OSU Postdoctoral Association

Current OPA Board Members

(2024-2025)

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President

Ing. Milica Raco, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, College of Agriculture (LeBoldus & Chang Labs)       

Milica is a virologist and a molecular plant pathologist primarily focusing on plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions in natural and forest ecosystems. She received her bachelor’s, and master’s degree in Plant Protection from Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic, and her Ph.D. (2023) in Forest Pathology and Mycology from the same University. At OSU, her research focuses on characterization and  epidemiology of high impact pathogens using molecular and computational tools. Besides she is interested in structural virology and virus evolution, primarily of plant and fungal/oomycete viruses. When she is not in the lab, she enjoys hiking, biking, traveling, and reading.       

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Vice-president

Aravinth Ekamparam Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, Biol & Ecol Engineering

Aravinth is an environmental engineer and aqueous geochemist specializing in groundwater quality, contaminant fate, and sustainable water management. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from IIT Kanpur, focusing on fluoride remediation through mineral precipitation and surface complexation. As a Postdoctoral Scholar at Oregon State University, his research combines laboratory experiments, field monitoring, and geochemical modeling to address challenges in managed aquifer recharge, nitrate dynamics, and porous media clogging. He is skilled in advanced analytical techniques and actively collaborates on interdisciplinary projects while mentoring students in research and field applications.

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Secretary 

David Cevallos Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, Oregon State University-Cascades, Human and Ecosystem Resilience and Sustainability Lab (HERS)

 David leads research on seed transfer zones and water-saving technologies to improve ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. He holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) and has extensive international experience in restoration ecology, applied field research, and data analysis. David has worked on native species restoration in Europe and the Galápagos Islands and has published widely on local adaptation, seed trait variability, and sustainable agriculture. His current research supports climate-adaptive restoration strategies across sagebrush steppe landscapes in the western United States.

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Professional Development Coordinator 

Sajna Hussain, Ph. D., Postdoctoral Scholar - Earth, Ocean & Atmo Sci

Sajna is a Postdoctoral Scholar with a Ph.D. in Biosciences from Mangalore University, India (2022). She is currently collaborating with Prof. Lorenzo Ciannelli (CEOAS – Oregon State University) and Dr. Mary Hunsicker (NWFSC – NOAA) to investigate how climate-induced habitat changes affect the size- and stage-specific distribution of key groundfish species in the Northern California Current Ecosystem. Her research focuses on understanding how fish respond to habitat shifts based on their adaptive capacity and life stage, particularly under rapid climate change scenarios. In her free time, Sajna enjoys gardening, cooking, and listening to podcasts.

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Event Coordinator

Inés Mercedes Leyba, Ph. D., Postdoctoral Scholar, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences

Inés obtained her PhD and Licenciatura's degree from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Her research is primarily focused on analyzing air-sea interaction on various spatio-temporal scales. Inés is particularly interested in understanding the relationship between processes governing air-sea fluxes and climate. Currently, she is studying sub-mesoscale ocean dynamics and air-sea interaction processes. She is fascinated by the significant role that air-sea interactions play in regulating climate and global change.

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Treasurer

Mareike Körner (Koerner), Ph. D., Postdoctoral Scholar, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences 

Mareike is a physical oceanographer who primarily works with observational data. She received her Ph.D. and Master's degrees from GEOMAR and Kiel University (Germany). Her research focuses on understanding dynamics in coastal shelf systems across various spatial and temporal scales. At OSU, she investigates submesoscale frontal processes of the Mississippi River plume in the northern Gulf of Mexico. She is interested in how physical processes shape ecosystems. When she is not working, she loves spending time outdoors, whether sailing, hiking, or biking.