Stanford Mentors 2020-2021
Leadership Team
Katie Liu - President
Chemistry
Email: kliu94 @ stanford.edu
The President coordinates the Stanford FAST program by overseeing the leadership team, maintaining partnerships within and outside Stanford, ensuring sustained funding, and dealing with the administrative and legal aspects of FAST.
Raj Balaji - Chief Operations Officer
Mechanical Engineering
Email: abalaji @ stanford.edu
The Chief Operations Officer is responsible for FAST leadership after the President. They disseminate information from the leadership team, document changes to the structure and logistics of FAST, and deal with administrative and legal aspects.
Alex Heyer - Andrew Hill Chief Program Officer
Chemistry
Email: heyer @ stanford.edu
The Chief Program Officers are the first point of contact at each high school for both mentors and teachers. They are responsible for keeping track of mentors and students, communicating weekly goals, and referring for help any mentors or students suffering health, psychological, or family problems.
Hannah Rosenblatt - Andrew Hill Chief Program Officer
Developmental Biology
Email: hrosenbl @ stanford.edu
The Chief Program Officers are the first point of contact at each high school for both mentors and teachers. They are responsible for keeping track of mentors and students, communicating weekly goals, and referring for help any mentors or students suffering health, psychological, or family problems.
Anudeep Mangu - James Lick Chief Program Officer
Materials Science and Engineering
Email: mangu2 @ stanford.edu
The Chief Program Officers are the first point of contact at each high school for both mentors and teachers. They are responsible for keeping track of mentors and students, communicating weekly goals, and referring for help any mentors or students suffering health, psychological, or family problems.
Josselyn Peña - James Lick Chief Program Officer
Immunology
Email: jkpena @ stanford.edu
The Chief Program Officers are the first point of contact at each high school for both mentors and teachers. They are responsible for keeping track of mentors and students, communicating weekly goals, and referring for help any mentors or students suffering health, psychological, or family problems.
Alex Lessenger - Financial Officer
Biology
Email: lessenga @ stanford.edu
The Financial Officer coordinates with funding sources, creates financial projections for fundraising efforts, and files reimbursements for FAST expenses.
Stephanie Lim - Financial Officer
Earth System Science
Email: smlim @ stanford.edu
The Financial Officer coordinates with funding sources, creates financial projections for fundraising efforts, and files reimbursements for FAST expenses.
Brian Zhong - Development Officer
Chemical Engineering
Email: brizhong @ stanford.edu
The Development Officer identifies grants and funding sources, organizes the grant-writing process, and forms internal funding partnerships within Stanford University.
Rosa Ma - Outcomes Officer
Genetics
Email: rosaxma @ stanford.edu
The Outcomes Officer leads the outcomes surveying team, researches improved outcomes tracking practices, and designs new surveys for measuring FAST's long-term impact.
Nora Enright - Director of Mentor Recruitment and Training
Bioengineering
Email: nenright @ stanford.edu
The Director of Mentor Recruitment and Training hosts information sessions to recruit future mentors. They also coordinate and develop mentor training sessions to prepare new and current mentors to be successful in mentorship.
Lindsey Mehl - Director of Mentor Recruitment and Training
Cancer Biology
Email: lmehl @ stanford.edu
The Director of Mentor Recruitment and Training hosts information sessions to recruit future mentors. They also coordinate and develop mentor training sessions to prepare new and current mentors to be successful in mentorship.
Julie Ko - Director of Communications
Cancer Biology
Email: kojulieh @ stanford.edu
The director of Internal Communications and Social Programming is responsible for maintaining the FAST website, electronically communicating weekly goals to mentors and students before each session, and organizing social events for mentors.
Melissa Nakamoto - Director of Communications
Chemistry
Email: mnakamot @ stanford.edu
The Director of Internal Communications and Social Programming is responsible for maintaining the FAST website, electronically communicating weekly goals to mentors and students before each session, and organizing social events for mentors.
Cindy Nguyen - Auxiliary Programs Coordinator
Electrical Engineering
Email: cindyn @ stanford.edu
The Auxiliary Programs Coordinator is responsible for interfacing with summer intership programs. They are the primary point of contact for FAST students who are interested in doing research at the university level.
Jasper Ainsworth - Workshops Coordinator
Chemistry
Email: jainswo1 @ stanford.edu
The Workshop Coordinators develop and deliver workshops that cover a wide range of topics, including college applications, SAT/ACT testing, scientific ethics, reading primary scientific literature, and giving presentations.
Rosie Sowers - Workshops Coordinator
Biomedical Informatics
Email: rsowers @ stanford.edu
The Workshop Coordinators develop and deliver workshops that cover a wide range of topics, including college applications, SAT/ACT testing, scientific ethics, reading primary scientific literature, and giving presentations.
Joshua Visser - Andrew Hill Inventory Officer
Chemistry
Email: jvisser @ stanford.edu
The Inventory Officer is responsible for managing FAST equipment and supplies, including coordinating orders for supplies and proposing purchases of capital equipment based on student needs.
Eric Cooper - James Lick Inventory Officer
Physics
Email: escooper @ stanford.edu
The Inventory Officer is responsible for managing FAST equipment and supplies, including coordinating orders for supplies and proposing purchases of capital equipment based on student needs.
Professional Team
FAST is a voluntary student organization (VSO) entirely led by Stanford graduate students. To most effectively design curriculum and coordinate the program, FAST solicits the expert advice of the following staff scientists and professional researchers at Stanford who volunteer their time.
Sahil Tembulkar - Outcomes Consultant
Email: stembulk @ stanford.edu
The Outcomes Consultant leads the outcomes surveying team, researches improved outcomes tracking practices, and designs new surveys for measuring FAST's long-term impact.
Munam Wasi - Technology Consultant
Email: munam @ stanford.edu
The Technology Consultant documents FAST sessions on social media and develops technology regarding communication, organization, and operations of FAST.
Mentors
Alex Heyer
Chemistry
Email: heyer @ stanford.edu
Alex Lessenger
Biology
Email: lessenga @ stanford.edu
Anudeep Mangu
Materials Science and Engineering
Email: mangu2 @ stanford.edu
Anudeep is a second year Phd student interested in the physics of new materials that are interesting for new technologies. He loves reading fantasy novels, watching TV shows, and going on the occasional hike. He is excited to work with FAST to make some exciting projects!
Brian Zhong
Chemical Engineering
Email: brizhong @ stanford.edu
Cindy Nguyen
Electrical Engineering
Email: cindyn @ stanford.edu
Cindy is a first-year PhD student in Electrical Engineering, interested in the intersection of neuroscience and engineering. She also attended Stanford for her undergraduate degree in Bioengineering, and, before that, she attended Independence High (go ESUHSD!). In her free time, she likes to make Spotify playlists and watch stand-up comedy.
Eric Cooper
Physics
Email: escooper @ stanford.edu
Hannah Rosenblatt
Developmental Biology
Email: hrosenbl @ stanford.edu
Jasper Ainsworth
Chemistry
Email: jainswo1 @ stanford.edu
Joseph Kelly
Chemistry
Email: joseph13 @ stanford.edu
Joseph is a first year PhD student in Chemistry looking to study molecular structure and dynamics using theoretical and computational tools. As an undergrad he studied Chemistry at UC Berkeley. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, building with LEGO and occasionally playing the French Horn.
Joshua Visser
Chemistry
Email: jvisser @ stanford.edu
Josh is a third year PhD student in the chemistry department. He studies the bacterial biofilms of E. coli through interrogation by small molecules. He grew up in Delta, Utah and received his undergraduate education at the University of Utah. Outside the lab, Josh enjoys reading, swimming, and playing board games!
Josselyn Peña
Immunology
Email: jkpena @ stanford.edu
Julie Ko
Cancer Biology
Email: kojulieh @ stanford.edu
Julie is a fourth year PhD student in Cancer Biology, studying the mechanisms of small cell lung cancer metastasis. Julie grew up in Los Angeles and went to MIT for undergrad. Outside of science, she likes to play video games, eat junk food, and think about dogs.
Katie Liu
Chemistry
Email: kliu94 @ stanford.edu
Katie is a third year PhD student in the chemistry department where she studies viral membrane fusion. She moved to Stanford after graduating from Scripps College in 2016. She is originally from Honolulu, HI and enjoys dancing, hiking and going to the beach.
Lindsey Mehl
Cancer Biology
Email: lmehl @ stanford.edu
Lisa Couper
Biology
Email: lcouper @ stanford.edu
Lisa is a third-year PhD student in Biology, interested in the effects of climate change on infectious diseases. She grew up in North Carolina and went to undergrad at UNC (Go Heels!). She enjoys basketball, ultimate frisbee, and watching dance videos.
Madeline Chosy
Chemistry
Email: chosym @ stanford.edu
Madeline is a third year PhD student in the chemistry department. She studies bacteria/bacterial biofilms and how we can treat them more effectively. Madeline is from Madison, WI and went to undergrad at Carleton College. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, board games, swing dance (pre-COVID), and spending time with friends.
Mary DeFeo
Microbiology and Immunology
Email: mdefeo @ stanford.edu
Mary is a second year PhD student in Microbiology and Immunology. She grew up in Pennsylvania and got her undergraduate degree from Penn State University in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Her current research involves studying the molecules produced by our gut microbiota that keep us healthy. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, trying new food, and going for walks.
Melissa Nakamoto
Chemistry
Email: mnakamot @ stanford.edu
Melissa is a third year PhD student in the chemistry department. She grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii and then moved to the east coast for her undergrad at Brown. In her free time she enjoys making jewelry, cooking, and exploring new places.
Mihyun Choi
Bioengineering
Email: mhchoi @ stanford.edu
Mihyun is a third year PhD student in Bioengineering, studying the use ultrasound as a tool for modulating brain activity. She went to Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology for a dual degree undergraduate program in Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and drinking coffee and tea.
Munam Wasi
Technology Consultant
Email: munam @ stanford.edu
Nora Enright
Bioengineering
Email: nenright @ stanford.edu
Raj Balaji
Mechanical Engineering
Email: abalaji @ stanford.edu
Raj is a second-year graduate student in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. His current research involves computational studies of electrokinetic flows and related multi-physics phenomena. Aside from that, Raj also enjoys running (long distances, slowly), backpacking (longer distances, even more slowly), cooking (never the same thing twice in a month), and riding his fixie (the clearly superior choice for bicycle gearing).
Rosa Ma
Genetics
Email: rosaxma @ stanford.edu
Rosie Sowers
Biomedical Informatics
Email: rsowers @ stanford.edu
Sahil Tembulkar
Outcomes Consultant
Email: stembulk @ stanford.edu
Sophia Shi
Chemistry
Email: smshi @ stanford.edu
Sophia is a second-year PhD student studying the effects of aging on the brain. She was born in New Jersey and received her undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Biology at Cornell University. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, biking, and trying new foods.
Stephanie Lim
Earth System Science
Email: smlim @ stanford.edu
Tina Deschene
Chemistry
Email: cdeschen @ stanford.edu
Tina is a first year PhD student in the chemistry department. She grew up in Upstate New York and attended Syracuse University for her undergraduate degree in chemistry and forensic science with a minor in math. In her spare time, she likes to read, cook, and play board games!