Division of Biology and Medicine
Biology Undergraduate Education

Peer Advising

Peer advisors provide undergraduate students in Biology with informal advice on concentrations, academics, and more.

If you are interested in one of the Biology concentrations or have questions about the concentration that you are in, Biology Peer Advisors are available to help! Simply email the person you are hoping to meet to setup the time and place. Peer advising meetings will be very informal, taking place anywhere on campus or online, at any time that fits your schedule.

For students interested in Applied Math Peer Advising, including Applied Math-Biology, please visit their website.

Peer Advisors

  • Alice Bai

    Alice Bai

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Health & Human Biology (Mind, Brain, Behavior)

    Hi all! I'm Alice, a pre-med senior from Atlanta, GA. My interests lie in health psychology and social medicine, which is why I find the flexibility of concentrating in H&HB really wonderful. On and around Brown's campus, I'm involved with clinical research on maternal health at the Women's Medicine Collaborative, Connect for Health, and volunteering at The Miriam Hospital, and I also edit for post- magazine and work as a campus tour guide! Please reach out if any of that sounds interesting to you :)

  • Braden Donoian

    Braden Donoian

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Health & Human Biology & Classics

    Heyo!! My name is Braden and I’m a pre-med senior from New York concentrating in HHB on the Brain Health & Behavior track, as well as Classics.  I’m super passionate about prioritizing social determinants of health in medicine and take great pride in working for Connect for Health as an Advocate and member of its Resource Team.  I’m also a team lead and the Vital Documents Coordinator for Brown HOPE’s outreach program and work alongside House of Hope in Warwick to expand their HEAR program to provide increased ER access to those experiencing homelessness. When I’m not in classes (or supervising at the Nelson!), I’m an editor for the Brown Classical Journal, and I have the privilege of working in the Holder Lab, studying the impact that proto-oncogene PIM1 has on promoting the development of renal cell carcinoma.  In my free time, I love to discover new music over long walks or bike rides around PVD!  Feel free to hit me up about anything at all, I have tons of tips about scoring on-campus jobs and UTRAs, taking leave, and what to get at the Creperie :))

  • Angelo Giannopoulos

    Angelo Giannopoulos

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (NBIO)

    I am a senior with hopes of going into a career in medicine and have done research into the effects of meditation as a treatment for anxiety, as well as polymer construction for regenerating tissues in the human body.

  • Leyla Giordano

    Leyla Giordano

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Health & Human Biology & Classics

    Hi! I am a pre-med senior double concentrating in Classics and Health and Human Biology on the Global/International Health track. I hope to become a pediatrician or an OBGYN in the future. As a Biology concentrator, I have loved Physiology (BIOL 0800), Evolutionary Biology (BIOL 0280), Foundations of Living Systems (0200), and Biotechnology in Medicine (BIOL 0170). I have been involved in labs researching a pediatric asthma self-management intervention program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and also researching the predictors of adolescent obesity primarily through eating disorders. I also teach at Wheeler and have served as a research analyst at Intus Care, a healthcare analytics startup founded by Brown students. I conduct research with HAEFA to provide free medical care to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Outside of biology, I am a tutor for BRYTE, a Meiklejohn, the Project Development Chair for Circle of Women, the Vice President of Women’s Health Advocacy Group, and the Vice President of Students for Saving Mothers. I am also a member of the Club Volleyball team and am passionate about the intersection between medicine and public health.

  • Meghan Gormley

    Meghan Gormley

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (IMMU)

    Hi! I am a senior pre-med student and I originally concentrated in Biochemistry but have switched to my current concentration of Biology ScB. I am on the Softball team here at Brown, I am a member of UNICEF and IDS at Brown and volunteer with Clinic Esperanza in Providence. Additionally I work in John Marshall's Lab and have been part of summer programs at Hasbro Children's Hospital as well as the Medical University of South Carolina. Feel free to reach out with any questions!!

  • Maansi Gupta

    Maansi Gupta

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology AB & Archaeology

    As an undergraduate in the biology department on a premed track, I've been fortunate to have lots of research experience in the Raj Lab (vaccine development) and in the Spade Lab (toxicology) and have been able to pursue my research in the summer through UTRA awards. I was also a TA for Principles of Immunology (BIOL 0530) with Prof. Dugan. Beyond biology, I am also a board member and (occasional) test writer for Science Olympiad, a volunteer for Connect for Health and the Miriam Hospital, and am starting to do research in the archaeology department. I would love to answer any questions you might have about biology at Brown, balancing workloads, and double concentrating!

  • Cole Heine

    Cole Heine

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology with Data Fluency Certificate

    Hi all! My name is Cole Heine and I’m a senior concentrating in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a Certificate in Data Fluency (following the pre-med track). I’m currently completing my honors thesis in the Helfand Lab working with flies and am involved in computational neural modeling research under Prof. Watanabe in Brown’s Laboratory for Cognitive and Perceptual Learning. I also TA the freshman seminar Biol 190P and have TA’d Biol 200 in the past. Outside of academics, I love surfing and you’ll find me in the water all through the year in RI. Feel free to contact me with any advising questions, I’d love to chat. Cheers!

  • Penelope Celeste Holland

    Penelope Celeste Holland

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (EBIO)

    Hi there! I’m a senior studying ecology, organismal, and evolutionary biology. Last year I studied abroad at the University of Oxford where I was a research assistant in a lab focusing on life history evolution and population demography. I spent the previous summer working on a  biodiversity-monitoring project in Mexico and learning how to scuba dive. My primary interests are conservation (especially of marine and coastal ecosystems) and sustainability. Aside from biology, I enjoy classical singing, hiking, and watching the Great British Bake Off. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or just want to chat!

  • Dylan Ines

    Dylan Ines

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

    Hi! I am a senior studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and I am also on the pre-med track. I am a TA for BIOL 0200 (Foundations of Living Systems) and I do research in the Colvin Lab, where I focus on nanochemistry with applications in medical imaging. Please feel free to reach out with questions or if you want to talk about anything!

  • jason johnston

    Jason Johnson

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (PHBI) & Public Health

    I am interested in integrating biology with the social determinants of health as a pre-med student. I TA BIOL 0500, research in the Yajima lab, volunteer as a Connect for Health advocate, and am a BioDUG leader!

  • William Marella

    William Marella

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - BioPhysics

    Hi! My name is Will I am a rising senior studying Biology who also has experience with the Biophysics pathway. I play jazz saxophone, lead meditation sits as part of the BMC, serve as a TA for BIOL 0210, and intend on pursuing medical school and an MPH. Feel free to reach out to me about anything at all!

  • Sara Ouaddi

    Sara Ouaddi

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (CEMB)

    Hi! My name is Sara and I am a pre-med rising senior from Morocco studying Cell and Molecular Biology. Currently, I work in a lab studying how the mind can affect cardiovascular health. I am also a French UTA, a MAPS mentor and a volunteer at the Rhode Island Free Clinic. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

  • Czenilriene Santander

    Czenilriene Santander

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (CEMB) & Anthropology

    Hi! My name is Czenil, I'm a rising senior with hopes to apply to medical school after graduation. I am super interested in maternal-child health-- I currently work for the Stroud Lab, looking at neurobiological and behavioral markers of risk within the fetal-infant transition. I also care a ton about teaching as I'm one of the Tutor Leaders for the peer tutoring program, a coordinator for Brown Women in Science and Engineering, and also have the absolute pleasure to work with the Providence Public School District as a BEAM site leader. Feel free to ask me any questions about double concentrating, UTRAs, tutoring, extracurriculars-- literally anything!

  • Alyssa Steinbaum

    Alyssa Steinbaum

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Health & Human Biology (Social Determinants of Health)

    My name is Alyssa (she/her) and I am concentrating in Health and Human Biology on the social track. At Brown I have been involved in many different areas of research and am currently part of the Weiss Lab, and I am a Co-President of Queer People and Allies for the Advancement of Medicine (QPAAM). I am also a pre-med student, and a group tutor for the Sheridan Center!

  • Manuella Talla Takoukam

    Manuella Talla Takoukam

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (IMMU)

    Hello! I'm an international student and pre-med senior concentrating in Biology on the Immunobiology track. Currently, I work in the Jamieson Lab as an undergraduate research assistant, studying the effects of S. pneumoniae coinfection on the differential expression of the Influenza A Virus transcriptome (past Summer UTRA). Additionally, I'm a TA for Foundations of Living Systems (BIOL 0200) and Principles of Immunology (BIOL 0530) and a Meiklejohn. I was also an advocate for Connect for Health. I plan on taking two gap years to do research before going to medical school. Outside of the sciences, I enjoy dancing, reading, and cooking. Feel free to reach out about classes, research, TA-ing, being pre-med, and anything else!

  • Rachel Tam

    Rachel Tam

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology AB & Gender & Sexuality Studies

    Hello! I'm a senior interested in reproductive health and emergency medicine, feel free to reach out about being part of SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness Group) or about working for BWell Health Promotion!

  • Max Ulibarri

    Max Ulibarri

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (IMMU)

    Hi everyone! I am a pre-med senior from Seattle, Washington concentrating in biology on the immuno track. I am a Meiklejohn involved with Connect for Health at the Rhode Island hospital, memory T cell research in the Beura lab, the Infectious Disease Society, and I TA for Principles of Immunology. Please reach out to me if you have any questions about class selection, pre-med advice, finding research opportunities, or becoming a TA.

  • Rebecca Ward-Diorio

    Rebecca Ward-Diorio

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (EBIO)

    I am concentrating in Ecology, Organismal, and Evolutionary Biology. Bio: Hello! I work in Witman Lab studying benthic and megafauna ecology and had the opportunity to do field work with the lab in the summer of 2022 in the Galapagos, as well working as a TA for Invertebrate Zoology (BIOL0410) and Principles of Ecology (BIOL0420), and am a captain of the Women's and Gender Expansive Ultimate Frisbee B team (CoRays).

  • nikki wong

    Nikki Wong

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

    Hello! I am a senior from Oahu, Hawaii. I am a TA for BIOL0940G: Antibiotic Drug Discovery in Soil. Although I am not established molecular-based lab here at Brown, yet >_<, I have had the opportunity to research “non-canonical NF-kB signaling promotion of cell death and inflammation in kidneys” this past summer through a research program in Hawaii. I considered double concentrating with Public Health (feel free to ask me any questions about that) which is how I also got involved as an Undergraduate Research Assistant under Prof. Escudero for NIPH Covid Policy. In my free time, I play on the women’s club soccer team and am also a Meik. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

  • Sarah Wornow

    Sarah Wornow

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (IMMU)

    Hi! I'm Sarah, and I'm a pre-med senior from California. I've loved all of the biology classes I've taken at Brown (and I've taken a lot), so feel free to reach out if you have any questions! I also conduct ovarian cancer research in Dr. Freiman's lab, and I volunteer at the Rhode Island Hospital. I am involved in various clubs on campus, including The Triple Helix, Brown Science Olympiad, Women in Science and Engineering, and Orientation Welcoming Committee.

  • Michelle Yuan

    Michelle Yuan

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (CEMB) & Literary Arts

    Hi everyone! My name is Michelle and I am a pre-med senior from New Jersey double concentrating in Biology with a focus on Cell and Molecular biology and in Literary Arts. I have TA'd for Microbiology, am a MAPS mentor and Orientation Leader, and volunteer with Connect for Health. I am also involved with the Brown Daily Herald and Visions Magazine and work as an events coordinator for the Literary Arts department. I'm more than happy to offer advice and tips on courses, research, balancing academics and extracurriculars, and double concentrating :) If anything I've mentioned so far sounds interesting to you, please feel free to reach out!!

  • Lizi Zhang

    Lizi Zhang

    Peer Advisor, Concentration - Biology ScB (NBIO)

    Hi there! I’m a Junior concentrating in Biology on the Neurobiology track, and I’m an international student from Shenzhen, China.  I am currently doing research in the Fallon lab, investigating the behavioral implications of increased hippocampal neurogenesis and how it could potentially be applied to treatment for Alzheimer’s disease! In my free time, I love to cook, play pickup basketball, and design lights for student theater productions. Feel free to reach out about choosing concentrations, concentrating in Bio as an international student, finding research, balancing interests in both STEM and humanities, or anything else! :)