This year the Center for Communicating Science (CCS) is benefiting from the expertise and initiative of three graduate student employees: Bria Weisz, Sai Navya Vadlamudi, and Lauren Tucker. Representing the arts, biomedical sciences, and public health, each contributes distinct perspectives to our work while sharing a commitment to making research accessible and meaningful for all. We want to take a moment to introduce and appreciate them!

A young person in a brown business jacket with their arms folded, smiling at the camera, standing in front of white background.
Bria Weisz. Photo courtesy of Bria Weisz.

Bria Weisz    

    Bria Weisz is a 2027 MFA candidate in arts leadership at Virginia Tech and a graduate of Rice University, where they earned a B.A. in computer science in the arts with a minor in museum studies and cultural heritage. Their background includes curatorial roles at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum, as well as serving as a research and evaluation intern at Art Bridges Foundation.

    Now in their second year as a graduate assistant with the CCS, Weisz continues to be energized by the range of research happening across campus through CCS programs like the Nutshell Games and Science on Tap. They see science communication as essential across disciplines and actively apply communication strategies to their own work in the arts. For Weisz, translating complex ideas strengthens both scholarship and community engagement. After completing their MFA, they plan to pursue arts evaluation work that helps museums and theatres connect more deeply with their communities.

A young woman in a white business jacket stands at the end a narrow hallway, smiling at the camera.
Sai Navya Vadlamudi. Photo courtesy of Sai Navya Vadlamudi.

Sai Navya Vadlamudi

    Sai Navya Vadlamudi is a Ph.D. student in biomedical and veterinary sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in India and has long been motivated by a desire to work at the intersection of animal and human health. Her interest in the immune system led her to immunology, and her current research focuses on gastrointestinal viral infections, contributing to vaccine and treatment development.

    Through her assistantship with the CCS, she has continued building her outreach and teamwork skills while learning to communicate complex biomedical research in ways that resonate beyond scientific audiences. She believes science communication is essential to building public trust and ensuring research has meaningful impact. For Vadlamudi, research offers both intellectual challenge and a sense of purpose — the opportunity to improve lives through discovery. After graduation, she hopes to remain in research and development, in academia or industry, while promoting clear and effective scientific communication.

A young woman in a professional black jacket, smiling at the camera in front of a white/grey background.
Lauren Tucker. Photo courtesy of Lauren Tucker.

Lauren Tucker

    Lauren Tucker is completing her Master of Public Health in Virginia Tech’s accelerated MPH program, concentrating in infectious diseases, after earning her B.S. in public health last spring. Her academic work centers on translating public health research into accessible information that supports healthier communities.

    At the CCS, Tucker has focused on strengthening her science communication skills and contributing to projects that make complex public health research clear and relatable. She views effective communication as foundational to building public trust, particularly in infectious disease contexts, where clarity and credibility are essential. Tucker is especially motivated by the connection between research and real-world impact. Ensuring that evidence-based public health information reaches communities in ways they can understand and use aligns closely with her professional goals. After graduating this spring, she plans to pursue a university-based role focused on communication and outreach, continuing to bridge the gap between scientific research and the broader public.

Three graduate students line up ascending a staircase in matching shirts, each leaning their head on their hands over the staircase banister in mirroring fashion, smiling.
Center for Communicating Science graduate student employees having a lot of fun at the School of Performing Arts on picture day. Photo by Erin Smith for Virginia Tech.

    Together, Weisz, Vadlamudi, and Tucker reflect the interdisciplinary spirit of the Center for Communicating Science. Their varied paths underscore a shared belief: Research achieves its fullest value when it is communicated clearly, thoughtfully, and in ways that invite broader participation. We are grateful for their contributions and look forward to the insight and energy they bring to the remaining year ahead.

By Erin Smith, project coordinator for the Center for Communicating Science, with contributions from Bria Weisz, Sai Navya Vadlamudi, and Lauren Tucker, graduate assistants for the Center for Communicating Science