Our Team
Raquelle Yu
President
Zihan (Raquelle) Yu is a fourth-year PhD student in Dr Paul Cohen’s lab studying the role of immune cell in maintaining adipose tissue homeostasis. Born and raised in Shanghai, China, she went to Singapore for undergrad before coming to the Rockefeller University for grad school. She experiences and understands the struggles navigating life, study, and work as an international scholar in different countries. At the same time, she believes that diversity in science accelerates scientific progress; she also deeply enjoys scientific discourse with friends and colleagues from diverse backgrounds. She hopes to promote diversity in science and provide guidance for anyone navigating scientific careers or simply life in the country.
Yukina Chiba
Graduate student representative
Yukina Chiba is a second-year graduate student at Rockefeller University with a keen interest in behavioral dynamics and variations. As one of the very few Japanese students, she is motivated to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds to celebrate their scientific journeys. Her unique upbringing in Japan and Singapore has given her a distinct perspective on the importance of inclusivity in scientific communities.
Ana-Maria Tanasecu
Staff representative
Ana-Maria Tanasescu is the Lab Manager in the Chen Laboratory of Membrane Biology and Biophysics and she also specializes in cell culture. She joined Rockefeller University in 2016. She is originally from Eastern Europe but grew up in NYC, attending Hunter College for both her Undergraduate and Masters studies. Her degrees in Medical Lab Science and Biology with specialization in Biotechnology has also brought her to the Fischetti Lab of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology as a college student. Ana-Maria is eager to help international scholars adapt to their new surroundings and find a sense of community.
Simin Liu
Website designer
Simin Liu is a sixth-year PhD student in Shai Shaham’s lab, where he focuses on the study of fate determination and early development of glial cells. He was born and raised in China and received his bachelor’s degree at Peking University School of Life Sciences before pursuing his PhD in the United States. Having received invaluable assistance from different people during his transition as an international scholar, Simin believes in the value of a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community. He hopes to bring people, information, and resources together to facilitate communication and collaboration among scholars.
Maj Brodmann
Postdoc representative
Maj Brodmann is a Swiss postdoc in the Marraffini laboratory of bacteriology studying the regulation of bacterial immune systems. She received her PhD in Microbiology from the Biozentrum, University of Basel, in Switzerland. As an international postdoc, she knows first-hand how challenging it can be for dual-career couples to follow one’s passion for science abroad while also navigating your partner’s career. Maj believes that advocating for international scholars will foster a supporting international community where the joys and struggles of living abroad can be experienced together.
Naama Aviram
Board member
Naama Aviram is a postdoc in the Marraffini Laboratory of Bacteriology, studying how bacteria acquire immunological memories. She is a native Israeli, and received her PhD in Molecular Genetics from the Weizmann Institute of Science. Being a great believer in how scientific work can benefit from diverse perspectives, Naama hopes to promote discussion on what international researchers bring to the table as well as help them navigate the local job market in academia and industry.
Apply to be on the board.
We are looking for people who are passionate about supporting the international scholars on campus. If this sounds like you, please apply to be on the board!