Meet the Center Scholars

Center Scholars are active partners in the Center for Law, Science & Innovation.  They participate in the management of the Center and actively participate in its events. 

The 2012-2013 Scholars are:

Third-year students

Alissa Abril graduated from ASU in 2009, and is pursuing a Law, Science & Technology certificate specializing in intellectual property. Abril is interested in the intersection of business, law, and science and would like to work with entrepreneurs in getting their ideas off the ground. She is involved with the Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, moot court and the Center’s Emerging Technologies research cluster. In her free time, Abril enjoys running, playing guitar and cooking.
Blake Atkinson graduated from ASU with bachelor’s degrees in molecular biotechnology and English literature. Currently pursuing a JD/MBA degree with the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, Atkinson is interested in the regulation and advancement of genetics and biotechnology law and the business aspects facing science companies in this field. He is involved with the Corporate and Business Law Society, Moot Court and the Business Legal Assistance Program, and enjoys writing, photography and traveling when he isn’t reading for law classes.
Jennifer Chapman is a Pedrick Scholar and has a background in Business Management. She is pursuing a certification in Genomics and Biotechnology Law from ASU's Center for Law, Science, and Innovation. During law school, Chapman has earned CALI awards in Lawyering Practice II; Advanced Research in Law, Science & Technology; Biotechnology: Science, Law and Policy; Nanotechnology; and First Amendment law. She served as research assistant to Dr. Gary Marchant, Regents' Professor of Law. During her externship at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Chapman addressed intellectual property, technology transfer, and business formation issues. She is currently an extern for ASU’s office of general counsel and The Honorable David G. Campbell, United States District Court.
Spencer Dickson is pursuing a Law, Science, & Technology Certificate and is a staff writer for the Arizona State Law Journal. He received a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Brigham Young University, where he conducted research on the native fluorescence of aromatic amino acids. Dickson also spent summers working with the Energy Information Administration in Washington, D.C., compiling data on power plant emissions. He enjoys bicycling and running in his free time.
Connor Hubach graduated from ASU with a bachelor's degree in Political Science which focused on the relationship between science and democracy. Hubach is the program director for the Business Legal Assistance Program, serves on the executive board of the Law and Science Student Association, and is providing counsel to entrepreneurs in the Innovation Advancement Program. Given his strong interest in business law and prior experience in the pharmaceutical industry, he is currently conducting research on the liability associated with pharmacogenetics. Hubach also enjoys travel, ASU football and cooking.
Rebecca Janssen graduated first in her class from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Before coming to law school, Janssen’s employers included Honeywell and Intel. She is interested in patent law and is a registered patent agent. She is active in many clubs on campus, including leading the Law and Science Student Association, Phi Alpha Delta, Intellectual Property Student Association, Women Law Students’ Association, and Amicus Society. Janssen is an Articles Editor for Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology and works part time for a patent litigation law firm. She also is a Student Ambassador.
Patty Lepkowski graduated from Arizona State University in May 2010. She has completed internships at a semiconductor company and an electronics distributor. In summer 2011, Lepkowski participated in a research cluster analyzing the role social media plays in pre-trial discovery and the potential for evidence gathered from social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to be introduced as admissible in the courtroom. Over the next two years she plans to take additional courses in intellectual property law, with a particular interest in copyright issues.
Khanrat (Kwan) Piensook has a background in vaccine research and development. She graduated from ASU with a degree in molecular bioscience/biotechnology, and participated in a graduate program at the University of Washington, conducting research on the molecular mechanism of childhood malaria. Piensook worked at the ASU Biodesign Institute in a laboratory that was utilizing a plant-base system to produce human vaccines. She is an associate editor for Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology and a research assistant on Professor Betsy Grey's project on the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. She recently completed an externship at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the Biotechnology Art Unit.
Lindsay Rabicoff graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a degree in Communication Studies. She is pursuing dual certification in Law-Science, & Technology and Intellectual Property. Rabicoff is a Pedrick Scholar and the Notes & Comments Editor for Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology. Rabicoff's comment, Hot News Misappropriation: A Call for Legislative Action will be published in the Fall 2012 Issue of Jurimetrics. Rabicoff is highly involved in the law school community as an active member of the Women Law Students' Association, vice president of communications for the Intellectual Property Student Association, and executive board member of the Jewish Law Student Association. In her free time, Rabicoff enjoys hiking, photography, and a good frozen yogurt.
 Meagan Schlichtman graduated from Truman State University with a bachelor's degree in Justice Systems. She is pursuing a Law, Science, & Technology certificate specializing in environmental law and plans to practice in that area, focusing on water and energy issues in our present and future society. Schlichtman is involved in the Women Law Students' Association, the Pro Bono Board, Student Ambassadors and the Environmental Law Society. In her spare time she enjoys backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, reading and traveling.
Keelah Williams is a 2010 graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology. She is enrolled in the joint Law and Psychology program at ASU, pursuing a J.D. and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology. As an undergraduate, Williams conducted research in the areas of prejudice and stereotyping, unconscious plagiarism and jury decision-making. At the law school, under her advisors, Regents’ Professor of Law and Psychology Michael Saks and ASU Psychology Professor Steve Neuberg, she plans to continue researching how jurors react to scientific evidence and the differences in decision making between unanimous and majority juries. She hopes to have a career in academia.

Lily Yan has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from ASU. Prior to entering law school, she wrote and edited copy for news organizations including a national publishing company specializing in nephrology, hematology and oncology. She recently interned for Go Daddy, where she worked with the company’s in-house counsel on matters related to social media and other Internet issues. Yan is a committee leader with the Pro Bono Board, an articles editor for Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology, and a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and the National Lawyers Guild. She enjoys hiking to Valley summits, running and eating. 

Second-year students

Lauren Burkhart graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a passion for the academic value of scientific research. Her interest in psychology is rivaled by a love for fitness, nutrition and public health. As an associate editor on Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology Jurimetrics, and a member of the Center’s Personalized Medicine research cluster, Burkhart is working on law review articles addressing issues in disclosure of disease-linked genetic information and the implications of whole genome sequencing. She is pursuing Law, Science & Technology Certificates in Health Law and Law & Psychology, and hopes to eventually research and teach topics at the intersection of the two fields.
Sara Butterfield has a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Mount Saint Mary’s College. She obtained a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her thesis research focused on the design and development of miniature proteins. Butterfield’s most recent research at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland involved investigations of the role protein mis-folding in Parkinson’s disease. She also worked as a technical writer at a small patent firm in Phoenix for one year before entering law school at ASU.
Huacong Chen earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Wellesley College and a master’s in Physiological Sciences from the University of Arizona. Her research career began in high school and until law school, she worked in the same lab studying transporter physiology. The lure of intellectual property debates soon overcame the excitement of lab research, especially because China, her home country, is often in the center of these debates. She is involved in the Women Law Students’ Association, Intellectual Property Student Association and the Center’s Alzheimer’s and the Law research cluster.
Daniel Hughes graduated from University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. He is pursuing Law, Science, & Technology Certificate to help him find a career in software intellectual property law. Hughes participates in Moot Court activities and represented ASU in the Jenckes Cup this year. He also is participating in the Center’s Military Technology Research Cluster, focusing on the legal aspects of cyber-warfare. In his spare time, Hughes coaches a high school robotics team and plays the guitar.
Jiarong (Rona) Lamiquiz graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science from Yangzhou University, China, and a Ph.D. in pathology from University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her thesis research was focused on insulin signaling pathways in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Lamiquiz wants to pursue a career in intellectual property and is involved in the Intellectual Property Student Association, the Center’s Alzheimer’s and the Law research cluster and the Women Law Students’ Association. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cycling and shopping.
Jonathan McMichael graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering. While an undergraduate, McMichael conducted research on cardiac muscle mechanics, attempting to engineer corrective levels of force in diseased tissue. In addition, he worked at the National Institutes of Health under a research fellowship to study the dynamics of calcium handling in cardiac and skeletal muscle. In law school, he has become involved with the Intellectual Property Student Association, Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology, and the Lisa Foundation Patent Law Clinic. McMichael is a registered patent agent, and plans to pursue a career in patent litigation following law school.
Andrew Sniegowski has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from ASU. After graduation, Sniegowski worked as a registered nurse for seven years, and was a certified expert in the area of critical care. He has held several clinical and nursing leadership positions at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. Sniegowski’s interests include health care regulation and innovation advancement, as well as public policy. He has worked in the area of public health law, and will be pursuing a certificate in the area of health law.
Roque Thuo has a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. Since 2000, he has worked as an integrated circuit design engineer for Microchip Technology and Intel, and was a researcher for Sayfe Kiaei at ASU’s Center for Communication Circuits and Systems. Thuo co-founded Rfwel, a wireless engineering and system integration firm. He is an Arizona Licensed Low Voltage Communication Contractor (Commercial), and a Registered Professional Engineer (Electrical). He is interested in the legal and regulatory aspects of wireless and wireless infrastructure construction law.
Dominique Turk graduated cum laude from Saint Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. She is interested in IP and plans to pursue a career in patent prosecution and litigation. Turk has experience in IP including a position as an intellectual property law clerk for PING golf as well as a patent externship with the USPTO. She is also involved with the Intellectual Property Student Association and the Women Law Students’ Association. In her free time, Turk enjoys cooking, playing soccer and traveling.

First-year students

Layne Mauro Bettini earned an undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico in foreign languages and biology. Bettini is pursuing an MD/JD degree with the Mayo Medical School. While an undergraduate, his experience as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C., fostered his interest in health policy. His motivation comes from the many opportunities at the interface of law and medicine. Either by having a role in influencing policy, facilitating the future of medical technology, or anywhere in between, Bettini views the study of law as a further opportunity for helping patients.
R.J. Dilk earned his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and History from East Carolina University. Dilk continued working as a research assistant and plans to use his background in medicinal chemistry in a career in international patent prosecution. He is active in several groups including the Intellectual Property Student Association, and in his free time he enjoys playing blues piano, swimming, creative writing and sailing.
Joshua Faucher graduated from the University of Connecticut Honors Program in 2010 with dual degrees in Pathobiology and Sociology.  During college he was involved with microbiology research and health outreach efforts with local underserved populations.  He has completed two years at Mayo Medical School and is pursuing his MD/JD degree.  Last year, Faucher also helped form at Mayo Medical School a student chapter of the policy advocacy group, Physicians for a National Health Program.  He is interested in patient advocacy, insurance regulation and reform, and many other areas of medicine’s intersection with the law.

Katherine Hanna has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from ASU. After graduation, Hanna worked at the UCLA Gambling Studies Program for three years where she studied community-based treatment interventions for problem gamblers and implementation techniques for public health programs. Her interests include the influence of neuroscience evidence on criminal sentencing, scientific evidence education in the legal system, and implementation and efficacy of alternative justice courts. Hanna is involved in the Women Law Students’ Association and the Liberty Project, and enjoys photography, biking, hiking and film.  
Timothy Lindgren graduated from North Dakota State University in 2008. Lindgren worked in the healthcare industry in Tucson before enrolling in law school. He has a desire to work in the field of pharmaceutical development and research, coupled with a law specialty of intellectual property. Lindgren enjoys movies, traveling and sports, especially the Minnesota Vikings.
David Medina has a bachelor’s degree in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University. Before coming to law school, Medina was the product manager at a Silicon Valley startup that specializes in cross-border micro finance. He is interested in intellectual property law and would like to open a software IP law firm after law school. During his free time, Medina plays racquetball and bikes.

Gregory Mowrer graduated from Bethany College in West Virginia with a bachelor's degree in biology. After college, Mowrer worked in biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health, studying genomics in mouse embryonic stem cells, and at Massachusetts General Hospital, studying adipose development. He is currently pursuing the MD/JD degree with the Mayo Medical School. Mowrer’s ultimate career goal is to work mostly in patient care, but also to research and write on health policy.

Justin Powley graduated from Colorado State University in Pueblo with a bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems. As an undergraduate, he was an officer in the Association for Computing Machinery and completed his CompTIA A+ and Security+ IT Certifications. After graduating in 2010, Powley worked the last two years in the internal IT department at Progressive Insurance. His interests include intellectual property and the field of emerging technologies. In his free time he enjoys hiking, cliff diving, basketball and most outdoor activities.
Ma Khin Pyi Son earned a bachelor’s in Biology from Williams College, and studied at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine for the past two years. She is interested in the various interfaces of law and medicine, ranging from personalized medicine and public health law, to human rights law and international humanitarian law. She is involved with 13 – Advocacy Against Sex Trafficking, the Environmental Law Society, the Homeless Legal Assistance Project, the International Law Students Association and the Center for Law and Global Affairs.
Ruben Rabassa earned concurrent degrees in Biological Sciences and Economics from ASU. His undergraduate research with the Center focuses on the economic impacts of agricultural biotechnology throughout the world, and developments in patent law related to partial genome sequencing in the United States and Europe. Rabassa’s primary legal interests lie in corporate transactions and intellectual property related to biotechnology, governance and sustainability. He is a member of the Intellectual Property Students Association (IPSA), and is pursuing a Law, Science and Technology Certificate in Genomics and Biotechnology Law. In his free time, Ruben enjoys cooking, live music and supporting Phoenix-area sports.
Suneeta Tumati graduated from University of Arizona with a PhD in Medical Pharmacology. She worked as Assistant Research Scientist at U of A for 2 years prior to joining law school. Her research was in the area of neurobiology of opiods, mainly opioid-induced paradoxical pain. She is interested in Patent Law in the field of biotechnology and is a registered patent agent. She is currently associated with Intellectual Property Student Association and Business Legal Assistance Program. She is also a Student Ambassador. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her kids and cooking. 

Cory Tyszka graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree in biology. While an undergraduate, Tyszka conducted research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, inducing apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, and she developed a protocol to investigate genetic relationships within a population. After college, she studied at University of Arizona, conductuing research on the efficacy of heat-shock proteins in therapeutic vaccines for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Tyszka earned a master’s degree in education from ASU, specializing in secondary curriculum and instruction in math and science. She is pursuing certification in Law, Science, and Technology, and is a Marshall-Brennan Fellow, a Student Ambassador and Vice President of the Liberty Project.