Your Organising Committee
From securing funding, to seeking out the best experts in the field, these are the volunteers that are making ComSciConCAN 2025 happen! Don’t hesitate to reach out to any one of us for a chat both during, and outside, the conference!
2025 Directors
General Programming Co-Directors
Juliet Rowe (she/her)
Juliet Rowe is a MSc student in Rehabilitation Research at Dalhousie University. In the Laboratory for Brain Rehabilitation and Function, Juliet researches how we learn/re-learn movements through the imagination of movement (motor imagery). Juliet started her science communication journey as the host and producer of Mind: The Gap – a podcast dedicated to discovering the minds behind the people bringing science to society. Since then, Juliet placed second in Dalhousie University’s 3-Minute Thesis Competition with her presentation “Does Size Really Matter?” and she co-founded Bright Club Halifax – the comedy club that organizes comedy events around Halifax for researchers and academics to perform stand-up comedy about their research/work. Alongside science communication, Juliet has a passion for rock climbing, Cape-Breton style fiddling, and playing complex co-op board games like Spirit Island.
Internal Co-Directors (Admin)
Jolie Miller (they/she)
Secretary, ComSciCon Canada Non Profit Organisation
Jolie is from Bethesda, MD, and became involved in science due to their participation in the competitive club Science Olympiad. She received her B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University in May 2021. During their undergraduate career, Jolie helped organize the first three Science Olympiad competitions at CMU, hoping to inspire the next generation of scientists. In fall 2021, Jolie joined the Peng lab as a PhD student, where she is working on determining the molecular initiating events of organophosphate ester toxicity, which are commonly used in plastics and flame retardants. Outside of the lab, Jolie enjoys reading queer fiction novels, baking, and playing with their two cats.
As internal co-director (Admin), Jolie oversees back-end aspects of the conference organisation, with a focus on administration. They also act as a liason between ComSciCon Canada and the US ComSciCon teams.
Alex Innanen (they/them)
Alex is a planetary scientist completing their PhD at York University studying Mars’ atmosphere. They are a collaborator on the Curiosity rover and take part in science operations planning as well as being a lead on the environmental science team. Alex has also been helping to develop an instrument which will study the origins of mysterious Martian methane. They love to share their passion for delving into the mysteries of the universe with as many people as possible, whether that be through outreach or just chatting with friends.
Finance Co-Directors
Elyse Letts (she/her)
Elyse has a background in kinesiology and is currently a PhD student in Medical Sciences at McMaster University. Her current research focuses on improving how we measure activity in toddlers and also looks at the impact of physical activity on toddler health outcomes. She is passionate about effectively sharing science ideas to a broad audience. She is involved in other science communication endeavours such as mentoring high school and undergraduate students with STEM Fellowship and sharing research with the larger community at Soapbox Science Hamilton. Outside of science communication and research, she loves to read and travel!
As a finance co-director, Elyse oversees back-end aspects of the conference organisation, with a focus on finance.
Kaitlyn Wilson (she/her)
Kaitlyn Wilson (she/her) is a sex and relationships researcher and PhD student in Experimental Psychology at the University of New Brunswick. Her research centers on stigma experienced by marginalized groups, including single adults (i.e., singlism), abortion service users, and Chinese-Canadians. Kaitlyn is passionate about translating research into meaningful change. She has contributed to several knowledge mobilization initiatives, including co-developing a public education campaign about mpox in collaboration with AIDS NB and evaluating domestic violence services in New Brunswick through the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data, and Training (NB-IRDT). These experiences have deepened her commitment to making research accessible and impactful through effective knowledge translation.
Outside of the office, Kaitlyn enjoys reading, crocheting, and spending time with her cat, Gilmore.
Communications Director
Maya George (she/her)
Maya George is a PhD candidate in Biochemistry at McMaster University studying antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial discovery, with a focus on mycobacterial infections like tuberculosis (TB).
Maya's passion for science communication began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she launched an Instagram page, @asistainscience (now @microbeswithmaya), to make science more accessible and relatable. Through her platform, she highlights the importance of diversity in science and healthcare, while raising awareness about disparities within the field.
Outside of research, Maya enjoys traveling, cooking, and attending spin classes.
2025 Executives
Testimony Olumade
As a PhD student at the University of Manitoba, my research dives into unraveling the cellular and molecular mechanisms of type III interferon receptor dysregulation in ulcerative colitis (UC). The goal is to help UC patients better manage the disease by reducing inflammation through our understanding of the type III interferon receptor biology. My professional career is driven by the desire to effect change in people's lives and improve public health. I am also passionate about knowledge sharing and mentoring other aspiring scientists. Beyond the lab, I enjoy Bible study, soccer, and playing musical instruments.
Amanda Ball
Amanda has a background in biology and environmental conservation and is now an MSc. student in Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph studying mental health among university students. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching and learning from her Girl Guides about the world around them. Amanda is passionate about making science accessible for all, including those with disabilities and those who are typically under-represented in science. She hopes to pursue a career in higher education, supporting faculty in their teaching practises.
Sarita Cuadros Sanchez
Sarita is a Peruvian scientist currently completing her MSc in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. She completed her BSc Honours in Biology with a minor in Business at Carleton University. During her undergraduate degree, she was involved as a VP Operations in the Carleton Science Student Society and she started her scicomm journey by creating a social media account called Science without Borders to showcase scientists around the world. From the connections she made through her instagram account, she was able to help create Ciencia Si, an organization focused on science communication and outreach to latin american and spanish-speaking communities. Currently, she is organizing Stem Cell Talks in Ottawa, an event where high school students are invited to learn about stem cells and stem cell research. Outside of science, she loves spinning, going to music festivals, makeup and spending time with her doggie (Raven).
Devi Ayyagari
Devi is a PhD student in Computer Science at Dalhousie University, specializing in applying machine learning to scale and automate the monitoring of marine ecosystems. Her research focuses on analyzing underwater video data to study the impact of seismic activity on marine life in a marine refuge in Newfoundland, Canada. With a professional background in computer science, Devi has developed AI-driven solutions to enable faster and more accurate triaging in digital pathology and enhance diagnostic precision in low-dose 3D surgical medical imaging applications. Originally from a rural village in South India, she brings lived experiences as an immigrant and a woman in STEM, enriching her work and community involvement. Outside of work, Devi enjoys camping, kayaking, and walking her dog, Soda.
Tiara Mulder
Tiara Mulder is a PhD candidate in the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University. Her research focuses on muscle repair after exercise-induced damage, using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. Beyond her lab work, Tiara is actively involved in science communication and outreach with organizations such as the Black Canadian Scientist Network, Imhotep Legacy Academy, and the Dalhousie Science Scholars and Leaders Program. Passionate about advancing EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) in science and healthcare, Tiara is committed to creating more inclusive research environments and promoting diverse perspectives in scientific discourse and communication. Outside of academics and her volunteer work Tiara enjoys watching anime and playing video games.
Anittha Mappanasingam
Anittha is a Masters student in the Aging Swallow Research Lab at McMaster University. Her research focuses on exploring the relationship between dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) and frailty in older adults. By exploring this relationship, the hope is to start identifying dysphagia early on so older adults can learn how to manage and prevent symptoms before they worsen. Anittha has completed her Bachelor’s of Science degree at McMaster where she studied life science and she minored in psychology. Majority of Anittha’s work and extracurriculars are focused on the older adult population. She is also passionate about sharing her knowledge and research with others and finding ways to ensure education and research is accessible to individuals who are under-represented in STEM fields and lack access to educational resources. In her spare time, Anittha enjoys reading, journaling, watching movies, and photography.
Mercy Budu
Mercy Budu is a graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University. Her current work is in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and how impurities in fuels affect the overall efficiency of these machines. Ms Budu’s general research interests lie in clean energy and innovative methods of reducing carbon emissions.
Outside of her research, Mercy enjoys painting, crocheting, knitting and baking.
2025 Advisory Board
Ben Davis-Purcell (he/him)
Ben is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the field of experimental particle physics at TRIUMF in Vancouver, where he makes precision measurements of the fundamental building blocks of the Universe. His PhD research also focused on measuring subatomic particles, except they were particles created by the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the massive physics laboratory near Geneva, Switzerland. Before his postdoc, Ben worked as a Policy Analyst at NSERC, where he focused on modernizing research assessment and impact reporting. Ben loves communicating science to show that science is for everyone, including through podcasts, public presentations, teaching, and policy. He has been a member of the ComSciConCAN community for 4 years, beginning as an attendee, moving to the Organising Committee, and now graduating to the Advisory Board. In his spare time, he plays as many sports as possible, including hockey, squash, and ultimate frisbee, and has a (definitely not) degenerate fantasy football addiction.
Tara McDonnell (she/her)
Tara M. is an Australian scientist and science communicator, currently completing her PhD in the Department of Cell & Systems Biology. She completed her BSc in Chemistry and Molecular Biology, and BSc (Honours) in Chemistry, at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. Tara has completed a wide range of research projects across five different labs, from looking at metal nanoparticle crystallisation mechanisms to deciphering how retinal progenitors decide their fate. In addition to research, Tara has a passion for science communication and outreach, and recently helped co-found ComSciCon Canada as a Non-Profit! Outside of science she is an avid video gamer, loves going hiking, and spends most of her time hanging out with her two cats; Mango & Declan.
As the 2024 President, she oversaw operations of the entire organising committee. She also managed the Promotions and Attendee communications teams.
Toby Le (he/him)
Toby Le is Vietnamese Canadian and was born in Toronto, Canada. Toby's journey in science communication started during his undergraduate years when he participated in an internship in Tanzania, collaborating with local women to raise awareness about the science of fermented foods. Since then, Toby has actively collaborated with populations in East Africa, to promote equitable access to science and build trust between the general public and scientists.
As the 2024 External Director, Toby oversaw actions involving external parties to the organising committee, including invited expert communications.
Cissy Suen (she/her/elle)
Director, ComSciCon Canada Non-profit Organisation
Cissy is a joint PhD student with the Quantum Matter Institute at the University of British Columbia and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research. She researches strongly correlated materials using different spectroscopic techniques, in particular angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Cissy's experiments take her all over the world, including a year long doctoral fellowship at the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley, California! Cissy is also incredibly passionate about science policy; she is interested in exploring how we can better communicate quantum advances to the broader public and bridging the frontiers of quantum research with policy.
Julie McNutt (she/her)
Julie McNutt is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry at The University of British Columbia. She studies how drugs slow the progression of breast cancer cells using machines and techniques in chemistry. Julie has been involved with ComSciConCAN since 2020 and is pursuing a career in science communication and disciplinary-based education research. During her time as a graduate student, Julie was a graduate facilitator of Instructional Skills Workshops and the Certificate in Advanced Teaching & Learning. She was also a graduate peer reviewer of teaching and was the instructor for Scientific Thinking & Literacy as part of the first-year integrated science program called Science One. Currently, she is teaching Introduction to Chemical Analysis as a sessional lecturer to keep her busy while she finishes writing her dissertation.
Katie Pullella (she/her)
Katie is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding how exposure to environmental toxins, such as arsenic, impacts cancer risk in Canada. Katie's passion for #scicomm stems from working in a science museum, where she spent her time sharing her love of science with audiences of all ages! When she's not working on her research, Katie loves to hike, read and play tennis!