Experience

Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

• United States
• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Post-Baccalaureate Student in the Research Scholar Initiative

  • Jul 2021 - Present

  As part of the Harvard University GSAS Research Scholar Initiative post-baccalaureate program, I work as a research assistant with a Harvard faculty member, participate in professional development seminars, and receive preparation for doctoral studies. As part of the Harvard University GSAS Research Scholar Initiative post-baccalaureate program, I work as a research assistant with a Harvard faculty member, participate in professional development seminars, and receive preparation for doctoral studies.



Boston Children's Hospital

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Lab Assistant

  • Jul 2021 - Present

  As part of this lab, I am investigating how the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) of the eye drive neurons in the brain’s master circadian clock (the suprachiasmatic nucleus; SCN) by conducting single-cell electrophysiological recordings and Ca2+ imaging of molecularly defined SCN neurons in mice. I am also immunostaining the retina to localize the melanopsin receptors. As part of this lab, I am investigating how the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) of the eye drive neurons in the brain’s master circadian clock (the suprachiasmatic nucleus; SCN) by conducting single-cell electrophysiological recordings and Ca2+ imaging of molecularly defined SCN neurons in mice. I am also immunostaining the retina to localize the melanopsin receptors.



Latinxs/Chicanxs for Community Medicine at UCLA

• Los Angeles, California, United States

• External Coordinator

  • Jun 2020 - Mar 2022

  • Coordinate guest speakers to attend meetings for general members during school year • Network on behalf of the organization for summer internship opportunities and organizations that will enhance the students professionally and academically • Build community through social activities for board and general members • Create presentations for General Member meetings and Information Sessions • Coordinate guest speakers to attend meetings for general members during school year • Network on behalf of the organization for summer internship opportunities and organizations that will enhance the students professionally and academically • Build community through social activities for board and general members • Create presentations for General Member meetings and Information Sessions



UCLA

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• MARC Scholar

  • May 2019 - Mar 2022

  The MARC U*STAR Program is a two-year, NIH-funded, undergraduate honors program that seeks to increase the number of biomedical scientists from diverse backgrounds that significantly impact health-related research. The program specifically seeks to strengthen the skills and research training of students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. This program supports its students interested in pursuing a PhD upon completion of their baccalaureate degree. As a MARC student, I am encouraged to engage in research during my 2-year appointment for 10-15 hours/week during the academic year and 40 hours/week for ten weeks during the summer before my junior year. Show less

• Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Sep 2018 - Mar 2022

  My research lab studies the sensory behaviors of human and rat worm parasites and the non-parasitic worm C. elegans which shares similar morphology to the parasites. We study how heat and CO2 are used as navigation tools. My research project is investigating the neural circuit C. elegans uses to sense CO2. I study their behavior towards CO2 by placing them on a surface with a CO2 gradient and recording their preferences. We plan on continuing to research the differences between the neural circuits, including looking at the neuropeptides to be able to translate this knowledge to study how parasites use CO2 to infect humans. Show less

• UCLA CARE SEM Program Participant

  • Jun 2019 - Aug 2019

  • Awarded a generous stipend to do research in Dr. Hallem's lab at UCLA• Participated in workshops that aided in preparing basic application material for graduate school• Attended workshops focused on exploring career options in the STEM field and professional development• Attended approximately 30 hours of a GRE test preparation class

• Programming Board Assistant

  • Oct 2018 - Mar 2019

  • Approved and coordinated large-scale social and cultural events• Ordered food order requests for events, contacted UCLA Residential staff, and organized events with fire marshal approval• Created advertisements through graphic design using Canva• Planned first Murder Mystery Party and Grammy Awards Viewing Party for undergraduate students living in the college dormitories

• CARE Program at UCLA Research Fellow

  • Oct 2018 - Dec 2018

  • Funded to complete approximately 100 hours of research related activities including lab work and abstract writing• Submitted an original extended abstract working alongside my PI and lab mentor• Funding for this program is provided by the following federal grants: Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD; National Institutes of Health) and California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP; National Science Foundation)



The Rockefeller University

• United States
• Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Rockefeller SURF Program Participant

  • Jun 2020 - Jul 2020

  • Virtually attended workshops conducted by Rockefeller University on professional development, faculty research presentations, and graduate school information • Participated in Journal Club and presented scientific research paper on prions in collaboration with other SURF students • Awarded generous stipend • Virtually attended workshops conducted by Rockefeller University on professional development, faculty research presentations, and graduate school information • Participated in Journal Club and presented scientific research paper on prions in collaboration with other SURF students • Awarded generous stipend



Latinx/Chicanxs for Community Medicine at UCLA

• Greater Los Angeles Area

• Academic Coordinator

  • Jun 2019 - Jun 2020

  • Coordinated more than 160 study hall hours among the general members each quarter • Managed 23 board member shifts • Kept records of study hall hours for over 70 general members • Gathered information for scholarships, summer internship opportunities, and organizations that will enhance the students professionally and academically • Planned and executed academic workshops (e.g. MCAT 101 Workshop) • Participated as a judge in Mock Interviews • Participated in planning for undergraduate conference Show less



Latinxs/Chicanxs for Community Medicine

• Los Angeles, California, United States

• General Member

  • Oct 2018 - Jun 2019

  • Volunteered at local health fair clinics in Hawthorne, Los Angeles and Tecate, Mexico • Served food to Los Angeles homeless population during Midnight mission • Facilitated STEM learning workshops for elementary students through ALMA Science Academy in Santa Ana, CA • Participatory member 1 quarter and Active member 2 quarters • Participated in Spring Quarter Internship to be a Board of Director • Volunteered at local health fair clinics in Hawthorne, Los Angeles and Tecate, Mexico • Served food to Los Angeles homeless population during Midnight mission • Facilitated STEM learning workshops for elementary students through ALMA Science Academy in Santa Ana, CA • Participatory member 1 quarter and Active member 2 quarters • Participated in Spring Quarter Internship to be a Board of Director



University of California Los Angeles Residential Life

• Programming Board Intern

  • Oct 2018 - May 2019

  As part of Programming Board, I approve and coordinate large-scale social and cultural events. I organize and direct meetings and event timelines. My job duties include ordering food order requests for events, emailing UCLA Residential staff, organizing events with fire marshal approval, creating advertisements, and long-term planning. As part of Programming Board, I approve and coordinate large-scale social and cultural events. I organize and direct meetings and event timelines. My job duties include ordering food order requests for events, emailing UCLA Residential staff, organizing events with fire marshal approval, creating advertisements, and long-term planning.



UCLA

• Biomedical Sciences Enrichment Program

  • Aug 2018 - Sep 2018

  Through this program, I gained experience with basic lab techniques including agarose and acrylamide gel electrophoresis, simple cloning (restriction digests, ligation, transformation), bioinformatics, and sterile techniques. We used PCR and DNA sequencing, investigated antibiotic-resistant mutants in E. coli genomic DNA. Through a journal club, we read and wrote scientific dialogue. Through this program, I gained experience with basic lab techniques including agarose and acrylamide gel electrophoresis, simple cloning (restriction digests, ligation, transformation), bioinformatics, and sterile techniques. We used PCR and DNA sequencing, investigated antibiotic-resistant mutants in E. coli genomic DNA. Through a journal club, we read and wrote scientific dialogue.