Triangle Team

Kaitlyn Fouke

Duke University

Kaitlyn is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Neurobiology at Duke University. She is currently studying how visual information is processed into motor output in larval zebrafish to understand vertebrate sensorimotor transformations. Outside of lab, she has enjoyed working with younger students and teaching neuroscience. Kaitlyn has been involved in SciREN since 2021 and serves as the logistics coordinator for this year.

Lauren Jenkins

Duke University

Lauren is a Duke Ecology PhD student, studying forest biodiversity from the lens of pollen and tree fecundity! She loves trees and finding funky acorns and pinecones. This is her second year on the SciREN Triangle planning team and she keeps coming back because she is excited about bridging the connection between researchers and the classroom!

Leah Nelson

UNC at Chapel Hill

Leah Nelson is a PhD student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program (E3P), where she studies the ecological impacts of an invasive species of macroalgae. She is passionate about environmental resiliency and the effects of anthropogenic change on aquatic ecosystems. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, baking, and reading. Leah was previously a member of SciREN Coast in 2022 and has been a member of SciREN Triangle since 2023.

Megan Davis, Coordinator of Teacher Education

NC Museum of Natural Sciences

As Coordinator of Teacher Education at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Megan leads professional development workshops and field experiences for educators (and sometimes students) across the state. She has been working with the SciREN Triangle team from the very beginning (2013!). Megan is passionate about spending time outdoors and inspiring others to explore their connections to the natural world. She believes in the power of optimism, curiosity, and hands-on- experiences — at each opportunity, helping to ignite the spark of curiosity and the sense of wonder for teachers, students, parents, and members of the public.

When not working, Megan enjoys exploring with her family along local greenways and trails, visiting farmers markets and eating local ice cream, cooking and baking, and digging in the dirt in her garden. She never has enough time to explore — there are so many places to go!

Skye-Anne Tschoepe

Duke University

Skye-Anne is a Duke Environment PhD student studying the socio-ecological impacts of natural gas transmission pipeline development in rural landscapes. Their work focuses on soil hydrology and environmental justice. In her free time, she enjoys trail running with her dog, reading, and rock climbing. This is Skye-Anne’s first year on the SciREN team!

Hannah Kubinski

Duke University

Hannah is a Ph.D. student in the Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Department at Duke University. She is currently investigating how sex differences play a role in infectious disease pathogenesis in order to understand why some people get worse infections than others. She loves to spend her free time in the outdoors on a hike or a run, but also enjoys baking and reading as well. This is her first year being involved with SciREN, and she is super excited to be a part of the SciREN team!

Abby Poff

Duke University
Originally from Nashville, TN, Abby has lived in the Triangle for six years while pursuing her doctorate in molecular genetics at Duke University. Her work focuses on changes in stem cell biology underlying DDX3X syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Her passion for science communication stems from her work with the DDX3X Foundation, through which she’s shared her research findings directly with the friends and families of those with DDX3X syndrome. When she’s not in the lab, Abby can be found at home, reading or playing a cozy video game, or in her neighborhood, walking her senior rescue dog. She’s excited to be working with SciREN Triangle this year as part of the budget team!

Hannah Kania

Duke University

Hannah Kania is a fourth-year Ph.D. student at Duke University, where she works in speciation biology. Her current research is on the mouse lemurs of Madagascar! She is passionate about science communication and has engaged in numerous science dissemination initiatives throughout her career. Her portfolio includes a range of art and written works. Outside of science, she is an avid potter, enjoys running, and loves to explore the outdoors. You can view her portfolio at www.hannahpkania.weebly.com

Ethan Pozy

NC State University

Ethan Pozy is a PhD student in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC Chapel Hill & NC State University. He currently works in the Advanced Wound Healing Lab developing synthetic blood substitutes to stop traumatic bleeding, prevent wound infection, and reduce inflammation using micro- and nanoscale materials. Before coming to North Carolina, Ethan graduated from the Ohio State University with his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in biomedical engineering. Ethan has been a part of the SciREN team since 2024, helping in a researcher liaison role.

Julia Drennan

UNC at Chapel Hill

Julia is a rising second year Biology PhD student at UNC Chapel Hill in the Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) program. She studies how communication in noisy environments and local species composition can impact hybridization rates in frogs. Julia loves nature and grew up going to museums and nature centers, so she is excited to begin sharing her passion for the natural world through SciREN!

Audrey Thomas

UNC at Chapel Hill

I am an incoming QBio PhD student @ UNC Chapel Hill studying telomere biology and applications towards cancer formation. In my free time, I enjoy reading about stem cells, aggressively competing in volleyball tournaments, or conversating with my 2 hamsters.

Gurugowtham Ulaganathan

Duke University

Guru is a PhD candidate in the Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program at Duke University. His research focuses on studying the effects of heavy metals and cannabinoids on developmental neurotoxicity. Outside the lab, Guru is usually reading whodunnits or at Trivia. Guru joined the SciRen Team in 2025.

Melody Xiao

Duke University

Melody (she/they) is a third-year PhD student at Duke University studying infectious disease ecology and antibiotic resistance. Outside of the lab, she likes playing with cats, volunteering, and rock climbing. She is excited to join the SciREN team for 2025 and 2026!

Triangle Team Alumni

Jason Dinh (Duke)

Jacob Harrison (Duke)

Stephanie Teeter (NCSU)

Josh Reding (UNC)

Justin Jorge (Duke)

Anna Kudla (Duke)

Jake Nash (Duke)

Zachary Davis (NCSU)

Anne Smiley (UNC)

Clara Howell (Duke)

Kyla Bosh (NCSU)

Aliyah Griffith (UNC)

Gary Wright (NCSU)

Sarah Reifeis (UNC)

Kate Augustine (UNC)

Eleanor Caves (Duke)

Patrick Green (Duke)

Kristen Hopperstad (NCSU)

Rebecca Lauzon (Duke)

Lindsay Maudlin (NCSU)

Doreen McVeigh (NCSU)

Seth Theuerkauf (NCSU)

Justin Baumann (UNC)

Casey Berger (UNC)

Elise Paietta (Duke)

Melanie Cohn (UNC)

Lauren Grimley (UNC)

Jacob D. Thompson (NCSU)

Garrett Braniecki (UNC)