2025 Cohort
Anbukkarasi Muniyandi
PhD
RC - Retinal Cell Biology
University of California San Francisco, United States
" I practice Karate as part of the JKA (Japanese Karate Association, Tokyo). I don't intend to punch or kick my opponent, however, I make a loud kiai (hi-yah) while sparring."
Bhavatharini Ramakrishnan
MS
EY - Eye Movements/Strabismus/Amblyopia/Neuro-ophthalmology
State University of New York College of Optometry, United States
"I love dancing. Back when I was in India, I was professionally trained to dance one of the oldest Indian dance forms: Bharathanatyam for 15 years of my life."
Bigit Bianca
MS
CO - Cornea
University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
"I started playing ice hockey in my early 20s."
Bismark Owusu-Afriyie
OD, MS, FAAO
RE - Retina
University of Houston, College of Optometry, United States
"I have gained academic and professional experience across five countries on four continents. This has equipped me with a well-rounded, cross-cultural perspective in eye care and biomedical research."
Eli Chlan
BS
RC - Retinal Cell Biology
Emory University, United States
Ellen Antwi-Adjei
OD, MPH
GL - Glaucoma
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
"I once dissected sheep’s brains and cow’s eyes to introduce children to vision science, sparking their curiosity about the human eye and brain."
Giovana Rosa Gameiro
MD, MBA
RE - Retina
Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
"I love music and learned how to play the guitar when I was 6."
Isabella Gomes
MPH, MA
RE - Retina
School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, United States
" I'm not an adrenaline junkie but I've climbed two of the 7 natural wonders of the world, gone shark-cage and manta ray diving, and traversed swamplands with alligators in Florida."
Itzel Becerril-Rojas
MS
CO - Cornea
Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico
"I’m passionate about photography and creating science content as @itz_science.journey to share knowledge in engaging ways and promote life balance as a PhD student."
Jenny Zhang
PhD
GL - Glaucoma
University of Toronto, Canada
"The fluorescent microscopy images I take inspire me artistically (I’m an avid digital artist and draw with my iPad)."
Lili Gerendas
MD
RE - Retina
Semmelweis University, Hungary
"I'm outdoorsy, I like board games , and if I weren't working in vision research, I would probably be a chef."
Mario Troisi
MD
CO - Cornea
San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona-Scuola Medica Salernitana, (Salerno University Hospital), Italy
"The sea is my sanctuary; swimming and taking long walks along the coastline serve as my primary source of relaxation and recharging."
Mary Hackbarth
MS
RC - Retinal Cell Biology
University of Maryland, School of Medicine, United States
"During a trip to Iceland, I got to observe a breeding puffin colony."
Melat Asebot
MD, MPH
RE - Retina
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, United States
"Playing my harp is my favorite way to unwind, refresh, and create a sense of calm."
Mohit Parekh
PhD
CO - Cornea
Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, United States
"I'm a Disney enthusiast, world explorer, and food lover."
Samrat Sarkar
MAppSc (Research)
CL - Clinical/Epidemiologic Research
School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
"I'm an avid listener, silent hard worker, and friendly."
Seema Banerjee
PhD
GL - Glaucoma
The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, United States
"When I am not delving into optic nerves and the intricacies of the human eye, you can find me experimenting with bold brushstrokes and color palettes."
Siyin Liu
MBChB, MRes
CO - Cornea
University College London, United Kingdom
"Hiking is my way of escaping the hustle and reconnecting with nature. One of my most memorable hikes was on a beaten trail in Borneo, where I stayed in an indigenous Kampung while providing health checks to the locals - one stone, two birds!"
Suharsha Paidimarri
MS
AP - Anatomy and Pathology/Oncology
University of Houston, United States
"I enjoy reading ancient history from a scientific perspective."
Yusra Zaidi
PhD
RE - Retina
Augusta University, United States
"Fashion design is another passion of mine. If I weren't on a path in science, I’d definitely want to own a boutique showcasing my own clothing designs or either selling my sketches!"
Zhuochen Yuan
GL - Glaucoma
University of Miami, United States
"I love cooking and have started a collection of high quality Japanese cooking knives."