Fall 2023/Spring 2024 Executive Board

  • Dany Zapata Rincon

    Co-President

    Originally from Colombia and Australia, Dany is a junior studying Molecular & Cellular Biology, and Environmental Science & Public Policy. Dany is particularly interested in the sustainable applications of biotechnology to tackle big climate issues, and hopes to work in that after graduating.

  • Aaron Zheng

    Co-President

    Aaron studies Bioengineering, speciailizing in Chemical & Materials, with a citation in Chinese. In the future, he hopes to work in business development or product development in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. He is interested in running, hiking, photography, planning events with friends, and traveling!

  • Sydney Wiredu

    Managing Director of Partnerships

    Sydney is a sophomore in Adams House studying Chemistry and Neuroscience with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. He is the CEO and co-founder of Circlez, a researcher at the Bragg Lab and Merker Lab (MGH), and a volunteer at Longwood Hospice and Spaulding Rehab Center.

  • Olivia Stringham

    Managing Director of Initiatives

    Olivia is a sophomore in Adams House studying Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology with a secondary in Economics. She is from Louisiana and enjoys hanging out with friends, trying new coffee shops, and watching football in her free time. She has experience in consulting for biotech companies and is currently doing wet lab research in David Liu’s Lab at the Broad Institute. She is interested in utilizing gene editing technologies as therapeutic treatments for genetic diseases, as well as eploring the intersection of biology and business.

  • Zachary Buller

    Managing Director of Engagement

    Zach Buller is a junior in Lowell House studying Chemistry and Math. He is very interested in medical research, and in his role as Director of Engagement, Zach is eager to bring a diverse array of accomplished speakers to supply the Harvard undergraduate community with broad exposure to biotech.

Our Advisor

Matt is a world-leading chemical biologist and organic chemist who has made important contributions to the discovery of new therapeutic targets, to understanding their mechanism and to the development of small molecules to perturb their function. Matt conceived of Nuvalent and in 2017 he founded the company with Deerfield Management.

Matt is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University as well as an affiliate of the Broad Institute and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Matt and his lab at Harvard have made critical strides in target-oriented synthesis of complex molecules including syntheses of CP-263,114, longithorone and cortistatin A. Matt’s lab discovered that CDK8 and CDK19 are therapeutic targets for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. These studies provided a deeper understanding of how these kinases regulate transcription in cancer and they led Matt’s lab to develop candidate small molecule therapeutic inhibitors of CDK8/19, which they out-licensed, resulting in one the largest upfront licensing payments in Harvard’s history. Due in-part to his lab’s studies, CDK8/19 inhibitors have now entered clinical trials for treatment of AML/MDS. Matt contributed to the founding of Infinity Pharmaceuticals and he has been an advisor to several large and small pharmaceutical companies. Matt has received many awards for his research contributions including the Cope Scholar Award & Sackler Prize in the Chemical Sciences.

Advisor- Dr. Matthew Shair

Fall 2022/Spring 2023 Executive Board

  • Beverly Fu

    Co-President

    Born and raised in Singapore and now a resident of Dunster House, Beverly is a junior at Harvard studying Mathematics and Chemistry. She is particularly interested in improving the delivery and reception of healthcare, and hopes to continue learning more about the policies, innovations, and human decisions that shape health systems.

  • Joya Cooper-Hohn

    Co-President

    Joya is a junior in Lowell House studying Human Evolutionary Biology, and Molecular and Cellular Biology. She is from England, and enjoys playing soccer, spending time with friends, and reading in her free time. She is interested in epidemiology and exploring the intersection between economics and science.

  • Litsa Kapsalis

    Managing Director of Engagement

    Litsa Kapsalis is a junior in Pforzheimer studying Bioengineering in the Chemical & Materials subtrack. She is interested in the development of biologic therapeutics and drug delivery modalities and particularly excited about translating research from the lab to patients in the clinic. Litsa enjoys research, playing piano, spending time with friends, and running along the Charles River.

  • Mari Kikuta

    Managing Director of Partnerships

    Mari is a junior in Adams House studying Applied Mathematics and Biological Sciences. With a passion for neuroscience research, she is interested in understanding human behavior through Data Science and Population Health. In her free time, she loves going on a hiking trips, cooking new recipes and driving by waterfronts.

  • Ariana Vlad

    Managing Director of Operations

    Ariana is a junior in Adams House studying Physics and Molecular and Cellular Biology. Originally from Romania, she loves trying new food, traveling, and solving puzzles. Having tried research in both computational and experimental areas, she is most excited to work at the intersection between cellular biology and engineering.

  • Serena Zhao

    Case Team Leader

    Serena is a junior at Harvard College studying Bioengineering with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. With a passion for all things biotechnology-related, she is especially interested in medical devices, gene therapies, and the intersection of academia and industry within the field of engineering. She has previously worked for various neuroscience and neurotechnology startups as a project manager and clinical trial coordinator. At Harvard, she volunteers with the Phillips Brooks House Association, dabbles in non-profit consulting with Global Research and Consulting, and works closely with the engineering community in various academic and peer projects. In her free time, Serena loves hiking, curating playlists, and searching for the perfect coffee shop.