Dr. Pearl Quijada

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Quijada is a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology And Physiology. Her research focuses on evaluating novel cellular and paracrine signaling programs that stimulate angiogenesis in cardiac development. We had the opportunity to ask Dr. Quijada about her experience mentoring undergraduate students. Read Dr. Quijada’s full interview here!

 

  1. How would you describe your experiences with undergraduate research at UCLA?

My experience with undergraduate research has been amazing. I started my lab in October 2020 and initially had trouble finding people to join. However, when I taught my first large undergraduate class in the Spring of 2021, I could share my research interests and love of cardiovascular physiology, albeit remotely. After that quarter, I recruited three undergraduate students who immediately started wet lab experiments and established essential protocols with me. These initial experiments have served as the basis of some larger research projects in the lab. I am eternally grateful for these undergraduates.

 

  1. What are your most effective approaches to promote undergraduate research success?

I place a strong emphasis on practicing proper research techniques. I realize that undergraduates just beginning their research journey may have some experience with lab work from their coursework, but working in a research lab can be quite different. Despite having established protocols, things don’t always go as planned, and you need to troubleshoot on the spot. This ability comes with experience and having a supportive environment. When I take on an undergraduate mentee, I consider who they can work with: an experienced research scientist or a graduate student. Sometimes, I pair undergraduates to collaborate on similar projects. I also schedule weekly 15-minute meetings with each undergraduate to discuss their research and personal progress. At the end of each quarter, we have a final data meeting. Since I have regular conversations with each student, I understand their progress and can provide the necessary support for the upcoming year.

 

  1. What resources at UCLA have been the most beneficial to including undergraduates in your research?

I am amazed at how many resources UCLA offers for undergraduate research. I always encourage my students to seek funding opportunities, which also combine training in other research areas or their career goals. This includes programs or internships, such as PEERs, the Biomedical Research Minor, COMPASS, and LAEP Work Study, which may also help train students in presentation and journal article reading but provide them ample time in the lab to immerse themselves. I always tell my students that when they enter the lab, this is now their lab, so hopefully, they feel at home here and confident in contributing to others’ projects and success.

 

  1. What should undergraduates consider before they begin their research journey?

I would consider the area of research and determine if you are inclined toward working in a basic research lab or a clinical setting. A basic research lab may align more with the potential pursuit of graduate school, whereas a clinical research lab may offer different opportunities. I would also actively look for internships or other opportunities to gain more experience working in a lab, aiming for at least 8-12 hours a week. I understand this may require a significant time commitment, but the experience gained with consistent lab practice is extremely important.

 

  1. How do you support students as they navigate different career trajectories in science?

Throughout my career, I have seen undergraduates pursue various careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary school, graduate school, and biotech/industry. In my conversations with students in my lab, I have advised them that sometimes, figuring out the best application strategy or feeling ready for it may take some time. This could mean taking a gap year or two. Having these one-on-one talks with them has allowed me to understand how I can assist them, whether it’s guiding them in a new direction, providing a recommendation, or even offering them the opportunity to join my lab as a research scientist. As PI, it’s tough to lose such talented individuals, including undergraduates, but I’m always happy to sponsor and advocate for all lab members regardless of the path they choose.

Sofia Mirabal

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Meet Sofia Mirabal! Sofia is a senior majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) with a minor in Biomedical Research. She is currently conducting an independent research project that investigates how the availability of the methyl donor, choline, influences the chromatin structure of liver cells. Sofia has been involved in the National Science Foundation-funded Louis Stokes California Alliance for Minority Participation in Research program since June of 2024 and is working toward becoming an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), open a clinic centered on women’s empowerment and comfort, and conduct clinical and translational research for real change in the women’s health sector. She is currently in the process of writing a paper about her independent research project for submission to the Undergraduate Research Journal and will be attending the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists this November to present a poster. One piece of advice Sofia has for students thinking about getting involved in research is to “be curious! Ask questions! Even if you think they are stupid, too simple, or even too complicated…Questions that seem silly will help you understand your work on a deeper level.”

1. How did you first get involved in your research project?

I consider it fate how I reached this point in my undergraduate research journey. Currently, I am conducting an independent research project that investigates how the availability of the methyl donor, choline, influences the chromatin structure of liver cells. Two years ago, Dr. Tara TeSlaa was one of the presenters in my Biomedical Research 5HA course. I thought her techniques of using heavy-labeled isotopes to trace and quantify metabolites in vivo along with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was revolutionary. Before her talk, I was already interested in metabolism and its connection to epigenetics and cell identity. I joined the TeSlaa Lab Liver Project in June of 2023. The project is building a metabolic flux model of healthy mice liver to understand perturbations that occur during metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). I became an expert in the project workflow from mouse handling, to dissection of an array of tissues, to extraction of polar metabolites from tissue and serum samples, and finally interpretation of mass spectrometry data. I expressed to Dr. TeSlaa that the project would benefit from adding an epigenetic aspect. She agreed and connected me with Dr. Debora Sobreira who has been teaching me how to conduct a bulk RNA-seq and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with Next Generation sequencing (ATAC-seq). Bulk ATAC-seq can show the whole-genome chromatin structure and regulatory element landscape of genes and capture changes related to DNA and histone methylation. My project began this summer of 2024 and involves the induction of MASLD in mice using a choline-deficient diet for a set time and analyzing the harvested livers. Comparisons will be drawn between the mice given the choline-deficient diet and a control diet. The project has conducted a three-week diet and is now proceeding with a twelve-week diet for comparison.

2. How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

I remember how daunting it was reaching out to esteemed professors, just hoping for a response, let alone an interview. The idea of research can seem ambiguous at first. However, once you pass that hill, you find yourself looking into a field of opportunity. Being a researcher does not mean you have to know everything, it is about having rigor and staying curious. Just like science evolves, so do you as a researcher. You start as an excited novice and once you get into the groove of things, you feel confident with your work. Being in research has greatly improved my confidence in science and nurtured my curiosity. I was never afraid to ask questions or inquire about pursuing my ideas. Science is all about opportunities. Science is all about communication whether oral, illustrated, or written. I have greatly improved my presentation skills so that now I genuinely enjoy the chance to present about the work I do. Being in the TeSlaa Lab has been pivotal to my growth as a first-generation Cuban-American in STEM.

3. What is your year and major?

I am a senior — go class of 2025! My major is Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Biomedical Research.

4. What is one piece of advice you have for other students thinking about getting involved in research?

One piece of advice I have for students thinking about getting involved in research is to be curious! Ask questions! Even if you think they are stupid, too simple, or even too complicated. I asked my lab technician what phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was because I wanted to know its purpose besides being step 5. Questions that seem silly will help you understand your work on a deeper level. You want to be purposeful with your experiments. If you are adding a reagent, question why you are doing that. If you want to understand the grand purpose of the project, dive into some literature about the real human implications. During a presentation, question the data being presented to you. Ask what the axes mean, the significance of the data, and the groups being studied. Ask why someone chose to use a particular method or interpreted their data a particular way. If you have a new idea, ask your PI if it has been done before and is feasible. It does not hurt to ask, it hurts more to not.

5. Have you attended a conference before? If so, can you describe your experience on preparation, presenting, etc.?

I will be attending the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists this November to present a poster for my independent project. The title of my abstract is: Investigating the Influence of Choline on Hepatocyte Chromatin Structure in Relation to MASLD Development.

6. Have you had your work published? Can you talk about what that process was like?

I am in the process of writing a paper about my independent research project for submission to the Undergraduate Research Journal.

7. What are your future career goals?

My career goals are to become an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), open a clinic centered on women’s empowerment and comfort, and conduct clinical and translational research for real change in the women’s health sector.

8. Please list any URC/departmental programs you are/were involved in.

I have been involved in the National Science Foundation-funded Louis Stokes California Alliance for Minority Participation in Research program since June of 2024.

9. What was the impact of undergraduate research on your career path?

Research is one of my passions. I want to revolutionize women’s health practices by being a leader in clinical and translational research as an OB-GYN. As an OB-GYN, I could not allow myself to repeat the cycle of neglect and pain that women face in healthcare. I will become a champion for advocating for female bodily empowerment by investing in modernizing practices.

Sohan Talluri

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Meet Sohan Talluri! Sohan is a senior majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG), with a minor in Biomedical Research. He has previously been involved in the Undergraduate Research Fellows Program in 2022-2023 and the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program from 2023-2024. Sohan currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for the UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal (USJ), a peer-reviewed publication registered by the Library of Congress featuring top-quality research performed by UCLA undergraduates in all STEM fields, including life sciences, engineering, statistics, physics, mathematics, and computer science. He has co-authored two review papers, published in Current Opinion in Biotechnology and Molecular Oncology, and has had extensive experience presenting his work at UCLA Undergraduate Research Week, as well as various symposia and conferences. One piece of advice Sohan has for other students thinking about getting involved in research is to “reflect on classes you found particularly intriguing and reach out to the course instructors and TAs. Though they may not have space in their lab, they may know other faculty who are looking for students.”

1. What is your year and major?

I’m a senior majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) with a minor in Biomedical Research.

2. How did you first get involved in your research project?

The summer after my sophomore and junior years of high school, I got the opportunity to conduct research into the epigenetics of mental disorders and the neuroscience of chronic itch/pain respectively. These experiences cemented my desire to continue pursuing research as an undergraduate, but I hadn’t yet decided what field my passions lay in. As I reflected on my own childhood growing up with asthma, eczema, and food allergies (all incurable immune disorders), I realized that I wanted to conduct immunology research to develop more effective treatments for these diseases. I decided to major in MIMG as a result, and in the Winter of my freshman year, I cold-emailed various MIMG professors whose work intrigued me. I joined Dr. Yvonne Chen’s lab in Spring, and have since contributed to multiple projects, including my most recent work on engineering multi-output CAR-T cells to treat glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumor.

3. How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

In a word, transformative. Both my wet lab work with Dr. Chen and clinical research with Dr. Maria Garcia-Lloret have given me near graduate-level experience in experimentation, data presentation, and publication, and this would not have been possible without the mentorship-centered culture of their research groups. My labs have also continuously supported my applications to numerous UCLA fellowships, summer research internships, and the national Goldwater Scholarship, all of which have added new perspectives to my growth as a scientist. Outside of the lab, working with the UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal and CTSI Research Associates Program has given me the opportunity to engage with like-minded peers and the broader scientific community at UCLA. These research experiences have challenged my original goal of solely becoming a physician, and I’m now confident in my choice to incorporate research into my future career.

4. What is one piece of advice you have for other students thinking about getting involved in research?

Finding your lab at a large institution like UCLA can seem overwhelming, but there are a plethora of resources to support your search! To start, the URC–Sciences hosts informational workshops about getting into research, and also maintains the Undergraduate Research Portal, where faculty can post open positions from their labs. Another great method is to reflect on classes you found particularly intriguing and reach out to the course instructors and TAs. Though they may not have space in their lab, they may know other faculty who are looking for students. Finally, you can check out the faculty profiles on departmental websites and send a personalized email to any professor you’d like to work with. Most students send 10-20 emails before receiving a “Yes” when cold-emailing professors this way, so maintain that initial energy and continue reaching out until you find your perfect lab!

5. Have you attended a conference before? If so, can you describe your experience on preparation, presenting, etc.?

Along with presenting my work at three UCLA Undergraduate Research Week (URW) oral sessions, the UCLA MIMG Research Symposium, and three internal symposia during my summer internships at the NIH, I’ve also received the opportunity to present at the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research (SCCUR) and the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) with support from the URC–Sciences Travel Grant. Each of these conferences were amazing platforms to showcase my efforts in the lab and also be inspired by my peers’ work. For poster sessions, I’ve found it particularly useful to prepare both a less technical version of my talk for non-experts, as well as a more in-depth version for scientists in my field. By contrast, the audience for an oral talk typically includes both generalists and specialists, so I make sure that my talk is comprehensible to friends and family while simultaneously conveying enough detail to impress my lab mentors.

6. Have you had your work published? Can you talk about what that process was like?

I’ve co-authored two review papers: one in Current Opinion in Biotechnology on “Advances in Promoting Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell Trafficking and Infiltration of Solid Tumors” and one more recently in Molecular Oncology as “Metabolic Dialogues: Regulators of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell Function in the Tumor Microenvironment.” As a whole, the publication process is long but immensely rewarding. I began working with my mentors to outline our articles a full year before their eventual publication, and the subsequent drafting, submission, and revision steps gave me firsthand experience in building a scientific narrative, designing figures, and making edits following peer review. If you are looking to publish your own work as an undergraduate, check out the UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal (USJ), which annually publishes peer-reviewed undergraduate research and review articles across all STEM fields.

7. What are your future career goals?

I plan to conduct translational research into developing more effective cancer and allergy immunotherapies as a physician-scientist at a major academic hospital.

8. Please list any URC/departmental programs you are involved in.

With the URC-Sciences, I have been involved with the 2022-2023 Undergraduate Research Fellows Program (URFP), 2023-2024 Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP), and I currently serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal (USJ). In the MIMG Department, I am involved in Path 2, the research-intensive pathway for my major, as well as MIMG Departmental Honors, where I will be completing my senior thesis. Along with these programs, I am also part of the Biomedical Research minor and UCLA College Honors.