Graduate Students Publish 4th Edition of USU Science Review

Uniformed Services University graduate students design, edit, and publish the fourth edition of their student-run scientific journal.

August 19, 2026 by Claire Pak

Graduate students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) have published the fourth edition of the USU Science Review, a full-color scholarly journal designed, edited, and produced entirely by the student body. The latest edition serves as a forum for student and faculty authors, featuring original perspectives, scientific reviews, interviews, trend reports, and conference recaps. Its contributions cover topics ranging from molecular biology to neuroscience, infectious disease, and global health, representing the full scope of USU's scientific research mission.

The publication traces its roots to 2022, when Molecular and Cell Biology graduate student Dr. Rohini Manickam asked a simple question: "If law students publish a law review, then why can't science graduate students publish a scientific review?" That question led to the journal's founding. Manickam served as the founding editor before handing over the editorial reins in 2025.

Army 2nd Lt. Srija Seenivasan, a Class of 2029 MD/PhD student, is editor-in-chief of the latest edition. Seenivasan served as a member of the publication's editorial board for the second and third editions, gaining first-hand experience with the start-to-finish process of producing the journal. She worked closely with Manickam during the leadership transition.

Seenivasan said the latest edition took about 11 months to produce. The team began organizing in August 2025 and finalized its editorial roster in September. Writers submitted first drafts by mid-December, monthly editing cycles ran from January through mid-March, and the editorial board gave feedback on structure, length, and figures. The issue was assembled and edited by June, then published after Public Affairs Office review. Although she adjusted parts of the process, Seenivasan kept the publication's original purpose: an outlet for intellectual discourse across the USU community and a way for students to build their writing and editing skills.

Operations Director Izzy Swafford, a graduate student in the Neuroscience program, was also inspired by that idea. "When I saw the first issue, I was blown away! I was Rohini's lab mate, and I started bothering her immediately about how I could get involved." Swafford worked on every stage of the journal and said the effort was demanding but rewarding. "The editing process is so iterative and I was involved in every part of it, from initial drafts to graphic design to copy editing. It sometimes felt like it would never come together," she recalls. She compared the experience to earning a doctorate. "But it was amazing getting to wear so many different hats. It feels a lot like the PhD process- it's hard sometimes but it's your baby and you get to see this amazing product at the end."

Looking ahead, Seenivasan said she would refine a few things next time, from clearer style and length guidelines to earlier troubleshooting of layout and design, while building on what worked: the mentorship structure, monthly editing cycles, and disciplined timeline. What stayed with her was the group. "What I'm most proud of was the collaborative and collegial spirit of the group, and the way we came together to support our shared vision for the journal."

Assistant Professor of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics Dr. Kryslaine Radomski served as the team's faculty advisor, providing both practical advice and generous encouragement. She said she was struck by how independently the students ran the journal, noting their high level of professionalism. "What impressed me most was seeing the students manage every aspect of the USU Science Review with such remarkable professionalism and autonomy. It has been a privilege to serve as faculty advisor to such a capable and motivated group of students," said Radomski.

Associate Dean for Graduate Education Dr. Cara Olsen pointed to the initiative behind the publication. "USU has fantastic graduate students, and the USU Science Review is just one more example of their talent and initiative. Taking a publication of this caliber from concept to print demonstrates the standard of excellence they bring to everything they do."

In addition to editor-in-chief Army 2nd Lt. Srija Seenivasan and Operations Director Izzy Swafford, the editorial board includes Managing Director Alex Graninger; Design Editors Yoland Victor and Piper DeLeon; Senior Editors 2nd Lt. Arianna Valeri, Maria Leondaridis, Izzy Swafford, Urmi Kumar, Capt. Katie Lee, and Alex Graninger; Junior Editors 2nd Lt. Lily Haghpassand, Miranda Janvrin, Russell Maloney, and 2nd Lt. Rabea Pfaff; and Contributing Editors 2nd Lt. Jason Lee, 2nd Lt. Jenova Kempkes, 2nd Lt. Rich Sarcone, and Rebecca Hallameyer. The fourth edition and past issues of the USU Science Review are available online.