Academic Programming
The GSA is proud to uphold several annual traditions, designed to foster the academic and intellectual growth of our members. GSA provides the opportunity for Presentations and Conversations in Research (PCRs) and Science and Technology Information Resources (STIRs). These events are available by request and provide a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere during which students can practice presenting their research or science in general to an audience of their peers.
As part of the Welcome Month events, GSA also hosts an annual seminar designed to help both PhD and Master’s students think about how to choose research labs for their rotations and eventual thesis work.
In the spring, we host a Women in Science seminar and a Bridging the Gaps seminar, each of which are designed to allow students to hear directly from scientists about their paths to their current positions. The Bridging the Gaps seminar also allows students to hear directly from scientists who are taking research from the bench to the bedside.
Resources for Incoming Students
Student Liaisons
Grad school is hard and sometimes it’s not clear what to do or who to ask for help. PhD and Masters Student Liaisons are a group of student volunteers who are here to help incoming students as they navigate their first year in JCLS. Student liaisons can help you decide what classes you need to take, how to pick the right lab rotation and how to join a lab, demystify the program requirements, help you figure out what to do with their life, etc. You can also reach out to a liaison with any general concerns or suggestions and they will relay them to the Graduate Student Association where they will be heard and addressed.
PhD Liaisons
Neuroscience
4th Year Liaisons

Katelyn Russell
kar025@jefferson.edu

Nicolette Heinsinger
nmh011@jefferson.edu
3rd Year Liaison

Michael Aimino
maa031@jefferson.edu
2nd Year Liaison

Gabrielle Spagnuolo
gxs087@jefferson.edu
Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology (BMP)
4th Year Liaison

Tyler Florio
tjf010@jefferson.edu
3rd Year Liaison

Benjamin Barnhart
bkb005@jefferson.edu
2nd Year Liaison

Gina Buchel
gxb078@jefferson.edu
Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine (CBRM)
4th Year Liaison

Alexus Kolb
axk182@jefferson.edu
3rd Year Liaison

Stanley Conaway
sxc063@jefferson.edu
2nd Year Liaison

Grace Tartaglia
gxt031@jefferson.edu
Genetics, Genomics & Cancer Biology (GGCB)
4th Year Liaison

Alison Shupp
abs009@jefferson.edu

Tyler Fenstermaker
Tkf001@jefferson.edu
2nd Year Liaison

Kaitlyn Uhrick
kmu002@jefferson.edu
Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis (IMP)
4th Year Liaison

John Riley
jtr006@jefferson.edu
3rd Year Liaisons

Brian Montoya
bxm094@jefferson.edu

Gabrielle Scher
ges014@jefferson.edu
2nd Year Liaison

Lauren Springer
les024@jefferson.edu
MS Liaisons
Cell Biology

Sonya Selvaraj
sxs736@jefferson.edu

Christopher (Chris) Mansi
cxm176@jefferson.edu
Microbiology & Immunology

Rachael (Rae) Lambert
rel017@jefferson.edu

Catherine Khoo
cjk009@jefferson.edu
Clinical Research

Kanayo Okwuasaba
kdo002@jefferson.edu