Email uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com with an individual peer advisor’s name in the subject to contact them!
ALESSIA FUCENTESE
Year in school: Senior
My name is Alessia, and I am a senior at UW- Madison in the College of Letters and Science. I am majoring in Environmental studies and Biology. I am originally from Needham, Massachusetts, and enjoy exploring the beaches, mountains and forests of New England. In my free time, I enjoy, hiking, spending time with friends, and weightlifting. Outside of class and Biocore, I work as a research assistant at the Freedman Lab, do plant specimen imaging at the Wisconsin State Herbarium, and pick up shifts at Wheelhouse Studios at Memorial Union (y’all should check it out). Feel free to reach out at uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
CADE HOTTMAN
Year in school: Senior
My name is Cade and I am a senior at UW-Madison! I am studying Neurobiology as well as Molecular and Cell Biology with certificates in Global Health and Biocore Core Curriculum. Within Biocore, I am a new peer advisor for 2023 and am also a member of the Biocore Outreach Ambassadors. I also research in the Sousa Lab of the Department of Neuroscience where I focus on the evolution of the human neocortex and the cellular mechanisms that govern the development of neuropsychiatric disorder. Outside of school, I work as a medical scribe in emergency departments across southwest Wisconsin with Madison Emergency Physicians and coach club baseball at GRB Academy. I also enjoy keeping up with the Milwaukee Bucks, learning obscure knowledge through random Sporcle quizzes, and keeping up an active lifestyle including marathon training, biking, and kayaking. Please reach out uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
BRAD LI
Year in School: Senior
Hello! My name is Brad. I am a senior double majoring in Biochemistry and Spanish along with a certificate in Biocore! Within Biocore, I am involved with Peer Mentoring and Biocore Outreach Ambassadors. Other student organizations I am part of are the Chinese American Student Association (CHASA), Best Buddies, and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity (ΠΚΦ). I work at University Health Services as a Student Medical Assistant in primary care.
Additionally, I am a research assistant in the Ge Lab, where I utilize analytical and biochemical techniques to study proteins associated with cardiomyopathy. I focus heavily on studying membrane proteins from the G-protein coupled (GPCR) receptor family. I have received the Biochemistry Summer Research Scholarship, the Biochemistry Mary Shine Peterson Award, and the Hilldale Fellowship for research. Furthermore, I enjoy staying active, playing soccer, watching Wisconsin sports, and cooking healthy meals in my free time. Please feel free to reach out with any questions through uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
KATHRYN McKINNEY
Year in School: Senior
Hey! My name is Kathryn, I am majoring in Biology with a certificate in Biocore and possibly in athletic healthcare. Currently I work in the Biocore lab as a lab assistant but I also work as a phlebotomist at Mendota Mental Health. After graduating from UW-Madison my plan is to go to medical school to become a plastic surgeon with an end goal of doing Doctors Without Borders. In my free time I enjoy going to the gym, playing/watching sports, and during the summers I like to help out at my local hospital and volunteer in 4-H. If you have any questions about how Biocore fits into your major or want to know more about the Biocore experience, feel free to contact me through uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
NADIYA MUZYKA
Year in School: Senior
Hey all! My name is Nadiya, and I am currently a senior at UW-Madison majoring in Biology with a certificate in Global Health and Biocore. I was born in Ukraine and lived in Ternopil for 10 years before I moved to Wisconsin. I am planning on applying to medical school in the future because I want to apply my scientific knowledge to help people live healthier and better lives. In addition to school, I volunteer at hospitals and I recently started working in the Skop lab where we study the midbody. I enjoy traveling, painting, working out, and spending time with friends and family in my free time. If you have any questions about how Biocore fits into your major or want to chat about my personal Biocore experience, feel free to contact me through uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
KRISTA PARAS
Year in School: Senior
Hi, I’m Krista! I am majoring in Genetics and Genomics with certificates in Biocore and Global Health. After graduation, I am planning on going to grad school to become a genetic counselor. In addition to being a Biocore peer mentor, I am involved in various clubs – for instance I manage the scholarship fund for Pre-Genetic Counseling Organization and I am the secretary for Cheese Club. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
MOLLY PARAS
Year in School: Senior
Hi, I’m Molly! I am a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering, with certificates in Biocore and Biology in Engineering. I am unsure of my future career path, but I am hoping to continue my education after undergrad. Outside of class, I am involved in the Wisconsin Track Club, Cheese Club, and BMES. Additionally, I work as a student assistant for INTER-EGR 170, am part of the custodial staff at the Wisconsin Union, and am a lead timer for In Focus Timing. I enjoy watching movies with my roommates, staying active, and spending time outdoors. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me through uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
ELLA PETERSON
Year in School: Senior
Hello! My name is Ella and I am currently a senior studying Neurobiology with certificates in Global Health, Biocore, and Environmental Studies. Within Biocore, I am a Classroom Mentor for Biocore 181 and graduated from the program last Spring. I am a Co-President of the Wisconsin Pre-Medical Society here on campus and a member of Badger Volunteers. Additionally, I am an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Neuroscience Department at the Moore Lab where we study regeneration of the adult central nervous system, and I am also a Line Therapist for Achieving Collaborative Treatment where I support children with autism therapy in a school and home setting. Outside of school and work, I enjoy hiking, canoeing, and all other outdoor activities! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com
JUDITH TAFUR
Year in school: Senior
Hello! My name is Judith and I am a senior majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology as well as French with a certificate in Biocore. I work as a lab assistant in Osorio lab in the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Riday lab in the US Dairy Forage Research Center. I am looking forward to starting a research project next semester in one of my labs involving vaccine development and zoonotic diseases. In the future I would like to go to graduate school, although I have not decided on an exact path yet. In my free time I love to cook, exercise, explore new places and spend time with family and friends. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about my majors, my Biocore experience or anything else at uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
ELIZABETH (ELLIE) THOMSON
Year in school: Senior
Hello! My name is Elizabeth Thomson (She/Her), and I am a senior studying pharmacology and toxicology with a certificate in Biocore. After graduation I plan to attend pharmacy school to obtain my doctor of pharmacy and become an oncology pharmacist. I am currently a pharmacy technician at Walgreens and I also work in the Zahasky lab in the geology department characterizing PFAS contaminants in the subsurface. Reach out at uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
LIV VALENTINE
Year in School: Senior
Hey! I’m Liv Valentine! I study Nutritional Sciences and I am pursuing certificates in Athletic Healthcare and Biocore. I am a Biocore Peer Mentor, the treasurer of Community Health Volunteers, and I play Club Tennis! I also work as a Medical Assistant at a family medicine clinic and am a research assistant in the Hull Lab, where we study the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus Neoformans. In my free time, I love to cook, volunteer at the River Food Pantry, and spend time with my friends! Feel free to reach out uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!
BRIAN ZHENG
Year in School: Senior
Hi guys! My name is Brian and I am double majoring in Neurobiology and Asian Languages and Cultures. In the Biocore Program, I am a Peer Mentor and now a Peer Advisor. Outside of Biocore, I am a part of CHASA and the Mercile J Lee Scholars Program. In this program, I am a co-chair and aim to provide volunteering opportunities for scholars to give back and better the lives of underrepresented groups in the Madison area. In my free time, I volunteer at Our Lady of Hope Clinic in Middleton, WI to support those who do not have access to affordable healthcare. When I am not studying or volunteering, I love running and spending time with my friends and family. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at uwbiocore.peeradvisors@gmail.com!