Professionals
Meet Our Expert Academics
In the Afer*Nova programmes, participants have the unique opportunity to study STEM at university-level programmes that are designed and taught by expert academics from world-leading universities. We inspire and encourage students to go beyond the boundaries of the school curriculum and to immerse themselves in new, challenging curricula and find STEM solutions to key problems the world faces nowadays.
All Afer*Nova academics have extensive teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and undergo enhanced background checks before teaching any programme. Every year, we are honoured to welcome top academics and scientists to our programmes. Please meet some of our tutors below:
Detina Zalli, Ph.D.
Genomic Medicine, AI and Leadership
Dr. Zalli, a senior academic in Genomic Medicine, has worked at esteemed institutions like Harvard University, the University of Oxford, and presently, at the University of Cambridge. She holds a PhD from the University of Leicester, conducted postdoctoral research at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and completed the NASA STAR program focused on designing spaceflight experiments.
At Harvard, Detina conducted research and directed various life sciences courses, earning the Dean’s Research Award for two years. Inspired by Barack Obama, she engaged in Harvard Professional Government activities and collaborated with the Harvard Business School to lead events such as the Harvard Leadership Conference.
Dr. Zalli’s academic focus spans genomic medicine, AI, entrepreneurship, and space genomics. Committed to supporting disadvantaged individuals, she’s organized STEM events through initiatives like Afer*Nova, We Speak Science, and Oxford Academy of Excellence for the past decade in collaboration with leading academics from leading institutions and industries such as MIT, Yale, Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Virgin Galactic, NASA, SpaceX etc
Afshin Beheshti, PhD
President of COVID-19 International Research Team (www.cov-irt.or)
President of Kwaai AI (www.kwaai.ai)
Dr. Beheshti earned his PhD in physics from Florida State University before transitioning to postdoctoral training in cancer, systems biology, space biology, and radiation biology. In 2014, he assumed the role of Assistant Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine/Tufts Medical Center, where his research as a systems biologist focused on diverse aspects of cancer, including microRNAs (miRNAs), aging and cancer, cancer drug targets, and the development of novel immunotherapy. In April 2017, Dr. Beheshti joined KBR at NASA Ames Research Center to contribute to the GeneLab project and aid in platform development. Currently, he manages his own grants, overseeing research in various domains such as the impact of miRNAs and mitochondria on space biology, potential applications for countermeasures against space radiation and microgravity, COVID-19-related studies, cancer research, and the effects of high altitude on human biology. In 2023, Dr. Beheshti transitioned to the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science at NASA Ames Research Center, where he continues his ongoing research. He also holds a Visiting Researcher appointment at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Moreover, Dr. Beheshti serves as the President of two non-profit organizations. One, formed in March 2020, is the COVID-19 International Research Team (COV-IRT, www.cov-irt.org), dedicated to various subjects related to COVID-19 and Long COVID research and has already produced several publications. The other, established in August 2023, focuses on democratizing access to artificial intelligence through the design, construction, and maintenance of a free Personal AI called Kwaai (www.kwaai.ai).
Dr. Beheshti’s contributions have earned him recognition and accolades, including the International Space Station Research & Development Award for Compelling Results in Biology from the American Astronaut Society/NASA, the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, One KBR Award, and the NASA Outstanding Service Award: NASA Ames Safety Award Program II.
Sudipta "Nila" Devanath
Doctor, Lawyer, Dreamer
Dr. Sudipta “Nila” Devanath is a doctor and lawyer working on acute care telemedicine in the U.S.
Dr. Devanath’s journey began in Pittsburgh, PA, where she earned her bachelor of philosophy in neuroscience and psychology and bachelor of arts in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh. She started her M.D. at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, but realized the interplay between medicine and law in the current policy landscape and wanted to combine these passions. In the middle of medical school, she took a leave of absence to earn her J.D. from Harvard Law School where Dr. Devanath also played a role in several leadership positions throughout the university including president of the graduate and professional student government. From there, she returned to Pittsburgh to complete her M.D., and after receiving her doctorates, she completed her medical training at Yale University in internal medicine, where she also held several leadership positions including co-president of all resident and fellow trainee employees at Yale.
She currently serves as the Associate Medical Director for Transitions of Care at Sentara Healthcare, a health system which includes 12 hospitals throughout the states of Virginia and North Carolina in the US. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, acute care telemedicine was close to science fiction, but with hospitals overburdened, new solutions to care for the sickest patients from the home needed to become a reality and fast. In Dr. Devanath’s position, she was able to expand these programs throughout several hospitals helping to offload overwhelmed healthcare systems and innovate in systemic patient care while controlling the spread of disease. In her spare time she has spoken on the interplay between healthcare and politics, most recently speaking at the U.S. Capitol with Congresswoman Jayapal and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on H.R. 3771, a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at increasing research efforts to study populations that are disproportionately affected by heart disease.
Physician, Aquanaut, Explorer, Director - IIAS Space Medicine Group, Space Medicine and Austere Environment Researcher
Georgios Dimitropoulos, Ph.D.
Innovation Incubator, Academic, Film Director, Ethical Technologist and AI Ethicist
Georgious is an Innovation Incubator, Academic, Film Director, Ethical Technologist and AI Ethicist with a proven track record of founding and accelerating multiple technology transfer and regeneration ventures. Extensive experience working in over 50 countries, collaborating with NGOs, NPOs, CBOs, and public/private sector organizations.
Recipient of 9 international awards for transformational leadership and disruptive innovation. For the past 20 years, I have been consulting businesses and governments, driving organisational performance effectiveness and growth acceleration through transformational leadership, crisis management, and process innovation.
As an academic at Swansea University and Head of the Media Innovation Lab, my research focuses on Digital Democracy, AI Ethics and Governance, Open Innovation, Co-creative Digital Storytelling, Surveillance Capitalism, and Storytelling for Change and Advocacy.
I serve as a strategic advisor to regional creative consortiums and engagement projects, dedicating my time to leading not-for-profit community initiatives and promoting media literacy and ethical technologies in the fight against inequality and online disinformation.
Passionate about the arts, culture, and nature conservation, I leverage my expertise in filmmaking to advocate for the sustainable use of biodiversity. My work has been recognized with over 70 international awards from film festivals worldwide.
If you are seeking to connect with a multidisciplinary background in open innovation, ethical technologies, academia, and innovative filmmaking, please get in touch.
Joseph Krajekian, DMD, MD, FAAOMS, DABOMS
Joseph Krajekian is a distinguished board-certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon renowned for his unwavering commitment to providing world-class care to every patient. With a foundation in molecular and cellular biology from California State University, Fresno, Dr. Krajekian advanced his expertise at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and further at Drexel College of Medicine for his medical degree. His comprehensive 6-year surgical training was completed at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
His tenure at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic for over eight years and his role as an associate clinical faculty at Case Western School of Dental Medicine for more than five years have positioned him at the forefront of his field. Currently, he enhances patient care as a staff member at Southpoint Hospital of the Cleveland Clinic and as a visiting professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA.
Dr. Krajekian is at the cutting edge of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, emphasizing the most advanced surgical techniques and technologies. He is a pioneer in the integration of virtual surgical planning for reconstructive surgeries, orthognathic surgery, and dental implants. His innovative use of adult stem cell research and platelet-rich plasma in surgical reconstructions underscores his commitment to advancing patient care.
A global leader in incorporating virtual reality (VR) into major reconstructive surgeries, Dr. Krajekian also collaborates with Immersive Touch VR company in Chicago as a medical advisor and educator. His recent work with 3D custom titanium printing and the early phases of 3D bone printing technology represents the future of personalized surgical solutions.
Eni Dervishi
Sr. Product Manager @Amazon | Harvard MBA
Eni Dervishi is a senior product manager at Amazon Alexa. Prior to that, she was a fellow at the Harvard Innovation Labs where she advised startups across all 13 Harvard Schools. Eni also has experience working as Head of Business Development at a Generative AI startup in healthcare as well as building AI tools for a startup incubator. Eni graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA in 2023, where she worked on building her own healthcare startup. During her time in business school, Eni also interned at J&J in their HealthTech team as well as worked for a fund of funds. Prior to business school, Eni worked at a global venture capital fund where she helped scale tech startups across 16 countries around the world. Eni also has experience in consulting, which she got after her completing her bachelor studies from Harvard College. Eni has also taught Economics and International Finance courses at the Harvard Economics department and led the final class peer review for her 1,000 classmates of TEM, the Entrepreneurial Manager class at Harvard Business School.
Jean Huang, Harvard University and Yale University
Jean Huang is a biomedical engineer researching and trying to write her doctoral dissertation at Yale University. With a BA from Harvard University and a scientist by trade, she is also immersed in art and writing. Her research focuses on medical imaging analysis of the brain.”
Argita Zalli, Ph.D.
Leader in AI and Medical Educarion
Dr Zalli earned her PhD at the University of Birmingham, UK. Her research investigated the effects of β2 agonists on the immune function with the view to better understand how stress affects the ability of the cytotoxic cells of the immune system to fight infection.
Following her PhD, Dr. A Zalli carried out her postdoctoral research training at University College London, where she published in several high-impact scientific journals in the field of psychobiology whilst collaborating with world-leading scientists including a Nobel Prize Winner.
Whilst conducting scientific research, Argita also worked as a lecturer as she designed, taught and directed several biomedical sciences courses for medical students.
Argita was awarded UCL medical students’ top teaching award for the neuro-immunology course she designed, delivered and directed.
After completion of her first post-doc training, Dr. A. Zalli moved to Imperial College London, where she conducted medical research in the field of Haematology. Being passionate about teaching Dr. A Zalli continued teaching medical and biomedical science students and was recognised for continuously receiving excellent student feedback. Her passion for higher education teaching led Dr. A Zalli to complete her MSc studies in University Learning and Teaching at Imperial College London, whilst working full time and being a Mum.
Over the past couple of years, Dr. A Zalli has focused on teaching and pedagogical training of university teaching staff and she is currently a teaching and learning specialist lead in the Faculty of Medicine (clinical years) where she aims to improve student learning experience and enhance their learning.
Dr A. Zalli is also the founder of We Speak Science, a non-profit institution, the aim of which is to increase awareness of science and medicine in the USA and Europe. Through We Speak Science, Dr A. Zalli co-founded the charity called “Aferdita Ime”, in collaboration with other world-class oncologists and scientists whose aim is to help cancer patients through psycho-social support and counselling.
Ritvana R., Ph.D.
Academic Experience: Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
I am a lecturer at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway. I joined NHH Norwegian School of Economics as a Ph.D. student in 2017, and soon I will receive a Ph.D. in Business and Management Science in 2022. Previously, I was a teaching assistant at the University of Shkoder. I received an MSc in Business Administration in 2013 from the University of Shkoder. I have held teaching and research appointments at the University of Shkoder and the NHH Norwegian School of Economics.
Keti Z, Ph.D
Academic Experience: University of Cambridge
Dr. Keti received her PhD in “Chemical Processes and Biotechnology Innovation” from L’Aquila University in Italy. During the course of her PhD research, she actively sought and set up international collaborations, with placements in Japan and at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK, which resulted in original and review publications.
At the end of her PhD, Keti followed her developing interest in regenerative medicine and cancer and had the initiative to join the world-renowned Gurdon laboratory on an Erasmus+ fellowship for 6 months.
Keti’s research at the University of Cambridge (UK) focused on the cross-talk between epigenetics and metabolism in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Her studies have been supported by prestigious personal fellowships such as the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC, 2016–2017), the Marie Curie Individual Fellowship (2018–2020) and the Cambridge Philosophical Society Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020).
Since December 2020, Keti’s scientific curiosity has driven her postdoctoral journey to the Giustacchini Lab, at the UCL Zayed Centre for Research, to work on paediatric leukemic stem cells.
The importance of Keti’s project has been recognised through the prestigious award “Olivia Hodson Cancer Fund 2021”, a special purpose fund within Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and the UCL Institute of Child Health. Furthermore, Keti is an active member of the Institute as she is part of the GOSH BRC Junior Faculty and Child Health Open Research Advisory Board.
Daniel W, Ph.D
Academic Experience: University of Cambridge
Dr. Daniel Wise earned his BSC and MRes from the University of Exeter, where he specialised in plant-pathogen interactions and developed an interest in immunological research.Daniel spent a number of years as a researcher at the Institute of Metabolic Sciences (IMS), the Cambridge Institute of Medical Research (CIMR) and the Department of Pathology (University of Cambridge), where he investigated novel innate immune signalling, endoplasmic stress responses, and antigen processing, presentation, and recognition.
Daniel completed his PhD and postdoctoral studies at the University of Cambridge Department of Pathology, specialising in MHC-mediated immunity. During this time, he established and conducted collaborative research projects with the Gurdon Institute, Cambridge Veterinary School, Roslin Institute, Technical University of Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and the Institute of Molecular Genetics (Czech Academy of Sciences).
Following his PhD, Daniel was awarded a fellowship at the Technical University of Munich before moving into scientific industry, where he worked in drug discovery and PROTAC drug development before switching to R & D in the field of diagnostics. Currently, Daniel is Laboratory Director at EDX Medical and the Chief Scientific Officer at Origin Sciences, where he leads the development of new oncology diagnostic methods.
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