OCF Fellows

Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology | Entering Year: 2024 Thomas Schodl (they/he) is a Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology (BBSB) PhD student interested in studying neurodegenerative diseases using structural and biophysical techniques. They received their BS (summa cum laude) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Truman State University in 2024. While at Truman State, Thomas […]

Social Work | Entering Year: 2024 A PhD candidate in Social Work at the Brown School, Grace DeHorn studies economic security and low-wage work. Grace is committed to finding avenues to restore a social safety net and improve working conditions for low-income populations. Following her Master’s in Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the University […]

Anthropology | Entering Year: 2024 Eva Fuentes is a PhD student in Anthropology. She aims to understand the evolutionary history of humans and our close relatives through the study of functional morphology and the fossil record. More specifically, she is interested in the evolution and origin of apes’ unique upright posture.

Visual Art | Entering Year: 2024 Dallas Spears is an MFA candidate in Visual Art, and graduated from Louisiana University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2021. She is concerned with how art informs her critical engagement with the world, and what work in turn comes from that engagement. She hopes to pursue […]

Architecture | Entering Year: 2024 A Master’s candidate in Architecture, Ashley Herrera is dedicated to community design efforts for urban areas. Passionate about youth design education and community-led initiatives, Ashley completed her Bachelor of Science in Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University, where she was honored with the Merrill Presidential Scholar award. During her […]

Architecture | Entering Year: 2024 Christopher intends to maximize the transformative power that design has in helping people and the planet. Graduating summa cum laude from The Ohio State University with a BS in Architecture, Christopher aims to continue research on empathetic and sustainable design strategies as a Master of Architecture candidate in the Sam […]

Illustration and Visual Culture | Entering Year: 2024 As an MFA candidate in Illustration and Visual Culture at Sam Fox School, Payton Landes hopes to foster community wellness through visual arts. After completing undergraduate studies in Physics and Studio Art at Colorado College, he worked as a harm reductionist committed to preventing HIV and overdose […]

Biomedical Engineering | Entering Year: 2024 Katelyn Lipa (she/her) is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, with interests in mechanobiology, orthopaedics, and investigating how genetics, injury, and behavior can contribute to the development of musculoskeletal diseases. Katelyn graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2024 with a B.S. in Bioengineering alongside a Minor in Chemistry […]

Neuroscience | Entering Year: 2024 Alexis Robertson is a doctoral candidate in the DBBS Neurosciences program, with a keen focus on elucidating the genetic, cellular, and molecular mechanisms underpinning neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. Her academic journey began in Memphis, Tennessee, where she was the esteemed recipient of the Clarence Day Scholarship. This prestigious award […]

Law | Entering Year: 2024 Taylor Willis recently graduated from WashU with a BA in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology, and she is now a J.D. candidate at the School of Law. She is originally from Mississippi, but she has loved immersing herself in the St. Louis culture the last four years. Currently, Taylor is interning at Zinnia Life […]

Law | Entering Year: 2024 Jewel McDonough, a JD candidate, seeks to study international/public interest law. In her legal career, she plans to fight for survivors of abuse and human trafficking. During her undergraduate degree, she gained experience working with these survivors and found it to be some of the most rewarding work she has […]

Movement Science | Entering Year: 2024 Yi Kang is a PhD student in the Movement Science program within the Department of Physical Therapy. She graduated from Benedictine College in 2021 with a degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Mathematics. During her pursuit of a clinical degree in Physical Therapy, Yi contributed to biomechanics […]

Architecture | Entering Year: 2024 Sarah Borders is pursuing a Master’s in Architecture. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and a minor in Urban Studies. While at Penn, she assisted in the development and construction of affordable housing as an intern with Habitat for […]

Architecture | Year Entering: 2024 Pursuing dual Master degrees in Architecture and Landscape Architecture in the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, Reba Shoup is interested in experimenting with and creating symbiotic relationships between building forms and nature with a focus on people’s connection to the landscape. To do so means working though […]

Cancer Biology | Entering Year: 2024 Jess Camacho is a Mexican-American PhD student from Illinois seeking a degree in Cancer Biology. Jess is interested in understanding the tumor microenvironment within cancers as well as understanding the biological mechanisms of cancer growth and metastasis. Jess is a recent graduate from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York […]

Law | Entering Year: 2024 Hannah is a law student currently pursuing her JD. As a double major in chemistry and political science, she is committed to studying and forging various intersectional connections here at WashU and beyond. During her undergraduate career, she remained committed to democratic and community engagement, working closely with the League […]

Speech and Hearing Science | Entering Year: 2024 Callie Boren is a PhD student in Speech and Hearing Science and a fourth year extern in the AuD program. She graduated as a University Scholar from Baylor University in 2021 with concentrations in communication sciences and disorders, neuroscience, and medical humanities. Her combined interests in the […]

Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering | Entering Year: 2024 Grace Duong, an incoming PhD student from St. Louis, earned her BS in Environmental Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, with minors in Geology and Sustainability. Returning to her hometown, she joins the Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering department at the McKelvey School of […]

Public Health Sciences | Entering Year: 2024 Debbie “Dada” Dada is a doctoral student in Public Health Sciences with a concentration in Dissemination and Implementation Science. Passionate about global health justice, implementation science and decolonial thought, her research interests are in improving access to infectious disease prevention and care services among marginalized populations in Sub-Saharan […]

Public Health Sciences | Entering Year: 2024 Lauren Nacke (she/her) is a PhD student in Public Health Sciences. A lifelong St. Louisan, Lauren has worked as a community and hospital social worker, advancing trauma-informed care models and more equitable hospital policies. A fierce supporter of reproductive justice, she has been leading the effort to restore […]