The faculty advisors, student coordinators, field trip coordinators and student leaders are the people that keep BCQ running. It is their hard work that allows the Colloquium to be a success. All coordinator and leader positions are occupied by former BioS 196 students who have “moved up in the ranks” and now help run the course. If you love Bios 196, apply to be a student leader!
SPRING 2025
Faculty Advisors
The Biology Colloquium is very fortunate to have two faculty advisors that oversee the BCQ course, guide and chaperone the field trips, share their research experience and scientific knowledge, make introductions to local biologists for field trip visits, offer guidance and mentoring to BCQ students, and are always there to step in should any problems arise. They are important liaisons to the UIC Biology Department, and have helped foster the growth of the class.
Student Coordinator
Student Leaders
Wednesday
Shreya Kumar
[email protected] Hi everyone! Welcome to BCQ, my name is Shreya Kumar. I’m a sophomore here at UIC on the pre-med track with a minor in chemistry. Outside of class, I love to hang out with my friends and try out different restaurants in Chicago. My favorite one is Terrace 16 at Trump Tower. I am from Singapore, and I moved to the states for higher education. During summer, I go back home and spend time with my family. BCQ is a great course, and I am excited to meet everyone. 
Xochitl Sandoval
[email protected] Hello Everyone! My name is Xochitl Sandoval. I am currently a third-year student at UIC majoring in BiologicalSciences on the pre-dental track. I was born and raised in Chicago in a community called LaVillita. For the longest, I've always found myself interested and very passionate in the field ofdentistry. I plan to further my studies into dentistry and be able to serve those in underfundedcommunities. During my spare time, I enjoy staying active by being outdoors and getting a gymworkout, along with exploring new food spots in Chicago with people I love. During mysemester of taking BCQ it has allowed me to build more connections with people. BCQ is a great opportunity that allows the students to explore their interest in science careers and expand their circles. 
Shafia Mehdi
[email protected] Hi everyone! My name is Shafia Mehdi. I am a senior at UIC majoring in Integrated Health Studies with a Concentration in Health Sciences. Outside of class, I love to hang out with my friends and family and explore different coffee shops around the city. My favorite coffee shop is Froth! BCQ is a great course, where you get to meet those with similar interests, all while going on fun field trips! I look forward to meeting everyone. 
Muntazir Mohammed
[email protected] Hi! I'm a fourth year student at UIC, and I love boxing. I spend my time gardening and harvesting my own food tomatoes, mangoes, and whatever else we can grow as a family. I also take care of dahlias and fruit trees season round. I'm originally from the middle east, Becoming a dentist would be a proud moment for myself. |
Thursday
Dhruvi Bhayani
[email protected] Hi everyone! My name is Dhruvi Bhayani and I am a junior majoring in biological sciences with a minor in nutrition on the pre-dental track. After UIC I am hoping to go to dental school somewhere in the east or west coast to become a oral surgeon and owning a private practice in the future. Outside of school I enjoy traveling, spending time with friends and family, and going on adventures. I enjoyed taking this class last semester and found it very interesting. I’m very excited for our semester together! 
Tahniat Nadeem
[email protected] Hello all! My name is Tahniat and I am a senior majoring in Biological Sciences. I find joy in guiding and assisting fellow classmen in their academic pursuits, and I am thankful to continue doing so through BCQ. I hope to make this experience a memorable one for the students as we explore the importance of science in various professions that you may even be learning of for the first time. Outside of biology, I love trying new foods and can never resist a good dessert. 
Syeda Sakina Begum
[email protected] Hi everyone, my name is Syeda Sakina Begum, but you can call me Sakina. I’m a fourth-year student majoring in biological sciences on the pre-medicine track. I’m originally from Southern India and speak both Hindi and English. BCQ is a great course, and I’m excited to meet you all and be one of your leaders. I’m here to help you get the most out of this course and ensure we have a fantastic semester together. 
Mhmoud Khattab
[email protected] Hello everyone! My name is Mhmoud Khattab and I am a senior majoring in Biological Sciences on the pre-dental track, aspiring to become a dentist. I am fluent in both Arabic and English. Outside of academics, I enjoy starting my day with a morning run, cycling, and spending quality time with family and friends. While I love exploring new cuisines, Mediterranean food remains my favorite. I take great pride in helping others by guiding and supporting them to ensure everything runs smoothly. This class was a unique and exciting experience, offering opportunities beyond a traditional biology course. BCQ, in particular, was a fascinating course that I thoroughly enjoyed last semester. It deepened my passion for biology and research while exposing me to diverse career paths within the field. I look forward to sharing this experience with all of you and am excited to meet everyone! 
Tyrese Bentford
[email protected] It's nice to meet you all! My name is Tyrese Bentford and I am a third year undergraduate student majoring in biology on the pre-dental track. I am hoping to attend dental school in the fall of 2026. I was born and raised in Illinois but I love to travel and experince new places and food. I am very active on campus but I also enjoy running/exercise, music, and meeting new people. I am beyond grateful to be coming back as a BCQ leader to share the wealth of knowledge I have accumulated over my last 3 years here at UIC in regards to academics, research, and time management. I hope to be a resource to those taking the class! 
Diana Cotorra
[email protected] Hello Everyone! My name is Diana and I am a first year student at UIC. My major is Biological sciences with a concentration in molecular, cellular, and organismal biology. I am also in the pre-med track and my goal is to go to graduate school and become a pediatrician preferably in the emergency department. What influenced me to want to become a pediatrician was doing an internship at The University of Chicago which helped me see different fields in the medicine department. Some of my hobbies are dancing, painting, playing with my pets, or playing roblox. I grew up in Chicago and some of my favorite things to do in the city are going to summer festivals or taking a walk around the city. What I really like about BCQ is that it allows you to see other opportunities in a biology field and it also allows you to hear about people's journey to a career that you might consider. You can also see many things that might blow your mind and make you want to do research on it or learn more about campus labs and how to engage on campus. Lastly, I look forward to having a great semester and meeting everyone in the course! 
Stephanie Roldan
[email protected] Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie Roldan and I’m a sophomore majoring in biologicalsciences on the pre-dental track. On campus, I am a volunteer tutor for L@s Ganas andChemER. I have been involved with the Urban Health Program at UIC through theirAmbassador Program and I volunteer at UI Health. Outside of class, I love going to concerts,hanging out with friends, watching shows on Netflix, and listening to music (I love listening toFeid, Rauw Alejandro, Tyler the Creator, Junior H, Karol G…). BCQ is a great class to learnmore about the biological sciences major and different opportunities you can have within thefield. I am excited to meet everyone! |
FALL 2024
Faculty Advisors
The Biology Colloquium is very fortunate to have three faculty advisors that oversee the BCQ course, guide and chaperone the field trips, share their research experience and scientific knowledge, make introductions to local biologists for field trip visits, offer guidance and mentoring to BCQ students, and are always there to step in should any problems arise. They are important liaisons to the UIC Biology Department, and have helped foster the growth of the class.
Student Coordinator
Nicole Curtis
Wednesday & Thursday Coordinator
[email protected]
Hi everyone, I’m Nicole Curtis! I’m a fifth year Biological Sciences PhD student currently studying the importance of proteins possessing two distinct functions. I graduated from UIUC in 2013 with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and worked as a lab technician at various academic and clinical labs prior to starting the PhD program. I’ve previously worked with everything from plants to mice to real human samples! After completing my PhD, I plan to go back into industry working as a Senior Scientist. I love doing research and see myself working on the bench for the rest of my career. In my free time, I love to explore new places and restaurants in the city and maintain my garden. I have a balcony garden in the summer with herbs and vegetables as well as a vast collection of rare cacti.
Wednesday & Thursday Coordinator
[email protected]
Hi everyone, I’m Nicole Curtis! I’m a fifth year Biological Sciences PhD student currently studying the importance of proteins possessing two distinct functions. I graduated from UIUC in 2013 with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and worked as a lab technician at various academic and clinical labs prior to starting the PhD program. I’ve previously worked with everything from plants to mice to real human samples! After completing my PhD, I plan to go back into industry working as a Senior Scientist. I love doing research and see myself working on the bench for the rest of my career. In my free time, I love to explore new places and restaurants in the city and maintain my garden. I have a balcony garden in the summer with herbs and vegetables as well as a vast collection of rare cacti.
Student Leaders
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Dhruvi Bhayani
[email protected] Hi everyone! My name is Dhruvi Bhayani and I am a junior majoring in biological sciences with a minor in nutrition on the pre-dental track. After UIC I am hoping to go to dental school somewhere in the east or west coast to become a oral surgeon and owning a private practice in the future. Outside of school I enjoy traveling, spending time with friends and family, and going on adventures. I enjoyed taking this class last semester and found it very interesting. I’m very excited for our semester together! 
Fouad Zaidan
[email protected] Hello everyone! I'm Fouad Zaidan, a senior majoring in General Biology with a minor in Psychology, currently on the pre-dental track. I recently concluded research at UIC's dental school, focusing on regenerative strategies for dental pulp using advanced 3D bioprinting technology. I hail from a small village in Palestine called Beir Nabala, and one of my primary goals is to improve access to dental care in my community, which is in dire need of such services. Outside of academics, I’m passionate about basketball, and I’m confident that I’m unbeatable in a 1v1 when I’m in the zone. Additionally, I am in the process of establishing a student organization for Arabs in dentistry to foster connection and empowerment within this underrepresented community. 
Jobaida Jeba
|
Alopi Shah
[email protected] Hello everyone! My name is Alopi Shah, I am a junior majoring in Integrated Health Studies with a minor in Public Health on the Pre-Med track. I am interested and passionate about the field of medicine and plan to pursue a career in Pediatrics! I love being involved on campus and connecting with students; an organization I lead as President is UIC MannMukti where we advocate for mental health and wellness. Additionally, I enjoy being an Undergraduate Researcher in a Regenerative Medicine Lab. In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and friends, explore the city, and try new places to eat! I am very excited to meet everyone and for our semester together! 
Umer Khan
[email protected] Hi, my name is Umer Khan and I’m a Junior at UIC. My major is biological sciences and I’m planning on going to medical school. I’m originally from Pakistan. My goal is to pursue a career as a physician or surgeon with a specialization in cardiology or neurology. Aside from being a student, I’m serving in the US Army Reserves as well. I go to my unit one weekend a month and finish all the work for that month. I enjoy traveling to new places and learning new things, and I’ve had a lot of field trips while in the military. I’m looking forward to having a great semester with you all. 
Tahniat Nadeem
[email protected] Hello all! My name is Tahniat and I am a senior majoring in Biological Sciences. I find joy in guiding and assisting fellow classmen in their academic pursuits, and I am thankful to continue doing so through BCQ. I hope to make this experience a memorable one for the students as we explore the importance of science in various professions that you may even be learning of for the first time. Outside of biology, I love trying new foods and can never resist a good dessert. 
Syeda Sakina Begum
[email protected] Hi everyone, my name is Syeda Sakina Begum, but you can call me Sakina. I’m a fourth-year student majoring in biological sciences on the pre-medicine track. I’m originally from Southern India and speak both Hindi and English. BCQ is a great course, and I’m excited to meet you all and be one of your leaders. I’m here to help you get the most out of this course and ensure we have a fantastic semester together. 
Moaead Al Qadoumi
[email protected] Hello everyone, my name is Moaead Al Qadoumi. I am majoring in biological science as a pre-dental student, now a senior at UIC. I am from Jordan and the funny thing is that I was born and raised for the first four years in Oak Lawn. After that, I returned when I was 13 years old to further my education. In my free time, I like to do a few things like reading more about animals,especially rabbits and other animals. I also enjoy fishing and watching anime. My final goal is to be able one day to have a bear as a pet. |
Becoming a Coordinator
Student coordinators apply and are appointed to their position by the faculty advisors (their term spans the entire academic year and longer in some cases). The coordinator(s) are in charge of managing their student leaders and students, setting up and running large group classes and overseeing the entire operation of the Colloquium (e.g. class policies, meetings, etc.).
Field trip coordinators apply and are appointed by both the student coordinator(s) and the faculty advisors. Their major responsibility is that of the coordinating and planning each large semester field trip (end of the semester for spring trip and during midterms in the fall). Sometimes field trip coordinators are also student leaders and show a high degree of organization and commitment to BCQ.
Field trip coordinators apply and are appointed by both the student coordinator(s) and the faculty advisors. Their major responsibility is that of the coordinating and planning each large semester field trip (end of the semester for spring trip and during midterms in the fall). Sometimes field trip coordinators are also student leaders and show a high degree of organization and commitment to BCQ.
Becoming A Student Leader
If you are a current or past Colloquium student, we invite you to apply for a Student Leader position. There are many advantages to being a Student Leader, most importantly learning the skills needed to organize, motivate and mentor younger students. What a great career stepping stone! Student Leaders also earn 2 biology 200-level credits (as BioS 296) for their efforts, and have use of the great BCQ Office. The office has a nice, almost too comfortable sofa; 3 computers for e-mailing, writing papers, and playing games; a refrigerator and microwave for storing and heating food; and an almost constant supply of snacks. Furthermore, several times a semester, student leaders are treated to dinner when the Colloquium holds a staff meeting.
To apply, print the relatively short Student Leader Application, read the directions and complete it, and email it to the student coordinators before the end of finals week. After receiving the applications, the student coordinators will then contact you to set up a brief interview.
To apply, print the relatively short Student Leader Application, read the directions and complete it, and email it to the student coordinators before the end of finals week. After receiving the applications, the student coordinators will then contact you to set up a brief interview.
Former Faculty Advisors
The Biology Colloquium would not be where it is today were it not for the support and guidance of all its past faculty advisors.
Dr. Jennifer Schmidt
Dr. Robert Willey (in memoriam)
Dr. Don Murphy
Dr. Steve Kelso
Dr. Paul Malchow
Dr. Steve Logan
Dr. Joel Brown
Dr. Thomas Park
Dr. Jennifer Schmidt
Dr. Robert Willey (in memoriam)
Dr. Don Murphy
Dr. Steve Kelso
Dr. Paul Malchow
Dr. Steve Logan
Dr. Joel Brown
Dr. Thomas Park
