STPI Science Policy Fellows

Nathan Dinh, B.S.
Nathan Dinh focused on gold and silver nanoparticles as alternative glaze colorants for ceramics for his undergraduate research. Prior to joining STPI, he spent time as an intern at the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health, focusing on polycystic ovarian syndrome and occupational safety hazards in nail salons. He was also an intern at the Virginia House of Delegates in the office of Delegate Kathy Tran. After graduating, he was a research assistant at Gryphon Scientific where he worked on COVID-19 literature reviews and international science development projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Richmond.

Stacy C. Godfreey-Igwe, B.S.
Stacy Godfreey-Igwe has experience in sustainable polymers and materials research and African Diasporic studies. As an undergraduate, Stacy was awarded a summer research fellowship from Stanford University where she modeled the synthesis of bioplastic materials from bacteria. She was also a summer fellow at the University of Minnesota’s National Science Foundation Center for Sustainable Polymers where she analyzed micro-plastic generation of ultraviolet-weathered plastics. Stacy holds a bachelor’s degree in both mechanical engineering and African and African Diaspora Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her senior thesis examined contemporary West-African migration patterns to Europe.

Marilyn Harbert, B.A.
Marilyn Harbert joined STPI after graduating from Bryn Mawr College in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Their background is in social science and computer science, and they have worked on a variety of projects at STPI on topics such as space policy; environment; diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in STEM; and technology policy. Prior to joining STPI, they spent a semester in Edinburgh, interning at the Scottish Parliament, where they analyzed Scottish public policy. Later, they completed an internship in the City of Philadelphia’s Open Data Program, researching and implementing best practices for campaign finance data release. Marilyn also conducted research on sex-trafficking online and related policy.

Gabriella Hazan, B.A. and B.S.
Gabriella Hazan conducted research synthesizing highly uniform gold nanoparticles for low-symmetry 2D nanoparticle assemblies prior to joining STPI. She also interned at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, where she worked on compiling histories of former members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Gabriella holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and political science from Rice University.

Matthew “Matt” Ishimaru, Sc.B.
Matt Ishimaru joined STPI in 2021 after an internship with New America’s Open Technology Institute and the American Civil Liberties Union, where he worked on voting rights, broadband access, and surveillance issues. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematical physics in 2020 from Brown University, where his senior thesis focused on the stability of electron bubbles in superfluid helium. Matt was a summer undergraduate research fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where he studied the surface properties of topological insulators in the Physical Measurement Laboratory. Also as an undergraduate, he served as managing editor of the College Hill Independent, Brown’s weekly newspaper, and was a member of the varsity crew team.

Javier F. Ortiz, B.S.
Javier Ortiz graduated from Texas State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and minors in applied mathematics and geography. As an undergraduate, Javier contributed to research projects funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was involved with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Houston-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholars Program. Javier also studied abroad, conducting field research on transportation systems in Delft, Netherlands. This was followed by an engineering co-op experience focused on supply chain modeling and simulation with Infineon Technologies in Munich, Germany. After graduation, Javier was a 2020-2021 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellow, completing placements with Resources for the Future and the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Casey Roepke, M.Sc.
Casey Roepke graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 2021, where she double majored in physics and politics and minored in journalism, media, and public discourse. Her senior honors thesis investigated grassroots climate activism through the lens of reproductive justice, for which she was awarded a research grant to fund qualitative interviews with global climate leaders. After conducting industrial policy analysis for the Office of Advanced Manufacturing at the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a John Mather Public Policy intern, she relocated to Glasgow, Scotland, for a master’s degree in applied physics. Her dissertation in the experimental quantum optics and photonics research group focused on exploring the effects of a heated rubidium vapor nonlinear medium on laser beam propagation.

John “Emory” Sabatini, A.B.
Emory Sabatini has experience in animal behavior, biological data analysis, public health and health policy. Prior to joining STPI, Emory worked in an evolutionary genetics and behavior lab where he collected over 130 hours of social and vocal behaviors from deer mice and developed deep learning models to automatically label and classify these data, all of which he submitted as part of his honors thesis. As an undergraduate, Emory also wrote a report outlining recommendations for the Mississippi State Department of Health to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates. He worked as an intern with Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu and as a researcher with the Harvard Institute of Politics on projects relating to civic engagement, housing justice, pandemic-era voting policy, water transportation, and urban walkability. Emory received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College in applied mathematics and biology with a secondary in global health and health policy.

Erin Saybolt, M.S.
Erin Saybolt joined STPI in 2022 after working as a program assistant at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues. Some of her work at STPI includes research and writing on emerging technologies, evaluating federal government programs, and supporting efforts around pandemic preparedness. Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Ursinus College and a master’s degree in biomedical science policy and advocacy from Georgetown University.

Zoe Shinefield, B.A.
Zoe Shinefield has experience in climate science and public policy with a focus on carbon removal and sequestration. Before joining STPI, Zoe worked in a geology lab studying the carbon sequestration capabilities of coastal wetlands. She also managed international environmental policy researchers for the University of Pennsylvania’s Think Tank and Civil Societies Program. Zoe received a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Bryn Mawr College.

Sarah E. Swiersz, B.S.
Sarah Swiersz conducted undergraduate research in botany, coastal geoscience, Russian studies, astrochemistry, and political ecology. Before joining STPI, she participated in multiple research and science communication programs, such as the American Geosciences Institute Geoscience Policy internship, the National Science Foundation OCEANUS research experience for undergraduates, and the National Association of Science Writers Fellowship. Sarah wrote her honors thesis on the experiences of Indigenous People Groups facing noneconomic loss and damage due to sea-level rise, which analyzed the U.S. response and responsibility in a framework of climate justice. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with honors, minors in geoscience and environmental studies, and a certificate in service-learning from the University of Central Florida.

Evan Wright, B.A.
Evan Wright has three years of experience researching and writing about East Asian international relations across academia, think tanks and government. Previously, Evan worked with the U.S. Department of State at Embassy Tokyo and the Office of Japanese Affairs in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in Washington, D.C. His research focuses on the intersection of science and technology policy, East Asian international relations, and national security. He received his bachelor’s degree in East Asian languages and cultures from Indiana University with highest distinction and departmental honors. He was also elected as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.