Executive Committee 2023

Angelle Britton
Angelle (she/her) is a PhD Candidate in Microbiology and Biotechnology at the University of Alberta, with a focus on Burkholderia bacteriophages. Since her undergraduate studies, Angelle has been involved in the scientific community as the Co-President of her University’s science society, and in graduate school with WiSER. In 2021, Angelle joined WiSER’s executive committee and has served as Event Lead, Volunteer Coordinator, and now as Co-Chair. She was also the recipient of the 2021 Margaret Brine Graduate Scholarship for Women. Angelle is continually grateful for her opportunity to contribute to WiSER’s mandate and to encourage others in the pursuit and retention of their STEM journey.

Jenna Evanchuk
Jenna (she/her) is a first year medical student at the University of Calgary. She also has an MSc in Nutrition and Metabolism from the University of Alberta, and her research explored how maternal nutrition across pregnancy and postpartum is related to the health outcomes of pregnant people and their children. Jenna was on the volunteer committee at UA-WiSE for 3 years during her undergrad, where she gained experience in different positions including event planning and sponsor recruitment. For the past 2 years, she has served as a Sponsorship Manager for WiSER. Having 5 years of experience in the UA-WiSE/WiSER network, Jenna is thrilled to be taking on the role of Co-chair and remains highly dedicated to being an advocate for the inclusion, safety and empowerment of all people in STEM fields.

Gwyneth Liske
Gwyn is a PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering at the University of Alberta. As the previous Co-Chair of UA-WiSE (University of Alberta Women in Science and Engineering), Gwyn helped lead the UA-WiSE/ WiSER Mentorship program. Now as a Mentorship Co-Lead she leads from the WiSER side to continue to empower minorities in STEM through mentorship and networking. Gwyn hopes to continue growing the mentorship program to make it more accessible to everyone both in Edmonton and beyond! In her spare time, Gwyn enjoys traveling, watching anime, and listening to music.

Funto Adewusi
Dr. Adewusi is a doctoral candidate (Epidemiology specialization) at the University of Alberta, School of Public Health (UoA, SPH). She has over ten years of leading work in public health implementation science for diverse stakeholders in Nigeria and Canada. In addition to public health, her work has focused on infectious diseases, migration health, and One Health. At UoASPH and in her prior work experience, she has overseen the growth and development of diverse teams. Funto is also a silent partner at a start-up energy company contributing to global ZERO emissions. Her ardent commitment to promoting gender equity, diversity, and inclusion for underrepresented populations in science, technology, engineering, and research prompted her decision to volunteer as a “Mentorship Program Lead” at WISER for the 2023/24 program year. Funto loves a good sleep, time alone to reflect and recharge, singing, dancing, walking, travelling and quality play-time with her family and loved ones.

Laura MacPherson
Laura is a government fisheries biologist with 15 years of experience. She’s seen and experienced first hand some of the overt and subtle barriers women can face in the STEM field. That being said, Laura has also seen a positive cultural shift as more women enter and advance within a historically male-dominated field. She attributes this in part to organizations such as WiSER. As a U of A alumni, WiSER is an organization Laura is extremely excited to be part of, and she looks forward to being part of the executive council.

Kathryn Lambert
Kathryn is a PhD Candidate in Rehabilitation Science and a practicing occupational therapist in the Edmonton area. Her research focuses on motor imagery in healthy and clinical populations. Kathryn never considered pursuing research until she met a strong female mentor during her undergraduate degree who provided her with invaluable training and support.

Rebecca Reif
Rebecca Reif is a PhD student in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alberta. She is currently the graduate student representative for the department and a current member of the planning committee for the OB/GYN Research Day. She is actively involved in mentoring students in research on the University of Alberta Campus and is a Pandas Soccer alumni player. She is extremely passionate in teaching and uplifting others in the field of science.

Trixie Adra
Trixie completed her Honours degree in Biochemistry at the University of Alberta. She has been involved in research since her second year, working first as a summer student and later as a lab assistant. During her time in research, she developed a passion for science communication, and is currently working as a science presenter. She has been a mentor for undergraduate students for the last three years, and she is dedicated to breaking down barriers in STEM by building community and encouraging diversity through mentorship and teaching. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, trying out new restaurants, and occasionally making art.

Julia Shore
Julia is a Project Engineer-in-Training in the Transmission Engineering Department at ATCO Gas and Pipelines. She has a BSc in Mechanical Engineering with a biomedical specialization from the University of Alberta. Her project and financial management experience will be an asset in ensuring accuracy and reliability in her role as Treasurer. During her undergrad and in her workplace, Julia has seen the clear need for attraction and retention of women in STEM. It’s important for women to feel supported as they undertake both their professional and personal aspirations. Julia is passionate about empowering women in STEM and hopes to connect with like-minded individuals while working with WiSER. In her spare time, Julia enjoys the great outdoors, cooking, and spending time with her new puppy, Jasper.

Michelle Moawad
Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences and pursued a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering. With an extensive background in research, she has dedicated several years to this field. Currently, Michelle is pursuing a PhD in land reclamation at the University of Alberta. Her research primarily centers around the role of mycorrhizae in facilitating the reclamation of native plants. Beyond her academic pursuits, Michelle finds joy in exploring the outdoors and has a strong belief in the transformative power of education and information sharing.

Emilee Storfie
Emilee is a doctoral candidate in the AFNS program at the University of Alberta studying clubroot disease on canola. In particular, Emilee is studying the molecular interactions between the pathogen and the plant’s defence responses. This is Emilee’s third year volunteering with WiSER with her previous roles being the treasurer and secretary. She is incredibly grateful for the experiences she has gained while being surrounded by supportive and amazing individuals in STEM. She hopes to share her love of science and research with others while continuing to make friends along the way. When not in the lab, Emilee enjoys hanging out with her dog, Zelda.

Patricia Yan
Patricia has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Alberta. She has volunteered and worked in STEM fields throughout her career, ranging from research labs, pharmaceuticals, and the oil and gas industry. Having volunteered for the WISEST Communications Committee and participated in the UA-WISE/WISER Mentorship Program, she has seen first hand the impact that organizations like WISEST and WISER have in the community. Through WISER she hopes to continue to be an advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion for underrepresented groups in STEM.

Priscillar Wenyika
Priscillar is a Ph.D student in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on exploring the benefits of liming in soil health in the prairies. Priscillar is passionate about research and teaching, and is currently preparing for those roles by taking courses in teaching and professional development and training through teaching assistantship positions. As part of her academic journey, Priscillar’s goal is to network and connect with other women in science and she is fulfilling this by volunteering and attending workshops and conferences. Currently, she is volunteering as a student Representative for the Renewable Resources Graduate Students Association (RENR-GSA). Priscillar is excited to join WiSER so that she can contribute to breaking down barriers and bringing inspiration to aspiring female professionals for them to pursue their dreams fearlessly. In her free time, Priscillar enjoys crocheting, cycling, going on mini adventures and taking pictures.

Tianna Rusnak
Tianna is a MSc student in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on how dietary phosphatidylcholine may help improve obesity-related immune dysfunction. She first got involved with WiSER as an undergraduate mentee in the UA-WISE/WISER Mentorship Program in 2020/2021 where she saw first hand the impact that strong mentorship had on both professional and personal success. Last year she joined the Executive Committee as a Communications Manager, and is looking forward to continuing in this role for the upcoming year. Through this role with WiSER, she continues to be committed to connecting individuals to events, mentorship opportunities, and other means of support related to STEM career development.

Sophie Shi
Sophie is a PhD Candidate in Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta, where she also completed her bachelor’s degree in 2020. Her research focuses on using electrochemistry for detection of trace amounts of harmful analytes using nanostructured electrodes. Sophie has always been involved on campus and in her community and has actively volunteered for WISEST since 2017, working with young women and gender-diverse students to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Through this role, she hopes to contribute to a supportive community of women in science, engineering, and research. In her free time, Sophie enjoys baking, doing puzzles, and spending time with her two cats!

Alex Ianta
Alex is a PhD student in the Computing Science program here at U of A. He completed his undergrad and master’s at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia before coming here to work in the Service Systems Research Group. He is passionate about systems design and is working on automating the generation of domain specific chatbots. After volunteering with WiSER over the past year he submitted his application for the Volunteer Coordinator role where he is excited about the opportunity to be more involved.

Claire Douglas
Claire is pursuing a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Alberta. Her research involves investigating the effects of fatty acid supplementation on women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Prior to beginning her MSc, she completed her BSc degree in Biochemistry at the University of Regina, where she also worked seasonally as a research assistant in a Biogeochemistry laboratory over three years. As a woman in STEM, Claire wants to support other women and underrepresented groups in these fields. She is excited to contribute to the planning and organization of events as an event planner for WiSER.

Nageshwari Krishnamoorthy
Nageshwari Krishnamoorthy is a visiting PhD student at the University of Alberta, Canada, hailing from the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, India. Her research focuses on Agriculture and Environmental Biotechnology, aiming to address pressing challenges in the field of sustainable agriculture. She aspires to be an entrepreneur by focusing on developing innovative approaches to enhance crop productivity, optimize resource utilization, and mitigate environmental impacts in agricultural systems. She was a mentor for the WISEST Summer research program and has been interested in volunteering for WiSER to support female scientists, and organize initiatives to bridge the gender gap in STEM fields. Nageshwari has orchestrated numerous academic and non-profit events during her Bachelor and PhD days.

Laura Enekegho
Laura is a second-year master’s student studying Biochemistry at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on using probiotics to treat pathogenic infections in poultry birds. During her undergraduate journey, Laura was a part of the UA-WiSE team as an Event Coordinator. Currently, Laura serves as an event lead for WiSER, where she continues exploring her passion and enthusiasm for event planning and advocating for increased diversity in STEM. When she’s not conducting research in the lab or learning about the many wonders of the gut microbiome, Laura enjoys watching Korean dramas, weightlifting and reading romance novels.

Najia Ul Huda
Najia is an Msc student at the UofA, studying and comparing immune receptors in zebrafish. Najia moved to Edmonton from Dubai last fall, and during her undergrad, she worked with a network of (mostly medical) universities across UAE – that introduced her to people that helped and mentored her, which ultimately led her to be a part of this amazing university. And with everything that she’s learned along the way, Najia is so excited to be sharing it and empowering all the women she meets!

Priyanka Mungara
Priyanka finished her BSc. in Honours Physiology at the U of A in 2022 and is currently a first year MSc. student in Physiology. She joined WiSER with an interest in inspiring and motivating students to take up space in STEM fields, just as many of her friends and mentors have done for her. This is her first year as an Event Lead and her goal in this position is to get people excited about pursuing STEM and help demonstrate the diversity that exists in this field. In her free time, Priyanka loves binge watching TV shows and baking!

Xiao Zheng
Xiao received her Bachelor’s degree in Ethnography & Anthropology from Xiamen University in China and graduated from her Master’s program in the Anthropology Department at the University of Alberta. After school, Xiao has worked in a variety of fields, such as post-secondary education, non-profit organizations, and the technology industry, and gained tons of experience in relationship building, project management, and event planning. Xiao is thrilled to join WiSER and committed to supporting the retention and advancement of women and under-represented groups in STEM.

Noor Al-Zanoon
Noor is pursuing a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science with a focus on technology and head and neck cancer treatment at the University of Alberta. As a rehabilitation science researcher, Noor has two primary goals: 1) improve the quality of care through the development of technologically advanced methods for personalized and patient-centered speech rehabilitation after head and neck cancer, and 2) translate research evidence to policy and practice leaders. She is working towards these goals by generating innovative research through meaningful research assistantships and volunteer positions.

Vidya Raja
Vidya Raja, PhD, is a Chemical Engineer and works for the Pipeline industry. Her passion for engineering stems from the fact that she hails from a family of engineers. She believes in spreading the word about the wonderful field of engineering and encouraging more young minds, especially women, to explore it as a career. She also volunteers with APEGA, to educate young students to explore and develop their passion for engineering and the sciences. Besides engineering, Vidya is also a trained Indian classical dancer and has performed on several stages and at various venues in the US, India, and Canada.