About UWC Science Collective

What do we do?

Connecting alumni and current students across the entire UWC movement in fields of science. We bring together networking and mentorship opportunities on all levels in a wide range and depth of fields, from Quantum Physics to Neuroscience.

1) UWC Science Conference 2025 bridging researchers, industry, policy, undergraduate alumni and current UWC students together in fields of science to inspire the next generation at UWC.

2) UWC Mentorship Program, pairing students with alumni mentors to start with the foundational skills to be able to develop real, impactful changes to the frontiers of knowledge.

3) Celebrating student work across disciplines through the multimedia UWC Science Journal.

Mission

We are current students at United World College across 9 campuses, experienced and driven in the life sciences.

Our goal is to promote a culture of appreciating and doing science at UWC. We create opportunities and resources for UWC students to pursue the sciences on both accessible and advanced levels, from a research conference accessible to all, to advanced mentorship programs.

Additionally, we have built UWC's first multimedia research journal to highlight UWCers' impact in the sciences as an archive of students' high quality work in research and science communication.

Why create this?

UWC students recently had the opportunity to take part in a 10-month course in the Neuroscience and Cell Biology, and Math and Economics, taught by Nobel Laureates Thomas Sudhof and Eric Maskin respectively. Over this period, the students have been able to explore college-level content in the select fields and have been working on term papers exploring the topics further.

Having experienced the difficulties and joys that come with the process, we hope to create a more accessible platform in which more students in the UWC community can also engage in scientific fields of interest.

Mission

We are current students at United World College across 9 campuses, experienced and driven in the life sciences.

Our goal is to promote a culture of appreciating and doing science at UWC. We create opportunities and resources for UWC students to pursue the sciences on both accessible and advanced levels, from a research conference accessible to all, to advanced mentorship programs.

Additionally, we have built UWC's first multimedia research journal to highlight UWCers' impact in the sciences as an archive of students' high quality work in research and science communication.

Why create this?

UWC students recently had the opportunity to take part in a 10-month course in the Neuroscience and Cell Biology, and Math and Economics, taught by Nobel Laureates Thomas Sudhof and Eric Maskin respectively. Over this period, the students have been able to explore college-level content in the select fields and have been working on term papers exploring the topics further.

Having experienced the difficulties and joys that come with the process, we hope to create a more accessible platform in which more students in the UWC community can also engage in scientific fields of interest.

Founding Team

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Operations Officer

Board of Directors

est. March 2025

Board of Directors

Karen Tao

I'm an incoming freshman at Wellesley College and current Research Assistant in Neuroscience and Public Health/CS at New York University - Shanghai.

In my last two months at UWC, I started the Collective with the vision of a new focus within the UWC movement: making science and technology a driving force to enact the UWC mission, while connecting our UWC network of 85,000 alumni and fostering mentorship culture to create a ripple effect with long lasting impact.

Kendall Brown

I'm Kendall, a DP1 student from the United States. I'm extremely passionate about neuroscience, especially aphasias and methods of electrophysiology. In the future, I aim to improve electrophysiology techniques to revolutionize neuroscience research methodologies.

I'm also driven to increase worldwide access to science. Many students lack the proper resources or exposure to different scientific fields, so by helping to initiate this program, I aspire to spread a love of science across the globe.

Murimi Muchina

I am a first-year (DP1) at UWC from Nairobi, Kenya. For quite sometime, I have been deeply passionate about the field of synthetic biology and its applications in environmental conservation, drawing desire to implement it in my home country following drastic declines in aquatic ecosystem quality and its effects on the populations dependent on them. My dive into the biology has also led me explore other topics, such as neuroscience, which I’ve developed a strong interest for thanks to the Nobel Innovation Program. In my journey, I have also enjoyed sharing what I have learned with others, either through classes, group projects and competitions. On the side, I love to read fiction and non-fiction (I tend to find myself to exploring tech optimism, history and science fiction!), exploring different types of music, dancing (often terribly), and writing every now and then!

Chief Executive Officer

Max Alexandrov

Future biochemist, set on exploring gene editing methods to expand beyond capabilities of life as we know it, solving mankinds' biggest issues. Firm believer of 'better living through chemistry'.

Chief Operations Officer

Siqi Li

Future astrophysicist & explorer of the starry beyond. Come chat with me about anything math, physics, or astronomy related!

Chief Innovation Officer

Alan Rodrigo Flores

Future biological engineer focused on synthetic biology, and molecular and cellular biology to create sustainable and innovative solutions that address ecological resilience and bioremediation. PROUDLY MEXICAN!

Marketing

Santiago Leiva Zuásquita

I'm Santiago, 19 y/o, from Argentina who’s passioned for particle physics, as well as I'm keen on quantum mechanics, astronomy and maths. At UWC Science Collective, I help out at outreaching and marketing.

Hello, I'm Yassen from Bulgaria. Recently I've been getting more and more into aerodynamics and quantum physics.

Zoe Cheng

Hi my name is Zoe Cheng! I’m from the U.S, and currently a DP1. I’m going to be the social media manager for the UWC Science Collective! This combines my favorite things science and social media! Can’t wait to see how this goes and I’m so excited to be apart of it!

Communications

Giulio Zuckermann

I am a graduate from United World College. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, I have a strong fascination for emerging technologies in robotics and AI, as well as economics and international relations. My participation in the Nobel Innovation Program in Game Theory and Mathematics has further ignited my passion for research, logic and academia as a whole. On the side, I Iove learning about the current economic and political state of the world (if you know you know), conversing with people about any topic you can imagine (a recent one being if dolphins and whales drink water), and diving deep into books. I genuinely am always open to chatting about anything, so if you see me either online or in-person I encourage you to start a conversation :)

Yassen Biliarsky

Hello, I'm Yassen from Bulgaria. Recently I've been getting more and more into aerodynamics and quantum physics.

Giulio Zuckermann

I am a graduate from United World College. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, I have a strong fascination for emerging technologies in robotics and AI, as well as economics and international relations. My participation in the Nobel Innovation Program in Game Theory and Mathematics has further ignited my passion for research, logic and academia as a whole. On the side, I Iove learning about the current economic and political state of the world (if you know you know), conversing with people about any topic you can imagine (a recent one being if dolphins and whales drink water), and diving deep into books. I genuinely am always open to chatting about anything, so if you see me either online or in-person I encourage you to start a conversation :)

Board of Advisors

Tongtong (Petra) Yang

Graduated from UWC-CSC in 2019, Tongtong (Petra) is now a Physics Teaching Fellow at CSC. She is working to co-create a student- and future-focused Physics program. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College (USA) in December 2023 as an undergraduate researcher in psychology and neuroscience. Apart from research, Tongtong creates work in photography, writing, art, and performs music on stage. She is also a traveler, tarot reader and rock climber. As a Davis United World College Scholar, Petra is fascinated by engaging with people from diverse cultures and professions. Most of her creative work source from these conversations and explorations. Her anthropological, historical, and science fictional writings can be found at https://commons.mtholyoke.edu/tongtongyangpetra/.

Shen Zhou Hong

Researcher @ Johns Hopkins University

UWC Campus Ambassadors

UWC ISAK Japan


Wang Muyan
Head of Campus Promotion

Ananya Kaho Mohanty
Application Review
Conference Operations

UWC South East Asia


Iván, Fabre Abril
Head of Campus Promotion

UWC Mostar


Selma Vinković

Program Application Review
Journal Operations 

UWC Thailand


Scarlett Briend-Marchal Petchnil
Head of Campus Promotion

Samaira Muid

Head of Campus Promotion


UWC Pearson


Cal Ristic
Head of Campus Promotion
Operations

Alžběta Marková
Conference Operations


UWC Atlantic


Neo Haque
Head of Campus Promotion
Operations
Outreach

Valentina Leiva Colipe
Head of Campus Promotion
Operations
Outreach

H

UWC Costa Rica


Arianna Coloso
Conference Operations

UWC-USA


Cloe Alvino
Web Development

Damarys Esther Diaz Sum
Outreach


© UWC Science Collective 2025

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