Dr. Carissa Philippi September’s featured WISER Woman is Dr. Carissa Philippi, Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at University of Missouri St. Louis. Her research aims to understand the brain circuits underlying self-related processes, in both the healthy and dysfunctional brain (e.g., psychiatric illness). Self-related processing is essential for

Kate Polokonis Kate Polokonis, Executive Director of STEMSTL, is working to ensure students in the St. Louis Metro region have equitable access to high-quality STEM learning and employment opportunities. Kate is a former teacher with experience in St. Louis public schools and out-of-school STEM programs and has earned

Jasmin Camacho, PhD She doesn’t mind being called Batwoman. Jasmin Camacho, PhD is a Postdoc at Stowers Institute of Medical Research. Dr. Camacho’s research involves the study of nectarivory, or the exclusive eating of sugar-rich floral nectar. Specifically, her project aims to investigate nectar bats for their unique

Dr. Monica Muir Our June WISER Woman is Dr. Monica Muir. Dr. Muir is a Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care provider at Mercy, St. Louis, a co-founder of the 500 Women Scientists St. Louis Pod, and a board member for GiFT, an organization which provides support and resources

Madhuri Manpadi, Ph.D. May’s WISER Woman is Madhuri Manpadi, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Drury University. Dr. Manpadi’s research involves designing and synthesizing libraries of novel compounds that are screened for anticancer activity. She shares her love of research with her students,

Brittany Whitley, Ph.D. This month we’re excited to feature Brittany Whitley, Ph.D., as our WISER Woman. Dr. Whitley is the Executive Director of the MOST (Missouri Science and Technology) Policy Initiative, where she works to create institutionalized collaboration and trust between the scientific community and decision-makers in Missouri

Erin Tallon Our March WISER Woman is Erin Tallon. Erin is a graduate student in the MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics and was recently the lead author on a research paper about harnessing AI to advance knowledge of Type 1 diabetes. Erin has been a Missouri

Koyal Garg, Ph.D. Koyal Garg, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Biomedical Engineering at Saint Louis University. Dr. Garg’s research focuses on the enhancement of skeletal muscle regeneration and function following injury, disease, and aging, --specifically focused on traumatic muscle injuries. In addition to her research, Dr. Garg

Dr. Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi Our first WISER Woman of 2022 is Dr. Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi, Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering at Missouri State University and the Missouri Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (MoLSAMP) MSU site coordinator for the Cooperative Engineering Program. Dr. Obafemi-Ajayi’s work is focused on using machine

Dr. Kim Kimminau We are proud to feature Dr. Kim Kimminau, Chief Of Staff & Chief of Strategy, Adjunct Professor of Family and Community Medicine at University of Missouri-Columbia, as our November WISER Woman. Dr. Kimminau is a biomedical anthropologist and health services researcher who has worked throughout