Columbia University Systems Biology Initiative
The 2022 SBI Board aims to revitalize the tradition of research of previous years and continue to strengthen the club as a exciting option for all students within the sciences at Columbia.
Scarlet Au
President / Project-Lead
Scarlet Au is the President of the Columbia University Systems Biology Initiative. She directs the development of the organization and leads the Computational Biology Workshop Series as Project-Lead. Scarlet is a Science Research Fellow and Laidlaw Scholar at Columbia, where she studies Environmental Biology and Statistics. Scarlet has conducted research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Columbia University and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in Scotland. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, reading, traveling and photography.
Theo Nelson
Vice-President / Project-Lead
Theo Nelson serves as Secretary of the Columbia University Systems Biology Initiative, promoting club events and conducting genomics-focused workshops. He has performed transcriptomics-related research at both Columbia Irving Medical School and Yale Medical School. He is also involved in a NASA-funded project studying antibiotic resistance on the International Space Station. Outside of research and academics, Theo enjoys literature and skiing.
James Bole Pan
Treasurer
James Bole Pan serves as Treasurer of the Columbia University Systems Biology Initiative, where he is also involved in the SBI podcast "Bio Bytes". He is interested in the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, and he has performed related research on Xenopus at Columbia University Department of Biological Sciences. In the meantime, James enjoys basketball, photography, traveling, and contemplating the bright future of humankind.
Julia Zhao
Secretary / Project-Lead
Julia Zhao is studying Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Computer Science. She is interested in cancer genomics and is currently conducting single-cell research at the Dana Pe'er Lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She has also done research at UC Berkeley and Harvard Medical School. She hopes to explore synthetic biology and tissue engineering in the future. At SBI, she is also leading the semesterly Systems Biology Expo. In her free time, she enjoys dance, exploring restaurants in the city, and cooking in her dorm.
Project-Leads
Mohammed Yusufali
Project-Lead
Mohammed Yusufali is the project lead for the Human Biology Workshops in the Systems Biology Initiative at Columbia University. He has done research at the Danino Lab, and is pursuing a Biomedical Engineering degree. He is interested in the intersection of technology and surgery. Outside of academics, he is a fan of podcasts, economics, and football.
Maria Ceballos Paredes
Project-Lead
Maria Ceballos Paredes is a sophomore at Columbia College interested in studying Biology and Latin American studies. She is particularly interested in stem cell biology and is currently conducting research at the Columbia Stem Cell Initiative using organoid technology. She is also leading the SBI High School Workshops Series. When she is not studying, she likes to crochet sweaters, go to the movies, and cook with friends.
Aaron Ouyang
Project-Lead
Aaron Ouyang is the leader of the Podcasts Division including CU Bio Bytes and BioWorks. He is interested in neuroscience and is currently conducting research at the Firestein Lab at Columbia University investigating the role of fragrant compounds on serotonin receptors. Aaron has also done research at UC Berkeley and the NIH. In his free time, he enjoys weightlifting, exploring restaurants, and watching basketball.