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.
2023 YSM Masthead
Managing Team
![]() | Alex DongEditor-in-Chief Alex Dong (BF ’24) is a junior double-majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Humanities from Calgary, Canada. He has previously served as a features editor, copy editor, senior staff writer, layout designer, photographer, and artist. Outside of YSM, Alex serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Layer, works as a Yale Tour Guide, and plays for Yale’s Club Volleyball team. In his free time, you can find him cruising on his longboard and vibing to Noah Kahan. |
![]() | Sophia LiManaging Editor Sophia Li (PM ’24) is double majoring in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and English. She has been involved in the YSM since her first year as a Synapse Co-President, Scope columnist, staff writer and most recently the Special Sections editor. Sophia also conducts immunology research studying NK cell protein interactions at the Yale School of Medicine. Sophia also loves creative writing, and in her free time, you can find her reading, biking, or singing in her a cappella group. |
![]() | Madison HouckManaging Editor Madison Houck (GH ’24) is majoring in Chemistry with a certificate in French. She’s been writing for YSM since her very first semester at Yale and has served as the news editor and a Resonance conference teacher. Outside of YSM, she’s the social chair for GREEN and does research in the Mayer lab. You can find her perfecting her most recent Spotify playlist, drinking tea, or organizing her life on Notion. |
Editorial Team
Production Team
![]() | Malia KuoProduction Manager Malia Kuo is a junior from Arizona majoring in Computing and the Arts. Outside of YSM, she works with Women and Gender Minorities in CS, designs funky little websites, and writes/illustrates pieces for the YDN and the Record. In her free time, you can find her making playlists, creating (+ playing) games, and watching comfort comedy shows like 30Rock. |
![]() | Ann-Marie AbunyewaLayout Editor Ann-Marie Abunyewa (BR ‘24) is a Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and Classical Civilization double major from Marietta, Georgia. Since her first year, she has enjoyed writing, illustrating, and designing layouts for Yale Scientific, and she looks forward to being a part of the production team this year. Outside of YSM, she does research on ancient DNA and cultural heritage in the Miranker lab, works at the Yale University Art Gallery, volunteers at the HAVEN Free Clinic, designs for other Yale publications and clubs, and dances with Yale Danceworks. In her free time, Ann-Marie enjoys visiting art museums, drawing, and spending time with friends and family. |
![]() | Sydney ScottLayout Editor Sydney is a junior in Benjamin Franklin College from Long Island, New York. She is studying biomedical engineering on the biomechanics track. On campus, she is involved with Yale Undergraduate Science Olympiad, Yale Biomedical Engineering Society, and the Yale Banner. In her free time, she loves painting, eating ice cream, and watching the sunset. |
![]() | Kara TaoArts Editor Kara Tao (MC ’26) is a prospective Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology major from Chicago, Illinois. Outside of YSM, she is involved in STEM and Health Equity Advocates at Yale, writes for the Yale Journal of Medicine and Law, and teaches for Community Health Educators. Kara loves coffee, Shin ramen, and boba. |
![]() | Jenny WongPhoto Editor Jenny Wong is a junior in Saybrook College from Brooklyn, New York. She is a Neuroscience major. Outside of YSM, she is involved with the Yale QuestBridge community, volunteers through the American Red Cross club and the Hypertension Awareness & Prevention Program at Yale, works as a STARS I mentor, and works at the Hammarlund lab and Yogev lab pouring agar plates. In her free time outside of classes, you can find her reading fantasy novels or hanging out with friends. |
![]() | Catherine KwonCover Artist Cat is a sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College majoring in Statistics & Data Science and Art. She has illustrated and done layout designs for YSM during her first year and is excited to now serve as cover artist. Outside of YSM, she is involved in Yale Taekwondo, Yale Movement, YDN Magazine, and Hanppuri. |
Business Team
![]() | Lucas LomanPublisher Lucas Loman is a junior in Morse College from California. He is studying Environmental Engineering with additional interests in sustainable finance and scientific communication. In addition to writing for YSM since his first semester at Yale, he serves on the board of the Yale Policy Institute. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and baking bread. |
![]() | Yusuf RasheedDirector of Special Projects Yusuf Rasheed hails from the Bay Area and is a sophomore in Trumbull College majoring in Biomedical Engineering. He has a keen interest in physician-patient relationships and how budding medical professionals can develop their soft skills during and after their education. He hopes to apply his experience in engineering to the clinic in the future by personalizing patient care. Yusuf also believes in the power of writing to effect change at all levels, whether that’s personally through a journal or publicly through the Yale Scientific Magazine. He encourages all interested students to get involved with the magazine and try their hand at writing an article. |
![]() | Tori SodeindeOperations Manager Tori Sodeinde is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles College from State College, Pennsylvania. She is a Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology major and studies telomere biology in Dr. Sandy Chang’s lab. Tori has previously contributed to writing, layout, and publishing as part of YSM. Apart from being a member of YSM, she is involved in Danceworks and the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen. In her free time, you can find her playing classical guitar, working in the Stiles buttery, or taking walks around campus and New Haven. |
![]() | Dinara BolatOperations Manager Dinara Bolat (GH ’25) is a Neuroscience major from Almaty, Kazakhstan. She has been involved with YSM since her first year as a staff writer, and is now also the operations manager. At Yale, Dinara works as a college aide and in the Noonan Lab, as well as being part of Yale Taekwando and Women in Science at Yale. She loves exploring New Haven’s restaurants, hiking and iced matcha. |
![]() | Georgio MarounSubscriptions Manager I am a first-year in in Benjamin Franklin College from Los Angeles, CA. I’m a prospective Chemical Engineering or HSHM major (very confused). Outside of the YSM, I am part of MENA and Demos, a program that does weekly science lessons/experiments with New Haven elementary school students. In my free time I love to play pickup basketball, billiards, and spikeball. |
Synapse Team
![]() | Hannah BarsoukCo-President Hannah Barsouk (MC ’25) is a Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry major from Pittsburgh, PA. Having been an Outreach Coordinator for Synapse in 2021-2022, they’re super excited to return to Synapse for another year! Outside of YSM, they are Public School Intern at Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School, and conduct non-coding RNA research at the Breaker Lab. In their free time, they enjoy skateboarding around New Haven, endlessly scrolling on biochem TikTok, and forcing their friends to watch scary movies. |
![]() | Sofia JacobsonCo-President Sofia Jacobson is a first-year in Pauli Murray college from Westchester, New York. She plans on majoring in the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health and receiving a certificate in Data Science. She first became involved with the YSM serving as the Director of Programming of the 2022 Resonance Conference through Synapse. Outside of the YSM, she is on the C2 Club soccer team, a member of the Women’s Leadership Initiative, and on the Pauli Murray College Council. During her free time, she enjoys cooking new recipes and playing with her puppy. |
![]() | Jessica LeVice President Jessica Le (BK ’25) is from Marin County, California. She is majoring in Cognitive Science with a focus in AI and CS applications in neurodegenerative disease research. She has contributed to YSM as a Synapse teacher, staff writer, and photographer. Outside of YSM, she is involved in cognitive neuroscience research at the School of Medicine, Yale Entrepreneurial Society, Vietnamese Student Association, and Dance Works. In her free time, she love mountain biking, hiking, dancing, and watching Nature PBS documentaries. |
![]() | Anjali DhanekulaSynapse Events Coordinator Anjali Dhanekula (GH ’26) is a prospective History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health major from Cleveland, OH. She has served as a Director of Programming for the 2022 Resonance conference as well as written for YSM. Outside of YSM, she is a member of the New Blue, an a cappella group on campus, and helps out with Kesem at Yale. In her free time you can find her writing songs in her dorm room, eating grilled cheese in Steep, and spending time in the Grace Hopper buttery. |
![]() | Kaley MafongSynapse Outreach Coordinator Kaley Mafong (DC ’26) is a prospective Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology major from sunny San Diego, California. She is excited to help promote science education for local students in the New Haven community through YSM and Synapse. In her free time, Kaley likes to dance, play tennis, and care for the chickens at the Yale Farm. |
Larry ZhaoSynapse Outreach Coordinator . |
Web Team
![]() | Emily ShangWeb Co-Manager Emily Shang (TD ’25) is a Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry major from the suburbs of Philadelphia. She has served as YSM’s website manager and staff writer since her first year. Outside of YSM, she’s interested in chess, the NYT mini, and fencing. |
![]() | Abigail JolteusWeb Co-Manager Abigail Jolteus (BK ’25) is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major. Outside of YSM, she conducts research in the Konnikova Lab. She also enjoys poetry and reading novels. |
![]() | Elizabeth WatsonHead of Social Media Team Elizabeth Watson (MY ’25) is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major from Waco, TX. She first worked with Yale Synapse as a publicity director for the 2021 Resonance Conference and then as a social media coordinator for the magazine as a whole. Outside of YSM, she’s a Science and Technology editor at the Yale Daily News, a student researcher at Yale Clinical Neuroscience Neuroanalytics, a volunteer with the HAVEN Free Clinic, and a visual arts director for the Hippo Literary Magazine. In her free time, she enjoys writing and birdwatching. |
![]() | Eunsoo HyunSocial Media Coordinator Eunsoo Hyun (BK ’24) is a Biomedical Engineering major from Washington. Outside of YSM, you can find her playing violin in the Davenport Pops Orchestra, working in the Berkeley Head of College office, or dancing with the Yale Jashan Bhangra team. She is also involved in research with the Kyriakides lab. In her spare time, Eunsoo enjoys painting, learning new languages, and singing in the shower (slightly off-key—but with great enthusiasm!) |
![]() | Keya BajajSocial Media Coordinator Keya Bajaj (BF ’26) is a prospective Chemistry and English double major from Mumbai, India. Outside of YSM, she is an Opinion Staff Writer at the Yale Daily News, a liaison with the International Students Organization, and a member of Yale’s first AIChE Chem-e-car team. She enjoys all adventure sports and loves to ski and scuba dive. |
Senior Staff Writers
Hannah Barsouk, Ryan Bose-Roy, Rayyan Darji, Krishna Dasari, Alex Dong, Hannah Han, Elisa Howard, Cindy Kuang, Sophia Li, Cindy Mei, Dhruv Patel, Raquel Sequeria, Hannah Shi, Anavi Uppal, Kayla Yup
Yale Scientific Magazine Advisory Board
Kurt Zilm, Chair
Chemistry
Priyamvada Natarajan
Astronomy
Scott Strobel
Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics
Robert Bazell
Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
Fred Volkmar
Child Study Center
Stanley Eisenstat
Computer Science
James Duncan
Biomedical Engineering
Steven Stearns
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Jakub Szefer
Electrical Engineering
Werner Wolf
Emeritus
John Wettlaufer
Geology & Geophysics, Mathematics & Physics
William Summers
History of Science & History of Medicine
Ayaska Fernando
Undergraduate Admissions
Elissa Dunn Levy
Yale Science & Engineering Association