| Sarah Poynter Chair (2024-2026) Wilfrid Laurier University Dr. Sarah Poynter is an Assistant Professor in the Health Sciences department of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (just outside Toronto!). Sarah first attended SIVB in 2014 as an MSc student under the supervision of Dr. Stephanie DeWitte-Orr and continued to attend from 2015-2017. Sarah returned to SIVB for the 2023 conference and has encouraged student attendance by bringing her MSc student and an undergraduate student to the event, both of whom received student awards to attend and presented posters. Sarah encourages conference attendance in students, with a particular focus on equity-deserving groups and undergraduate students who often are not presented with these opportunities. Sarah is an innate immunologist and cell biologist. Sarah’s areas of expertise lie in immunomodulation using nanotechnology, using cell and molecular techniques. She received her MSc in Integrative Biology from Wilfrid Laurier University and her PhD in Biology from the University of Waterloo. Her graduate work explored innate antiviral immune pathways in comparative models, such as rainbow trout. She used in vitro models to determine pathways surrounding double-stranded RNA recognition, including receptors and differential responses to naturally produced molecules vs lab-made surrogates. After her PhD, Sarah shifted her focus to human immunity and worked as an industrial researcher scientist on biomedical applications of a novel nanoparticle, using diverse human cell lines including cancerous and healthy cells. Sarah began her assistant professor position at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2021; her current research program seeks to unravel immune pathways at the molecular level in both normal and cancerous cells and is foundational to the development of novel cancer immunotherapies and understanding innate immune pathways in malignant and healthy cells. |
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| Zoe Zhu Vice Chair – Meeting (2024-2026 Tufts University Zoe Zhu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Periodontology, and a researcher in the Division of Oral Biology lab at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM), Boston, Massachusetts. Her research interests cover the following areas: 1) the epigenetic regulation and therapeutics of oral diseases, including periodontal disease and oral cancer; 2) bone and adipose tissue metabolism; 3) aging-related diseases, including osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, 4) application of bioinformatics in basic and translational studies. She received the TUSDM Development Opportunities for Innovative Teaching Award in 2023, and ASBMR Young Investigator Award in 2018. She also received the SIVB service award in 2023. Her work profile can be viewed on the following website: https://facultyprofiles.tufts.edu/xiaofang-zhu/about |
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| Anissa Belfetmi-Stone Vice Chair – Membership (2024-20246) Harvard Medical SchoolAnissa has ten years of research experience in protein and nucleic acid interactions, studying their role in health. After completing her Bachelor’s in Biochemistry in Algeria, she went to France for a Master’s in Cell and Molecular Biology at Sorbonne University. Then, she fulfilled a thesis to study the HIV-1 Nucleocapsid protein under the supervision of Dr. Olivier Mauffret at ENS Paris-Saclay. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher in Gerhard Wagner’s lab at Harvard Medical School, a pioneer in NMR spectroscopy and mRNA translation initiation. Her biochemistry background allowed her to explore different mechanisms related to diseases and health, such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type I (HIV-1), Leishmania, Malaria, Immuno-Oncology, and Blood-Brain barrier targets. She also has been a Harvard Office of Technology Business Development (OTD) fellow, translating technology into a commercial product. She extensively navigated innovation’s intellectual property strategy from outstanding Harvard researchers, focusing on licensing or venture creation. During her career, she met inspiring scientists and developed a network of experts worldwide with whom she frequently engages in mentoring programs. Anissa co-founded the Algerian Women in Science (ALWIS), an initiative to provide an online mentoring community and help women in STEMM. She joined the SIVB in 2020 as a member and volunteer in the social media engagement team. |
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| Jasmyn Hoeger Secretary (2024-2026) University of Iowa Jasmyn is a dedicated, motivated, and productive undergraduate researcher with a strong scientific interest in molecular medicine and genetic variations that impact disease prevalence. At the age of 20, Jasmyn Hoeger has already made a name for herself as a published researcher, leader, and first-generation student. She recently served as the 2022-2024 SIVB IVACS Student Representative. Jasmyn, an undergraduate at the University of Iowa studying Cellular and Developmental Biology, has been recognized nationally and internationally for her research efforts in both high school and college. She currently works as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in Dr. Ryan Boudreau’s Internal and Molecular Medicine Research Laboratory at Carver College of Medicine. She is currently a UI-MARC Fellow and recently awarded the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award (EURA) at the University of Iowa. Her work has focused on developing treatments that improve both animal and human health, longevity, and well-being. Jasmyn spent her high school research career developing alternative treatments and procedures for bovine diseases while also developing a cell culture technique for horn producing cells. Currently, her work is focused on understanding post-transcriptional gene regulation and characterizing novel genes in cardiac and neurological diseases. In cell culture and animal models, her work has identified and characterized undocumented microproteins that correlate to epilepsy, neuro-muscular disorder, pain disorders, and arrythmias. Jasmyn’s impact on others extends beyond her research efforts as she inspires youth to get involved in research, follow their dreams, and extend beyond their comfort zone. Additionally, she regularly volunteers within the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), as a mentor for 5th-12th graders, at state science fairs, and is an avid Dance Marathon Member. Jasmyn is a goal-driven, determined individual and has inspired students to believe in their abilities as a researcher, student, and individual. |
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