ASPET is proud to announce the selection of ten awardees to participate in the 2024 Washington Fellows program. The mission of the Washington Fellows program is to enable developing and early career scientists interested in science policy to learn about and become more engaged in public policy issues. Get to know this year’s class: 

Kalyanasundar (Kalyan) Balasubramanian, PhD – The Ohio State University

Kalyan was born and raised in the southern tip of India. He began his journey with a bachelor's in pharmacy, followed by working experience in the pharmaceutical industry and clinical research. Driven by a passion for safer medication use, he pursued a master's in nanobiotechnology, where he integrated nanoscale technologies into a patented personalized drug delivery system targeting diabetes and obesity. His academic pursuit continued at The Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Mexico City, where he earned a PhD in pharmacology. Here, he unraveled the neurobiology of appetite, contributing significantly to the development of a novel anti-obesity combination therapy. Transitioning into postdoctoral training at The Ohio State University under Dr. Susan Travers, Kalyan explored taste biology using animal models, shedding light on the complexities of dietary nutrients and their public health implications. His discoveries provided crucial insights into taste functions and their impact on feeding behavior, such as identifying novel taste receptor mechanisms regulating sugar intake. With a passion for safer food and drug products, Kalyan aspires to contribute as an interdisciplinary scientist at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). Through the ASPET Washington Fellows Program, he aims to deepen his understanding of science policy, advocacy, and regulatory frameworks governing drug policy and biomedical animal research. Kalyan envisions a healthier and more equitable future, leveraging his scientific expertise to advocate for evidence-based policies and contribute to advancements in drug development.

Alison Bashford – Drexel University

Alison is originally from Long Island, N.Y. She received her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. While at Muhlenberg, she began to explore her interests in science and community engagement by joining a research lab and participating in a STEM outreach program for local middle school students. After college, Alison moved to Washington, D.C. to gain additional research experience as a postbaccalaureate fellow at the National Institutes of Health, where she studied the role of a thalamic nucleus in habitual fear behavior. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Neuroscience in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at Drexel University College of Medicine. Under the mentorship of Dr. Rodrigo España, she is studying how modulating dopamine neuron activity affects dopamine neurotransmission and various cocaine-associated behaviors. In addition to working in the lab, Alison continues to engage with her community by participating in a mentorship program for high school students interested in STEM, serving as a teaching assistant for doctoral and medical students, and holding leadership positions in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Association and Biomedical Graduate Students for Diversity at Drexel. As an ASPET Washington Fellow, Alison aims to acquire new skills in advocating for scientific research, STEM education, and the ongoing advancement of our understanding of substance use disorders.

Nina Beltran – The University of Texas at El Paso

Nina was born in Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas, and was raised in several different states growing up in a military family. Her clinical experience and coursework in neuroscience inspired her to pursue training and a career in biomedical research. Nina was heavily involved in research as an undergraduate at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and received an ASPET Summer Undergraduate Research Individual Fellowship Award. She was the first student at UTEP to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience in 2019. She is currently pursuing a Behavioral Neuroscience PhD in the Department of Psychology at UTEP. Under the mentorship of Dr. Katherine Serafine, Nina’s research is focused on understanding how dietary factors can impact sensitivity of rats to the behavioral and physiological effects of drugs. Specifically, she is examining the effects of different dietary manipulations on sensitivity of rats to the pain-relieving effects of morphine. In addition to research, Nina engages in scientific outreach through the Biomedical Research Awareness Day program; a global initiative raising community awareness about the importance of animal research. As an ASPET Washington Fellow, Nina hopes to use her scientific communication experience to advocate for continued funding for scientific research and to highlight the importance of animal research. 

Santina Johnson – University of South Alabama

Santina, a native of the Black Belt counties of Alabama, discovered her passion for science and healthcare early in life. She completed her Bachelor's degree in biochemistry at Spring Hill College, where she actively engaged in academic research and volunteered to promote health education in the community. After completing her undergraduate studies, Santina took on a pivotal role at BayPointe Hospital as a teacher and behavioral specialist in an adolescent psychiatric setting. This experience, working closely with young patients, was instrumental in steering her towards graduate studies, deepening her resolve to make a meaningful impact in healthcare. Santina is currently pursuing her PhD in Basic Medical Sciences in the Department of Pharmacology in the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. Here, under the mentorship of Drs. Thomas Rich and Silas Leavesley, she delves into the intricacies of second messenger signals, employing advanced imaging and analysis techniques to understand how information is encoded within these signals. Santina plans to use the ASPET Washington Fellow opportunity to further her interests in health and science policy. 

Sarah Melton – Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Sarah was born in Valdosta, Ga. to a military family. Growing up, she moved all around the country and the world. Science was always something she was interested in as far back as she can remember. In middle and high school, she had the opportunity to sit in on different levels of government sessions and meet multiple law makers at the state and federal level. As an undergraduate student at Liberty University, she joined the lab of Dr. Jeong-Ho Kim where she researched the casein kinase pathway in yeast and its effects on glucose-sensing receptors. After graduating from Liberty with a bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology, her love of learning spurred her on to graduate school. At Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, Sarah is a PhD candidate in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, in the lab of Dr. Peter Winsauer. As a behavioral pharmacologist, her current project involves examining the effects of abused drugs in rat models. Throughout graduate school Sarah has stayed active in her community through various organizations and clubs like the LSUHSC Students for Sustainability club where they help the school take steps to having a better impact on their local and global environment. Sarah enjoys being outdoors, hiking, cooking, and is a movie connoisseur. As an ASPET Washington Fellow, Sarah is looking forward to learning more about the intricate network of how science is regulated and develop the skills and experiences to help the general public and policy makers understand what scientists actually do and how they can work together with policy makers to develop laws supported by science and build a better support network for scientific funding.

Tamara Morris – Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Tamara was born and raised in New Orleans, La. Throughout her life, a career in science has been what has piqued her interest for as long as she can remember, not only during school but also throughout her everyday life. As an undergraduate at Louisiana State University (LSU), she continued to explore her passion for science as a Biological Sciences major. During the summer in college, she delved into the research side of science as an undergraduate research intern at LSU Health Sciences Center. This is when she discovered her enthusiasm for research. After she obtained her bachelor’s degree, she worked as a research associate in the field of pharmacology examining the effects of nicotine on cardiovascular disease. For her graduate training, she is at LSU Health Sciences Center continuing in the field of pharmacology, under the guidance of Dr. Peter Winsauer, examining the effects of controlled substances on behavior. As an ASPET Washington Fellow, Tamara hopes to learn more about the policy-making process. She also would like to promote science literacy and learn the basics of how science policy can be used to advocate for funding allocation for more science research.

Makenzie Patarino – University of Washington in Seattle

Makenzie was born and raised in Denver, Colo. and lived there until moving to Boston to attend college at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received her bachelor’s degree in Brain and Cognitive Science with a minor in Biomedical Engineering and was a member of the varsity track and field team as a pole vaulter. After her undergraduate education, she moved to San Diego, CA and spent two years as a research technician working with Dr. Kay Tye at the Salk Institute for Biological Science studying the impacts of social behavior and isolation on alcohol use. Currently, Makenzie is a 3rd year PhD candidate in neuroscience in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. She is in the lab of Dr. Abbie Schindler (a previous ASPET fellow!) and her research is focused on investigating the effects of chronic alcohol use on mild traumatic brain injury and neurodegeneration. Makenzie is committed to outreach and mentorship and has enjoyed participating in programs that help increase opportunities in STEM for younger students in underrepresented communities. Makenzie is incredibly excited to be an ASPET fellow and learn more about science policy. She is looking forward to using her scientific background in alcohol and substance use research to help inform drug policy.

Anh Phan, PhD – Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Anh was born and raised in Kontum Province, Vietnam. He received his PharmD degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy campus at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. As a pharmacy student, he developed his passion for science and healthcare through participation in academic research and community projects. Following graduation, Anh briefly worked as a pharmacist at the Blood Transfusion and Hematology at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In 2014, Anh received a fellowship from the Vietnam Education Foundation and moved to Chicago, Illinois to pursue his doctoral research in molecular pharmacology at Loyola University Chicago. His graduate research focused on sorting mechanisms and cardioprotective effects of small non-coding RNAs in mesenchymal stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles. His research work won the second place in the ASPET Molecular Pharmacology poster competition at Experimental Biology 2019. After graduation, he joined the Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as a postdoctoral fellow, where he is currently working with Dr. Susmita Sahoo on understanding the understand the N6-methyladenine mRNA post-transcriptional modification and signaling pathways that underlie ischemic heart disease using rodent and cell models of disease. In addition to research, Anh has been a member of Mount Sinai Science Policy Group and has actively engaged in outreach and advocacy events. He has also been passionate about being able to communicate science in an accessible manner to all audiences. As an ASPET Washington fellow, he hopes to leverage his communication skills and leadership experience to advocate for increased funding in biomedical research and STEM education resources.  

Shwetal Talele – University of California, Irvine

Shwetal was born and raised in Maharashtra, India. She received her bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and technology from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai in 2020. During her undergraduate studies, she developed an interest in drug discovery via participation in research projects. Her involvement in student-led science outreach events inculcated an interest in science communication and outreach. Her interest in drug discovery led her to pursue a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Under the mentorship of Dr. Benita Sjogren, her research is focused on understanding the non-canonical and neuroprotective role of the regulator of G protein coupled signaling 10 protein (RGS10) in microglia. She actively engaged in science communication during the pandemic and started writing articles for the popular blog Chembites. Her engagement in science communication and the response to the pandemic prompted her interest in science policy and the role of scientists in shaping these policies. As an ASPET fellow, Shwetal hopes to learn how to effectively present research to policy makers and advocate for improved funding and research opportunities. Specifically, she wants to understand the interplay of science, innovation, and policies to improve research and policies in women’s health and healthcare accessibility. 

Hannah Work – University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Hannah was raised in New Jersey and stayed in the state to attend college. She received her BS in chemical engineering with a concentration in biological engineering from Rowan University. Working in the biophysics department as a tutor and researcher during her undergraduate studies, she was introduced to the world of pharmaceutical research. Discovering this new interest led her to continue her studies at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences under the advisory of Dr. Jed Lampe and is working to develop experimental and computational models that better predict drug tolerability in fetuses and neonates by focusing on drug-hormone interactions with CYP3A7. Outside of lab, Hannah holds elected outreach and mentoring positions, including Junior Communications Officer for ASPET’s DMD Division, as well as Undergraduate Outreach Coordinator for Anschutz Medical Campus' Women in STEM club. As an ASPET Washington’s Fellow, Hannah aspires to learn how to effectively advocate for the need of biomedical research and funding focused on underrepresented patient populations.