Letter from the Founders

It is with great joy that we announce the premiere issue of Catalyst, an independent, student-run newsletter that spotlights stories in STEM. By providing a variety of career perspectives from professors, PhD candidates, and peers alike, we aim to highlight real, lived experiences at the forefront of scientific discovery. In this issue, we have interviews from Professor Paraskevi Papadopoulou of global science leadership and Biology, Dr. Geschwind at the Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien of History of Medicine and Latin American History, and more. In showcasing these experiences, we hope to bridge the gap between curiosity and action, providing students with a better understanding of the inspiring career opportunities ahead of them. This release would not have been possible without the driven team of students that have stepped up this quarter. With a team of writers, editors, website developers, and outreach professionals, Catalyst bloomed from an idea conceptualized in Westwood to an exciting reality. For all of us, founding Catalyst has been a highlight of our college experience: from hanging purple posters to dorm lounge walls to coordinating the launch of our website, every second has been full of discovery and adventure. We are overjoyed to witness what our incredible contributors have done with this concept, and we are so excited to share it with you all. Welcome, everybody, to Catalyst!

With much gratitude and excitement,

The Catalytic Triad of Founders

Misty Aldrin

Calia Godtland

Shimi Goldberger