What is WREN?

WREN, the Women's Research Engagement Network, is a program created through the Interdisciplinary Women's Collaborative to promote and celebrate women in research at Northeastern University. WREN not only helps women find research positions, but it also actively supports women in research through providing resources, programming, networking, and presentation opportunities. Ultimately, we hope to fight against the "leaky pipeline" and increase the number of women in academia.

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Our Mission

Why was WREN Created?

Women are systematically underrepresented in research. According to UNESCO, just 30% of researchers worldwide are women. This number is even less for BIPOC, low-income, or LGBTQ+ women. WREN seeks to increase the number of female-aligned individuals in research through connecting students with faculty researchers, developing a supportive network of women in research at Northeastern, and providing unique funding and presentation opportunities.

Furthermore, a primary goal of WREN is to provide opportunities and support to those underrepresented in research. The WREN team acknowledges that forces beyond gender, such as racism, classism, homophobia, xenophobia, and others, create additional barriers for women hoping to enter the world of research. WREN seeks to help women overcome these barriers, and the program is designed with a diverse team of women in order to support and uplift the entire Northeastern student body, regardless of their background. If you have any ideas on how to make WREN a more inclusive program, please contact us.

WREN's History

WREN, the Women's Research Engagement Network, was founded in Fall 2020 after members of the Interdisciplinary Women's Collaborative realized that many students at Northeastern, particularly women, felt that research was inaccessible to them.

The organization was founded with a central goal: to promote and celebrate women in research at Northeastern. Since its founding, WREN has built a robust team of both faculty advisors and passionate students. As of Fall 2023, we have 110 Scholars, 50 Jumpstart participants, and 22 student leaders. We have directly helped provide over 25 students research positions, in addition to establishing a dual internship program with the Northeastern Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research.

WREN

WREN, the Women's Research Engagement Network, is the

first branch of the IWC. It was founded to support women at Northeastern involved in

research with the ultimate

goal of increasing the number of women in academia across the disciplines.

TWC

TWC, The Women's Council, is

the second branch of the IWC.

TWC works to train future

female leaders at Northeastern.

It also hosts countless events

each semester focused on supporting women and

amplifying female voices.

IWOC

IWOC, the Interdisciplinary Women's Organization Collective, is the third branch of the IWC. It is a coalition of women's organizations on Northeastern's campus. IWOC works to support these organizations while also providing them with a space to collaborate.

Research at Northeastern

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Northeastern is classified by the The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as Tier 1 research institution, meaning the university ranks among the top institutions in the country in terms of research activity.

Undergraduate students are actively involved in research on campus, frequently working to generate meaningful findings as demonstrated by the many students that present annually at Northeastern's Research, Innovation, and Scholarship (RISE) Expo. However, at Northeastern, there is no defined path to find a research position. WREN is seeking to change that.

Find a Position

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WREN's centralized application system gives women at Northeastern a clear path to find research opportunities on campus. However, there are other ways to get involved for students who are not interested in or are not able to participate in WREN.

Some ways to get involved in research on campus beyond WREN include:
1. Connecting with a professor in a class you are taking and asking about their research.
2. Attending research fairs, student organization meetings, and other events to network with students and faculty
3. "Cold-Emailing" professors whose contact information you find via individual college websites.
4. Performing research while on co-op.
5. For students who are part of the Honors Program, earning an Honors Early Research Award.

Find a WREN Position

Find Funding

Many student researchers in long-term positions work anywhere from 5-15 hours a week on their projects. As such, finding funding to support research is essential for many students, especially for those who rely at least partly on their own income to support themselves during college.

The Northeastern University Office of Research and Fellowships website is a great resource to explore options for funding. A notable highlight includes PEAK awards, which can provide up to $3,000 in funding on a semester-by-semester basis for NU students.

In the future, WREN hopes to be able to offer more opportunities for research funding uniquely to our members.

Learn about WREN's Scholars Program!

Learn about WREN's Jumpstart Program!

Meet the Team

President

Kaitlyn Ramesh

Hi, I’m Kaitlyn! I’m a 4th-year studying Bioengineering. For research, I work in the Lu Lab, where we develop computational algorithms to understand how gene expression drives biological processes like cancer metastasis and wound healing. I’ve also dabbled in microfluidic and biomedical device design. Other facts: I like playing piano, trying new restaurants with friends, and occasionally saying puns.

Executive Director of the Scholar Program

Kaela Herzog

Kaela Herzog is a fourth-year Health Science major on the Pre-Med track. She was previously a Health Equity Intern, and has continued her project in the ReGame-XR Lab titled, "Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality: Representation in Autism Research". She is grateful for having the opportunity to present this research at the Eastern Psychological Association's annual conference and at Northeastern's RISE Expo. Outside of research, Kaela spends her time volunteering with the organization Horizons for Homeless Children, enjoys dancing in No Limits Dance Crew, and spends time with friends and family!

Executive Director of the Jumpstart Program

Samantha Balaban

Hi, I'm Sam! I am a third year Cell and Molecular Biology major with a minor in Business Administration. I am a proud member of the Chai Lab at Northeastern and am deeply curious about the world of microbes. My research explores the intersection between plants and bacteria, and the complex relationship they have in extreme environmental conditions. To me, research is an inherently human experience that is only enriched by a robust community, such as WREN!

Executive Director of Mentorship

Shruti Kedharnath

Hi! My name is Shruti Kedharnath and I am a fourth-year honors behavioral neuroscience and data science combined major on a premed track. As a research assistant at the Center for Transitional NeuroImaging, I co-lead a study exploring drug neurotoxicology through a brain imaging protocol called “In Vivo Neuroimaging”, gaining important MR imaging skills, rodent handling skills, and procedural skills (like intracardial perfusion and brain extraction). I love to dance, read, and explore Boston. A fun fact about me is that I co-piloted a glider!

Executive Director of Finance

Aadi Sameer

Hi! I’m Aadi and I’m a third-year Biology major with a Business Administration minor on the pre-med track. As a member of the Kulkarni Lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, I work on research surrounding the enteric nervous system and the pathways that it is involved in. Outside of research and WREN, I love to explore coffee shops around Boston, bake, and play tennis!

Executive Director of Media & Marketing

Janelle Lardizabal

Hi everyone! I’m Janelle, a fourth-year behavioral neuroscience major on the pre-med track, and I am WREN’s Executive Director of Media and Marketing! Since freshman year, I have been in Dr. Brenhouse’s Developmental Neuropsychobiology Lab studying how early life adversity leads to corticolimbic alterations and behavioral dysfunction. I’m also currently a Health Equity Intern looking at how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly in mental health care. In my free time, I love hanging out with my friends, going to sports games, and exploring Boston!

Secretary

Michelle Yu

Hi! My name is Michelle, and I am a 3rd year Biochemistry major with a Data Science minor. At Northeastern, I am involved in the Agar Lab, where I assist with a project focused on the likelihood of cysteine residues to fragment in the SOD1 protein. I am also currently a Protein Analytics and Mass Spec Co-op at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, baking, and playing video games with friends.

Director of Media & Design

Meha Macwan

Hi! I'm Meha, a fourth-year Behavioral Neuroscience major, and I am the Director of Media and Design for WREN. I am involved in the Apfeld Lab on campus, which investigates how the brain regulates aging and resilience at different biological levels. I am also currently on co-op at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, where I perform stability testing on drugs using techniques such as UV-vis and liquid chromatography. In my free time, I love to paint, read, and visit cafes and restaurants!

Director of Marketing

Jaimie Lee

Hello!! I’m Jaimie, a second-year Health Science and Business Administration major on the Pre-Med track and the Director of Marketing for WREN. On campus, I am involved in the Public Mental Health and Substance Abuse Cluster at the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research. Our research group primarily focuses on preventing depression in Chinese-American adolescents. Outside of school, I love hanging out with friends, exploring the great outdoors, and playing sports!

Director of Community Outreach

Harper Stotland

Hi! I'm Harper, a third-year Behavioral Neuroscience major on the Pre-Med track and the Director of Community Outreach for WREN. Currently, I'm conducting research at the Gabrieli Neuroscience Lab at MIT, where I focus on the comorbidity between various neurological conditions and psychiatric disorders, as well as the evolutionary context of depression and anxiety. In my free time, I enjoy running, reading, traveling, and watching hockey!

Scholar Program Event Associate

Bella Selekman

Hi, I'm Bella! I'm a 3rd-year Cell & Molecular Biology major with a minor in Ethics. My research experience includes a couple biotech startups, centered around immunology and drug discovery, and Northeastern's Levine Lab, focused on understanding microbial interactions in the gut and their effect on host health. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering, sci-fi movies, and going on walks with friends!

Scholar Program Event Associate

Pema Sherpa

Hi! My name is Pema and I am a second year majoring in Biology and minoring in Art. I am a WREN Scholars Program Event Associate and I love how WREN is based in the community aspect of research. I’ve worked in the Laboratory for Aging and Infertility (LAIR), and am currently a part of the Physical Activity Assessment using Wearable Sensors (PAAWS) Study. My interests lie in the clinical applications of research and how they can help improve the accessibility of treatments for under served communities. In my free time I love running, playing tennis with friends, and practicing bass.

Scholar Program Event Associate

Dina Yacoub

Hi! I’m Dina, a third-year Health Sciences major with a Nutrition minor on the pre-med track. I am a research mentee with the Northeastern Social Justice Peer Mentorship Program. My research project aims to assess how international students access care on campus, identify potential barriers that can delay care and advocate for increased supports. In my free time, I like to go thrifting and explore different coffee shops in Boston!

Jumpstart Program Event Associate

Vivian Lin

Hi everyone! My name is Vivian, and I'm going to be a third-year Biochemistry major. I joined WREN initially to find ways to get involved in research and now hope to help others do the same. I am currently doing research on campus and off campus, and love it so much! In my free time, I enjoy reading and participating in any creative activities.

Faculty Outreach Associate

Samantha Nett

Hi! My name is Sam, a 4th-year Behavioral Neuroscience major, and I am a faculty associate for WREN. At Northeastern, I am involved in research related to appearance and eating concerns at the APPEAR Lab. I recently finished my second co-op, where I conducted research on neuroimmune interactions and pain at Boston Children’s Hospital in the Woolf Lab. In my free time, I enjoy reading, trying new cafes and restaurants in Boston, and spending time with my friends and family.