Yale Scientific Magazine

yalescientific.org · Feb 21, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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ABOUT YSM The Yale Scientific Magazine, established in 1894, is the nation’s oldest college science publication and the premier science publication at Yale. Our Mission The Yale Scientific Magazine is a student-run quarterly science publication featuring groundbreaking scientific research at Yale and beyond. Composed of writers, editors, photographers, artists, designers, and businesspeople, our interdisciplinary team is united by the belief that science should be accessible and exciting to everyone—even those without a scientific background. This is exemplified not only in our magazine but in our outreach through Synapse, which hosts STEM outreach programs to empower New Haven youth. We hope you join our team of more than 200 students and over 2,000 worldwide subscribers as we share the stories of science. Managing Team Asuka Koda Editor-in-Chief Asuka Koda is a junior in Davenport College from New York City. She majors in Mathematics and Philosophy and is a Global Health Scholar. Outside of the Scientific, she is a STEM Tour Guide and an assistant researcher at the School of Medicine. She writes for CNN, the Yale School of Public Health, and the Yale Daily News among other outlets. When not frantically studying for a midterm, you can find Asuka at the pottery studio, at trivia night with her friends, or in Bass Library. Max Watzky Managing Editor Michael Sarullo Managing Editor Mia Cooper Publisher Mia Cooper is a junior in Grace Hopper College from New York City. She majors in the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health and is a Global Health Scholar. She became involved in YSM as a teacher in Synapse’s 2024 Resonance Conference and worked at Synapse Co-President in 2025. Alongside YSM, she is part of Yaledancers, volunteers in Yale New Haven Hospital’s pediatric units, works for Yale Peristalsis, and is a counselor for Camp Kesem. In her free time, Mia can be found baking with friends, going on runs, or reading historical novels. Melody Jiang Production Manager Melody Jiang (JE ‘28) is a Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry major pursuing a Data Science certificate. She has been involved in YSM since her first semester and enjoys illustrating, writing, and creating layouts for the magazine. Outside of YSM, Melody spends most of her time studying RNA exosomes and their adaptors as a part of the Steitz Lab. You could also find her at Design for America meetings, volunteering for the YNHH, working as a YES Scholar Representative, and bouldering at City Climb. Editorial Team Makena Senzon Full-Lengths Editor Makena Senzon (PC ’28) is a prospective chemical engineering major and is from Jupiter (not the planet), Florida. When she is not writing or editing stories, she may be working at a garden, thinking about her next outdoor adventure, or reading books across genres. Alongside YSM, Makena is involved with Society of Women in Engineering, Yale Climbing Team, and water research in environmental engineering. Aiden Zhou Features Editor Aiden Zhou is a sophomore in Pierson from Vancouver, Canada. He majors in CS and Math, and is particularly interested in the intersection of neuroscience and machine learning. Outside of YSM, he works as a Math ULA, writes for the Yale Daily News, and represents Yale in the Collegiate Chess League. In his free time, Aiden enjoys pickup basketball, playing card games, and watching cooking shows. Edis Mesic Special Sections Editor A San Jose, California native, Edis is a sophomore in Saybrook College double majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Spanish. Outside of YSM, he captains the Yale Men’s Club Volleyball team, performs research in the LusKing Lab, and serves as a Department Director for Interpreting & Diversity at the HAVEN Free Clinic. He also enjoys movies, basketball, and creative writing. Michelle So News Editor Michelle So (TD ’28) is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major and Global Health Scholar from Arcadia, California. She was previously involved with YSM as a Copy Editor, writer, and photographer. Outside of YSM, Michelle conducts mosquito research in the Sorrells Lab, volunteers with the YNHH Living History Project, and climbs with the Yale Climbing Team. For fun, she likes birding, crafting, and consuming pickles. Joelle Kim Online Editor Joelle Kim (PC ’28) is a Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry major from Southern California. She was previously the YSM Synapse Events Coordinator in 2025. Outside of YSM, she plays flute in the Yale Symphony Orchestra, is a member of Christian Union Lux, and performs research on antibodies and receptors in the Ferguson Lab. In her free time, she enjoys cafe hopping and crocheting. Sophia Staples Online Editor Sophia Staples (ES ’29) is a first-year majoring in astrophysics from Lexington, Kentucky. She has written multiple articles for YSM and is excited to contribute as online editor. Outside of YSM, she is a member of Splash at Yale and Society of Physics Students. In her free time, she enjoys playing Minecraft, drinking coffee, and binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy. Lynn Dai Scope Editor Lynn Dai is a sophomore majoring in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry. She has been involved with YSM since her first semester and previously served as a layout editor. Outside of YSM, she advocates for accessible health through Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) and investigates pharmacodynamic properties of natural products at the School of Medicine. She enjoys making traditional Chinese watercolors and watching nature documentaries in her spare time. Isabelle Wolchek Copy Editor Isabelle Wolchek is a first-year in Paul Murray College from Huntsville, Utah, and a prospective Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry major. She has conducted research on obesity-induced osteoarthritis, served as a youth delegate to the United Nations, and worked as a TechBuzz SheTech Media Intern. She has been involved with YSM as a writer and photographer. Outside of YSM, she swims with Yale Club Swim and serves as an events coverage editor for the Yale Global Health Review. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and listening to music. Ilana Greenberg Copy Editor Ilana Greenberg is a first-year in Ezra Stiles College from Long Island, NY. She is a prospective double major in Physics and Mathematics and hopes to explore the intersection of theory and application. Outside of YSM, she conducts machine learning research, serves on the board of the Society of Physics Students, and teaches for CodeHaven. In her free time, you can find her speed-solving Rubik’s Cubes, creative writing, or memorizing digits of pi! I Min Mandy Chen Copy Editor Mandy Chen (MC ’29) is a prospective Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry major from Las Vegas, Nevada. She has previously written for the YSM and has worked at three boba shops! Currently, she is on the Secretariat for YMUN-China as a Committee Director, volunteer for DEMOS, and seeking employment ;) In her free time, she enjoys making jewelry, volleyball, and chocolate! Ryan Park Archivist Ryan Park (BK ’29) is a prospective major in Physics & Philosophy and is pursuing a certificate in Sanskrit. He is interested in the interdependence of science and the humanities, particularly the history of science and the science of history. Outside of YSM, he serves on the board of Yale Effective Altruism, conducts research, and reads works of religion, philosophy, and literature. In his free time, he enjoys attending screenings by the Yale Film Archive, spending time at museums and bookstores, and listening to music. Production Team Erin Lee Layout Editor Erin is a first-year in Ezra Stiles from Durham, North Carolina. She is interested in studying MCDB, Art History, or Humanities. Outside of YSM, she enjoys volunteering at the Troup School, editing for the Journal of Literary Translation, and illustrating for The New Journal. She also loves reading, drinking coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Sion Joo Layout Editor Sion Joo is a first-year in Pauli Murray College from Pearland, Texas. She is undecided about her major but is interested in exploring the intersection between artificial intelligence and political science. Outside of YSM, she is involved in Yale’s Design for America, teaches English to Burmese refugees through FOKE (Friends of Karenni Education), and enjoys ice skating at Ingall’s Rink. She spends her free time oil painting, watching KDramas, and getting Whale Tea with friends. Leah Mock Layout Editor Leah Mock (SY ’28) is an Earth and Planetary Sciences major with a concentration in Paleontology and Geobiology from New Haven, Connecticut. Outside of YSM, she is a museum research assistant in the Invertebrate Paleontology division at the Yale Peabody Museum and a finance manager for the Undergraduate Organizations Funding Committee. She is passionate about arthropod systematics, identifying fossil weevils, and science communication. In her free time, she can be found making tea, knitting, or beating her friends at Slapjack. SophiaMarie Rodriguez Layout Editor/Photography Editor SophiaMarie (Timothy Dwight ‘28) is an Art major with a concentration in sculpture and Intensive Education Studies Scholar from Georgia. In addition to doing layout for YSM since her first semester, she’s part of various clubs on campus such as Ballet Folklorico, Dominican Student Association, Yale Students for Christ, and Yale Visual Artists. In her free time she can spend hours drawing, watching nostalgia video essays, or playing bananagrams in her suite. Alondra Moreno Santana Arts Editor Alondra Moreno Santana (SM ’27) is psychology and biology major from Maryland. Starting in the spring semester of her freshman year, she has written, drawn, and designed for YSM, and been a teacher and teacher liaison for the 2024 and 2025 Resonance Conference. Outside of YSM, she is the editor in chief of Hippo Literary and Arts Magazine and an editor the Yale Layer. She is a memb