Fall 2025 Newsletter – Graduate Student News

Graduate Students Spotlight

Madi Rittinger

Madi Rittinger is a PhD candidate in Dr. Rodríguez’s Lab. She investigates the behavior and cognition of small animals – specifically spiders. Although small animals have small brains in absolute terms, they have relatively large brains in proportion to their body size. For example, human brains are roughly 2% of their body mass, but some small animals have brains that are 16% of their body mass. Why do small animals have these relatively huge brains? Madi’s research attempts to answer this question by combining detailed behavioral observations, field experiments, and anatomical data involving MicroCT scans to quantify brain size. In addition to her research, Madi has dedicated many hours to service and outreach. She served as secretary of the Graduate Organization of Biological Sciences (GOBS) for two terms. She also acts as a science ambassador for numerous outreach events and mentors independent high school research projects through the Mentor Matching Engine. In her spare time, Madi likes playing (and coaching) basketball.

Gabriella Voit

Gabby Voit, PhD Student, was awarded a full travel scholarship to attend the 2024 SACNAS Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, from October 31-November 1, 2024. The SACNAS conference, formally known as the “National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference”, is a large, multidisciplinary STEM diversity event hosted by the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).

Dr. Ching-Hong Yang shared that our own student, Xiaochen Yuan, has been accepted as a tenure-track assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), the state’s flagship institution and a highly respected public research university.  He will begin his position in January 2026. This accomplishment highlights the strength of our program and the competitiveness of our graduate students in the academic job market.

Graduate Organization of Biological Sciences (GOBS)

In August, the Graduate Organization of Biological Sciences (GOBS) hosted a Fall Welcome BBQ to welcome new graduate students to the department. The event featured a lively BBQ cookout and fun lawn games and provided an excellent opportunity for new and returning graduate students, faculty, and staff to connect in a relaxed outdoor setting. It encouraged meaningful interactions and helped foster a sense of community within the department. The atmosphere was cheerful and welcoming, allowing students to build friendships and engage with faculty members outside the academic setting. Overall, the Fall Welcome BBQ was a fun and engaging event that successfully strengthened the bond among members of the Biological Sciences community at UWM, setting a positive tone for the upcoming semester.

Upcoming Graduate Events

Check out our upcoming events, organized by the UWM Graduate School: https://uwm.edu/graduateschool/events/.

New Graduate Student Welcome

Welcome to our new graduate students, and welcome back to all returning graduate students!

Mohammed Al Ithawi MS Non Thesis	Alex Alenius MS, Burmeister Lab	Stephanie Dudley MS Non Thesis	Anna Evans PhD, Gouignard Lab

Shantanu Karandikar PhD, Gutzman Lab	Shane Latz MS Non Thesis	Abby Lentz MS Non Thesis	Diane Meister PhD, Bardy Lab

Noah Pison PhD, Gouignard Lab	Begoña Ramírez Ibaceta PhD, Alberto Lab	Grace Reynders PhD, de la Cova Lab	Elizabeth Scherer MS, Young Lab

Priyanka Sreeraghuramapura Govindegowda PhD, Zhao Lab	Muhammad Ali Tahir PhD, Zhao Lab	Harleen Tewatia MS, Burmeister Lab	Nickolas Wiedemann PhD, Berges Lab

Isabella Wyatt PhD, Höbel Lab

Graduate Students Fellowships And Scholarships

Congratulations to our students who were awarded fellowships and scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year. To see who they are, please view the link here: 2025-2026 Fellowships and Awards Summary.xlsx