NextGen Association 2025 Ballot

Please enter your votes for chairs of the NextGen Association for Postdocs and Graduate Students.

Voting ends Friday, November 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM. You can vote for up to three (3) candidates.

As a reminder: The two highest-ranking candidates will be offered the co-chair positions; the remaining candidates will be offered vice-chair positions. Each position is to be held for a one-year term.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at traineeaffairs@broadinstitute.org.

🗳️ CAST YOUR BALLOT

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Yossef Baidi

Hi everyone.

My name is Yossef Baidi and I am a fifth-year graduate student working in the Beroukhim Lab within the Cancer Program at the Broad Institute. For the past three years I’ve had the pleasure of serving as one of the chairs of the NextGen Association and I’m running for re-election to continue working to help the trainee community here! Over the past year, I continued organizing the Facing Forward series by moderating a fascinating discussion with Bill Kaelin and I’m working now to confirm more exciting speakers to meet with trainees next year. In addition, I helped organize the Trainee Retreat which was a great way to bring trainees together and hear more about various career paths. Finally, from my work with the Harvard Biotech Club (HBC) I’ve organized collaborations between HBC and NextGen, with one of those events being a live podcast interview with Peter Kolchinsky, founder and Managing Partner at RA Capital, at the Broad (to check out this interview as well as other interviews check out our podcast website: https://www.thepulsepodcast.org/).

In addition to continuing the Facing Forward series and collaborations with other groups in Boston like HBC, I want to provide more opportunities for trainees to learn about different careers in biotech. For instance, I want to organize more career panels with former trainees at the Broad, who are working in different careers such as academia, industry, VC, IP law, etc. These events are great opportunities for us trainees to hear how we can prepare ourselves for one of these careers and allow us to network more with alumni. Also, I want to organize more events where trainees can socialize with one another. Currently we have the pizza social hours on Tuesdays to bring the trainee community together and I am working with the Office of Academic Affairs to plan other types of social events for trainees.

I’ve had a great time connecting with more of the trainee community at the Broad these past three years! If re-elected, I look forward to working with you all again to continue improving the trainee experience here!

Chris Etienne

As a PhD candidate at Harvard University and a member of the Broad Institute’s Cancer Program (CP), I’ve had the privilege of working at the intersection of groundbreaking science and a vibrant, collaborative community. Since joining the Broad, I’ve served as a co-chair for the African, African-American, and Afro-Caribbean (A4C) affinity group, and as a member of the CP Innovators in Cancer Seminar Series (ICSS) committee, where I helped organize social events and scientific talks designed to foster connection, dialogue, and inclusion across research programs. These experiences have deepened my appreciation for the Broad’s unique culture: one that thrives on curiosity, openness, and shared purpose.

I’ve also had the pleasure of being a member of the NextGen Association and have greatly benefited from the many events, networking opportunities, resources, and community initiatives it provides. From professional development panels to social gatherings, these programs have played a key role in helping me build connections across disciplines and navigate my training experience at the Broad. I’ve seen firsthand how impactful NextGen can be in supporting trainees and cultivating a strong sense of belonging.

I am running for NextGen Co-Chair because I’m passionate about strengthening and expanding that community further. As trainees, we are united by both our pursuit of scientific excellence and our shared need for mentorship, professional growth, and inclusion. If elected, I am committed to building on NextGen’s success by:

Creating more opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement across programs.
Expanding NextGen’s reach to engage with affiliated institutions such as Harvard, MGH, and MIT.
Continuing to organize inclusive, community-building events that connect trainees both socially and scientifically.

The Broad and NextGen have each provided me with an incredible environment to learn, grow, and connect. I would be honored to give back by helping to further strengthen and expand this network, ensuring that all trainees feel supported, valued, and inspired to thrive as part of the Broad community.

Ana Gonzalez Ramos

Hola Broad Community!

My name is Ana Gonzalez Ramos, a Wallenberg Postdoctoral Fellow in the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research here at the Broad Institute. Since joining in February 2023, I’ve been amazed by the science here, but even more by its vibrant and collaborative community. I also know that working and progressing in your career in such a high-performing environment comes with its own challenges. That’s why I believe NextGen is so crucial; it helps to build a supportive community of trainees and provides the resources we all need to thrive and ultimately succeed. My positive experience on the Trainee Retreat steering committee inspired me to run for chair and take a more active role in this work.

If elected, I will be a chair who continues to listen to the needs of our diverse community and turns feedback into action. My focus would be on: (1) Strengthening our community: As an international postdoc myself, I know it can be tough to find your footing. I’m passionate about helping new Broadies navigate the system and will also champion fun events like pizza socials that let us all connect and de-stress; (2) Expanding career development: I want to build on successful programs by creating new workshops and panels to help us navigate the next steps, whether in academia, industry, or another path. As organizer of the ‘Careers over Coffee’ seminars for Women@Broad, I’m excited to create more opportunities for everyone to learn from the journeys of leaders in our field.

I am confident in my ability to lead the NextGen Association. I currently serve on the Women@Broad steering committee and co-chaired the W@B 2025 Symposium. During my Ph.D., I represented my peers on the doctoral council and for a large EU consortium, giving me extensive experience in organizing events, managing budgets, and advocating for my fellow trainees.

I am eager to serve as your advocate and excited for what we can accomplish together!

Bryan Hsu

Hi all! My name is Bryan Hsu and I am a second year graduate student in the Sabeti lab. Over the past year, I’ve really been impressed by the Broad’s efforts to create an environment that fosters the active exchange of ideas among trainees in many disparate areas. Having seen how both traditional academic labs as well as industry operate, the Broad combines the best aspects of both worlds. These organized opportunities for learning and socializing are just one of the privileges we enjoy being a part of the Broad community. Nothing was ever accomplished without planning and preparation, and I’d like to be able to continue making these opportunities happen for the next generation of Broadies as a committee member! I’ve been a part of leadership in various organizations for years–academic clubs, affinity groups, musical ensembles, and even a pet rescue, and I know what it takes to ideate, plan and follow through.

As a NextGen committee member, I’ll prioritize educational and enjoyable events. As a grad student, I understand that your time is precious, and that’s why I aim to create events that will allow you to take a quick break from research and walk away having learned something new. From coffee chats to trainee retreat, I will always be putting your interests first when planning! I can’t promise anything, but I’ll try my best to include a tasty incentive, whenever possible. 🙂

Thank you for reading and I hope to meet you at a NextGen event soon!

Antonia Kowalewski

Hi fellow Broad trainees!

I’m Antonia Kowalewski, a third-year PhD student in the Getz Lab in the Cancer Program. I’ve been involved with NextGen since joining the Broad over a year ago and am now running to be a NextGen Association Chair to help make the Broad an even better place for trainees.

If elected, I’d continue supporting trainee favorites like the biweekly Afternoon (Pizza!) Social and the Trainee Retreat, while introducing new initiatives such as a talk series to practice conference presentations, alumni career chats to tap into the hidden job market, and an anonymous feedback system for reporting concerns.

While ideas are one thing, I also have the experience and connections to make them happen. As Co-President of the Harvard Griffin GSAS Science Policy Group and a program representative on the Harvard Griffin GSAS Graduate Student Council, I have experience planning large events and turning ideas into action. At the Broad, I volunteer at the Broad Discovery Center, am active in the Sustainability@Broad and Scicommers@Broad affinity groups, and am an application reader for the Broad Summer Scholars Program. I’m also passionate about fostering positive workplace environments, having co-founded the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance in my department at my undergraduate university. Finally, as an international student, I’m mindful of the challenges many of us face around visa uncertainty and funding access, and will continue to push for increased support for international trainees.

Thanks for considering my candidacy. I’d be honored to represent and advocate for all of you!

Petra Palenikova

Hi all! My name is Petra Palenikova and I am a fourth year postdoc at the Stanley Center and NNF Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease. Broad is an exciting place to work, but it also comes with its challenges and pressure to perform well. I am running for the post of NextGen co-chair as I truly believe that the NextGen Association for Postdocs and Graduate Students plays an important role in building a positive work environment and community by fostering connections and friendships between all trainees. I joined NextGen three years ago, and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve on this committee, having an opportunity to contribute to the planning of social and career development events. I would like to continue to do this work and listen to the needs of our diverse community, from pointing new Broadies to useful resources for settling in, to planning career development events that help in deciding about moving to the next career stage in academia or industry. I would like to continue advocating for the needs of international postdocs and I am excited about helping with events that bring closer postdoc communities from Broad and other institutes in Kendall Square. I would be honored by the opportunity to represent you as a co-chair on NextGen in the upcoming year. I am always happy to meet and get to know other postdocs so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Liz Yee

Hi everyone! My name is Liz Yee and I am a second-year post doc in the Bhattacharyya Lab part of the Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program. I am a born and raised Bostonian but after several years away for my PhD and the transient nature of student life I was looking for ways to make new connections in my home city. NextGen has helped me build an amazing community of fellow trainees where I have met some truly brilliant and kind people that I am lucky to call friends. From social hours to seminars on career development and workshops on how to write grants I have really gained a lot of skills from its programming. If elected, I would love to help NextGen continue to grow in professional development programming to help trainees prepare for their future careers and to also grow outreach initiatives with the Cambridge and Greater Boston area. I have served as Vice President and Outreach Chair for the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) during my time in graduate school at the University of Notre Dame. I worked with my fellow board members to champion and support women in science through our STEMentors program, organize community outreach events, panel discussions surrounding issues of women in STEM and more. It would be an honor to serve as a chair of this wonderful organization and help fellow Broadies!

Justin Yin

Hello everyone,

My name is Justin (Zhangyuan) Yin, and I’m a postdoc in the Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program and Klarman Cell Observatory. Over the past two years, I’ve appreciated how NextGen events like pizza social hours, cross-institute networking, and trainee retreat/prom helped me meet incredible colleagues/friends, find unexpected inspiration, and have lots of fun. These moments reminded me how valuable it is to feel supported and connected with each other. I want to help continue and expand that experience for everyone.

Since joining the Broad, I have been part of the Asian and Asian American Steering Committee, where we organized cultural celebrations such as Lunar New Year and Diwali, as well as bonding events like tea time and movie screenings. During graduate school, I helped plan departmental retreats, Halloween contests, Christmas celebrations, and co-organize the weekly institute colloquium and Professional Development Seminar Series. These experiences showed me how small, thoughtful actions/events, like sharing food, stories, or laughter, can make people feel welcome, energized, and part of a community.

My vision for NextGen is to help every trainee feel supported, making it easier to succeed (survive) and more enjoyable to navigate graduate and postdoc life. If elected, I will continue the valuable traditions already in place and actively listen to YOUR needs through town halls, surveys, or casual conversations. I would also advocate for:

Initiatives such as a Trainee Spotlight Seminar Series, where our amazing fellow trainees, rather than established faculty, can present their science to a broader audience for feedback, which can be a mock job talk, defense practice, or seminar presentation.
More opportunities for panel discussions and networking with former Broadies in diverse careers including biotech, investment, policy, consulting, or law.
Supporting trainee well-being and mental health by collaborating with BroadLife to create safe, open spaces to discuss stress and burnout during this challenging time.
Developing a Trainee Resource Hub, a central place where all trainees can quickly access event lists, workshop resources, funding opportunities, career information, and etc.

The Broad is home to incredible science, but its true strength lies in its people. I would be honored to help make it a place where every trainee can thrive, feel supported, and enjoy the journey. Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Hui Zhong

Hi fellow Broadies! My name is Hui Zhong. I am a second-year postdoc in Vamsi Mootha’s lab as part of the Metabolism program. Over the last year, I participated in and benefited from many supportive activities organized by NextGen. This experience has inspired me to contribute my own ideas and energy to our community.

My vision for NextGen centers on three key areas:

1. Strengthen Community cohesion. The Broad Institute is home to brilliant minds from all over the world. I plan to organize events to foster interaction and friendship, ensuring we build a strong and supportive network.

2. Career development in academia. Each year, the Broad invites excellent professors from across the world to give presentations about their work. It would be great if the trainees could have lunch or conversations with these professors and ask questions that are important for young and early career researchers.

3. Career development outside academia. Sessions focused on non-academic careers, such as in industry, offer great guidance and networking opportunities to trainees. Additionally, practical sessions on topics such as affordable housing and personal financial planning are good for the maintenance of high quality of life.

My internal and external experience has prepared me to deliver on these goals. I served on the 4th Broad Trainee Retreat committee starting last year, gaining firsthand insight into event planning here. Externally, I have helped organize large-scale events organized by the Harvard Medical School Chinese Scientists and Scholars Association, such as the Harvard Chinese Life Science Annual symposium, an annual BBQ event and Spring Festival celebration, each attracting over 200 participants. During my Ph.D., I helped my mentor organize academic seminars. My experience includes roles focused on the community well-being. For example, I served as a school mental health representative during my undergraduate studies and organized monthly broad games across institutions during my Ph.D. studies.

I am confident that my experience and dedicated vision will enable me to serve our community effectively as part of NextGen. I hope you can vote for me as your representative.