Meet the Associate Board

Associate Editor of Peer Review
Marvel Hanna

Originally, from Huntington Beach, California, Marvel is a sophomore hoping to study computational biology. She has conducted research on predicting mosquito habitats and breeding patterns using machine learning models and on bacteria in drinking water. Outside of THURJ, Marvel is involved in Harvard Model UN and the Innovations Lab. In her free time, Marvel enjoys hiking, playing the viola, and binge watching shows. As an AEPR, she hopes to extend the support she received when working on research papers to others.

Associate Editor of Peer Review

Audrey Limb

Audrey is a sophomore from San Francisco, CA planning to concentrate in music. She is currently working on research regarding pitch discrimination in cochlear implant-users with the Sound and Music Perception Lab at the University of California San Francisco. Outside of THURJ, she writes for The Harvard Crimson as well as The Wave literary and arts magazine.

Associate Editor of Peer Review

Tianna Tout-Puissant

Tianna Tout-Puissant is a sophomore originally from Pocono, Pennsylvania. She is studying Neuroscience and plans to pursue a career in neurosurgery. Currently, she is researching the effect of bipolar disorder on cardiovascular disease in Dr. Garcia-Cardeña’s laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital. In her free time, she loves traveling, working out, volunteering, playing basketball, cooking, and baking. As an Associate Editor of Peer Review, she hopes all undergraduate students will learn to love the editing process and broaden their knowledge on various research topics!

Associate Editor of Peer Review

Grace Zhang

Grace is a sophomore from Wisconsin concentrating in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She’s currently with the Uchida Lab investigating the mechanisms behind foraging behavior driven by multiple sensory stimuli. Through systems neuroscience, this research seeks to understand how different neural circuits guide decision-making processes. Outside of THURJ, Grace loves playing the cello, volunteering, and visiting cafes with friends. As an Associate Editor of Peer Review, Grace hopes to encourage enthusiasm among peer reviewers and support student research writers. Her goal is to make research publishing and academia feel less daunting for students.

Associate Editor of Peer Review

Gianna Tout-Puissant

Hi! I’m Gianna! I am a sophomore in Dunster on the pre-med track studying Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy and a citation in ASL! I am on the club basketball team and in a hip-hop dance group called Expressions! 

Associate Editor of Peer Review

Danielle Im

Danielle is a sophomore in Adams house originally from Princeton, NJ. She is studying neuroscience and English and is currently involved in a research project in the Weitz lab on directed enzyme evolution for use in celiac disease therapies. Outside of THURJ, Danielle is a part of Harvard Undergraduate Science Olympiad and writes for The Crimson. As an AEPR, she is excited to play a role in making scientific research more accessible and approachable for a general audience.

Associate Editor of Content

Héctor Martínez Luna

Héctor is an international sophomore from Mexico studying Chemical and Physical Biology. He is working in chemoproteomics for cancer metabolite mapping as part of the Bar-Peled Lab of the Massachusetts General Hospital. In the future, he hopes to earn a PhD in Molecular Biology and explore new ideas in cancer research. As an Associate Editor of Content, his goal is to coach new members along the writing process and help push their ideas onto the final stage of publication.

Associate Editor of Content

Jae Ji

Jae (she/her) is a sophomore in Dunster House concentrating in Psychology with a secondary field in East Asian Studies. An aspiring clinical psychologist, she spent most of her time before college exploring stigma research and minority psychology and now studies autistic children's executive function at the Faja Lab in Boston Children's Hospital. Outside of THURJ, she loves to read, take long walks by the river, and curate playlists.

Associate Editor of Content

Sophie Gao

Sophie is a freshman in Stoughton, concentrating in History & Science. She currently works in the Haigis Lab at the Dana Farber Cancer Center, investigating the proteins that drive colorectal cancer. Outside of THURJ, Sophie writes for The Harvard Crimson, volunteers at Boston Children’s Hospital, and is involved in the PBHA’s programs. As an AEC, she’s excited to help writers realize their ideas and explore their interests. 

Associate Editor of Design

Iris Sung

Iris is a sophomore in Lowell House originally from New Jersey. She is studying mathematics and integrative biology. She is currently a research assistant to the Davis Lab studying medicinal plants. Outside of THURJ, she is a violinist in the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra, and one of the co-presidents of the Harvard Radcliffe Society of Physics Students.

Associate Editor of Design

Lale Baylar

Lale is a first-year from Minnesota planning to concentrate in pure mathematics. Previously, she has done independent research projects on the sum of squares and the transformation of the Ramanujan-Nagell equation x^2 + 7 = 2^n into elliptic curves to analyze torsion points and solutions. Outside of THURJ, Lale is a part of the Harvard Undergraduate Gender Inclusitivity In Math and the Math Committee.

Business Associate

Virgil Guo

Virgil Guo is a first-year from Kansas but currently living in Pennypacker, planning on pursuing a double concentration in Economics and Molecular and Cellular Biology with a secondary in Energy & Environment. He has previously done research on pediatric leukemia but hopes to contribute to THURJ through creative fundraising ideas that connects THURJ's alumni network and high schoolers. Outside of THURJ, Virgil serves on the Kansas HOSA Board of Directors, writes for the Harvard Crimson, and is a part of various PBHA organizations. 

Business Associate

Ryan Walen

Ryan is a freshman in Hollis studying Applied Mathematics and Economics. He is passionate about financial management and non-profit work, specifically in the fields of activism, research, and journalism. He is currently a member of the Health Disparities Think Tank, Harvard Undergraduate Research Association, and Capital Partners. Outside of academics, he loves practicing kendo and learning new magic card tricks.

Business Associate

Neo Hou

Neo is a sophomore from Seattle, Washington living in Mather House. He conducts research on macular diseases at the Harvard Retinal Imaging Lab at MEE and on cerebrovascular diseases at the NeuroVert Lab at UPenn. On campus, he's also involved in Asian American Association and the Phillips Brooks House Association, and in his free time, Neo enjoys thrifting, lifting, and playing poker. 

Technology Associate

James Pelaez

 Originally from Union City, New Jersey, James Pelaez is a sophomore in Adams House, concentrating in Statistics and Computer Science. He participates in research focusing on developing an AI-driven system that integrates GPT-4 with biomedical knowledge graphs to rank drug candidates for repurposing based on patient-specific clinical data. He look forward to collaborating with THURJ's Tech team to maintain the site's perforance and explore opportunities for improvements.​

Technology Associate

Hanjing Wang

Hanjing is a first-year from Shanghai, China, hoping to concentrate in Applied Math. In her free time, she enjoys reading, creative writing, and playing NYT puzzles. As a Tech Associate, she hopes to promote THURJ’s digital presence and celebrate the products of student research among the Harvard community.

Internal Relations Associate

Sadeea Morshed

Sadeea is a first-year from Queens, New York, living in Canaday and studying Molecular & Cellular Biology. She has researched the impact of foreign contact in weed biodiversity and studied treatments for crown gall in plants. Outside of THURJ, Sadeea is involved in Harvard BASHA and performs classical Kathak dance. She's excited to plan events for THURJ and see the community grow this year!

Internal Relations Associate

Tiffany Huang

Tiffany is a junior is Currier studying Integrative Biology with a language citation in Chinese.

External Relations Associate

Adan Eftekhari

Adan Eftekhari is a first-year in Pennypacker intending to pursue a double concentration in Government and Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology. His research is currently centered in the Shah Lab at Brigham and Women's Hospital, where he contributes to the development of novel, cell-based therapies for brain cancers, focusing on stem cell-engineered therapeutics and immunomodulatory approaches to target tumor cells within the brain tumor microenvironment. Beyond THURJ, Adan serves as the Director of International Relations at the World Pre-Health Conference and is a Fellow at the Harvard Undergraduate Think Tank, where he researches the applications of AI in environmental policy and sustainability initiatives. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, listening to hip-hop music, and trying new food cuisines.