Talks
Aria Ma
Aria Ma is a 5th year dual-degree student at Tufts University, pursing a BS in Biopsychology and a BFA in Studio Art. Her interdisciplinary work explores the intersection of psychedelic medicine and human connection. Aria’s research in psychedelic studies focuses on the biomedical applications in psychiatric treatment and inflammation. Most recently, she attended the Psychedelic Research Summer School at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Through her art practice, she creates large-scale oil paintings and installations that explore themes of community and the intimate spaces we share with others. Beyond the laboratory and studio, Aria serves as a trained harm reduction agent at music festivals, bridging scientific knowledge with community care. Honored in Boston Business Journal’s 25 under 25, her entrepreneurial background informs her thinking on how to responsibly scale access to psychedelic medicine as research advances.
Michelle Burger
Michelle Burger is a senior at Tufts University studying anthropology. She has a particular interest in altered states of consciousness, mystical experiences, substance use, and community healing. She is currently teaching an ex-college course about psychedelics, volunteered over the summer with the University of California San Francisco’s psychedelic research department, guest lectured at Harvard University about Ayahuasca practices, and is currently involved in research with Maha Mian from Suffolk University about modern perspectives on psychedelics and harm reduction practices. She is also engaged in harm reduction and spiritual work at Tufts University, where she acts as the vice president of the harm reduction club (THREAD) and co-president of the Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha. She brings her conceptual work to an embodied level by volunteering with vulnerable communities in the Boston area and learning about the structural injustices that underlie our society and ways to amend them.
Anh Ngo
Anh Ngo is a senior at Tufts University studying Child Study & Human Development with a focus on inclusive healthcare design. A Laidlaw Scholar and researcher in the Crehan Lab, she leads projects that amplify neurodivergent voices to build more equitable clinical systems. As a Chief Scribe at Beth Israel Lahey Health, her hands-on work in patient care deepens her perspective on accessibility and communication. Anh’s work sits at the intersection of empathy, innovation, and systems change—bridging the gap between research and lived experience to redefine what “care” means.
Tristan Dinsmore
Tristan received his bachelor's degree in chemistry at Connecticut College and his PhD in Chemistry and Biotechnology at Tufts University in May 2025. During his doctoral research at Tufts, he worked with Prof. Krishna Kumar examining chemical biology in the context of peptide chemistry, cellular bioassays, therapeutic translation, and intracellular signaling mechanisms. His research projects orient around GLP-1 and related peptide hormones, with an emphasis on developing strategies of preventing enzyme-catalyzed degradation and rational design of unimolecular multi-receptor agonists.
Rebecca Altholz
Rebecca Altholz is a senior studying Clinical Psychology & Community Health, with a minor in Child Studies & Human Development. She is involved in research under Tisch College of Civic Life through Professor Jonathan Tirrell, which has spanned two academic independent studies during her time at Tufts. In Rebecca’s TEDX Tufts discussion, she will discuss, through her personal and research experiences, the important of culturally-relevant and sensitive mental health interventions in communities in the global south, particularly in Rwanda.
Isabella Arabia
I am a 4+1 Biology MS student in the Machanda Lab studying age-related changes in male chimpanzee behavioral strategies. I am passionate about tropical fieldwork, long-term data analytics, and using visual art mediums to disseminate scientific research and broaden public engagement in conservation.
Caroline Spahr
Caroline Spahr is a senior from Danville, PA, studying Biology and Child Studies and Human Development. She is passionate about healthcare equity in rural communities and hopes to build a career in dentistry that allows her to give back to underserved communities in need. Outside of academics and work, Caroline enjoys knitting and baking.
Maanasa Bandi
Maanasa Bandi is a junior at Tufts University majoring in Community Health and minoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She’s passionate about advancing health equity and understanding how gender and social systems influence access to care. Through her involvement with local organizations such as Women’s Hope, Saheli Boston, and the Pine Street Women’s Clinic, Maanasa works to bridge research, advocacy, and community engagement to promote more inclusive and compassionate gendered approaches to healthcare.
Hannah Merritt
Hannah Merritt is a sophomore at Tufts, majoring in chemistry and biology. She has worked for the past year at the Brain Trauma Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she has been studying the effects of abusive head trauma and early traumatic seizures on the immature brain. In her free time, she enjoys baking, decorating cakes, and being outside.
Sheyla Zakashansky
Sheyla Zakashansky is a current senior at Tufts University studying Biology and Environmental Studies, with a minor in Russian. She is especially interested in prevented healthcare and environmental medicine in underserved communities and has pursued this work in Chile and New York City. Sheyla has spent 2 summers working as a Youth Leader at Camp Cada Paso in East Harlem, a summer camp focused on health justice, which combines youth activities with family empowerment services. In her free time, she enjoys all things outdoor, social, and comedic.