SURPAS Leadership 2025-2026

The SURPAS Leadership Team

Ande Xiaojie Marini
Co-Chair

Dr. Ande Marini is a 1st-year postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, evaluating optimal mechanical and physical characteristics of collagen scaffolds for treatment of secondary lymphedema. Her eventual goal is to establish better treatments for this disease and others by understanding the mechanobiology interactions between cells and extracellular matrices. Before coming to Stanford University, Ande completed her PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, during which she developed a localizable controlled release system of regenerative extracellular vesicles for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm. In addition to her research during her graduate training, Ande was heavily involved as president of Pitt’s Biomedical Engineering Society Graduate and as president of the Engineering Graduate Student Organization. Through these roles, she was able to advocate for students’ needs and serve as a liaison between the Bioengineering Department and Engineering School and the graduate students.

As the Co-chair of SURPAS, she intends to work with OPA to address the needs of postdocs. Specifically, she wants to create an explicit framework for postdoc job security in unpredictable circumstances and advocate for additional benefits for postdocs. In her free time, Ande enjoys hiking, reading, playing video games, watching anime, and hanging out with friends.

Sushrima Gan
Co-Chair

Sushrima is a Statistical Geneticist currently serving as a post-doctoral scholar in Pediatric Cardiology. Her focus is in using multi-omics approaches to investigate drug response within multi-ethnic populations, contributing to the evolution of precision medicine and personalized therapy. Sushrima has completed her PhD from the University of Dundee, Scotland. she explored the difference in diabetes treatment responses between White Europeans and Asian Indians. Following her interest in multi-omics and for predicting the risk of complications, She flew to the United States in 2022 and joined the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, where she researched the genomics and proteomics of heart failure in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. At present Sushrima is a post-doctoral scholar in Stanford University and works on Risk Prediction modelling in Pediatric Heart Failure. Sushrima is also the co-founder of an India based non-profit, Kzarvani Foundation, where she focuses on leveraging education in all spheres as a powerful tool to drive positive change in rural areas and reducing the digital divide. Her passion in teaching leads her to work with tribal children in various areas in India including climatic hotspots like Sunderbans. As Co-Chair of SURPAS, Dr. Gan aims to build a more inclusive and supportive environment where every postdoc feels empowered to contribute to their fullest potential. Her goal is to introduce initiatives that amplify postdoc voices in decision-making, ensuring our community’s needs are heard and met effectively.

Meryem K. Talbo

Advocacy Coordinator

Dr. Meryem Talbo is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University’s School of Medicine focused on patient-centered diabetes care that integrates automated diabetes technologies with medical nutrition therapy, especially for children and adolescents. Dr. Talbo earned a PhD in Human Nutrition at McGill University in Canada, studying how diabetes technologies shape user experiences and quality of life, and is a registered dietitian with experience across community and institutional settings.
Outside of research and clinical work, Dr. Talbo has held leadership and service roles throughout the duration of her training. Dr. Talbo was the youngest Co-Chair of the Montreal Professional Chapter of Diabetes Canada, leading clinician and volunteer teams to deliver continuing education, including the 2019 “GPS of Diabetes” program and national Train-the-Trainer sessions on continuous glucose monitoring. At her Alma Mater, Dr. Talbo also served as Vice President (2022–2023) and President (2023–2024) of the Macdonald Campus Graduate Student Society, improving communications and engagement, supporting renovation of a graduate students’ dedicate space, strengthening town-hall participation with the Dean’s office, and leading sustainability-certified events. Dr. Talbo also served as co-chair of the Student Initiatives Committee of Quebec’s research network on cardiometabolic health, diabetes, and obesity, where she had the opportunity to work with a diverse team on various initiatives to support graduate and postdoctoral trainees, as well as initiatives to disseminate research to the public during events such as the annual Eureka Festival and La Nuit des chercheuses et des chercheurs in Montreal and via the podcast series “Santé Sans Détour”.
Dr. Talbo hopes to build on her previous experience to support the postdoc community through advocacy and representation. Meryem plans to revive the Housing and Transport committee, improve cross-committee coordination and visibility, broaden participation, establish an annual SURPAS town hall with faculty and university leadership, and embed climate action and sustainability into SURPAS activities.

Marwa Zafarullah 
Communications Director 

Dr. Marwa Zafarullah, a first-year postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, is actively engaged in exploring molecular changes at the single-cell level in various neuromuscular disorders. Her primary objective is to identify biomarkers that can contribute to targeted drug development. Prior to joining Stanford, Marwa earned her Ph.D. in Integrative Genetics and Genomics (IGG) from the University of California, Davis, with a specific focus on neuroscience, human genetics, and functional genomics. During her graduate training, Dr. Zafarullah showcased her leadership skills by representing the community at esteemed forums, such as the UCD Graduate Student Association and the UCD Chancellor Graduate and Professional Student Advisory Board. Additionally, she played a key role in establishing the First Friends and MENTOR program, emphasizing the enhancement of mentor-mentee relationships within the academic community.

As the Communication Director at SURPAS, she endeavors to leverage her unique combination of scientific expertise and interpersonal skills to cultivate an inclusive space for researchers. Marwa envisions SURPAS as a central hub where effective communication serves as a cornerstone in fostering a vibrant and supportive research community. Outside the realms of science and SURPAS, Marwa explores her passion for culinary arts by trying new recipes. She also indulges in her love for good music, enjoys Netflix, and cherishes moments spent with her family.

Rohita Roy
Operations Manager

Dr. Rohita Roy is a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University, specializing in synthetic biology and bioengineering. With a PhD from IIT Bombay, her research delves into understanding population dynamics using synthetic gene circuits and quorum sensing bacteria. Beyond her scientific endeavors, Rohita is passionate about fostering community connections and exploring interdisciplinary innovations. An avid artist and social enthusiast, she enjoys drawing, singing, dancing, and hosting vibrant cultural gatherings, believing in holistic personal and professional growth.

Adeeba Dhalech
Finance Officer

Dr. Adeeba Dhalech is a second-year postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she focuses on screening antiviral tool compounds against flaviviruses and understanding the mechanisms behind inhibition. With a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Indiana University, she has a strong background in viral pathogenesis and immune responses. When not being a nerd about viruses, she is passionate about mentorship and community engagement, connecting with underserved high school students through the Stanford Science Pen Pals program and providing ESL instruction to immigrants. Her commitment to representing her peers is evident through her advocacy work at IU on departmental committees and her role as treasurer for the Biomedical Graduate Student Advocacy Association.As the Financial Officer for the Stanford University Postdoctoral Association (SURPAS), she aims to support organizational growth by help coordinate events, promote transparency and accountability in financial practices, and provide insights for strategic planning to help the organization adapt and thrive. Outside of work and SURPAS, she enjoys cooking new cuisines, baking, and reading.

Marta Blanco Pozo
Social Media Manager and Web Manager

Dr. Marta Blanco-Pozo is a 3rd-year postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Biology, exploring how different brain regions inter-communicate to support learning and decision-making. She obtained her PhD at the University of Oxford, studying the dopamine system during flexible behavior.

Marta enjoys being active, some of her hobbies are dancing, rock climbing, and exploring the world. As the Social Media Manager, her goal is to provide postdocs with a sense of community and belonging and share all the resources available to them.

Lisa N. Cruz
Community Engagement Liaison 

Dr. Lisa N. Cruz is a 2nd year postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. She received her PhD from Yeshiva University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; MA from Harvard University; and BA from Stony Brook University. Her speciality area is clinical neuropsychology, with research focusing on identifying biomarkers of cognitive decline to aid in assessment and intervention. Her dissertation investigated EEG mobile brain body imaging to assess executive and motor functions in autism spectrum disorder, and more recently she focuses on adults. With SURPAS, her goal is to build and maintain community amongst postdocs, as well as provide support and resources. Outside of work and SURPAS, she enjoys international travel, being in nature, yoga, running, snowboarding, and spending time with her fur babies (two cats!).

Past Leadership