Meet our team

Welcome to our “Meet the Team” page, where you can get to know the dedicated group of students from the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, and the University of Lethbridge on the 2025 Organizing Committee!

Michaela Gilks (she/elle)

 

Chair

5th year Physics & Philosophy student at the University of Calgary

Fun fact: “I have set arcade high scores playing Tetris”

Kiana Urekar (she/elle)

Finance Coordinator

2nd year Physics major at the University of Calgary

Fun fact: “I really like knitting even though I’ve only ever made one hat”

Ashwati Sanjay (she/elle)

Finance Coordinator

4th year Physics major with a specialization in Astrophysics at the University of Alberta

Fun fact: “I love stargazing and sushi”

Deborah Fonseca (she/elle)

 

Communications Coordinator

5th year Media Studies major at the University of Alberta

Fun fact: “I speak 4 languages”

 

Abby Swadling (she/elle)

 

Academic Coordinator

Graduate student at the University of Calgary

Fun fact:

Keiran Nicholson (she/elle)

Academic & Social Coordinator 

4th year honours Astrophysics student at the University of Alberta

Fun fact: “I could live off coffee and pasta”

Leyla Saraj (she/elle)

 

Social Coordinator

4th year Mathematical Physics major at the University of Alberta

Fun fact: “I stress make jewlery”

Chloe Murr (she/elle)

Volunteer Coordinator

2nd year Physics major at the University of Calgary

Fun fact: “I can beat Portal 1 in less than 35 mins”

Dr. Claudia Gomes Da Rocha

(she/elle)

 

Mentor

Associate Professor, PHAS Associate Head EDI, Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Calgary

* Hotchkiss Brain Institute
* Institute for Quantum Science and Technology (IQST)
* Quantum Alberta
* Canadian Association of Physicists
Fun fact: “”I am a pro at aerobic choreographic Step class.”

Dr. Marie-Cécile Piro

(she/elle)

Mentor

Associate Professor, Department of Physics, UofA
Dorothy Killam Fellow

Fun fact: “I love archeology because trying to understand the mysteries and puzzles of the history of different cultures is so fascinating. I chose physics instead, but in a certain way for me, my research is like being an archeologist trying to understand the mysteries and evolution of our Universe.
.”

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank those who aided in the planning and execution of this conference. This list of acknowledgments is a work in progress and will be regularly updated.

 

University of Calgary

Dr. Dave Knudsen, Department of Physic and Astronomy

Dr. Claudia Gomes da Rocha, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Dr. Jo-Anne Brown, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Dr. Laleh Behjat, Department of Electrical and Software Engineering

Dr. Laura Mazzino, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Jennifer Howse, Rothney Astrophysical Observatory

Nancy Jing Lu, Faculty of Science Business Operations

Grace Gallo, Faculty of Science Business Operations

Melody Harris, Faculty of Science Marketing and Communications

Owen Stockden, Faculty of Science Marketing and Communications

Heather Clitheroe, Research and Admin Services

Angela Murphy, Faculty of Science Development

PHAS IDEA Committee, Department of Physics and Astronomy

University of Alberta

Dr. Roger Moore, Department of Physics

Dr. Marie-Cecile Piro, Department of Physics

Dr. Sharon Morsink, Department of Physics

EDI Committee, Department of Physics