PRESIDENT
Evie Ehrhorn
Year: 4th
Lab: Dr. Aaron Mohs
Department: Cancer Research Graduate Program
Hometown: Papillion, NE
Interests: Pickleball, singing, trying new coffee shops 🙂
Words of advice: “Risk something or forever sit with your dreams”. -Herb Brooks
Contact Information: eehrhorn@unmc.edu
VICE PRESIDENT
Annant Kaur
Year: 3rd
Lab: Dr. Moorthy Ponnusamy
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Hometown: New Delhi, India
Interests: Puzzles, playing lawn tennis, and watching documentaries
Words of Advice: “Don’t let the muggles get you down, because they don’t understand the magic in you”. Believe in yourself!
Contact Information: akaur@unmc.edu
SECRETARY
Aditya Gupta
Year: 3rd
Lab: Dr. Prakash Radhakrishnan
Department: Eppley Institute of Cancer Research
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Interests: Reading, karaoke, brunching, hiking
Words of Advice: Stepping outside your comfort zone can get you anywhere 🙂
Contact Information: christabelle.rajesh@unmc.edu
TREASURER
Sipra Panda
Year: 4th
Lab: Dr. Katherine Hyde
Department: Cancer Research Graduate Program
Hometown: Odisha, India
Interests: Singing, Travel, Reading novels, Spending time with family
Words of Advice: It always seems impossible until it’s done, so take risks: if you win you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.
Contact Information: sipra.panda@unmc.edu
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CHAIR
Ridhi Bhola
Year: 2nd
Lab: Dr. Rakesh Singh
Department: Pathology, Immunology, and Microbiology
Hometown: Ambala, India
Interests: Binge-watching, Painting & Cooking!
Words of Advice: Hope for the best, Prepare for the worst. Enjoy every moment!
Contact Information: rbhola@unmc.edu
INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CHAIR
Sneha Pandithar
Year: 2nd
Lab: Dr. Romanova and Dr. Oupicky
Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Hometown: Nashik, India
Interests: Music, Baking, Gardening, Travelling
Words of advice: Grow through what you go through!
Contact: skhairnar@unmc.edu
ALUMNI CHAIR
Laiba Anwar
Year: 2nd
Lab: Dr. Ram Mahato
Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Interests: Dance, playing badminton
Words of Advice: Heya everyone! I am really excited to be a part of GSA this year (2023-24). Waiting for organizing events and getting you involved in all the exciting stuffs to get through your graduate studies journey. GSA would really appreciate your active participation to make this student association a success and this would also help you guys to feel a sense of belonging and adjust more easily to graduate life.
Contact Information: spanigrahi@unmc.edu
OUTREACH CHAIR
Kirtana Arikath
Year: 2nd
Lab: Dr. Moorthy Ponnusamy
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Hometown: New Delhi, India
Interests: puzzles, playing lawn tennis, and watching documentaries
Words of Advice: “Don’t let the muggles get you down, because they don’t understand the magic in you”. Believe in yourself!
Contact Information: akaur@unmc.edu
SOCIAL CO-CHAIR
Kristine Hoagstrom
Year: 2nd
Lab: Dr. Wasim Nasser
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Hometown: Delhi, India
Interests: Cooking, hiking, cycling, listening to music and binge watching TV shows
Words of Advice: “That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” – Abraham Lincoln
Contact Information: lanwar@unmc.edu
SOCIAL CO-CHAIR
Neelanjana Gayen
Year: 3rd
Lab: Dr. Katherine Hyde
Department: Eppley Institute of Cancer Research
Hometown: Odisha, India
Interests: Singing, Travel, exploring varied cuisines, Spending time with family
Words of advice: As a Social Chair, I highly encourage students to engage in social activities, share their thoughts regarding any issues and come together to make a significant difference in our well beings as grad students. Pursuing a PhD can be challenging, but by building a supportive connection amongst ourselves, it’s important to find ways to unwind. Looking forward to connecting and make the process of grad school fun and successful at the same time.
Contact Information: sipra.panda@unmc.edu
STUDENT WELLNESS CHAIR
Saeedeh Saeedi
Year: 3rd
Lab: Dr. Ram Mahato
Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Hometown: Delhi, India
Interests: Hiking, Trekking, Reading
Words of advice: If you concentrate on small, manageable steps you can cross unimaginable distance!
Contact Information: adgupta@unmc.edu
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT CHAIR
Rahit Dewanji
Year: 5th
Lab: Dr. Sushil Kumar
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Hometown: Hinton, Iowa
Interests: Traveling, hiking, reading, playing board games, rock climbing
Words of advice: “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
Contact Information: rachel.kehrberg@unmc.edu
DIVERSTIY AND INCLUSION CHAIR
Sanjali Panigrahi
Year: 2nd
Lab: Dr. Steve Caplan
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Hometown: Pune, India
Interests: Learning new musical instruments, singing, and reading
Words of Advice: Be grateful for the little wins!
Contact Information: gmisri@unmc.edu