Our Team
Made up of professors, entrepeneurs, creatives, and students, our team is commited to local engagement and uplifting communities. The team intends to demonstrate the usefullness of synthethic biology to middle schoolers and wishes to have an impact on how individuals engage with their natural environments when seeking to solve problems in their communities.
Senior Personnel
Anja is a biologist, informal educator, and experience designer with a passion for building inclusive and impactful opportunities at the intersection of community, science, and creativity. Her work over the past 12 years has focused on envisioning, designing, and implementing novel life science experiences in a variety of informal learning environments. Recent projects have explored different community co-design approaches to support the creation of locally-relevant programming. In prior work at The Tech Interactive she co-created the award-winning Biodesign Studio exhibition and founded the Biotinkering Lab, a first-of-its-kind museum bio-makerspace. She holds a PhD in Developmental Biology from Stanford University.
Anja Scholze, Ph. D.
Corinne Takara
Corinne Takara is Honolulu based artist/STEAM educator who creates technology integrated art projects. Her public collaborative work explores the use of modern day artifacts to preserve cultural heritage and memory, and honors the colliding and merging stories that arise in rapidly shifting communities. The workshops Takara designs for museums, libraries, K-12 classrooms and colleges foster creative confidence; they encourage us to see ourselves as drivers of culture and technology. By engaging in maker activities taking shape in public spaces, we can share creative ideas that impact our world and increase our collective civic engagement.
Graduate Trainees
Agniprava Banerjee
PhD, Education
Dr. Agniprava Banerjee is a materials science engineer and educator exploring the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence in materials research and in STEM education and teaching. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 2026, as well as an M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering. His research utilizes interpretable machine learning models to predict phase transformations and advance the design of high-strength alloys. Dr. Banerjee focuses on modernizing engineering curricula for freshman and early-career students. Dr. Banerjee is a former President of the UTEP Graduate Student Assembly, a member of the inaugural UTEP Sloan Center for Systemic Change cohort, and the author of multiple peer-reviewed publications. His work operates at the convergence of AI, materials design, and evidence-based education, with a focus on driving social mobility through inclusive student success.
Keara Coulehan
B.S. in Neuroscience. M.S. Student, Clinical Mental Health Therapy.
Keara is a passionate individual for community health, mental health advocacy, and socio-behavioral/behavioral neuroscience research for underserved populations. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at El Paso funded through Early College Scholarships. Now, she is attending the same institution for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Therapy funded through the Golden Graduate, E.P. Hispanic, and other scholarships. She is working towards becoming a Licensed Psychotherapist. In the SynBio & Me Project, she handles data collection, data cleaning, behavior observation, and writing, for the Year 2 workshops. She is an avid climate and social justice community organizer with Amanecer People's Project, where she creates campaigns and research to help her community’s needs and the environment. She is also part of the Student Success team at El Paso Community College, aiding students with STEM coursework, resources, and their path into further education. She is part of the Community Scientist Program with MD Anderson aiding in health research methodologies to improve overall communal health.
Karen Del Rio
PhD, Education
Karen Del Rio is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in biology, health promotion, and leadership, and a PhD in Teaching, Learning, and Culture from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Her work with the SynBio & Me project spans research coordination, study design, and implementation. She leads the El Paso student research team, coordinates research activities and IRB processes, and contributes to data collection, qualitative analysis, and scholarly publications. Her research explores how youth and families engage in collaborative learning through hands-on synthetic biology and biomaking experiences, with particular attention to intergenerational learning and cognitive apprenticeship practices.
Her broader research interests lie at the intersection of STEM education, community-based learning, and health.
Ghazal Mojtahedi
PhD Student, Human-Centered Computing
Ghazal Mojtahedi is a PhD student in the Human-Centered Computing (HCC) program in the Information Systems Department at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Her research interests lie at the intersection of migration, accessibility, and technology. With a background in interdisciplinary art and filmmaking, she explores how creative and participatory approaches can help understand and address the experiences of migrant and underserved communities. She is interested in designing accessible, inclusive, and meaningful technologies and experiences that support communication, participation, storytelling, and connection across different communities. Her artistic practice, which spans installation, video mapping, motion graphics, and mixed media, informs her approach to exploring human experiences and developing new ways for people to engage with technology.
Hasan Mahmud Prottoy
PhD, Human-Centered Computing
Hasan Mahmud Prottoy has a PhD student at Human-Centered Computing program. He is interested in exploring the intersection between culture, identity and technology using critical Human Computer Interaction approaches. His previous research in HCI involves aspects of after-use phase of technology (repair, recycling, e-waste), and religious media content sharing at Bangladesh. Before coming to UMBC, he earned his bachelor at Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
Marie Ow
PhD Student, Human-Centered Computing
Marie is a PhD student and Research Assistant in the Entangled Ecologies Lab at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research focuses on ecofeminism, culturally-situated interaction and biodesign. Her work includes projects such as the Cultural Turntable, which is a lazy-susan artifact that facilitates reflection on Chinese-American experiences in the United States. She has a background in Computer Science (BS) and Digital Media (MS) from Georgia Tech. She is inspired by her interests in curating music, crafts, collecting/foraging and cooking!
Avanish Singh
PhD Student, Education
Avanish Singh is an education researcher and practitioner currently contributing as a Research Associate to the SynBio and Me Project at the University of Maryland. His area of work cuts across science education, technology, and cognition. Before the current work, he was teaching science education courses and coordinating an education resource centre and design lab at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Lydia Stamato
PhD, Human-Centered Computing
Lydia Stamato is interested in how humans interact with living media interfaces and new possibilities for participation and creativity in technology design, especially explored through community, artistic, and activist perspectives. She is also interested in sociotechnical systems supporting free and open internet.
Yue Xin
PhD Student, Education
Yue is a Ph.D. student specializing in Technology, Learning, and Leadership at the University of Maryland, College Park. With Master’s degrees in biotechnology and educational technologies, her work explores how interdisciplinary, technology-integrated, and design-based approaches can support meaningful and inclusive STEM learning across topics such as biomaking, data science, and computational thinking.
Krystal Zhang
PhD Student, Human-Centered Computing
Krystal Zhang is a PhD student majoring in Human-Centered Computing at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research explores the design of accessible, inclusive, technology-rich makerspaces and the role of DIY assistive technology (DIY-AT) in supporting inclusive participation. Her work examines how digital fabrication tools, emerging technologies, and community-driven practices can empower individuals with disabilities to create personalized solutions.
Undergrad Trainees
Diego Pena
B.S. Student, Computer Science
Diego is a B.S. student in Computer Science at the University of Texas at El Paso, with minors in Finance and Mathematics. On the SynBio & Me project, he handles data cleaning, implements the Year 2 workshops, and develops the project website. He is interested in human-computer phenomena and in building AI tailored for education and finance. Diego is an NSF S-STEM Scholar and is active in the UTEP community, where he helps organize workshops and events focused on machine learning and professional development, and does recruitment outreach at local high schools.
Almudena Rodriguez
Nursing Student, Pre-Medical Studies
Almudena is a third-year nursing student pursuing pre-medical studies at the University of Texas at El Paso. She worked as a Research Assistant on the SynBio & Me project, where she conducted data collection, documented observations, participated in workshops, and contributed to educational activities introducing students and families to biotechnology and synthetic biology. Her responsibilities also included cleaning and maintaining organized workspaces. In addition, she has experience with blood sample collection and laboratory-related activities, further developing her interest in human biology and healthcare. Her academic interests include medicine and biomedical research. Almudena aspires to become a physician specializing in anesthesiology, combining scientific knowledge with compassionate, patient-centered care.
Project Collaborators
Alezzandra Diaz
Alezzandra Diaz is the STEAM Coordinator and program professional at La Nube STEAM Discovery Center, where she develops hands-on learning experiences that inspire children and families to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. She is passionate about creating meaningful, accessible opportunities for learners to engage with STEAM through curiosity, creativity, and real-world problem solving. Alezzandra is particularly interested in the intersection of education, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on preparing students to thoughtfully navigate an increasingly technology-driven world. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in Artificial Intelligence in Education and is excited to continue learning alongside educators and STEM professionals.
Veronica Manrique
Veronica Manriques is a STEAM Programming Facilitator at La Nube STEAM Discovery Center, where she supports the development and implementation of engaging, hands-on learning experiences for children and families. Through her collaboration with the SynBio & Me project, she plays an important role in coordinating and facilitating workshops that introduce participants to biotechnology and creative scientific exploration. Working closely with the La Nube team, Veronica helps create welcoming, interactive learning environments that encourage curiosity, collaboration, and meaningful engagement with STEAM. Her contributions help connect science education with accessible, community-centered learning experiences.
Consultants
Alisha Collins
As Senior Director of STEAM & Innovation, Alisha plays an integral role in disrupting traditional curriculum and assessment practices to expand access for diverse learners and works on new, innovative ways to use wearables and data to track health and wellness, reflect, and iterate further. Alisha is a designer, researcher, author, and educator with a strong background in maker education and experiential learning. She’s spent over 15 years teaching in diverse schools across India, the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, creating curricula and leading professional development workshops. Alisha has led numerous maker-based learning initiatives, focusing on integrating craft, wellness, play, identity, storytelling, and technology into creative learning experiences.
Veena Vijayakumar
Veena Vijayakumar is an educator, community organizer, and nonprofit administrator who has been advocating for equitable and accessible science learning and engagement for the last 13 years. Her research, programs, and writing over the last decade primarily highlight the value of interdisciplinary education, namely its potential to make learning richer and more accessible to non-expert audiences. Veena studied Biology and Art History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and received an MA in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University. Since then, she has focused on audience development and public programming at major museums such as The Exploratorium and the Museum of Modern Art as well as at small nonprofits including Genspace, a community biology laboratory based in Brooklyn, and Biodesign Challenge, an organization that empowers students to harness the powers of biotechnology and design to envision a more ecologically sustainable future for humans and our planet. She currently serves as Director of Ecosystem at Unitary Foundation, a nonprofit that is focused on making quantum technology accessible to the most people possible.
Evaluator
Kavita Mittapalli, Ph.D.
Kavita Mittapalli, Ph.D., brings over 20 years of experience in conducting research and evaluation for various programs and initiatives. She worked at several consulting firms before founding MN Associates, Inc. in 2005. Kavita began her career in Agricultural Science before transitioning into an Applied Sociologist and mixed methodologist with a strong interest in research design. She holds a Ph.D. in Research Design and Methodology (Education) from George Mason University and brings her multidisciplinary skills and knowledge to all the work she leads.
Leadership
Foad Hamidi, Ph. D.
Project Leadership, Associate Professor
Dr. Hamidi is an Associate Professor in the Information Systems Department at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). His research focuses on participatory design and the evaluation of emerging systems, with an emphasis on inclusive and sustainable maker practices for diverse communities. He has led international research and design projects across the United States, Canada, Kenya, Mexico, Bhutan, and Spain, and holds a PhD in Computer Science from York University.
Lisa Scheifele, Ph. D.
Project Leadership, Professor
A molecular biologist at heart, Dr. Scheifele focuses on the "why" behind genome structure and how it actually makes cells tick. Much of this work happens through the Synthetic Yeast Project, where she has teamed up with students to build custom chromosomes—everything from the tiny synI to the massive synIV—to see how 3D organization changes the way cells grow. Beyond the lab, she headed up the Build-a-Genome Network and helped launch COVID-360 to give teachers better tools for explaining the pandemic. She also runs the Baltimore Underground Science Space (BUGSS), a nonprofit community lab where she helps artists, entrepreneurs, and students experiment with DNA in a way that’s more creative and personal than a typical classroom.
Alysha Swann, M. B. A
Project Leadership, Vice President of Community Transformation
Alysha Swann is an El Paso native and currently the Vice President of Community Transformation at La Nube. With over 12 years of community service and partnership experience that encompasses over 10 years of management and leadership experience, she has lead organizations such Insights Science Discovery, United Way of El Paso, and other organizations in the right direction to empower our community through education. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is deeply engaged in board memberships and advisory roles. As a board member for Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation, she actively contributes to changing lives through STEAM and entrepreneurship initiatives, fostering direct impact on youth and adults.
Justice T. Walker, Ph. D.
Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor
Dr. Walker is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland whose research focuses on how students and teachers engage with biotechnologies and computer science-enabled data science tools in STEM learning environments. His work draws on constructionism, design, and literacy-based approaches and is informed by over a decade of K-12 teaching experience. He has received more than $4.2M in funding from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education and holds both an M.S. in Engineering Biotechnology and a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the founder and Principal Investigator of the ABC Learning Lab.