2023 ASAPbio Fellows

Sheiliza Carmali

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research.

I am currently a lecturer in Protein Therapeutics at the School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast (UK). My research interests are in the use of synthetic approaches to modulate protein activity and address current unmet needs in human health.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I joined the ASAPbio Fellows program because I am interested in the implementation of open science to drive more transparency and facilitate dissemination into wider scientific community.

What are you excited about in science communication?

For broader societal impacts and influence decision making, our ability to communicate research to the public is key. I am excited about how science communication can foster unique discussions and lead to innovative solutions and/or ideas.

Ask me about…

Travelling, baking and pandas.

Yueh Cho

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am a senior postdoc fellow at the Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, majoring in plant biology with expertise in protein homeostasis. I used Arabidopsis thaliana to mechanistically study ribosome behavior during translation and protein quality control inside the endoplasmic reticulum in response to the surrounding environment. I am looking for an independent research position to pursue my research goal – tracking the life journey of a protein in vivo and identifying corresponding molecular machinery to monitor and maintain protein homeostasis.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

As an early career researcher, I would like to share my research achievements as soon as possible through the preprint platform. As a member of preLights community, I learnt that the ASAbio Fellows program provides a platform for networking among preprint and open science supporters. I am also looking for the conception of a preprint system and skills to promote preprint exposure through the extensive training in the program.

What are you excited about in science communication?

I believe that transparency and efficiency of communication in the scientific community are as important as the integrity and process of research in your own group. Public science has been significantly boosted due to the development of multiple media, even including artificial intelligence, to facilitate the cross-talk between experts and the general public. Open science will become the future standard for us to share knowledge with others, and the ASAPbio Fellows program provides an opportunity to be involved in the acceleration of science.

Ask me about…

It must be Basketball! I keep up with every NBA game and try to spark my son’s interest in playing basketball with me.

Pol Arranz Gibert

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your workOver the past three years, I have worked in the biotech industry. With a background in organic chemistry and synthetic biology, I leverage my expertise to develop innovative biotech tools, biomaterials and therapeutics. I am passionate about pushing the boundaries of biotech and contributing to the development of new technologies that can improve people’s lives.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I wanted to expand my network and gain experience in the publishing sector within open science. My goal is to learn and contribute to research in open science and preprints, evaluate current models, and propose new ones. I look forward to work with other passionate individuals who share my interest in open science, and to make a meaningful contribution to the field through my participation in the program.

What are you excited about in science communication?

Science communication can have a significant impact on society by demystifying science and making it more accessible to a broader range of people. However, there is a significant challenge in the current science publishing landscape, as many scientific research articles are not open by default, resulting in a lack of access to scientific advancements for many people. I am passionate about promoting open science practices and advocating for greater access to scientific research.

Ask me about…

… swimming and diving, traveling and … open science!

Devashish Dwivedi

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchI am a Junior Lecturer (Maître Assistant) working in the lab of Prof. Patrick Meraldi at Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland. I am interested in understanding how the centrosome duplication is synchronised with the cell cycle. Desynchronisation of cell ynd centrosome cycle can have deleterious consequences on cell fate and survival. My research aims to answer this fundamental question on identification of cellular machinery and signalling pathways that regulate coordinated progression of the cell and the centrosome cycle.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I am interested in learning more about preprints. I strongly support open science and believe there is a pressing need to explain the knowledge we generate in the lab in a way that is understandable to general people. Additionally, I believe that the current publication mechanism needs an extensive overhaul because it is neither fair nor transparent and does not promote free dissemination of scientific knowledge.

What are you excited about in science communication?

I am enthusiastic about promoting effective communication of research throughout the study’s cycle and not just the end conclusion and about publishing innovations like preprints. I am also enthusiastic about ensuring that the parts of scholarly research are discoverable and connected in the research ecosystem by using persistent identifiers, which is provided by preprints.

Ask me about...

Cycling, trekking, trips, and science… of course.

David Ramirez

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am currently an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the Universidad de Concepción (Chile) and I work mainly on drug design for neurodegenerative diseases within the systems pharmacology paradigm.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I think that in Latin America we have a poor culture of preprints and we know very little about them, and also that it is crucial to change the way we communicate science so we have a lot of work ahead of us.

What are you excited about in science communication?

Engaging young minds to use new tools to communicate science, in a truly open way, i.e. everyone can access the information, not only “readers” but also those who want to publish and share their results.

Ask me about…

I am interested in the use of new technologies in everyday life (my house, my car, my workplace…), and my hobbies include playing poker and futbol as well as sharing with friends and walks with my dog.

Anna Oliveras

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research

I’m a molecular biologist and neuroscientist working as a postdoc in Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB). In our lab we are specially excited about understanding early stages of neurodegeneration by integrating multi-scale imaging techniques: from single-molecule to functional imaging.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

Currently preprints and preprint review are gaining more and more importance in the field of life sciences, thanks to huge efforts from individuals and platforms like ASAPbio. I believe it is an important moment to join and contribute. By joining the ASAPbio Fellows program, I aim to understand better how the preprint landscape works, get more involved in the community and contribute to stablishing them as an everyday essential tool for every scientist.

What are you excited about in science communication?

I find open science is a fundamental topic in the discussion on how we want to shape the current and future research culture. There is no open science without science communication. To reach out and communicate our work is one of the first steps towards democratizing science and breaking accessibility barriers towards including every minority scientific (and non-scientific) community.

Ask me about…

How to cook a delicious Spanish omelet, where to drink the best vermut in Barcelona, diving spots and nudibranchs and how to measure fluorescence lifetime.

Ioannis Tsagakis

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your workCurrently I am working as an Editor for Molecular Oncology and FEBS Open Bio journals, published by FEBS Press and Wiley. I am interested in understanding how one can improve the peer review experience from the ‘inside’ but also how preprints can be integrated in the current publishing landscape. Identifying or promoting new initiatives aimed to support early career researchers is a major drive for me.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

Through interactions with other preprint enthusiasts and attending training and networking events, I hope to learn from others’ experiences about what has worked (or not) regarding increasing preprint awareness. Another stimulating aspect of this program would be to specifically hone in on preprint initiatives and brainstorm what key skills or ideas are needed to engage with scientists and open a dialogue to understand their hesitations or clarify any misconceptions regarding preprints.

What are you excited about in science communication?

Making the latest scientific findings accessible and opening a dialogue with audiences is the sure-fire way to generate and invite new ideas as well as foster interesting discussions. In terms of publishing, many researchers are not taught about all the options available to them and just follow the norm or what their predecessors have done ‘because that’s how things were done in the past’. Being in a position to bring them to speed with the latest initiatives aimed at making their research published and visible in a smooth and easy manner, is empowering.

Ask me about…

Long non-coding RNA, chromatin biology, social media, dancing, exercise, coffee and cooking.

Sudeepa Nandi

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am pursuing a PhD in the field of Cell and Developmental biology at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research-Mumbai, India. I am looking at how communities of cells communicate amongst themselves within tissue and with other cells in neighbouring tissues to facilitate alterations in their mechanical landscape to drive coordinated collective movement during fruit fly embryogenesis.

I am also working as Policy Associate at the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), where we work towards improving research culture by promoting and fostering responsible research evaluation practices.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I always love talking and thinking about how to motivate more people in the scientific community to take the preprint pathway. While awareness is growing, there is still a lack of solid supportive frameworks that value and recognize preprints. I have joined the ASAPbio Fellows program with the aim to learn more about the current preprint scenario, what the possibilities are, and to find different ways to contribute to building a preprint model more robust and sustainable. I am also excited to meet and work together with other like-minded people in the community.?

What are you excited about in science communication?

Science communication gives us a great opportunity to get diverse multidisciplinary perspectives and feedback on our own work. This aspect of science communication has long captivated and motivated me to share my work on various platforms more often. Moreover, this is a great way to be open, transparent, and accountable for our research. Additionally, I am fascinated by its capacity to reach a broad audience through straightforward and comprehensible language, enhancing the impact of research.

Ask me about…

I talk a lot (generally :D) and particularly on topics that span from cell biology, tissue engineering, organ development, Open Science, responsible evaluation practices and research culture, mental health in academia to traveling, art, food, books, etc.

Prasoon Kumar

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am currently an assistant professor in the department of biotechnology and Medical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, and Odisha, India. My research interest lies in the field of design and development of micro-devices by applying principles of biomimicry, manufacturing and materials for healthcare and life-science applications.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I chose to participate in ASAPbio Fellows program to understand the thought processes of people involved in open-access, preprints and other models of publications that expand the reach of science and technology among common people. The program may help me to understand the elements of science communication to large audience and its effective dissemination through different platforms

What are you excited about in science communication?

I am excited out knowing how people of different cultures having different languages communicate science to broader audiences. Is the educational background, culture, language shaping our approach to scientific communication? If yes, how can we overcome these biases in science communication?

Ask me about…

My hobbies include book reading of science, philosophy and self-help. I am involved in my start-ups for commercialization of a couple of products. I am also involved in mentoring and creating awareness about higher studies on LinkedIn.

Vanessa Rosa

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your workI am the Director of Science Education Research for The Cuvette, a professional learning community and academic research journal dedicated to the advancement of science education.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I chose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows Program as its goals aligned with those we have for developing The Cuvette.

What are you excited about in science communication?

My excitement is with empowering educators and researchers to publish their work when they are ready and embrace novel approaches to peer review.

Ask me about…

My family and I train Jiu Jitsu, play chess, and I enjoy writing and reading.

Bhargy Sharma

What is your current role?I am currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. I am interested in developing therapeutics for protein-based neurodegenerative disorders.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I chose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program since I believe such platforms provide better visibility to early-career researchers and provide them a way to integrate with peer-researchers and keeping up-to-date with latest research in their field.

What are you excited about in science communication?

Science communication provides avenues to relate new findings and inventions to interested laypersons, who may otherwise not have an access to the latest updates in the field. Communicating our research in an easy and comprehensive way can bring in more perspectives from non-specialists in specific fields, which can sometimes prove to be beneficial approaches to solve any problem.

Ask me about…

In addition to my research in protein-based biomaterials, I am also passionate about improving visibility of women in STEM, and particularly outreach to the younger generation through science communication.

Giuliana Clemente

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research. I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol (UK) in the laboratory of Dr Helen Weavers. In the lab we use the humble fruit fly to understand how tissues withstand and/or repair the damage caused by toxic and harmful insults to preserve their integrity and function. Currently, I am exploring how immune cells achieve self-protection from oxidative stress and how these protective strategies are essential to support key immune cell functions, such as immune surveillance and recruitment to sites of damage during tissue repair.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I joined the ASAPbio Fellows program to dive more into the open-science landscape and to learn new tools and strategies to advocate for a more transparent and accessible science within my community.

What are you excited about in science communication?

As researchers, we have the duty of sharing our results with the scientific community and the general public, in a transparent and open way. The ability to explain difficult concepts and twisted theories to the general audience unlocks the potential of scientific discoveries to shape the society, especially in an era that faces big, urgent challenges, such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ask me about…

music and crafty hobbies!

Roseline Dzekem DINE

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchI am a public health specialist and social scientist. My broad professional interest is in helping to improve public/global health, improve scientific practices in Africa, and inform policy to shape the equitable, responsible, and beneficial participation of health and biomedical scientific activities (especially in Africa).

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I am excited to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program because of my deep rooted interest in preprints and in making science communication as well as other scientific opportunities more open especially for African scientists. This involves liaising closely with like-minded researchers, individuals, and institutions to see how to make this a reality.

I’d love to use this channel to connect with more open-science enthusiasts and to learn how to make science better for all (for instance through preprints).

Ask me about…

These days when I’m not on my laptop (computer) “thinking about how to make science more open”, I’m usually watching comedy; discussing with family; and taking care of my surroundings.

Stephen Gabrielson

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your workI’m the Scholarly Communication Librarian at the University of Pittsburgh’s Health Sciences Library System. I provide training and consultation support on a wide range of publishing topics, such as disseminating all types of scholarly outputs, increasing research visibility, and ways to track and communicate research impact.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

A colleague of mine was an ASAPbio Fellow and had great things to say about their experience. I currently teach an introduction class on preprints at my institution, but I’d like to expand my knowledge of preprints to provide more in-depth educational support and outreach. I also saw this as an opportunity to connect with and learn from others who have an interest in preprints.

What are you excited about in science communication?

There’s a lot to be excited about in science communication right now—open peer review, open access publishing, and new publication models that incorporate preprints. I’m also very interested in improving the researcher’s experience with publishing, since it can sometimes be an overwhelming process for new and experienced authors alike. I’m excited to help researchers become better equipped to make informed publishing decisions, including how posting preprints benefits them and science as a whole.

Ask me about...

Running! I’m training for my first full marathon and always like to hear from others about their experiences and perspectives on running at any level.

Ashley Castelloe

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am a graduate student at Ohio State University in the Molecular Genetics Department. I study how organ development evolves in nematode worms.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I am always excited to read the newest literature available and preprints help me to learn the most up to date information. The ASAPbio Fellows program gives me a chance to look into the backstage of preprints and help share them with the world!

What are you excited about in science communication?

I really enjoy helping scientists and researchers communicate their ideas; especially when cross-discipline communication leads to new technology being created.

Ask me about…

In addition to research, I enjoy playing indie videogame, cooking, and hosting TTRPG games with my friends.

Marina Schernthanner

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchI am currently a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Elaine Fuchs at the Rockefeller University in New York. In my research I am interested in delineating cellular communication circuits between stem cells and their niche in the intestine. More specifically, I want to understand how crypt-associated lymphatic capillaries regulate intestinal stem cell activity.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I have recently gotten involved with the preLights community, which provided me with the opportunity to interact with a number of like-minded science aficionados and discuss about as well as highlight new and interesting scientific findings. Within the frame of the ASAPbio Fellows program I hope to learn more about the preprint landscape, how to effectively integrate preprints and their results within the broader scientific community and to improve my writing and communication skills, while getting to learn from and interact with other ASAPbio Fellows.

What are you excited about in science communication?

Especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, I think more and more people have started to recognize the importance and value of effectively communicating scientific information to a broader, lay audience. I am excited about further developing my skillset in science communication, raising awareness for it and hopefully getting people outside of academic science excited about the topics I work on and am interested in.

Ask me about…

Music – whenever I manage to escape the lab I love to play the classical guitar and piano.

NYC on- and off-broadway shows.

Ryan John Cubero

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research
I am a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Sandra Siegert’s lab in the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). We are interested in understanding the interactions between microglia, a highly dynamic non-neuronal cell type that resides in the central nervous system, and the different components (e.g., extracellular matrix and neurons) of the brain and retina. Coming from a statistical physics background, I develop computational approaches to analyze large-scale biological datasets, and elucidate the relationship between microglial morphology and their function.Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?
I believe in the importance and potential of preprints to accelerate progress in science. Preprints are already being used to disseminate new research results that would have taken about a year more to be available in journals, and this approach needs to be normalized. Preprints can also be an avenue to put out negative results — a cautionary tale for scientists working in the same field of what could go wrong — which takes an even longer time to be accepted for publication. But more importantly, preprints are important not just for the scientific community but also for the curious public. Free access to research papers has the potential to better inform the public in matters regarding biology and medicine — two topics that have been crucial most especially in the last years. Joining the ASAPbio Fellows program allows me to be more proactive in putting my beliefs to practice.

What are you excited about in science communication?
Getting people outside the academic sphere excited about what we do and why we do it!

Ask me about…
…running and hiking trails around Vienna (Austria), NYTimes Mini Crossword, immersive video games, origami, and now, preprints!

Neeraja Purandare

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchI am currently a senior postdoctoral fellow in the Wayne State University School of Medicine in in Detroit Michigan, USA. I work on understanding how mitochondrial metabolism in involved in the many pathophysiological processes and diseases such as neurodegeneration and cancer. My current projects focus on targeting mitochondria to prevent inflammation in two distinct models – one for a mitochondrial DNA disease (MELAS) and the other for endotoxin induced preterm birth.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

As I progress in my career to become an independent scientist in academia, I am particularly interested in understanding the review process from the other side of the table – a manuscript editor’s perspective. This would in turn help me improve upon my editorial skills as well as provide me with a comprehensive understanding of the review process. I also hope to understand how preprints are perceived in the scientific outreach community and identify better ways to present my work to other scientists as well as a general audience.

What are you excited about in science communication?

I am excited to share my work with others and learn about increasing transparency in the review process. As review processes are getting longer publishing preprints is fantastic way improve the manuscript ahead of submission and hopefully reduce the time required for publication.

Ask me about…

any of my research interests highlighted above. Besides that I love trying different cuisines and watching movies and reading books.

Benedikt Schwarze

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research.Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher in the field of biophysics at Leipzig University (Germany). The research I am involved in spans protein (mis-)folding in the context of Alzheimer’s disease (amyloid beta fibrils) and protein−carbohydrate interactions (carbohydrate-binding proteins) addressed by various biophysical techniques with a focus on NMR spectroscopy. Further, I do teaching for medicine students in experimental physics.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

There are several reasons, first, I want to participate more actively in the scientific community which engages in science communication and get to know other people with similar interests. Second, I am interested in keeping track of the fast development of the preprint ecosystem and putting to the test the practices in feedback culture of scientific paper revision. And third, I would like to learn tools to further advance the awareness of valuable alternatives to classical publication in journals in my local scientific community.

What are you excited about in science communication?

I find it fascinating how difficult it is to simplify complex matter. During my (PhD) studies in Chemistry, I lived together in a shared apartment with friends studying Communication Sciences. Considering the differences of our professional life at that time, I could have never imagined that both our disciplines would ever meet in one way or another. Nowadays, I find myself thinking that knowing about science communication is an essential skill while working in a research environment. The tools of trade for how to communicate science is not only very useful in the communication to the public but also crucial among scientists from different disciplines in this constantly diversifying science landscape.

Ask me about…

Psychedelic music, especially from the explosive African rock scene of the 60s to 80s.

Fusion cuisine – kitchen experiments in bringing together ingredients from different cultures.

Botany – favourite plant: Camellia sinensis –especially of Indian and Nepalese origin.

Vivia Khosasih

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am a PhD student who is about to defend my dissertation at the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. I am working on the genetics of human diseases these past years, focusing on the genetics of osteoarthritis. I am looking for a postdoctoral position at the moment and also very excited to contribute more to the science community as a postdoc researcher.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I am actually new to preprints myself, and have just heard and learnt about it over these past two years. I think preprints are a great way to share research easily and rapidly, but there is some resistance about it in my research community. Moreover, not many graduate students have heard and know about it, so I want to support and raise the awareness of it in my community. I believe I can learn more about preprints and how to raise its awareness by joining ASAPbio Fellows program.

What are you excited about in science communication?

It is exciting to communicate your research and your science to fellow researchers, but it is more exciting to see that more and more of science is being communicated to a larger public audience, especially after the pandemic.

Ask me about…

From genome-wide association study and osteoarthritis to crocheting, baking, and traveling!

Girish Beedessee

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchI am Herchel research fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge and my interest lies in biosynthetic enzymes and their role in secondary metabolite biosynthesis. My current research employs biophysical and computational approaches to understand a novel mode of re-engineering DNA condensation.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

The ASAPbio Fellows program is an ideal platform to me to expand my horizon about preprints, understand the challenges associated with them and network with scientists globally. Being from a small island state, I also want to share this experience with scientists and students in my country and advocate for open science and preprints within the African continent.

What are you excited about in science communication?

As a scientist, I believe that I have a responsibility to communicate my research to the public so as to motivate the next generation of scientists and get them excited about science, especially school students. More importantly, science communication has to be done effectively with full transparency.

Ask me about..

Football, movies and bioinformatic tools.

Debraj Manna

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research.I am a PhD student at the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. Currently, I work on fascinating regulatory mechanisms that can tune gene expression in our cells.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I have often heard researchers are reluctant or not interested in posting their research as a preprint. I think they can be extremely useful for the research community as to whose research is getting published and who’s reading it. Through this program, I wish to know more about preprints to fill the information gap that drives some researchers away from preprints.

What are you excited about in science communication?

The most underappreciated aspect of scientific research is that it is not just for the scientists. Science is for everyone. Hence, everyone deserves to and should learn about the latest scientific developments – be it a major breakthrough or just ‘everyday science’. Science communication allows us to do this in multiple formats and to reach people without the traditional boundaries set between communities, thus, treating scientific information as a resource for everyone.

Ask me about…

Gardening, poetry, and acting. I have also recently started learning to play the violin.

Vanessa Bijak

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchI am an early career researcher interested in a scientific management role. I am a Research Associate at the University of Virginia in Wladek Minor’s laboratory. Our research team is dedicated to understanding biological systems comprehensively by utilizing a range of biophysical techniques, including X-ray crystallography. One of our principal areas of investigation is unraveling the significant role of serum albumin as a primary facilitator for transporting hormones, drugs, and metals within mammalian blood plasma. Additionally, our research delves into the intricate mechanisms behind the binding of metals to proteins and how these interactions manifest in the form of structural variability in crystal structures.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

As a researcher, I believe in sharing the results of our work in an open and transparent way. I am passionate about science communication as well as open science. I am thrilled to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program, learn more about preprints, and actively promote them to the broader scientific community.

What are you excited about in science communication?

tl;dr Science communication makes scientific research and breakthroughs more available to the general audience.

Science communication is one of the essentials for bridging the gap between scientific research and the general public. Effective science communication is a crucial factor that helps people better understand the relevance of scientific research to their daily lives, increase public awareness of scientific breakthroughs, and promotes a more informed public discourse on science-related issues.

I think the ongoing technological advancements, such as social media and other digital platforms, have created plenty of opportunities for science communication. These tools have made it easier for scientists to communicate directly with the public and engage in two-way dialogue with their audience.

Finally, the current global challenges, such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other emerging threats, highlight the crucial need for science communication to communicate science-based solutions to complex societal problems. Overall, science communication plays a vital role in shaping public opinion.

Ask me about.. .

…traveling, baking, and all kind of crafts.

Emmanuel Adamolekun

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchI am an aspiring public health bioinformatician. I currently work at the Helix Biogen Institute based in Nigeria, where I focus on using bioinformatics and molecular biology techniques and tools to develop interventions such as vaccines to diagnose, prevent and treat infectious diseases such as neglected tropical diseases.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I believe joining the ASAPbio Fellows program is an excellent opportunity to learn more about preprints and connect with other members of the preprints community. During the program, I look forward to improving my skills in peer review and publishing. Also, I look forward to promoting the use of preprints in my country by organizing events and outreach about preprints. At the end of the program, I would like to see a preprints community/hub established in Nigeria.

What are you excited about in science communication?

The use of storytelling to communicate vital points or conclusions from research findings to your audience.

Ask me about…

My hobbies are reading, surfing the internet. I am a HIV prevention advocate in my community, I educate adolescents and young people about HIV prevention and help them make informed decisions about sexual and reproductive health.

Aneth Bella David

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am an early career researcher and academic scientist at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I teach and conduct research on microbiomes, antimicrobial resistance and microbial biotechnology. I also have expertise in farming systems and sustainable agriculture.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I am passionate about open science, which includes preprints, and have been a strong proponent to promote the culture in Tanzania. This fellowship is an opportunity to interact with like-minded people and to learn more about how I can make a bigger impact.

What are you excited about in science communication?

Making science reachable and accessible to the general population beyond the lab/field.

Ask me about…

Books, plants and Wikipedia editing.

Becca Shelley

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am a PhD student in Cell and Molecular Biology at Duke University. I research macrophage recruitment and function after injury and disease in lung alveoli, focusing on the interaction between cell populations and stem cells within the tissue during regeneration.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I am excited to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program to learn about the impact of preprints and transparency in science, and to have conversations with peers about how to promote it within the scientific community.

What are you excited about in science communication?

Science communication is very complex and important within academia and with the public. This communication is essential for scientific outreach and to bring together the scientific community. There is a lot of work that can be done to diversify and strengthen scientific communication and I am excited to be able to contribute to this!

Ask me about...

Baking, painting, hiking, scientific mentorship, and anything cell biology related!

Reeteka Sud

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchCurrently I work as Research Coordinator at the Accelerator program for Discovery in Brain disorders using Stem cells (ADBS) Lab, at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS, Bangalore, India). Our lab focuses on stem cell models of psychiatric disorders. Specifically, my interest is in developmental mechanisms in the brain that contribute to development of these disorders.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

To do my bit in promoting open science 🙂

What are you excited about in science communication?

The potential to break down barriers, to reach new audiences, both within the sciences and general public.

Ask me about..

science writing, scicomm.

Garima Jain

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchBorn and raised in India, I am an early career researcher with a passion for cancer biology. After completing a PhD in molecular medicine from Ulm University, Germany, I returned to India to pursue a career in cancer research, where I have focused my efforts on developing novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches for cancer, with a particular interest in prostate cancer. Currently, I am serving as Principal Investigator at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India. This project involves identifying and profiling urine miRNAs to develop an early diagnosis of prostate cancer. Prior to this, I served as the PI for a DST project at the same university. This project involved the evaluation of the Guggulsterone-mediated anticancer mechanisms in prostate cancer. Driven by a desire to make a difference in the field of cancer research, I also co-founded a startup focused on early cancer diagnosis. Through this work, we are applying our knowledge and expertise to develop innovative tools and technologies to improve cancer diagnosis and ultimately save lives.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?
I believe that preprints have the potential to revolutionize the way research is disseminated and accelerate scientific progress. However, I am aware that some researchers may be hesitant to publish their work in preprints due to concerns about data theft or negative impact on their career prospects. Through this program, I aim to learn effective ways of communicating the benefits of preprints to fellow researchers and addressing their concerns. As a researcher from a low-funding research country, I have faced challenges in publishing in paid open-access journals. The ASAPbio Fellows program presents a unique opportunity to learn more about preprints and how they can be utilized to promote my research career. Through this program, I hope to gain knowledge and skills that will allow me to improve the dissemination of my research and increase its impact. Ultimately, my larger objective is to advocate for the recognition of preprints as equivalent to published work by government bodies, which would help remove barriers to the wider adoption of preprints in the research community.

What are you excited about in science communication?
As a scientist, I have always been passionate about communicating scientific concepts to a broader audience, particularly to laypeople and school students. I believe that everyone should have access to scientific knowledge and that effective science communication is essential for building a more informed and engaged society.

I am particularly interested in using comics and infographics as a medium for science communication. These visual mediums can convey complex scientific concepts in a simple, accessible, and engaging way, making them an ideal tool for reaching a broad audience. To further this goal, I co-founded a non-profit organization called Genetics4U. Our mission is to promote scientific literacy and curiosity in genetics and biotechnology among school students and laypeople. We create educational comics and infographics that explain scientific concepts and discoveries in a fun and engaging way, making them accessible to everyone. I believe that effective science communication is crucial for the progress of science and society. I am excited to continue exploring new and innovative ways to communicate scientific concepts to the public, particularly to young people, who will be the next generation of scientists and decision-makers.

Ask me about…
In my free time, I enjoy exploring various hobbies and activities that allow me to relax and recharge. One of my favorite hobbies is reading spiritual books and practicing yoga, which helps me stay centered and mindful. I also enjoy cooking and experimenting with new recipes, which allows me to be creative and express myself through food. Additionally, I love writing poetry as a way to reflect on my emotions and experiences. Through these hobbies and activities, I am able to maintain a healthy work-life balance and nurture my personal growth and well-being.

Chenyue Jiao

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research

I am a PhD student in School of Information Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. My research interest lies in scholarly communication where I study research data sharing and reuse.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I am excited to be a 2023 ASAPbio Fellow because of the connections and collaborations with distinguished scholars and potential contributions to preprints in life sciences.

Rania Abdelghani

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your workI am Associate Professor of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. I am an Associate Alumni, Harvard Medical School and Clinical Scholar, Egypt Clinical Scholar Research Training and Harvard Medical School. I am an Associate Editor in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, member of the European Association of Science Editors (EASE) and mentor for peer reviewers in the Web of Science Academy.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

As an associate editor in a gold open access journal and medical educator, I believe that science should be available for everyone in an unrestricted manner to promote reproducibility of scientific research. Furthermore, as a DORA signatory, I believe that the quality of the research article is a collaborative task of its editors, publisher, authors, and reviewers regardless of the access type. The ASAPbio Fellows Program will allow me to implement my vision and contribute with other members in improving the quality of open peer review and making preprint a norm in science communication.

What are you excited about in science communication?

I am incredibly excited about peer review and its impact on the quality of science. I am looking forward to enhancing the culture of open peer
review among researchers and improving the quality of open peer review.

Ask me about…

Peer review, writing, medical education.

Amaresh Mishra

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research.I am currently an ICMR-Senior Research Fellow and pursuing a PhD in cancer biology. My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression and identifying novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I am passionate about science communication and open science. As a researcher, I believe that it is essential to share our research findings openly and transparently with the broader scientific community and the general public. I am excited to learn new skills and strategies for effective science communication and to connect with other like-minded researchers through this program.

What are you excited about in science communication?

I am excited about the potential of science communication to bridge the gap between researchers and the general public and to promote a better understanding of science and its impact on society. I believe that effective science communication can help build trust between scientists and the public and increase public engagement in science.

Ask me about…

Apart from academia, I am associated with some NGOs like PETA and Goonj for volunteering work as a way to give back to the community and to support causes that I am passionate about. Also, I love to play basketball which is a fun and challenging way to stay active, improve coordination and reflexes, and socialize with others who share a love of the game.

Daniela Liebsch

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI’m a postdoc at the Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology in Rosario, Argentina. My work focuses on the role of miRNAs and transcription factors regulating plant growth and development.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I think there so much potential with preprints to innovate and improve science publishing, communication, and also how we do science in general. I choose to participate in the program to learn more about the preprint/preprint review ecosystem, to become a better advocate and to be able to contribute initiatives related to preprints in my field.

What are you excited about in science communication?

The enthusiasm, skill and passion of people everywhere engaging in SciComm. Together with more open and transparent science, this makes me really hopeful that it’s possible to combat misinformation better in the future and to get people onboard with science.

Ask me about…

Plants! ^.^

Gracielle Higino

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work or line of researchMy current role is program coordinator for the Computational Biodiversity Science and Services (BIOS²) training program, based at the University of Sherbrooke, in Canada. The goals of the program involve widening opportunities and skill sets among students and postdoctoral fellows, while fostering a new culture in ecoinformatics based on open science.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I chose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program because I am always involved in discussions about open access in scientific publications, and I have been advocating for preprints and preprint reviews for many years now. I believe the Fellows program will expand the way I think and advocate for open publications, and help me implement some projects in my work aimed at graduate students.

What are you excited about in science communication?

When I was in high school and my sister was in college, she showed me the SciELO portal, where she was looking for scientific publications that she’d use on her essays. It was fascinating to me how we could have access to scientific information like that, written by scientists, but at the same time I was confused by the fact that the researchers who wrote those reports were often Brazilian, but the reports were never in Portuguese, and therefore many Brazilians couldn’t really access that information, even though it was available. And this questioning stuck with me until this day, and yet I still find fascinating when we can have access to new scientific results and the discussions around them, while I’m still getting intrigued by how “access” means different things in different contexts.

Ask me about…

… group facilitation!

Ananya Nidamangala Srinivasa

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research. I’m currently working towards my PhD at the University of Kansas Medical Center, in Dr. Sarah Zanders’ lab. I work on understanding the mechanisms of how the selfish genes, wtf meiotic drivers, function in fission yeast.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I wanted to participate in the program to learn more about preprints, and engage in preprint review initiatives. The program also provides me an opportunity to interact with fellows who are excited about changing the landscape of scientific communication!

What are you excited about in science communication?

I’m excited about the possibility of changing the way scientists communicate, both through publications (or scientific communication) and through science communication. Communication can be an extremely powerful tool when wielded correctly, and I believe we as scientists can get better at it!

Ask me about…

Dance and art! I’m a Bharatnatyam dancer, which is an Indian classical dance, and I’ve trained in the artform for 16 years. I’m also an artist, who mostly draws science-related artwork.

Lamis Yahia Mohamed Elkheir

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your work researchI am a pharmaceutical chemistry lecturer with a master’s degree in molecular medicine from the institute of endemic diseases, faculty of medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan and I am currently in my last year of PhD in medicinal chemistry in a joint program between the University of Khartoum and the University of Tours, France. I am also working as a research assistant at the Mycetoma research centre in Khartoum, Sudan. My research activities are centred on research aimed at drug discovery for neglected tropical diseases as these diseases pose a huge burden in my local community.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

With the recent global surge in preprints, I noticed that researchers in my country are greatly lagging in the knowledge and engagement around preprints. That’s why through my participation in the ASAPbio Fellows program, I am hoping to advance my knowledge of preprints and hopefully gain insight into skills needed to promote preprints within my community.

What are you excited about in science communication?

I am most interested in promoting openness in science and science communication as I feel that openness is a must to insure global equity in accessibility to science.

Arpita Ghosh

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am a postdoctoral fellow in the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay). Currently, I am studying the importance of mechano-sensitive long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in glioblastoma and stem cells. I am focused on how the lncRNAs might contribute to cancer prognosis in glioblastoma depending on substrate stiffness. Similarly in human mesenchymal stem cells I am exploring how the mechano-sensitive lncRNAs might be sensing the substrate stiffness and contributing to senescence.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

Being an ASAPbio fellow would help me review different preprints on my research interest and would let me express my views openly on a public platform. It would help me interact with more people working in the same discipline and exchange ideas on similar topics as well. It will help in fostering my confidence to be more expressive in science. I intend to continue my science communication interest by participating in ASAPbio projects to educate the community more about preprints. As my goal after being a post-doc is to start as an independent researcher, being an ASAPbio Fellow will develop my analytical and critical evaluation of research work through the Crowd preprint review program.

What are you excited about in science communication?

As a person who has mentored various interns, project fellows, and who currently is also involved in teaching activities for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the institute, I would have to say that teaching/mentoring is the thing that I enjoy the most about science communication. Apart from that, I have always had a knack for presentations and scientific writing. As an ASAPbio Fellow I am very excited and looking forward to being a part of preprint review and mentoring programs.

Ask me about..

…music, and vlogging (a very recent interest of mine and I am developing my own channel).

Lonni Besançon

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am a soon-to-be Assistant Professor in Visualization research at Linköping University. My main research interests lie in 3D interaction with volumetric data, immersive analytics, visualization of statistical data, methodological research, and open science.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

The ASAPbio Fellow programs is a wonderful initiative to connect researchers in different domains with common interests. I strongly believe that science is and should be more of a collective effort (rather than a competitive one) and I am delighted and looking forward to work on the multiple projects and ideas that ASAPbio has been promoting. I have in the past interacted and communicated with ASAPbio members on the role and importance of preprints and I saw participating in the Fellows program as an opportunity to continue this work.

What are you excited about in science communication?

There are many things I am particularly interested in when it comes to science communication so I’m not sure which one to choose here. I love bringing science to the public, but also have a keen interest in bringing new methods to scientists, especially when it comes to publishing and preprinting.

Ask me about…

Ask me about anything from my research interest highlighted above to photography, music, running, or personal data. I am particularly keen on collecting and visualizing a lot of my personal data and happy to talk about this more. Also would be very happy to discuss NHST and dichotomous thinking when it comes to statistical results and how it can negatively impact research processes.

Kamaldeep Singh

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your researchI am a visiting Fulbright Scholar at Yale University and a graduate student at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, India. Molecular motors like kinesins and dynein are by far my favourite molecules inside the cell and my work is broadly trying to understand how does membrane trafficking of organelles like endosomes regulate synaptic homeostasis in the brain using fruit fly as a model system.

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I have always been passionate to discuss different ways to make science as a discipline globally more accessible. Therefore, when I came across the ASAPbio Fellows program, I realised it would be a nice platform to meet a bunch of people who are young, motivated, and are willing to put in efforts collectively to make things better in many different ways. I also thought it would be a nice way to learn more about the importance of preprints in promoting open science.

What are you excited about in science communication?

Hah! It’s hard to answer this one because there’s nothing about science communication I don’t enjoy – so in short, everything! At TIFR, we enjoy the privilege of working at a place that has a very active outreach team which organises many programs like Frontiers of Science and National Science Day celebrations where thousands (literally!) of school kids visit TIFR and folks at TIFR (professors, students, and staff alike!) try to present all-things-science in a super fun and interactive way. The joy it brings to all – I think it’s very very hard to put that in words!! These (and many more I haven’t spoken about) days leave you SO happy and satisfied simply because you realise how powerful and impactful science communication can be.

Ask me about…

Sunsets, food, hiking, photography, football, star-gazing/sky watching, Indian indie music, politics, mental health, importance of kindness…and anything else you like!