Meet the Leadership: GSA Executive Board

Officers, 2026-2027

Anushka Potdar, Chair

Anushka Potdar is a fourth year Ph.D. student in Computer Science. Her research aims to create an AI diagnostic assistant to help astronauts solve unexpected problems in space. Prior to serving as Chair, Anushka served as Vice Chair and as a representative of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS)’s Physical Sciences Division in the GSA’s Steering Committee. Anushka is excited to lead the GSA’s team of 98 elected student representatives and to continue collaborating with the GSAS Deans, Vice President for University Life, Graduate School Alumni Association Board, Alumni Fund, Office of Career Strategy, and other university partners to support Yale graduate students. Outside of GSA and her Ph.D. research, Anushka writes plays, serves as a Graduate Affiliate of Yale’s Trumbull College, and as a Fellow of Yale’s Graduate Writing Lab.

Deniz Seven, Vice Chair

Deniz is a second-year PhD student in the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology department, studying the primary cilium. Born and raised in Istanbul, she earned her BSc degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bogazici University. Her passion for cellular biology and travel led her to pursue a master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Heidelberg University in Germany, where she also acted as a student representative for her master’s program. It is her second year in GSA, she is excited to collaborate with GSA representatives, GSAS students and administrators to foster an inclusive community and maintain the sense of belonging.

Muji Chughtai, Secratary

Muji is a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Psychology. He graduated with a BS in Psychology and a BS in Statistics from The Ohio State University. His research broadly focuses on variability in emotions across social relationships and cultures. This is his first year as the secretary of the GSA, and he is excited to use GSA communication to foster community within the graduate school and increase transparency of the GSA’s advocacy.

Zheyun Xu, Treasurer

Zheyun a third-year PhD student in the Department of Cell Biology, studying how a lipid-modifying protein contributes to ferroptotic cell death. She received her B.A. in Molecular Cell Biology and Psychology from UC Berkeley and her Sc.M. in Biotechnology from Brown University. Before coming to Yale, she worked at UCSF studying neuropathic cancer pain. This is her second year as a GSA representative, and she looks forward to supporting the responsible use of GSA funds as Treasurer.