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MEET OUR TEAM
Sydney
NIKITA SOLEYMANI
Co-President
She/Her
Hi, my name is Nikita! I am a Co-president of MSWI with Emile, and I am in U2 Anatomy and Cell Biology! I first joined MSWI in my first year and I have been involved in planning our yearly science case competition (SciCom) ever since! I am super excited for my third SciCom, and I can’t wait to plan it with the new team this year. In my free time, I love going on walks on Mount Royal, exploring new cafes/restaurants in Montreal, and trying new workout classes.
Favourite Movie: Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Hometown: Long Island, NY
ÉMILE FONTAINE
Co-President
He/Him
Hey I'm Émile! I am the current Co-President of MSWI along with Nikita, and I am in my third (U2) year at McGill in Anatomy and Cell Biology. I’ve been with the club since October of my first year (2023), where I joined as a committee member in events. I’ve struggled with properly expressing myself in a professional manner, and since that’s an asset kind of important in scientific literature, I sought out some help, which is when I found all the resources made available by MSWI. I’m super hyped for all of the interesting new resources, workshops and additions to the SciComm competition coming this year; we’ve got some cool things in store!
Favourite Movie: Get Out
Hometown: Toronto, ON
ELLIE GREENSPAN
Alumni Advisor
She/Her
Hi I'm Ellie! I’ve been with MSWI since CEGEP, so this is my 5th year! I am now an Alumni advisor, I’m always here to help out, foster collaboration and motivate the team. I just started a Master’s of neuroscience (thesis) looking at cognition and biomarkers in psychiatry patients. I initially joined the club because I wanted to get a head start in scientific writing to improve my research skills, and I am so excited to help younger students do the same!
Favourite Movie: He's Just Not That Into You
Hometown: Montreal, QC
SYDNEY WASSERMAN
Alumni Advisor
She/Her
Hi! I’m Sydney, and I’ve been part of MSWI since it was founded in 2020. I’m proud to serve on a committee focused on strengthening science communication and knowledge translation, helping make complex research clear, accessible, and useful. I’m currently in my third year of a PhD in Nursing, and as a registered nurse, I see firsthand that research has the most impact when it’s communicated well. I’m excited to welcome a new cohort of students this year and to see the innovative and fresh ideas they’ll bring to the case competition.
Favourite Movie: Princess Bride
Hometown: Montreal, QC
SARA YIM
VP Communications
She/Her
Hey my name is Sara! I'm a U2 in Anatomy and Cell Biology and World Cinema Studies and I've been the VP of Communications for MSWI since my first year at McGill! I joined MSWI because I’ve always been interested in how research is communicated between different fields of science. I love learning new ways to show how complex ideas can be made more engaging, especially for broader audiences. I'm excited for our in-person events and the chance to meet anyone who's interested by what our club does and wants to learn more!
Favourite Movie: La Haine
Hometown: Kingston, ON
JASMINE GREWAL
VP Events
She/Her
Hey I'm Jasmine! I am a third year student at McGill, majoring in Physics and Computer-Science. This is my second year with MSWI - I started off as part of the events committee, and this year I am serving as VP Events. I initially joined MSWI because I’ve always felt that the ability to communicate scientific ideas and writing, especially in a more professional setting, is an acquired skill that not everyone is able to learn just through their courses. I found that MSWI and the resources provided by this club tackled this issue, and I look forward to being part of more awesome educational workshops and events! I am especially excited for the SciComm competition!
Favourite Movie: Spirited Away
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
TEGVIR BOORA
VP Finance
He/Him
Incoming...
LARA PIROS
VP Internal
She/Her
Hello I'm Lara! I’m a third year/U3 Cognitive Science student at McGill and I’ve been VP Internal of MSWI since September 2025. I joined the club because I love building connections and creating spaces where people can share ideas and grow together. This year, I’m most looking forward to strengthening our community and bringing fresh ideas to life within MSWI.
Favourite Movie: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Hometown: Brooklynn, NY
LISA KAWWAS
VP Social Media & Publicity
She/Her
Hi, my name is Lisa! I joined MSWI last year as VP social media and publicity. I am currently studying Pharmacology as a U2 student. I joined this club because of my passion for literature and science, which are combined as one in this organization. I’m most looking forward to the SciComms case competition. Can’t wait to see all the participants’ creative ideas come to life!
Favourite Movie: The Iron Giant
Hometown: Montreal, QC & Morgan Hill. CA
MATTHEW ZISU
VP Education
He/Him
Hi I'm Matthew! I’m a fourth-year student majoring in Cell Biology and Anatomy with a minor in Jewish Studies. This is my first year with the McGill Scientific Writing Initiative, where I serve as VP Education. I joined the club because I’m passionate about helping others gain confidence in communicating scientific ideas. Science can be challenging to express clearly, but when it’s done effectively, it’s incredibly rewarding. This year, I’m especially looking forward to the Science Case Competition. Outside of academics, I enjoy going to the gym, traveling, learning new languages, and reading history books.
Favourite Movie: Interstellar
Hometown: Thornhill, ON
MANSOUR ABOU CHEDID
Educational Advisor
He/Him
Hi, my name is Mansour! I have been an Educational Advisor at MSWI since September 2025 and am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Biomedical & Biological Engineering. I believe that knowledge is power, and sharing it is a fundamental part of scientific research. I look forward to helping students demystify complex scientific concepts and bridge knowledge gaps through writing.
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Favourite Movie: Sinners
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
ISABELLA ANDERSON
FIrst Year Representative
She/Her
Hey, my name is Isabella! I am a U1 Microbiology and Immunology student at McGill. This is my first year with MSWI where I am the First Year Representative. I joined the club because I am passionate about science communication. This year, I am most excited to learn the ropes of the club and help other students improve their writing and research skills.
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Favourite Movie: Talladega Nights
Hometown: Wyoming, DE
Peter
Julia
Abigail
Sophia
Megan
Shreya
Hamidreza
Anh
Ellie
Benjamin
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