Have you ever wondered what scientists are really doing, toiling away in the lab for hours? Look no further: Science Night is a place for regular people to come and learn more about research projects, the day-to-day, and new trends in the field. We are featuring three exciting research scientists from across the city. Join us to learn more about the mysteries of science!
Jorin Graham from Northwestern University
Jorin Graham is a researcher in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Network Dynamics at Northwestern University. They seek to understand how animals and plants coordinate their behavior across entire populations, and the implications of this collective behavior for species conservation. They are passionate about science communication, and have shared about their research on the Show About Science, WBEZ, NBC Chicago, and in public lectures. When not researching, they can often be found attending one of the live musical performances across Chicago.
Julie Ming Liang, Ph.D. from Opera Biosciences
Julie is a biological sciences Ph.D. graduate from Northwestern University. There, she studied the genetic regulation of a bacterial protein transport system to engineer it to transport non-native proteins out of the cell. She founded a company, Opera Bioscience, to develop her research as a more cost-effective and sustainable protein manufacturing technology where she is the co-founder and CSO. Outside of the lab, Julie enjoys playing video games, social justice and labor organizing, and hanging out with her cat, Boris.
Lindsey Ramirez, Ph.D. from University of Illinois Chicago
Lindsey is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She studies aversion in alcohol use disorder. While having an aversion to alcohol can be protective against drinking, there are individual differences in aversion. She investigates what areas in the brain signal aversion and the reason for these individual differences. To make science accessible and appealing for everyone, she uses a variety of formats including in person outreach, written blog pieces, and science videos. Check out her latest work here: https://www.ramirez.science/portfolio-1. Outside of the lab, she enjoys true crime, Zumba, and finding a good bargain at garage sales and local thrift stores.