Taili Gao
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Taili is a member of the class of 2025 at Lexington High School. She is a current research intern at MIT, a two-time USA Biology Olympiad Semifinalist, and a British Biology Olympiad Gold Award winner. Outside of biology, she enjoys problem-solving and poetry writing. She is the senior division poetry Second-place winner in the international Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest and an Executive Editor at Polyphony Lit.
Laura Yang
Director of Graphic Design
Laura is a member of the class of 2025 at Lexington High School. Aside from biology, she is interested in astronomy, chemistry, and physics. Passionate about music, she plays the viola in a chamber group for the Lexington Chamber Music Organization (LCMC) and tutors students on the piano. Laura enjoys playing badminton in her backyard on a sunny day and reading science-fiction books. Her favorite movies are The Grand Budapest Hotel, Inception, Emma., and Little Women (but not in that order).
Rithika Vutukuri
Social Media Manager
Rithika is a member of the class of 2025 at Lexington High School. She has participated in Relay For Life for over three years, and is the social media manager at Mutation. In her free time she enjoys doing art and playing badminton with her family.
Tessla Chan
Executive Editor
Tess is a student of the class of 2026 at Roslyn High School. She is currently a student researcher at Columbia University and is passionate about learning the complexities of human anatomy & physiology and genetics. Tess is a Regeneron ISEF Grand Award recipient and a National JSHS winner. She enjoys conducting research that focuses on using data science to investigate real-world biological problems. She is also a captain of Roslyn’s Science Olympiad team, where she encourages scientific discovery to her fellow peers. Outside of her studies, you can find her invested in a good novel and experimenting with different recipes in the kitchen.
Dominic Anaya Gulaya
Executive Editor
Dominic, who also goes by Xalli, is a young QTPOC and Disabled butch, and a creative writing student in the class of 2025 at California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley. In his spare time, he volunteers with Food Not Bombs alongside working on the Junior Board of Polyphony Lit and as a writer in residence at Collections of Transience, and has also been published in several literary magazines. He's passionate about neuroscience and neuroplastic pain, writing and journalism, zine-making, bass guitar, and social justice. You can find more of his work and life on Instagram @desertfirelight.
Jaycee Yang
Head of Content
Jaycee is a member of the class of 2025. She is studying in New Zealand and is interested in neuroscience and learning about new concepts in general. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, running, and playing the violin.
Henry Liu
Outreach, Newsletter Writer/Editor
Henry is a member of the class of 2026 and a student at West Point Grey Academy. He is dedicated to the fields of biology and chemistry. Henry is extremely passionate about cells and genomes, from conducting experiments to doing research projects. Henry is currently a member of the Future Sciences Leaders Program, where he analyzed how water can affect the growth of onions. He is also involved in his school's Service Council, where he started a charity to fundraise at BC Children's Hospital. Aside from his biology, Henry is committed to speech and debate. Having been debating for two years, he has accumulated experience in various national events, such as ranking 4th in the 2023 Canadian National Debate Championship and ranking 7th in ESU nationals. With his biology and speech experiences, Henry is honored to be an administrative member of Mutation.
Eileen Li
Staff Writer, Social Media,
Article Editor, Newsletter Writer/Editor
Eileen, a student of the class of 2026 at the Dalton School, is driven by her passion for discovering the complex connections between neuroscience and percussion. After her experience shadowing a researcher, she became devoted to understanding the complexities of the human brain. In school, she is currently involved in an Independent Study that delves into the neurobiology and pathophysiology of Parkinson’s Disease. She is also head of Biochemistry Team, which competes in USABO and USNCO. This summer, she hopes to conduct research on the role of the gene RIT2 on Parkinson’s Disease. Beyond academics, Eileen is also a percussionist at the Juilliard Pre-College. She has participated in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO2) and is a two-time finalist for the Juilliard Pre-College Concerto Competition. Inspired by her dual passions in neuroscience and music, Eileen founded Healing Grooves, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using music therapy - in the form of original self-made rhythm games and activities - to bring joy and healing to seniors and those impacted by neurodegenerative disease.
Aaron Chang
Staff Writer,
Article Editor, Newsletter Writer/Editor
Aaron is in the class of 2026 at Palo Alto High School. He is the secretary of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and is interested in cell biology and medicine. He plans to enter the field of healthcare and work with physicians in the future. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano and watching Marvel movies. His favorite piano piece is Chopin: Ballade No. 1.
Zachary Yuan
Staff Writer & Editor
Zach is a member of the class of 2027. He is passionate about the fields of biology and chemistry, especially in the areas of anatomy, genetics, and cell biology. In his free time, he enjoys playing the saxophone and ultimate frisbee.
Christina Zhuang
Communications Director; Content Writer
Christina is a member of the class of 2026 at Newport High School in Bellevue, Washington. She is passionate about biology, with a particular interest in genetics and cell biology. At school she took AP Biology and is currently part of HOSA club. Outside of school, she enjoys fencing and competes nationally in fencing competitions around the country.
Czandhie Corpuz
Writer, Editor, Communications Team
Czandhie is Filipino-American and interested in pursuing the medical field as a future career. She is especially interested in neuroscience and how she can make the lives of a million others the best they could possibly be in that field of medicine in the future. She enjoys listening to 90s & 2000s R&B as well as watching as many romcoms from those eras as she can that this world can offer.
Meg Xu
Staff Writer & Editor
Meg is a member of the class of 2026. She is passionate about biology and genetics. In her free time she enjoys reading, hiking, running, and playing the violin.
Mostafa Elmalhy
Mutation Egypt Administrative Member;
Content Writer
I am Mostafa Elmalhy, born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt, I have always had a passion for biology, and I am now in Egypt STEM school which has a strong emphasis on scientific research. I am a native Arabic speaker and am fluent in English. I look forward to working with other members and make biology education more accessible.
Rain Cheng
Turning Point (Malaysia)
Rain is a member of Turning Point in Malaysia.
Valeriya Khavina
Communications Team Member
Lera is a member of the class of 2025. Originally from Russia, she moved to the United States when she was 6 years old. Lera is fluent in Russian and speaks it at home. In her free time, she likes to draw, paint, and praise her amazing friends!
Abdelrahman M. Gomaa
Mutation Egypt Administrative Member;
Graphic Design
a student at Minya STEM School with a strong passion for science, technology, and research. Participating in various international competitions, I showcased my creativity in fields like AI, biotechnology, and physics to address real-world challenges.
Amy Zhu
Newsletter Writer/Editor
Amy is of the class of 2026