Meet the Interns
Former Interns
Erin Hood
Year: 2nd year graduate student
Focus: Theatre
Background:Erin is a Texas native and a first year grad student in Theatre Research. She comes to Madison from Chicago where she has been acting, improvising, and working with kids for the last three years. She is excited to learn about nanotechnology and work with the IPSE program!
Kelly Luster
Year: 2nd year graduate student
Focus: Journalism
Background: Kelly is a 1st Year PhD student in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communcation. He has degrees in Photography, Multimedia Technology, and Communication Media. He earned his MA in Adult Education and Communication Technology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Prior to coming to UW Kelly spent several years working in the field of journalism and has experience in both print and broadcast media. Being a member of the IPSE team gives him a chance to learn about a technology that may shape the future the way communication, computers, and industry shaped the 20th century and help bring that knowledge to the public.
Heidi Williamson
Year: Undergraduate student
Focus: Biology
Background: Heidi is an undergraduate pursuing a second bachelor's degree in Biology. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she earned her BS in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, where she currently does web design and project management for the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL). There are few places she enjoys more than a science museum, and she would ideally like to find a way to get everyone as excited about science as she is. As a member of the IPSE program, Heidi looks forward to the opportunity to learn more about both nanotechnology and teaching science through museum exhibits.
Ryan Nygard
Year: 3rd year graduate student
Focus: 2D Art (Painting)
Background: Ryan is originally from the Twin Cities area and earned his BFA from the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, MN. In addition to his undergraduate work in painting, he also studied Urban Geography at the University of Minnesota before attending the University of Wisconsin. Upon completion of his MA and MFA, Ryan intents to pursue a career in art, design and education. Ryan was also once kicked by a horse, while riding another horse and has the picture to prove it.
Jai Paguirigan
Year: 2nd year graduate student
Focus: 3D Art (Woodworking & Furniture Making)
Background: Jai is a second year graduate student pursuing a MFA in 3-D studio arts focusing on furniture and woodworking. He received his BFA in Architecture from Miami University (Ohio) where design and furniture became a focus of his work. Prior to his graduate career he spent several years designing museum exhibits for Taylor Studios, Inc in Rantoul, IL, where the focus was on natural history and public visitor education center exhibits. Being a member of the IPSE program gives him a chance both learn about nanotechnology and research, as well as work with others to bring that education to the public.
Isha Jha
Year: 1st year graduate student
Focus: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Background: Isha is a first year graduate student pursuing her MS in Electrical
Engineering with research focusing on communications and signal processing. She holds a
BTech. from SNDT University (India) in Electronics and Communications. At SNDT, Isha was
the senior editor of Pinnacle, a college science magazine that brings research and
technology news to the SNDT student population. Besides being passionate about science and
technology, she is interested in astronomy, music, reading and trekking.
Ann Vedder
Year: 2nd year graduate student
Focus: Art Education
Background: Ann is a native of Neenah WI, made famous by the Neenah Foundry, the
manhole cover of the world. She earned her BA in Art History at the University of Wisconsin.
After graduating, she moved to New Zealand and worked and traveled her way across the country
before returning to Madison to work at the Madison Children's Museum. While working at the Children's
Museum, Ann became passionate about informal learning institutions and decided to return to school
to pursue her MA in Art Education. As a member of the IPSE team, Ann is excited about using art as
a means to teach nanotechnology.
Carrie Holladay
Year: 2nd year graduate student
Focus: Life Science Communications
Background: Carie is originally from Indiana and has
a bachelor degree from Indiana University in Biology with a minor in Anthropology (Museum Studies). She also holds a certificate in History and Philosophy of Science from IU. Upon finishing her masters work in August 2005, she hopes to pursue a career in either science education
or in a museum setting.
Exhibit: Liquid Crystals/Nanosensors
Terra Theim
Year: 4th year graduate student
Focus: Botany
Background: Terra holds a Bachelors degree in Botany and Biological Aspects of Conservation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is now in her fourth year as a graduate student in Botany and will recieve her PhD in May 2006. She has extensive field experience that has taken her across the globe, including Costa Rica and Ecuador.
Exhibit: Scanning Probe Microscopy
Gina Walejko
Year: 2nd year graduate student
Focuses: Life Science Communication & Environmental Studies
Background: Gina holds a Bachelors degree in Communication Arts and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has experience in many different media, including radio, video, Internet and works with Earthwatch Radio as a scriptwriter. Gina will complete her masters degree in summer 2005 and will pursue her PhD at Northwestern University in the fall.
Exhibit: Scanning Probe Microscopy
Aaron Steckman
Year: 4th year undergraduate student
Major: Music
Background: Aaron is currently working on his bachelors degree in music at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI.
A native of Madison, WI, Aaron is putting his extensive experience in online gaming to good use with the nanotechnology boardgame project.
Project: Nanotechnology in Society boardgame
Arianne Baker
Year: 3rd year graduate student
Focus: Physical Chemistry
Backround: Arianne is originally from
Fargo, ND and holds a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University. She will
complete her masters degree in spring 2005.
Megan Anderson
Year: First-year grad student
Focus: Life Science Communications
Research: The role the media plays in developing the science
literacy of the public
Background: Julie is originally from Paris, Illinois and has
a bachelor's from the University of Illinois in Plant Biotechnology and
Molecular Biology. She would love to go on to work in either science education
or science journalism--anything that lets her be creative and get others
interested in science.
Project: Societal Implications
Lynn Diener
Year:Graduate student
Focus: Molecular and Environmental Toxicology
Research: Metals, interactions with SOM and microorganisms
Background: Lynn grew up in Washington State and then went to
New York where she got her Bachelors degree in Environmental Science at
Bard College. She is now in her fifth year as a graduate student in the
Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center (METC). She enjoys participating
in the METC outreach program. She hopes to pursue a career in education.
Project: Smart Papers
Julie He
Year: Junior, UW-Madison
Focus: Biochemistry
Research: Axonal growth patterns in the early development of
the vertebrate nervous system
Background: Julie is an undergraduate in the College of Letters
and Science, where she plans to graduate with an honors degree in biochemistry.
Since middle school, she has been interested in science as a career. She
enjoys teaching others and have had experiences as a tutuor/instructor
since high school. After college, she plans to go to graduate school and
continue to do research.
Project: Liquid Crystal Sensors
Chris Luebke
Year: First-year graduate student
Focus: Political Geography, Southeast Asia
Research: Thailand-Myanmar borderlands, Mekong River
Backround: Chris is originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, has
bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Geography from the University
of North Dakota. He lived in Yokohama, Japan, working as a Conversational
English Teacher for 18 months. After completing his masters, he hopes
to begin work on his Ph.D.
Project: Societal Implications
Jeff (Max) Maxwell
Year:Graduate student
Focus: Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience, Experimental Psychology
Research: Neural substrates & behavioral manifestations of
cognition-emotion interactions
Background: Max has a B.S. from University of California, Davis.
He volunteers with high risk juvenile populations.
His hobbies include volleyball, mountain biking, alpine skiing, fantasy
football.
Project: Liquid Crystal Sensors
Brian McCall
Year: Senior
Focus: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Research: Electrorheological fluids
Background: Brian is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, and
he plans on graduating by December 2004. He manages and plays for a local
soccer team, and tutors weekly at Hamilton Middle School. After graduation,
he hopes to do Teach for America and then possibly start his own business.
Project: Smart Paper
