Zahra Ansarian

Chemistry Ph.D. - Year 1

M.S. University of Tabriz

B.S. University of Tabriz 

Zahra received her B.S. degree in Chemistry at University of Tabriz working on the synthesis of nanoporous and microporous materials and their applications on water purification in the Prof. Khataee’s group. During her master’s degree in Chemistry at University of Tabriz, she focused on application of the Ti3GeC2 MAX phase for treating organic contaminants via an advanced oxidation process. She also spent a year working on porous materials for supercapacitor applications. Starting March 2024, she began her Ph.D. project at Prof. Sherbo’s group, working on the exploration of methods for the electrocatalytic recycling nitrogen-containing polymers.

Bethany Laatsch

Chemistry Ph.D. – Year 1
B.S. University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

Bethany is a first year Ph.D. student in Northeastern University’s Chemistry and Chemical Biology program. During her time at Eau Claire, she was first introduced to the world of research in Dr. Sanchita Hati’s lab studying the conformation and dynamics of a protein of interest in more “crowded” solutions to simulate the in vivo cellular environment. There she developed an appreciation for chemical biology and wet lab work. She graduated in 2023 and spent a year teaching English in Spain before starting her graduate studies at Northeastern. Bethany joined the Sherbo Lab in the spring of 2025 and is excited to have the opportunity to apply biological tools to address pressing environmental problems. Outside of research, Bethany enjoys running, playing tennis, reading, and learning languages.

Alexa Van Voorhis

Chemical Engineering Ph.D. - Year 1

M.S. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 

B.S. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 

Alexa joined Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University in the fall of  2023. Driven by her passion to find sustainable solutions to combat the impacts of climate change, she completed her Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology at UMass Dartmouth, conducting research in developing recombinant bacteria to convert seashell waste into biofuel. In the Sherbo lab, she will continue to explore metabolic engineering of microbes for sustainable chemicals, fuels, and food products. In her time at UMass Dartmouth, her favorite hobby (besides studying, of course) was running for the school cross country team. She now runs for Battle Road Track club and competes in distance events. Outside of school and running, she enjoys activities she describes as ‘cozy’ including reading books, checking out local coffee shops, watching movies, and drinking tea.