Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association Leadership
Current Leadership
Jorge Reyes
President
Department of Mathematics,
College of Science
reyesj@vt.edu
Jorge Reyes earned his Ph.D. in computational mathematics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he also completed his master’s and bachelor’s degrees. His research focuses on numerical analysis, particularly in computational fluid dynamics and related partial differential equations.
At Virginia Tech, Reyes has expanded his work into reduced-order modeling, with a focus on developing data-driven Galerkin (d2G) methods for turbulence. During his doctoral studies, he was actively involved in graduate student government and served on several university committees.
As president of the Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association (VTPA), Reyes aims to launch new initiatives and strengthen support for the postdoc community. He previously served as VTPA vice president during the 2024–25 academic year.
Rohit Shukla
Secretary
Department of Biological Sciences,
College of Science
rohitshukla@vt.edu
Rohit Shukla earned a doctorate in civil engineering from Queen’s University in Canada and holds a master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in India. His research integrates explainable and causal artificial intelligence with numerical modeling to improve water quality prediction in freshwater systems.
At Virginia Tech, Shukla is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biological Sciences and is affiliated with the Center for Ecosystem Forecasting.
During his doctoral studies, Shukla served as president of the Graduate Student Government and held leadership roles including international commissioner, reflecting his commitment to service and community engagement.
Zachary "Zach" Barth
Executive Board Member
Department of Biological Sciences,
College of Science
zbarth@vt.edu
Zachary “Zach” Barth serves as an executive board member for the 2025–26 academic year. He is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech.
Barth earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from The College of New Jersey, a master’s degree in microbiology and immunology from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate in microbiology from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, he completed a postdoctoral appointment at Cornell University.
His research focuses on antagonistic coevolution between viruses, other mobile genetic elements, and the genomes of their host cells. Barth is especially interested in “satellites”—parasites of viruses that exploit the viral life cycle, sometimes to the benefit of the primary host cells.
He previously served as social events chair for the Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association in 2024–25.
Tanmay Das
Executive Board Member
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
College of Engineering
dtanmay25@vt.edu
Tanmay Das serves as an executive board member for the 2025–26 academic year. He is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech.
Das earned a doctorate in civil engineering from North Carolina State University. His research focuses on applying artificial intelligence to solve complex transportation challenges, with particular expertise in developing autonomous vehicle technologies.
Before joining the Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association, Das served as webmaster for the Institute of Transportation Engineers North Carolina student chapter. Outside of work, he enjoys reading novels.
Kamillah Kassam
Executive Board Member
Center for Engineering Excellence and Discovery (CEED),
College of Engineering
kkassam@vt.edu
Kamillah Kassam serves as an executive board member for the 2025–26 academic year. She is a postdoctoral research fellow with the Center for Educational Excellence and Development (CEED).
Kassam earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Georgia Tech and a doctorate in chemistry from Duke University. Her research at CEED focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of student intervention programs offered by the center.
During her doctoral studies, Kassam’s passion for supporting student success led her to serve on several graduate student government committees. She plans to continue that work by supporting her peers through the Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association.
Outside of research, Kassam enjoys art, reading, and spending time with her cat, Kovu.
Chris Pitzer
Executive Board Member
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute,
Office of Research and Innovation
cpitzer@vtc.vt.edu
Chris Pitzer serves as an executive board member for the 2025-2026 academic year. He is a postdoctoral associate at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke.
Pitzer earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in exercise physiology from West Virginia University and completed a doctorate at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Throughout his academic journey, he has held leadership roles in student government and national volunteer service organizations.
Outside of work, Pitzer enjoys playing guitar, participating in sports, and spending time with his wife and dog.
Kelsey Reed
Executive Board Member
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences,
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
kelseyreed@vt.edu
Kelsey Reed serves as an executive board member for the 2025–26 academic year. She is a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech.
Reed’s research on single-cell plant regeneration focuses on uncovering the genetic regulation that drives cell division. She earned a bachelor’s degree in plant biology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a doctorate in horticulture from Virginia Tech.
As a member of the VTPA board, Reed is committed to fostering community involvement. Outside of research, she enjoys reading, volunteering, and hosting trivia.
Lindsay Miles
President (2024-2025)
Department of Entomology,
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Lindsay Miles served as president of the Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association for the 2024–25 academic year. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and a doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University. Miles completed her first postdoctoral appointment at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
Her research explores how urbanization influences evolution in arthropods. At Virginia Tech, she investigates how neighborhood-level socioeconomic differences affect bed bug evolution, particularly their resistance to pesticides.
At each institution, Miles has actively contributed to student and postdoctoral associations, working to improve the academic environment for future scholars. She previously served as VTPA social events chair in 2023–24.
Paul Sands
Secretary (2024-2025)
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
Paul Sands served as secretary for the 2024–25 academic year. He is an assistant research professor in the Computational Psychiatry Unit at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke.
Sands earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee and a doctorate in neuroscience from Wake Forest University in North Carolina. His current research focuses on developing new human brain imaging technologies and using these tools to study learning, decision-making, and social interactions through the lens of systems neuroscience.
Outside of research, Sands enjoys paddleboarding, playing tennis, reading American literature, watching art house and indie films, and spending time with friends and pets.
Eduardo Camps-Moreno
International Support Chair (2024-2025)
Department of Mathematics,
College of Science
Eduardo Camps-Moreno served as international support chair for the 2024–25 academic year. He earned a doctorate in physics and mathematics from the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico.
Camps-Moreno’s research focuses on algebraic models for communications, with an emphasis on quantum codes for fault-tolerant computation—one of the major challenges facing quantum computers today.
Through several international research stays, he has gained insight into the diverse needs of international postdocs and is eager to support others in their transition and growth.
Nisha Dhiman
Communications Chair (2024-2025)
Department of Biological Sciences,
College of Science
Nisha Dhiman served as communications chair for the 2024–25 academic year. She earned a doctorate in biological sciences from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology in Palampur, India, and holds a master’s degree in botany from Himachal Pradesh University.
Dhiman’s current research focuses on the chemotaxis system in Sinorhizobium meliloti, with the goal of identifying and characterizing the chemoreceptors and chemoattractants involved in its interaction with Medicago sativa.
Outside of research, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and photographing the scenic beauty of natural landscapes.
Shahidur Talukdar
Policy Chair (2024-2025)
Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance,
Office of Research and Innovation
Shahidur Talukdar served as policy chair for the 2024–25 academic year. He is a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow in science policy and research ethics with the Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance.
Talukdar is a public policy researcher specializing in science policy. He earned a doctorate in public administration and public affairs from Virginia Tech, where his dissertation explored how engagement with regional governance can be used to prevent or minimize policy conflicts.
His current research examines the role of regional governance in policy areas such as economic development, affordable housing, and public health. More recently, Talukdar has taken a keen interest in how the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence systems may affect academia, the economy, and mental health.
Suyoung Nah
VTPA Board Member in 2024-2025
Center for Gerontology,
College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
Suyoung Nah served as a Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association board member for the 2024–25 academic year. She earned a doctorate in human development and family studies from Pennsylvania State University, and received her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Seoul National University in South Korea.
Nah’s research focuses on identifying protective psychosocial factors that mitigate the effects of stressors on the health of family caregivers supporting older adults living with dementia. During her doctoral studies, she served on several graduate student committees and remains committed to fostering an inclusive environment. She is eager to contribute to VTPA in this capacity.
Outside of research, Nah enjoys practicing yoga and camping.
Heramb Nemlekar
Member at Large (2024-2025)
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
College of Engineering
Heramb Nemlekar served as member-at-large for the 2024–25 academic year. He is a robotics researcher who develops algorithms for robots that assist humans in physical tasks.
Nemlekar earned a doctorate in computer science from the University of Southern California. He also holds a master’s degree in robotics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Pune University. At Virginia Tech, he is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
His research focuses on personalizing robots to meet the needs of their human partners. Outside of research, Nemlekar enjoys playing soccer and table tennis, and spending time dining out with friends and family.
Giuseppe Cotardo
President (2023-2024)
Department of Mathematics,
College of Science
Giuseppe Cotardo served as president of the Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association for the 2023–24 academic year. He is a postdoctoral associate in the Applied Algebra Research Group.
Cotardo earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Turin and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Trento, both in Italy. He completed a doctorate in mathematics at University College Dublin in Ireland.
His research focuses on algebraic coding theory—the mathematics behind reliable communication—with applications in communication networks, distributed storage, secret sharing, and post-quantum cryptography. Cotardo uses techniques from algebra, geometry, and combinatorics to investigate the structure and properties of error-correcting codes.
Bo Wang
International Support Chair (2023-2024)
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology,
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Bo Wang served as international support chair for the 2023–24 academic year. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in China and completed a doctorate in Germany. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of virus-host interactions and the molecular epidemiology of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viruses.
Currently, Wang investigates the zoonotic transmission, evolution, and pathogenesis of hepatitis E virus using homologous animal models.
Kelly Wright
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair (2023-2024)
Department of English,
College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
Kelly Wright served as diversity, equity, and inclusion chair for the 2023–24 academic year. Wright is an experimental sociolinguist, lexicographer, and scholar-activist who advocates for linguistic justice beyond the academy and promotes interdisciplinarity within it.
Wright's policy-driven research addresses both overt and covert linguistic barriers to access and self-expression. For example, her work shows that Black professionals are monitored for standardized language use and that nonstandard speakers face linguistic profiling in the housing market, limiting their ability to live where they choose based solely on how they sound over the phone.
Petar Mlinarić
Communications Chair (2023-2024)
Department of Mathematics,
College of Science
Petar Mlinarić served as communications chair for the 2023–24 academic year and as secretary in 2022–23. He is a postdoctoral researcher in applied mathematics, with a focus on numerical linear algebra, scientific computing, control theory, and reduced-order modeling and mathematical software.
Originally from Croatia, Mlinarić earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in applied mathematics from the University of Zagreb. He completed a doctorate in applied mathematics while working at the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg, Germany.
Sina Niazi
Co-President (2022-2023)
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
College of Engineering
Sina Niazi served as co-president for 2022-2023.
His research focuses on developing efficient computational frameworks to tackle challenging problems in the mechanics of advanced materials and structures under extreme events.
He joined the Postdoctoral Association to identify and implement resources and initiatives for the Virginia Tech postdoctoral community.
Megan Vogt
Co-President (2022-2023)
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology,
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Megan Vogt served as co-president for 2022-2023.
Vogt has been a postdoctoral researcher in Virginia Tech’s Duggal Lab since 2019. Her research focuses include arbovirus transmission and pathogenesis.
She joined the Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association to help build a community for new and current postdocs at the university.
Nico Naus
International Support Chair (2022-2023)
Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
College of Engineering
Nico Naus served as the international support chair for the 2022–23 academic year. His research interests include binary analysis and formal methods. Naus joined the Virginia Tech Postdoctoral Association to support international postdocs at both individual and institutional levels.
He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. As part of an Erasmus exchange, he completed his master’s thesis at Freiburg University in Germany. Following his studies, he worked at Open University in the Netherlands on formal verification of low-level languages.
Naus is now an assistant professor at Open University of the Netherlands.
Karthikeyan Chandrasegaran
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair (2022-2023)
Department of Biochemistry,
College of Agricultural and LIfe Sciences
Karthikeyan Chandrasegaran served as the diversity, equity, and inclusion chair for the 2022–23 academic year. His research focuses on the ecology and neurophysiology of mosquito-host interactions.
Chandrasegaran is now an assistant professor at the University of California, Riverside.
Mars Mason
Social Events Chair (2022-2023)
Department of Chemistry,
College of Science
Mars Mason served as the social events chair for 2022-2023.
He conducts research within the Molecular Sciences Software Institute to expand the functionality of the QCArchive project towards integration of quantum mechnical modeling and AI/ML features, particularly with respect to biomolecular modeling.
Alexandra Cumbie
Communications Chair (2022)
Alexandra Cumbie was a postdoctoral researcher in Virginia Tech’s Eastwood Disease Ecology Lab.
Her research focuses include vector-borne disease ecology in hard-bodied ticks and arbovirology.
She is now a Biology Instructor at ECPI Newport News.
Johnny C. Woods, Jr.
Career Development Chair (2022)
Johnny C. Woods, Jr. was a postdoctoral researcher on the social science research team of the Florida Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate.
His research focus includes issues around the recruitment, retention, and promotion of Women of Color STEM faculty; addressing educational inequities in higher education, and international higher education.