Naomi Levine
Scientific Research Manager
Dr. Naomi T-T Levine is a Scientific Research Manager. She leads LASER’s internal review team, manages some of LASER’s projects, and conducts some of LASER’s internal research. Prior to this role, Naomi has worked in grassroots community organizing, public health, prison abolition, drug and alcohol recovery, educational retention and transparency, and medical history. She has a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication, an MA in Applied Anthropology, and a BA in Feminist Theory, Critical Race Theory, and Archaeology.
Chris Wang
USAID Grants Administrator
Chris has more than 12 years of experience managing research, training, and service programs, focusing on both financial and performance measures, ensuring the outcomes meet the agreed timelines, comply with required policies, and are in line with the proposed budgets. She has worked with students, faculty, and entities from all over the world with diverse cultural and language backgrounds.
Leulsegged Kasa
Research Project Manager
Leulsegged Kasa is a Research Project Manager for LASER PULSE at Purdue University, where he oversees USAID-funded research projects across various sectors in USAID partner countries. He provides technical and management support throughout the project cycle, ensuring project goals are met. Leulsegged also coordinates LASER PULSE’s Research and Publications Working Group, which ensures deliverable quality by reviewing research and translation products.
Previously, Leulsegged worked as a Research Analyst with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), providing research, data analytics, and project management support to the Africa RISING program in Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Tanzania, and Zambia. He also served as a Research Officer with IFPRI’s Research for Ethiopia’s Agricultural Policy (REAP) project, providing strategic and short-term research and data analytics support to Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA).
Leulsegged has also worked as a Research Associate with the Institute for Global Health and Development at Brandeis University, and as a Senior Data Analyst with Pharos Global Health Advisors. In these roles, he supported health research and data analytics work in Ethiopia, Haiti, The Gambia, and the US. Leulsegged’s previous experience also includes working as a Socioeconomic Researcher and Director of Sekota Dryland Agricultural Research Center (SDARC) of Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI).
Leulsegged holds an M.A. in Sustainable International Development and an M.S. in Global Health Policy and Management from Brandeis University, and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Haramaya University, as well as a B.S. in Natural Resources Economics and Management from Mekelle University.
