Faculty Advisors
Dr. Bisi Velayudhan
I was born and bought up in India and moved to the United States in 2002. I did the veterinary medicine from India and did my masters and doctoral program from University of Connecticut and Virginia Tech. I am primarily an academician in science and my focus is to provide an equitable learning environment for my students. The best reward I get from my profession is the interaction with my students inside and outside of classroom spaces. When I am not working I love to travel and challenge myself to do all kinds of craft works. I am very excited to be a part of the BIOSOC organization and I wish to contribute to the efforts of the club to my best ability.
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Dr. Marquis Walker
I am an assistant professor in the Biology Department of James Madison University (JMU). I received my bachelors degree from Morgan State University and earned my doctorate degree from University of Maryland Baltimore County. My doctoral thesis examined the light-dependent activation of a novel mammalian photoreceptor pigment, Melanopsin. I continued to study intracellular signaling in mammalian photoreceptors during my postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The central focus of my research lab at JMU is visual neuroscience. We investigate the cellular mechanisms that underlie mammalian photoreceptor function and light-dependent behaviors. We hope to better understand how these mechanisms are affected in cases of retinal degenerative diseases. Outside of my work at JMU I enjoy many outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing. |
Founding Student Members
- Dagmawi Mamo
- Malique Middleton
- Carlton Parker
- Ayshah Obaid
- Alexis Alexander
- Dominique Lockwood
- Brenden Wimbish
- Marion Amoah
- Lauryn Walker
- Kate Coba
- Shaida Hamidi
Current Leadership Team
President: Lydia Carl
I am a senior Biology major with a minor in Pre-PA and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. I'm from Charlottesville, VA and enjoy hiking, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. I am currently completing a capstone project on the morphological changes in the duodenum of mice in response to the food preservative, sodium benzoate in Dr. Velayudhan's research lab. After graduation, I plan to attend Physician Assistant school. |
Vice President: Ali Carl
I am a senior Biology major with minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Pre-Physician Assistant. I am from Charlottesville, VA. I love to cook/bake, watch movies, and travel with my friends and family. When I'm not at JMU, I work at UVA Health as a Patient Care Tech and after graduation I plan to attend PA school. |
Secretary: Heavyn Word
I am from Forest, VA. I am a Health Science major with a Pre-PA minor. I am a second year Resident Advisor on campus and I volunteer at the University Health Center. My hobbies include reading, spending time with friends and family and trying new restaurants. My future plans consist of going to PA school after I graduate and potentially specialize in Dermatology or Emergency Medicine. |
Treasurer: Kelle Coronado Orozco
I am a junior at JMU. I’m a Biology major and a double minor in Pre-PA and Medical Spanish. I’m from a small town called Maurertown, VA. Some of my hobbies include reading a good book, watching movies, and going out with my friends. My future plans include having a job where I can help third- world communities in multiple ways to help others live a better life. |
Membership Chair: Amaya Hamilton
I am a junior Biology major with a Pre-med minor and microbiology concentration. My hometown is Alexandria, VA. My hobbies are knitting, crocheting, reading, exercising, and sleeping. I do research with Ms. Caylin Murray on C. Elegans. My future plan is to go to medical school after taking a gap year to become a trauma surgeon. |