Yana Vierboom
I’m a late-deaf postdoc in Demography and Sociology at Princeton. I study why some groups of people live longer and healthier lives than others (the answer is usually: systemic inequalities!).
Andrea Hall
Hello, my name is Andrea Hall and I am a very proud CODA. You may actually be vaguely familiar with me via one of my greatest achievements to date. I had the honor and privilege of doing the Pledge of Allegiance in both English and ASL at the 59th US Presidential Inaugration! It was such an honor to be able to share that moment with my deaf family members and friends! I look forward to becoming a part of this wonderful network…
https://youtu.be/5ZLLAMIbMZ0?si=SWBJdYosvkbtYv0r
Eric Heinze
I am a PhD student in the Biology Department at the University of Rochester. I am primarily interested in the evolutionary dynamics of wing dimorphism in aphids. Most aphid species have primarily winged or wingless males, while a few species are polymorphic. By using powerful bioinformatics tools, I hope to analyze the selective landscape within aphid genomes and predict the ecological factors and evolutionary tradeoffs affecting this dimorphism.
Sunday David Ubur
I am currently a third year PhD student in computer science at Virginia Tech. I also serve the department as a teaching assistant, and my advisor as a research assistant.
My research boarders around enhancing emotional expression such as facial, voice and body language gestures in captioning interfaces.
Aside academics, I enjoy traveling, attending conferences, and when not working I enjoy hitting the gym.
Michelle Nashleanas
PhD immunologist, MD board certified in Family Medicine, now working in Medical Safety for innovative, anvanced therapies for autoimmune diseases
Stephen Meyer
Stephen is a staff veterinary technologist from Southern California. He graduated with is Associate of Applied Science degree. He first became interested in veterinary medicine in high school when he volunteered at the horse veterinary hospital for 4 years. He started his career as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in emergency medicine. A vet tech position opened up at the research field. He accepted the position as a Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist. He learned so much about biomedical research, and he know lab animal science would be his professional home. In addition to his ranch, his family has dogs, cats, horses and goats.
Jennifer Chin
My name is Jennifer Chin, and I’m from the Netherlands. I also went to Gallaudet in USA and New Zealand to study genetics and marine biology, respectively. My current job mainly focuses on (lab) analysis of benthic organisms, shellfishes and other marine organisms.
Amelia Dall
Amelia S. Dall, M.A., RPA, GIS, is a highly experienced archaeologist and GIS specialist based in the Greater Colorado Springs Area. Currently serving as an archaeologist at the Bureau of Reclamation in Pueblo, Colorado, she has a background in cultural resource management and GIS analysis.
With over seven years of experience in museum and research institutions, Amelia has developed expertise in ArcGIS software, archaeological stewardship, public outreach, and collection management. Her career includes positions at the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, among others.
Amelia holds a Master’s Degree in Anthropology and Archaeology from Texas State University (2017), where her thesis focused on using GIS and Google Earth to analyze looting patterns of Nasca sites in Peru. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Gallaudet University (2012) and two certificates in GIS from Front Range Community College (2022).
David Parker
- Who am I – I am a Deaf person and I use Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to communicate. I am self managed via the NDIS and I can request for an Auslan interpreter.
- Background – By training and profession, I’m an electrical engineer but I work as a community manager / technical writer. I’ve tried over the years to learn a little about a lot of things. I sometimes envy the great people of the Renaissance especially Leonardo Da Vinci who had a very real possibility of learning a large fraction of all human knowledge. But when I think of all we have achieved since then and I know I have the better deal.
- My motto – “Karma: do good to others that others can do good to you”
- Favorite quotes- “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” — Albert Einstein. “Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.” — Richard Feynman “For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream.” — Vincent van Gogh
- My main interests – Purple, The Phantom comics, science fiction, science, technology, road cycling, web development, digital systems, software engineering, travelling and camping, family tree research, genetics, Auslan, relaxing with quality red wine and a good movie, gardening and especially growing tulips and finally egyptology.
Amie Fornah Sankoh
Amie Fornah-Sankoh got her PhD from the University of Tennessee’s Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology. Her scientific journey began at the Rochester Institute of Technology and National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID), where she earned Laboratory Science Technology and Biochemistry degrees. Before joining the University of Tennessee for her Ph.D. in 2017, Amie undertook various internships and participated in multiple research projects, further solidifying her commitment to scientific exploration.
During her time at the University of Tennessee, Amie achieved significant milestones. She secured a National Institute of Health (NIH)-)-supported Fellowship for her initial two years, followed by a three-year Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation and another NIH predoctoral fellowship. Additionally, she authored four scientific publications, with more in progress, presented at a national meeting, and delivered multiple poster presentations.
Amie’s PhD thesis explored biological communication, mainly focusing on the impact of hormones on plant-pathogen interactions. Communication is fundamental to the survival of any individual or population of organisms. As a Deaf person who has never taken the ability to communicate for granted, Amie especially believes in the adage that knowledge is far more valuable when properly shared. This belief has led her to engage in several activities that have a broader impact on the scientific community. Her research brings a unique perspective, particularly significant given the limited opportunities for young Deaf individuals in STEM, underscoring the importance of diverse voices in scientific inquiry.
Amie’s life story is one of resilience, overcoming challenges from her Deafness during Sierra Leone’s civil war. She had to overcome barriers to survival, education, and language acquisition, but instead of breaking her, these experiences fueled her determination and helped her thrive. Amie’s passion for outreach drives her advocacy for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students in STEM, where she endeavors to offer them hands-on laboratory experiences, serving as both a role model and a catalyst for breaking barriers.
In 2023, Amie made history as the first Deaf Black woman to earn a STEM doctorate. This milestone reflects her perseverance and achievement journey, culminating in her selection as the featured speaker for her university’s 2023 Graduate Hooding Ceremony. Her most fulfilling realization is that she can excel as a scientist and a community advocate.
Currently, Amie serves as a Senior Research Specialist at Dow Coating Materials, where she contributes to developing innovative waterborne barrier coatings for paper, enhancing functional performance, and promoting recyclability in paper-based packaging applications.
