Introducing the newest cohort for the UW Biology Program! By now, I’m sure you’ve already met them all. If not, introduce yourself and potentially ask about their cool research topic, hobbies (such as fly fishing), or pictures of their pet(s)!
Hi! My name is Jimjohn (Jj) Milan. I was born in the Philippines and grew up in the Bay Area. I received my BSc and MSc in Marine Biology at the University of California San Diego & Scripps Institution of Oceanography. I am interested in fish behavior and decision-making, with broader connections to ecology and evolution. My previous projects involved agonistic display behavior in the sarcastic fringehead (Neoclinus blanchardi), evolutionary jaw development in the longjaw mudsucker (Gillichthys mirabilis), and collective behavior in the micro-glassfish (Danionella cerebrum). At UW, I will be joining the Sridhar lab investigating behavioral dynamics in coral reef fish schools. In my free time I enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, intertidal adventures, video games, and volleyball.
Hi! My name is Taylor Hatcher. I am originally from Casper, Wyoming. I attended and received my bachelor’s at the University of Wyoming in Laramie (Laradise, as it’s known colloquially). While attending the University of Wyoming, I became fascinated with how bumblebees respond to extreme temperatures and the thermal physiology behind these responses. I have called Seattle home for the last three years and am excited to stay here for this next chapter. I am a first year PhD student in the Buckley Lab where I study how butterflies are responding to climate change. When I am not in the field with a butterfly net trying not to break my ankles as I pursue my study species, I can be found skiing and exploring the nature Washington has to offer, reading a fantasy book, or taking my dog, Kodiak, for a stroll around Green Lake.
Hello! My name is Quincy. I just moved to Seattle from Albany, New York, which is most notably the home of the world’s largest Walmart Supercenter. I graduated from Union College (20 minutes from this Walmart) with a Neurobiology major and Creative Writing minor. At Union, I developed a deep interest in the biodiversity of minds and lived experience, as well as – thanks to the mysteries of the mantis shrimp – a love for marine invertebrates. At the UW, I hope to combine these interests by studying neural control of life history strategies across octopus taxa in the Wang lab. Other than octos, I am excited about running, rocks, ice cream, and public radio. I am super happy to be a part of the UW Biology community, and can’t wait to keep getting to know new people and places.
Hello! I’m Maddy (she/her), a biologist who loves thinking about teaching just as much as I enjoy thinking about cells, plants, and proteins. I grew up in Eastern Washington but have been in Seattle for the past 10 years. I started as a general biologist but quickly became interested in science education after my time as a biology undergraduate at UW. After a brief stint in the UW College of Education studying science curriculum & design for my master’s degree, I’m thrilled to be back in the biology department studying how we can make undergraduate biology classrooms more welcoming, inclusive, and interdisciplinary. When I’m not doing research or teaching, I enjoy visiting local bookstores, buying more houseplants, learning how to knit, watching sketch comedy, and playing (but generally losing) card games.
Aloha, my name is Makoa de Almeida, and I am an evolutionary biologist from Mililani, Hawaiʻi. I graduated from Gonzaga University with a B.S in biology where I conducted research in the Bancroft lab on aquatic species interactions. My experiences are broad and have ranged from working with plants, birds, and snails. Now, as a PhD student at the University of Washington, I study how different reproductive strategies shape biogeography, evolutionary relationships, and conservation management for island species—specifically in Hawaii. I will be doing this work in the Tribble lab and am excited to conduct research that will not only have an impact on the broader scientific community, but also on the ecosystems that have shaped me into who I am today. Outside of research I love fly fishing, surfing, popcorn, photography, and of course, plants.
Hi! I’m Semin (“Say-meen” or you can say “seminar” without the a and r). I grew up in Seoul, South Korea and completed my undergraduate degree in biology and computer science at Yonsei University. During my junior year, I spent a year at UW as an exchange student, where I worked at the Akamatsu Lab and discovered my interest in the biophysics of cellular movement and biophysical simulations. I am interested in how cells generate force to reshape their membranes, like in endocytosis, and how the whole cell-wise movements are coordinated. In my previous research, I studied microtubule dynamics and the mechanosensitive channel Piezo-1, and now I am excited to explore larger-scale emergent mechanical behaviors in cells. Ultimately, I hope to design programmable biological machinery systems after completing my PhD. Outside of research, I have two cats and I enjoy drawing, growing plants, snorkeling, and bouldering. I’m very happy to join the UW biology community, and I’m excited to learn from everyone and explore scientific questions together!
Hey! My name is Melanie, and I study fossil plants. I got a BA in Earth & Environmental Science and Archaeology from Wesleyan University. At Wes, I did research with Dr. Dana Royer studying ecophysiology by observing leaf micromorphology (e.g. stomata) and developed a method to estimate photosynthetic carbon assimilation rates of fossil leaves. After undergrad, I was a Fulbright Scholar in India working on estimating K/Pg (66 Ma; time of non-avian dinosaur extinction) atmospheric CO2 levels using fossil cuticle from the Deccan region. During my PhD at UW, I am interested in studying ecosystem changes and recovery associated with disturbance and climatic shifts. Outside of academia, I love to hike, dance, paint, and help out the community. Most importantly, I also have a beautiful angel dog named Ponyo.
Hello! My name is Shenxi Cao. I was born and raised and educated in the Yangtze River Delta in China. My hometown is Suzhou and I earned my BS degree in Biological Science in ShanghaiTech University. I developed interest in both synthetic biology and neuroscience during my undergraduate studies. I firstly participated in the IGEM competition in my freshman and sophomore year and helped my team to claim a Top 10 prize in the second year’s competition as the team leader. During the competition, I focused on microbial metabolic regulation and BRET protein design to generate photosynthetic bioluminescence. I also studied in UC Berkeley in 2024 which strengthened my interest in animal nervous systems. Then, I transitioned to research on the mammalian hypothalamus circuit which controls appetite and body temperature. In my PhD program, I hope to look deeper into mosquito sensory systems and develop advanced neurogenetic tools with Prof. Willem Laursen and maybe find a solution to the worsening mosquito problem caused by global warming. Recently, I am pretty into cycling, photographing, and playing Slay the Spire 2. Although I don’t have any cats or dogs, now I raise hundreds of transgenic mosquitoes every week.
