Hey #BTMBlog,
It’s been awhile! Our Executive Production Team has celebrated two dissertation defenses (with another coming
up!), entered new phases of our physician scientist training, and celebrated a wedding and our first BTM baby’s first birthday. Life—in training and in our ‘real’ lives—has been busy, but it’s been good. And BTM is a big part of that. We’re thankful for all the ways this “Behind the Microscope” Community has grown and expanded over the past year.
So while we’ve been a bit quiet on the #BTMblog for a bit, now we’re back and better than ever, and we’re excited to announce that we’re adding a team of stellar blog contributors—in addition to periodic guest contributors—who will share their reflections, perspective, and advice on what it means to be “Behind the Microscope” over the coming weeks, months, and years. Their writing will give you another way to look at “science behind the scenes,” and we can’t wait to share all the wisdom they have to give with you all. So, without further ado, meet our new team of regular blog contributors!
Emma D’Agostino
Emma D’Agostino is a medical writer in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her PhD in biochemistry at Emory University, specializing in structure-based drug design. She received her undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill (Go Heels!). She believes that science can be accessible to all with the right analogy. Outside of work, she is a
patient advocate with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a consumer representative with the FDA, and is passionate about using her scientific knowledge to benefit patient communities. She has spent the last year isolated with her two feline roommates and spends her spare time horseback riding and scheming to acquire more animals.
Hannah Turbeville
Hannah Turbeville is an otolaryngology resident at the University of Michigan. She received her MD and PhD from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where her research focused on the long-term effects of preeclampsia and the therapeutic potential of sildenafil in reducing chronic disease risk. She previously graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, where she completed a thesis project on the diagnosis of prostate cancer using circulating serum markers. She has held a number of leadership roles, most recently serving as the President of the American Physician Scientists Association from 2020-2021. She is looking forward to the next stage of her training as a surgeon scientist in Ann Arbor with her husband Patrick and German Shepherd dog Zeus.
Namita Mathew
Namita Mathew is an MD student at Emory University. She graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in biology and psychology, and throughout her undergraduate career has acted as a peer mentor and a community service leader for initiatives focused on educational advocacy. She hopes to continue her involvement in mentorship as well as promote open dialogues about the trainee experience. In her free time, she enjoys learning to play instruments, exploring trails/picnic spots in the city, and catching up on the latest Netflix shows.
Raven Peterson
Raven Peterson is finishing their PhD at Emory University, conducting research focused on cell adhesion with an interest in cell/material interactions. In addition to research, they are passionate about science education and communication and they believe that talking about the history of scientific discovery is a critical part of creating social change. They are also a strong advocate for peer mentorship and enjoys working with graduate and undergraduate students to develop scientific and professional skills. In their free time, they enjoy reading, cooking, sculpting, and metal working.
Michael Sayegh
Michael is a sixth year MD/PhD student at Emory University and Georgia Tech. He is finishing his PhD in biomedical engineering with Rebecca Levit, MD, in the division of cardiology at Emory School of Medicine. His dissertation research is on developing adenosinergic biomaterials for cardiovascular disease. Michael obtained his bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard University, where he worked in the lab of Howard Berg, PhD, on the adaptation kinetics of the E coli rotary motor. He was also a summer student at Cold Spring Harbor Lab, where he worked on cell cycle protein biochemistry in the group of Bruce Stillman, PhD. As a third year medical student, Michael is looking forward to explore his interest in internal medicine and cardiology, and continued involvement in research. Michael is also passionate about food, LEGOs, science communication, and piano.