Graduate Staff 2026-2027

Sabika Ali
She/her
Biological Sciences
asabika@purdue.edu

I am the Biology representative for the Graduate Women in Science Program. I am a 2nd year graduate student in Dr. John Tesmer’s lab, where I study how G protein-coupled receptor kinases interact with GPCRs, a major class of receptors involved in cell signaling and communication. Through my research, I hope to better understand how these molecular interactions regulate important biological processes. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading and photography, which allows me to explore stories, ideas, and moments from different perspectives. I am very happy to be part of the WISP leadership team and look forward to connecting with and supporting the graduate student community.

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 third-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 fourth 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!

Mathematics Representative

Dennise Valadez
She/her
Physics & Astronomy
dvalade@purdue.edu

I am the Physics and Astronomy representative for Graduate WISP. I am a Physics PhD student working in the field of lunar science. My research focuses on modeling the landscape evolution of the lunar surface. More specifically, my current research project is centered on modeling the stability of permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) at the lunar south pole, as they may harbor cold traps that preserve lunar volatiles (such as water ice). This also aligns with the science objectives of NASA’s Artemis mission. Previously, I earned my bachelor's degree in physics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and enjoy spending time at the beach. I also enjoy reading, cooking, and playing video games. I feel honored to be serving on the WISP leadership team. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

Iman Mevaa
She/her
PULSe
imevaa@purdue.edu

I am the PULSe representative for the Graduate Women in Science Program. I am a fourth-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!

Vanshika Gupta
She/her
Statistics
gupt1522@purdue.edu

Hey, I am Vanshika - a Statistics grad student at Purdue, originally from India, figuring out life one dataset at a time! My work sits at the crossroads of AI and statistics, and I have had the chance to explore everything from fine-tuning large language models for medical coding to building anomaly detection systems for EV batteries at Honeywell. Safe to say, I have never met a messy dataset I did not want to clean up!

Outside of the technical side, I deeply care about building communities where women in STEM feel seen, supported, and inspired, which is exactly what drew me to GradWISP. I believe some of the best science happens when people feel they belong, and I am thrilled to be part of a team working toward that. When I am not buried in R or Python, you will probably find me exploring new coffee spots or convincing myself I will start journaling soon!