a research project deciphering novel neuroprotective strategies for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Her interests include elucidating the pathological mechanisms behind the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and developing novel therapeutic interventions. At present, Lauren is working as a Chief Science Communications and Engagement Officer at St George's University London.
After hearing about WiNUK, she applied for a position as Resident Blog Writer to develop her written communication skills, continue researching neuroscience topics, and connect with a community of like-minded science enthusiasts.
Past Volunteers
Adriana Zainurin
Beth Hunt
Ceri Ngai
Courtney Hillman
Ellie Short
Grace Pennelli
Katherine Mortimer
Maria Najafian
Monique Raranga
Rebecca Parker
Ummulkhairi Ibrahim
Ailie McWhinnie
Bethany Watkinson
Charlotte Qi
Dr Emmanuelle Viré
Emily Breese
Hannah Ginman-Makin
Madina Abubaker
Marleyna Zonde
Rachel McKeown
Sara Dannaoui
Yin Yuan
Ananya Shankar
Carly Hood
Cliodhna Hall
Dwaynica Greaves
Gemma Deegan
Ivy Zhu
Mahnoor Khalid
Meg Marston
Rachel Sellick
Sona Seyidli
Interested in joining our team?
A new recruitment cycle is here!
If you would like to view the full description of any of these roles, go to our Volunteer page, look out for our advert on social media or email hr.womeninnneuroscience.uk@gmail.com.
To apply, please complete this form.