Soniya Tamhankar, Co-President
Soniya Tamhankar is a PhD candidate in Cellular and Molecular Pathology and Co-President of WiSolve Consulting Group. In this role, she leads organizational planning, oversees consultant engagement, and manages the group’s project portfolio. She has experience in primary and secondary market research, competitor analysis, pricing and business development strategy, supporting clients in aligning market insights with business objectives. Through WiSolve, Soniya is eager to continue exploring non-academic career paths and applying her problem-solving skills at the intersection of biotechnology and business.
Co-President
Michelle is a 5th year PhD student studying Social Psychology with a focus in Computational Social Science. She studies the intersections between identity, emotion, and human movement. Her research involves modeling human movement, analyzing the effects of synchronous movement, and conducting naturalistic studies. She uses similar methods to investigate human-robot interaction. Michelle's research is grounded in collaboration with computer scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, geographers, artists, and community members. After graduate school, she plans to pursue a career in management consulting.
Ali Altamimi, Director of People and Operations
Ali Altamimi is a third-year PhD student in the Chemistry Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research focuses on computational approaches for advanced plastics recycling, with an emphasis on molecular dynamics simulations and thermodynamic modeling for the Solvent-Targeted Recovery and Precipitation (STRAP) technology developed at UW–Madison. He also integrates simulation tools with machine learning techniques to support the development of cleaner polymer systems, including non-fluorinated adhesives. Ali is interested in pursuing a career in consulting and patent law, where he can apply scientific innovation to real-world impact.
Mikaela Seeman is a 5th-year PhD candidate in the Integrated Program in Biochemistry (IPiB). Her research investigates the structural and biochemical basis of the RNA-binding protein FUBP3 and its interactions with poly-UG RNA and other nucleic acids. As Director of Finance at WiSolve Consulting Group, Mikaela oversees financial planning and resource management while contributing to client projects. She is interested in consulting within the life sciences and biotechnology industries, where she aims to apply her scientific expertise and strategic thinking to support innovation and business growth.
Ying Cao is a 5th-year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Training Program (NTP) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research focuses on the neural mechanisms of visual segmentation, a fundamental process in visual perception. She investigates how neurons encode multiple stimuli and how these representations transform along the visual pathway. As Director of Professional Development at WiSolve Consulting Group, Ying organizes programs to support consultant growth and skill-building. While still exploring future career paths, she is particularly interested in opportunities in healthcare where she can apply her scientific expertise to impactful real-world challenges.
Madilyn Ellis, Director of Internal Operations
Madilyn Ellis is a fourth-year PhD student in the Cancer Biology Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research focuses on virus-associated cancers, which account for approximately 15–20% of human malignancies. Specifically, she studies the regulation of transcription and genome copy number of Epstein–Barr virus, a human DNA tumor virus. Madilyn plans to pursue a career in biopharmaceutical research and development and is passionate about leveraging molecular biology to improve patient outcomes.
Usha Polaki, Director of Communications and Technology
Usha Polaki is a PhD candidate in the Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Program. Her research focuses on understanding the tumor-suppressive role of the transcription factor GATA2 in uterine serous carcinoma. As Director of Communications and Technology at WiSolve Consulting Group, Usha manages the organization’s digital presence and oversees communications strategy. She is passionate about bridging science and strategy, with career interests in biotechnology consulting and innovation at the interface of research and business.