Ellie Breitfeld ’20
Chief Correspondent
Concentration: Psychology
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Programs: Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Linguistics
Research Interests: Developmental psychology, social neuroscience, language learning
Bio: I am originally from North Carolina and I’m still getting used to the colder weather and lack of BBQ here in New Jersey, but nevertheless am taking full advantage of my time in the orange bubble. I am concentrating in psychology with certificates in neuroscience, cognitive science, and linguistics. I love being engaged in research in these relatively new fields because there are so many opportunities to study questions that still remain unanswered and largely unexplored. On campus, I am a tutor at McGraw, a Research Assistant in the Baby Lab–Princeton’s developmental psychology lab–and in my free time I enjoy running on the Towpath and exploring Nassau Street.
Recent posts by Ellie Breitfeld
Shanon FitzGerald ’20
Social Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Religion
Degree Program: A.B.
Research Interests: Constitutional law, politics, modern American history, quantitative social science, behavioral economics
Bio: I am a junior and first-time blogger from Fishers, Indiana. On campus, you’re likely to catch me either reading in Firestone or watching the squirrels frolic outside (unfortunately, the squirrels don’t count as a research interest). In addition to PCUR, I’m involved in Tiger Magazine and the James Madison Program.
Recent posts by Shanon FitzGerald
Elise Freeman ’19
Humanities Correspondent
Concentration: French and Italian
Degree Program: A.B.
Research Interests: International affairs, culture, francophone countries
Bio: I love looking at the world from perspectives different from my own — the more foreign the subject, the better! I’m fascinated by how we interact with one another, and learning French certainly provides a cool lens for that. Though I lean towards social sciences, I could read about fringe science or space for hours. I spend my time on campus aspiring to be like my idols: my mom, Michelle Obama, and Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
Alec Getraer ’19
Natural Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Geosciences
Degree Program: A.B.
Research Interests: Ecology, geology, biogeochemistry, geomorphology, climate science
Bio: I love the natural world and my work at Princeton focuses on field based research in ecology and the geosciences. On-campus I am an Outdoor Action Leader, an officer of the Princeton University Geosciences Society, and an active member of the Center for Jewish Life. I enjoy traveling, hiking, snowboarding, photography, and drawing.
Alec Israeli ’21
Humanities Correspondent
Concentration: History
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Programs: African American Studies, European Cultural Studies, Humanistic Studies
Research Interests: Labor history, intellectual history, 19th century America, Jewish studies, political theory
Bio: I am a second-year from Long Island, New York. On campus, I am a writer and the executive print editor for the Princeton Progressive magazine, play piano for the Jazz Vocal Collective, and serve as a student mentor with the Humanities Council. If things go as planned (for now), I hope to pursue a career in academia, researching and teaching history!
Rafi Lehmann ’20
Social Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: History
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Programs: Urban Studies, Creative Writing
Research Interests: Indigenous Studies, Marxism, Post-colonialism, Yiddish
Bio: I am a third-year from Maryland with irresponsible dreams. Ask me about the Yiddish Farm, my year in India, and/or why the Times’ Style section is essential to our democracy. Also, I love poetry.
Andrea Reino ’20
Social Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Program: Spanish
Research Interests: international relations, human rights law, immigration law, criminal justice, prison reform, politics, public policy
Bio: I’m a junior born and raised in New York, but my family is originally from Spain. I plan to go to law school after graduating! On campus, I am a PUMP mentor, a Petey Greene tutor, and a double-bass player in PUO. I love languages, eating good food, and looking at pictures of my cat.
Saira Reyes ’21
Engineering Correspondent
Concentration: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Degree Program: B.S.E.
Certificate Program: Engineering Biology
Research Interests: metabolic engineering, material science, nanotechnology
Bio: I am a rising sophomore from Northern NJ planning to concentrate in chemical and biological engineering. Some of the past research projects I have worked on focused on polymer nanoimprints and microfluidics. Over the summer, I will be working on campus on a research project involving metabolic engineering. On campus, I am also involved in PUMP and Princeton Latinos y Amigos.
Nanako Shirai ’21
Natural Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Molecular Biology or Chemistry
Degree Program: A.B.
Research Interests: epigenetics, induced pluripotent stem cells, psychology, east asian culture, biomedical ethics
Bio: I am a sophomore from New Hampshire, but I’ve also lived in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. I wandered through a few disciplines (i.e. Sociology and Psychology) when I first came to Princeton but I think I’m pretty set on Molecular Biology or Chemistry now. One of my interests is how biology and culture shape social interactions. On campus, I am a violinist in the Princeton University Orchestra, treasurer for the Japanese Student Association, an officer for the TEDx division of Princeton Social Innovation and I also work at the Princeton Writing Center as a fellow!
Raya Ward ’21
Natural Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Human-Computer Interaction and Design
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Programs: Visual Arts, Technology and Society
Research Interests: Art history, cognitive psychology, media, design, user experience, human-computer interaction, technology
Bio: Hey y’all! I came to Princeton from Peachtree Corners, Georgia so I’m still adjusting to the cold of New Jersey! My passions lie in the arts. Oil painting and charcoal drawing are my favorites! If I can’t be in the studio, I’d love to be out in the middle of the woods hiking or resting by a waterfall. On campus, I’m also involved in Highsteppers, Orange Key, Club Swim, and the Student Advisory Board for the Art Museum.
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PCUR Alumni
Good researchers always recognize those who came before them — and we’re no exception. PCUR thanks its former bloggers for their creative and helpful views on independent work:
Alexandra Koskosidis ’20 – Engineering Correspondent
Concentration: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Degree Program: B.S.E.
Certificate Programs: Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Applications of Computing
Research Interests: Engineering (chemical/biological, mechanical/aerospace), energy, robotics
Annie Woehling ’15 – Social Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Anthropology
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Program: Global Health and Health Policy
Research Interests: sexual health and wellness, life sciences, health policy
Bennett McIntosh ’16 – Natural Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Chemistry
Degree Program: A.B
Research Interests: biochemistry, protein folding, protein design
Dylan Blau Edelstein ’17 – Humanities Correspondent
Concentration: Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Cultures
Degree Program: A.B
Certificate Programs: Latin American Studies, Theater, Ethnography
Research Interests: languages, Latin America, theater, culture, gender and sexuality, social movements
Emma Kaeser ’18 – Chief Correspondent and Social Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Degree Program: A.B
Certificate Programs: Program in French Language and Culture, Program in Urban Studies
Research Interests: Public policy, women and children’s rights, maternal and child health, human rights law
Isabelle Laurenzi ’15 – Chief Correspondent
Concentration: Religion
Degree Program: A.B
Certificate Programs: Creative Writing and Humanistic Studies
Research Interests: religion, ethics, and politics, philosophy of religion, expressions of religion and ethics in contemporary literature
Jalisha Braxton ’16 – Natural Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Psychology
Degree Program: A.B
Certificate Programs: Neuroscience
Research Interests: cognition, learning disorders
Kavi Jain ’18 – Engineering Correspondent
Concentration: Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Degree Program: B.S.E.
Certificate Programs: Statistics and Machine Learning, Applications of Computing
Research Interests: data science, nanotechnology, clean energy, biomimicry
Melissa Parnagian ’17 – Chief Correspondent and Social Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Program: American Studies
Research Interests: politics, race, media, representation, mass culture
Nicholas Wu ’18 – Social Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Programs: Program in American Studies and East Asian Studies Program
Research Interests: Politics, public policy, migration, race, Asian American studies
Stacey Huang ’16 – Engineering Correspondent
Concentration: Electrical Engineering
Degree Program: B.S.E.
Research Interests: laser spectroscopy, applied physics, photonics, circuits
Taylor Griffith ’18 – Social Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Sociology
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Programs: Creative Writing, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Research Interests: Authors, creative writing, gender, sexuality, media, television
Vidushi Sharma ’17 – Humanities Correspondent
Concentration: Philosophy
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Programs: Neuroscience, Humanistic Studies
Research Interests: cognitive science, interdisciplinary learning, classical languages, culture
Yuem Park ’15 – Natural Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Geosciences
Degree Program: A.B.
Research Interests: geosciences, geology, structural geology, geochemistry, tectonics
Zoe Sims ’17 – Natural Sciences Correspondent
Concentration: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Degree Program: A.B.
Certificate Program: Environmental Studies
Research Interests: ecology, environmental science, acclimatization, climate change
