Paul Rubery
EXECUTIVE Director

Paul (he/him) is the Executive Director of Biodesign Challenge. He studied Art History with an emphasis on Visual Cultural Studies at the University of Rochester before pursuing a Ph.D. in Art History, Theory & Criticism at Stony Brook University. He has occupied various roles in cultural nonprofits, serving most recently as the chief curator of a historic natural history museum on Long Island. His research interests include the history of photography, artistic responses to anthropogenic climate change, and the phenomenology of science. As a nonprofit administrator, Paul aims to extend access to STEAM education and to advance the critical discourse around biotechnology. His published writings can be found in the Journal of Visual Culture, Media-N: The Journal of the New Media Caucus of the CAA, and Continental Philosophy Review.

Fun Fact: Paul canoed the Moose River up to Moosonee, Ontario, the “Gateway to the Arctic” and the only saltwater port in that province. As an active paddler, he takes his canoe to the riverways of Long Island, where excursions through the saltmarshes make for great birdwatching.

Michael Balangue
Program Director

Michael (he/they) is the Program Director of Biodesign Challenge. He studied Chemical Engineering with an emphasis in Biotechnology at the University of Oklahoma and received an MS in Translational Medicine from the City College of New York, a biodesign-focused medical technology development program. His work experience spans teaching at CCNY, product management for a health tech startup, and wet lab research. His ambitions have expanded to supporting advocacy and community-building for a more sustainable future.

Fun Fact: Michael has a creative practice under the artist name Anito Soul. He also built an off-grid A-frame cabin in rural Oklahoma during the pandemic.

IRENE HSU
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT iNTERN

Irene Hsu (she/her) is the Community Engagement Intern at the Biodesign Challenge. She is a senior majoring in psychology at Baruch College and works as research assistant in a developmental psychology lab. Her research interests focus on everyday problem-solving, perceived self-efficacy, and how these concepts influence behavior and decision-making. She plans to pursue graduate school in industrial-organizational psychology, where she hopes to further explore how psychological principles can enhance workplace dynamics. Dedicated to connecting the bridge between art, design, and biology, Irene is committed to supporting and strengthening the Biodesign Challenge community and their efforts.

Fun Fact: Irene likes to bake and draw in her free time!

Nicolette Rak
STEM Education iNTERN

Nicolette Rak (she/her) is the STEM Education Intern at Biodesign Challenge. She is a sophomore at Baruch College, majoring in psychology. She works as a classroom instructor and she is responsible for designing and delivering engaging lessons that cultivate curiosity and critical thinking in students. She aspires to become an occupational therapist, integrating her background in psychology and education to explore how hands-on learning experiences shape cognitive and motor development. She strives to support Biodesign Challenge’s mission by contributing to the development of educational resources that inspire creativity and deepen students’ engagement with STEM.

Fun Fact: Nicolette loves exploring art museums around New York City, with the Museum of Modern Art being one of her favorites.

Orkan Telhan
President

Orkan’s work focuses on critical issues in social, cultural, and environmental responsibility. He holds a PhD in Design and Computation from MIT's Department of Architecture. He is the Chief Information and Data Officer at Ecovative.

Alison Irvine
TREASURER

Alison is Senior Writer and Publications Manager at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she reports on clinical trials and emerging therapeutics. She is the former Program Manager of the Biodesign Challenge and has taught biodesign studio courses at The Cooper Union, Pratt Institute, and The New School University. In 2019, she was an artist-in-residence at the Innovative Genomics Institute and Stochastic Labs, where she explored the future of CRISPR gene-editing technology. Alison has a degree in Theater and Interdisciplinary Science from The New School University.

Daniel Grushkin
Founder

Dan (he/him) is founder and Executive Director of Biodesign Challenge. He is co-founder of Genspace, a nonprofit community laboratory dedicated to promoting citizen science and access to biotechnology. Daniel has been a Fellow at Data & Society, a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and an Emerging Leader in Biosecurity at the John Hopkins Center of Health Security. As a journalist, he has reported on the intersection of biotechnology, culture, and business for publications including Bloomberg Businessweek, Fast Company, Scientific American and Popular Science.