SigmaWest 2026: Counselors

Hey everyone! I’m excited to be joining SigmaCamp again. I am studying Biology at Stony Brook University. This summer, I am interning at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and researching how to determine the genetic and epigenetic drivers of thymocyte development and differentiation. Outside of school, I enjoy playing ping-pong, attending concerts, and spending time outdoors. I am looking forward to meeting you all and creating some great memories together!

Hello world :) I’m Gabriela, and this is my first time at Sigma US (although I’ve been to all the Sigma Brazil camps so far!). I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro and I’m currently in my final year as an undergraduate at Ilum School of Science, majoring in Science and Technology. In high school, I really enjoyed competing in academic Olympiads across science, linguistics, math, and robotics. Outside academics, I love hiking, spending time in nature (especially at the beach), hanging out with animals, and watching movies. My current academic interests are at the intersection of fields, especially biophysics and molecular biology. I’m usually really approachable and love chatting about anything—and I’m also really proud of my Duolingo streak, so let’s connect there too!

Hi everyone! I'm Alex Khankin and I'm an incoming freshman at the University of Chicago. I've attended SigmaCamp since 2020, and I am interested in biology. Outside of STEM, I enjoy playing piano and skiing.

Hey everybody! I'm so excited to be a counselor at the inaugural SigmaWest after a few years at both SigmaCamp and SigmaNext. In my spare time, I like reading books and finding new TV shows to get into and overanalyze with my friends. At camp, you'll find me throwing a ball around or playing basketball, and enjoying whatever else our new location at Pine Summit has to offer.

Hello! I was a camper at SigmaCamp and SigmaCamp Next for two years, and I am excited to be back a counselor! My main interests are engineering and chemistry, although I'm interested in physics and biology as well. Outside of school, I love making of all kinds (woodworking, blacksmithing, etc.), as well as philosophy and music. I'm excited to meet you all this summer!

Hello everyone! I’m super excited to be coming back to Sigma—this time as a Junior Counselor after a few years as a camper. I’m mainly interested in math and physics, but I also like chemistry and computer science. I enjoy solving problems and thinking about how things work. In my free time, I like reading and analyzing books, and I love going on hikes. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone this summer!

Hi I'm Tarika! I work in finance making pricing and predictive models. I have a master's in CS and bachelor's in mathematics from the University of Chicago and I like games + puzzles!

I have been a camper or counselor at Sigma Camp since its inaugural year and hopefully for years to come. Throughout the years I've attended Sigma, I have graduated high school, attended Cornell for my undergraduate degree and started a PhD at Stony Brook University in the Computer Science department. I work with robotics or programming semi-labs and set up sports and events like Chessball. I look forward to meeting you all and don't hesitate to come talk with me about any of your scientific or sporting interests.

I am a Physics student starting graduate school at UofT. I spend much of my free time studying piano, reading about the history of science and organizing outreach events at UofT.

Daniel is an undergraduate studying Math and Physics. He spends his time trying to learn things and then teach them to other people, and he tells himself he'll find an interesting research project soon. Lately, he has also been thinking about psychology-backed teaching practices and how to mathematically derive morality. He has been at Sigma forever, and can be found reorganizing board games, locking other people into rooms full of puzzles, and playing the saxophone (poorly) at the chamber concert. Daniel wants to hear your thoughts on life and/or give you fun math problems/puzzles, so you should come say hello :)

I am excited to attend my seventh year at Sigma. I will be starting my third year at McGill University in the fall. Before coming to Montreal, I lived near Boston and before that, in State College, Pennsylvania. I love physics and math, and my favorite part of math is whatever I happen to have last learned. I enjoy learning languages, whether human or programming, and am always up to learn something new. If you come find me during one of the breaks, I'll teach you how to knit or crochet.

Hi everyone! I’m really excited to be back at Sigma as a junior counselor after being a camper three times. This fall I’ll be starting at Rice, where I plan to major in pure math. I love math olympiads and also enjoy programming competitions. If you want to nerd out, I’m always happy to chat about solving geometry problems with complex numbers or cool Diophantine equation tricks. Besides academics, I love movies and twisty puzzles like the Rubik’s Cube, and I’m learning German (my level is about the same as a toddler's right now).