Who we are

The Tri-I Outreach Committee (TOrC) aims to make science more accessible by spreading awareness about careers in science, inspiring others to follow their passion in STEM, and providing them with resources to help them excel. In parallel, we strive to bridge Weill Cornell Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and The Rockefeller University by connecting members of the Tri-I with a common passion for outreach and mentorship.

What we do

In 2020, TOrC student leaders (Ifé Akano, Gianna Stella, Ilana Kotliar, Maria Sirenko, and Alexa Strauss) founded the Tri-I Mentorship Initiative (TIMI) to empower those interested in applying to graduate programs through one-on-one mentoring. Current Tri-I graduate students are paired with undergraduates or recent graduates who are applying to biomedical PhD programs. Mentors receive training and dispatch their own experiences with the application process to help mentees select schools to apply to, craft their personal statements, and improve their interviewing skills. In 2023, TIMI matched 79 mentor-mentee pairs and included participants from across the U.S. and 13 countries around the world. The program has been highly effective, with 96% of U.S. students receiving at least one admission offer in 2023.

To increase the visibility of STEM outreach opportunities in NYC, TOrC launched the Tri-Institutional Outreach Fair in February 2022. Nearly 70 members of the Tri-I community came together virtually to hear presentations from 12 professional and trainee-run outreach organizations, including BioBus, the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) STEM Mentoring Programs, RockEDU, Weill Cornell Graduate School Advancing Cornell Career Experiences for Science Students (ACCESS), and more.

MEET THE TEAM

Katie Bishop

I am a 2nd year PhD Student in Sean Brady’s lab. My research involves the synthesis of bioinformatic natural products.

Mia Haraguchi

I'm a fifth-year grad student in the Maimon lab, where I study the molecular basis of spatial navigation in fruit flies. When I'm not gluing flies to tiny pieces of plastic, you can find me running or biking in Central Park, trying to find the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe, or taking pictures of my cat, Babka.

Jaina Wollowitz

I’m a PhD student in Daniel Heller's lab at MSK, doing research that combines carbon nanotube sensors with machine learning methods to develop new disease detection tools. Outside of lab, I like thrifting and making my own clothes, reading, and trying out strange ice cream flavors.

Antonio Collado

I'm a third year Ph.D. student in Sean's Brady lab where I focus on antibiotic discovery from uncultured microbes. Outside of the lab, you can catch me in the gym, playing basketball, listening to jazz, and going to all you can eat sushi.