Graduate Staff 2025-2026

Mercy Anawe
She/her
Biological Sciences
morukpem@purdue.edu

I am the Biology representative for the Graduate Women in Science Program. I am a fifth-year PhD candidate in Dr. Richard Kuhn's Lab. My research focuses on flavivirus viral protein (NS1) interaction with host proteins, and the functional implications in the host. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) from Nigeria. Outside the world of academia, I enjoy spending time with family, cooking and watching Nigerian movies. I am very happy to be a part of the WISP leadership team. Please feel free to reach out to me with any question or comments.

Mobina Masdari
She/her
Chemistry
mmasdari@purdue.edu

I am the Chemistry representative of the Graduate Women in Science Program leadership team. I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the analytical division of the Department of Chemistry. I earned my B.S. degrees in Chemistry from IAU Science and Research Branch. I joined Professor Jeffrey Dick's research group in Fall 2023, and my research focuses on developing molecularly imprinted polymer-electrochemical sensors (MIP-ES) for enhanced selectivity and sensitivity in biomedical and environmental applications. Outside the lab, I enjoy practicing yoga, cooking, reading, and hiking. I’m excited to be part of the WISP leadership team and to help support our amazing community of women in science!

Shifa Somji
She/her
Computer Science
ssomji@purdue.edu

I am the Computer Science representative of the Graduate Women in Science Program. I am a third year PhD student working with Prof. Sooyeon Jeong in human robot interaction and personalized learning. Before Purdue, I graduated from Harvey Mudd College with a BS in Computer Science. Outside of research, I enjoy reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends. I am excited to serve on the WISP leadership team!

Ayobami Oladapo
She/her
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science
aoladap@purdue.edu

I am the EAPS representative for the Graduate Women in Science Program. I am a Ph.D. Student working in Dr. Marty Frisbee’s surface water-groundwater interactions laboratory. My research focuses on hydrogeology and groundwater/surface water interactions. My work aims to enhance water resources management and support sustainability efforts for this vital resource. I earned my Bachelor of Technology degree in Geology from Nigeria. Outside of research and academia, I enjoy listening to music, singing, traveling, and learning new languages. As an advocate of women in science, I believe supporting and empowering female scientists is crucial for the future of science. I am excited to be a part of the WISP leadership team! Please reach out if you have any questions or comments!

Rivkah Moshe
She/her
Mathematics
rmoshe@purdue.edu

I am the MATH representative for the Graduate Women in Science Program. I am a second year Ph.D. student currently interested in computational atmospheric science math applications. I began at my local community college studying Physics and transferred to Boston University for BA where I added Mathematics with an intension to study the intersections of the field and their applications. Outside academia, I enjoy reading and thrifting, as well as hanging out with friends and family. I'm excited to be working with the WISP leadership to support students in our academic adventures!

Tatiana de Picoli Ferreira
She/her
Physics & Astronomy
tdepicol@purdue.edu

I am the Physics and Astronomy representative for the Graduate WISP. I am a fifth-year graduate student working with theoretical condensed matter. My current research focuses on understanding the physical properties of superconductors and topological systems by combining analytical and simulation techniques. Before joining Purdue, I earned my Bachelor's degree in Biomolecular Physics from the University of São Paulo (USP) and my Master's degree in Physics from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), both in Brazil. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing board games, and spending time with friends. Feel free to reach out with any questions or comments!

Iman Mevaa
She/her
PULSe
imevaa@purdue.edu

I am the PULSe representative for the Graduate Women in Science Program. I am a third-year PhD student in Dr. Andrea Kasinski's lab. My research focuses on developing microRNA therapies to treat cancers, including osteosarcoma (bone cancer). I love working at the intersection of molecular biology and synthetic chemistry to lead a drug discovery project aiming to positively impact the cancer research field. Besides research, l have practiced competitive baton twirling nationally (France) and internationally for 15 years. I also like running, reading and listening to podcasts, traveling, playing games with friends, and learning languages. I am thrilled to be part of the Graduate WISP Leadership Team to continue building a vibrant community that uplifts and empowers women scientists. Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions!

Wanping Zhang
She/her
Statistics
zhan5938@purdue.edu

I am the Statistics representative of the Graduate Women in Science Program leadership team. I am a first-year master's student in the Data Science in Finance Program. I earned my B.S. degree in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics in Renmin University of China. In my spare time, I love spending time with my family, hanging out with friends, reading and listening to music. I am excited to be a part of the WISP leadership team to support women scientists both within the Statistics department and across campus. Feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions.