WHO
WE ARE
TEAM MEMBERS.
Mercedes Rose
Co-President
Mercedes is a biochemistry PhD student at uOttawa and Health Canada. Her research is focused on developing laboratory models to explore the relationship between air pollution and brain health in humans. She's excited about getting involved with OSPN, and is interested in learning more about how scientific research influences policy, and how young researchers can get involved in the scientific policy process!
Stephen Holland
Co-President
Stephen is a PhD Candidate in Dr. Hanns Lochmuller’s lab working on understanding the role of glycosylation in neuromuscular transmission. My work involves with characterizing the effect of deficient expression of key glycosylation enzymes and how it changes the landscape of the neuromuscular junction. Stephen joined OSPN last year and helped with the writing of the National Graduate Student Finance Survey. Through OSPN, I have also established key relationships with MPs and MPPs as we strive to improve graduate student and post-doctoral funding in Canada. Through OSPN, Stephen aims to build on his understanding of science policy and enact changes that can better support the future of science in Canada.
Valeria Vasilyeva
VP Events
Valeria is a MSc student studying at the University of Ottawa. Her project is on the metabolic causes behind Natural Killer cell dysfunction in cancer. Valeria joined OSPN due to her interest in how scientific research and policy work together to shape our society. Valeria is passionate about encouraging close collaboration between scientific researchers, policy makers, and the public to promote community engagement in science policy.
Kaela O’Connor
VP Social Media
Kaela is a MSc student in Cellular & Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa studying the role of autophagy in degenerative diseases. She is passionate about bridging the gap between scientists and the general public. In order to do so she volunteers with a number of science communication organizations which enable her to speak to classrooms about her own work and facilitate activities based on their current curriculum. More recently she has become interested in science policy and is excited to get involved with the Ottawa Science Policy Network to work towards more evidence-based policy decisions.
Wesley
Chan
VP Technology
Wesley is a PhD student in Neuroscience at the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on elucidating key genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in nervous system development. He is interested in learning about the structures that govern and support scientific research and how young scientists can learn and engage in science policy.
Stephanie Musa
VP EDI
Thomas
Bailey
General Executive
Thomas is a PhD student in Physics at uOttawa, researching new ways to measure light. He is interested in how governments influence research and deepening the civic engagement of scientists.