Archive for category: Student Spotlight

Meet Sophia Rueda, a 3rd year neuroscience major. Sophia is currently engaged in the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program, 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. Prior to this, she was also a part of Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences (PEERS) and CARE Fellows–both programs that support students development of a strong foundation in the sciences and make teaching and/or research a part of their life’s work. Sophia is currently a part of the DeNardo Lab, where she completes research focused on investigating the brain-wide changes in circuit function following repetitive magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a promising and noninvasive depression treatment.

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

Before arriving at UCLA, I knew that I was very passionate about the intersection between neuroscience and mental health. During freshman and sophomore year I was fortunate enough to be a part of the PEERS research program which helped me navigate the ins and outs of research at such a big campus. During this exploration, I sought out labs that resonated with my interests in neuroscience, ultimately discovering the DeNardo Lab during my sophomore year. Since then, I’ve been immersed in investigating brain-wide changes in circuit function following repetitive magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a noninvasive depression treatment.

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

My research experience at UCLA has been incredibly enriching and insightful. Under the guidance of mentors at the DeNardo Lab, I’ve evolved both as a scientist and as a critical thinker, gaining confidence in my research skills. The supportive and collaborative atmosphere within the lab community has been instrumental in my personal growth. I have been lucky to be part of a community where everyone is happy to share advice and creative ideas.

UCLA has provided me with invaluable opportunities such as the CARE Fellows program and the MARC Program. These programs have allowed me to hone my technical skills such as mock grant writing, thesis development, and creating research posters. These experiences have deepened my appreciation for the complexities of research and the dedication required to advance knowledge in the field. I am very excited to be able to continue embarking on independent projects at the Summer 2024 Undergraduate Research Internship at the University of Pennsylvania which I could not have done without all of my wonderful mentors at the MARC program.

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

Entering the field of research can be daunting, and setbacks are inevitable. Experiments will not always go as planned and your questions may not always have clear answers. However, each obstacle is an opportunity for you to learn and grow. Approach every research endeavor with an open mind, passion, and perseverance. Embrace the unknown, as unexpected results often lead to new insights. Remember, mistakes and failures are integral parts of the journey and should never diminish your self-worth.

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

With the support of the MARC program, I had the privilege of attending the 2023 ABRCMS conference, where I showcased the research we have been conducting in the DeNardo Lab. Throughout last summer, I dedicated myself to developing a deep learning pipeline to analyze mouse brain slices post-rTMS treatment. With this brain wide activation data, we were able to propose a model of the effects of rTMS on circuit function. My preparation for the conference involved creating a poster with guidance from my research mentor, rehearsing my presentation, and answering questions from members of the lab, friends, and family. I wanted to ensure that I could communicate my ideas effectively even to those outside the field of neuroscience. Although a nerve-racking experience at first, I had the opportunity to discuss my research and future goals with brilliant researchers from all over the country. This conference definitely reinvigorated my passion for neuroscience and allowed me to grow as a scientist. I can’t wait to attend again next year!

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

I contributed to a project currently undergoing the review process on the role of the retrospenial cortex in the emergence of persistent memories. Currently, I have also been working with my mentor on crafting the publication detailing our rTMS findings. Although writing a paper can be a lengthy process, it has allowed me to grasp the big picture and significance of our project. I have also learned the importance of communicating science in an engaging and meaningful way.

6. What are your future career goals?

My goals are to attend graduate school and pursue a PhD in either Neuroscience or Clinical Psychology where I will continue to explore my love for the brain and mental health. I hope to continue using creative research ideas and scientific tools to improve treatment protocols and outcomes for people around the world. Due to my passion for working with kids, I would also love to construct educational programs that mold young scientists. My dream would be to bring these tools and programs back to those in underserved communities in my home country, Colombia. I am dedicated to becoming a socially aware researcher who helps bridge the gap between academia and those in our community.

Meet Emil Dominguez, a 3rd year biochemistry major with a minor in biomedical research. He is currently involved in the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program, 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. Emil was also a winner of the Best Poster award at the 2023 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) and a recipient of the 2023-2024 UCLA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Student Leadership Award. We had the opportunity to interview Emil about his research experience at UCLA:

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

My research journey took an unconventional route, beginning in community college before being accepted to UCLA. While in community college, I was fortunate to be accepted into the UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program Richard Morgan Undergraduate Fellowship, a life-changing experience. That summer, I joined Dr. Keriann M. Backus’s laboratory, where I gained a foundation in chemical biology. It was exciting to synthesize a small molecule and test its biological properties in cells. When I transferred to UCLA later that fall, I was thrilled to be invited to pursue additional projects in the Backus laboratory. I’ve been deeply involved in research ever since.

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

My research experience at UCLA has been incredibly enriching. Each week, I look forward to the chemistry and biochemistry department seminars. From organic and inorganic chemistry to biochemistry and chemical biology, I’ve been exposed to so many diverse research fields and had the opportunity to expand my scientific knowledge. Hearing from Nobel laureates and the world’s leading researchers at events like the Sigman Symposium and Glenn T. Seaborg Symposium has been inspiring. I feel so lucky to be a part of this amazing research community with incredible mentors like Dr. Backus, Dr. Carlos Portera-Cailliau, and Dr. Tama Hasson, to name a few.

Also, thanks to Dr. Gina Poe, Dr. Megan McEvoy, and Larone Ellison, I’ve had the opportunity to expand my horizons in the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program. Their guidance and support have allowed me to undertake independent and sustained research experiences at UCLA and abroad. Through MARC’s support, I participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Internship at the University of Pennsylvania and, more recently, the Vanderbilt Undergraduate MSTP fellowship, which I will attend in the summer of 2024.

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

My biggest tip is to start as early as possible, especially if you’re a transfer. Don’t be discouraged by how challenging it might be to understand complex concepts during lab meetings. Research is a constant learning journey; with each lab meeting, your understanding will deepen. Gradually, complex topics will become clearer, and you’ll start coming up with your own ideas and contributions.

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

I recently attended the 2023 ABRCMS conference, where I presented research I conducted in Dr. Dirk Trauner’s laboratory through the Summer Undergraduate Internship Program at the University of Pennsylvania. I worked to develop a photoswitchable version of cholesterol in the hopes that its incorporation into a phospholipid membrane, such as in a liposome, would afford us optical control over its permeability and, thus, the delivery of its contents. Much of my preparation began as soon as I landed in Philadelphia. I was given my own lab space and worked to set it up from scratch, including assembling a schlenk line used for air-free chemistry and preparing personal stock solutions and supplies. I happily worked late into the night and sometimes into the early morning hours and was completely immersed in my project. At the end of my summer, I gave a detailed PowerPoint research update during the weekly Trauner group meeting. Fielding questions and getting feedback and ideas for future experiments from labmates and Dirk was great preparation for presenting at ABRCMS.

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

I contributed to a project currently under review at Nature Chemical Biology, which has been deposited into the bioRxiv.

The publication process has helped me develop a big-picture understanding of our research project. I learned how to craft a narrative around our findings, proposing experiments that contribute to a cohesive story. It also forced me to think critically about project design and how to select and propose impactful experiments.

6. What are your future career goals?

I am driven to become a physician-scientist and address biomedical research questions impacting communities of color. My ultimate goal is to lead research as a principal investigator, where I can leverage my scientific expertise and clinical experience to find solutions that directly address these disparities.

Meet Kevin Alfaro, a 4th year Physics major with a background in Astronomy. He is currently involved in the UC Leadership Excellence Through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) Program. UC LEADS provides undergraduate students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with educational experiences that prepare them to assume positions of leadership in academia, industry, government, and public service following the completion of a doctoral degree. Additionally, Kevin was involved in the UCLA Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences (PEERS), an intensive two year program committed to promoting academic excellence and professional development for students dedicated to careers in the life or physical sciences or mathematics. We had the opportunity to interview Kevin about his research experience at UCLA:

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

I first got involved in research in the summer after my second year. I was in UCLA’s Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS). Through them, I learned about a program called University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS), which is a research fellowship that prepares undergraduates from underprivileged backgrounds to kickstart their research careers. They provide funding and support for you to get research experience and prepare for graduate school. From there, I contacted professors whose research I was interested in and ended up working with Professor Tuan Do. My current project involves using convolutional neural networks for photometric redshift estimation of galaxies.

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

My research experience at UCLA has been very fruitful and gratifying. I have a very supportive lab environment and never feel scared to ask for help. I enjoy the work I’m doing and getting to share it during presentations and conferences. I’ve gained a deeper knowledge of several topics I’m interested in such as machine learning and cosmology. And have also learned how to solve problems more creatively and in collaboration with several people. It’s also given me a sense of what to look forward to in graduate school.

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

My main piece of advice for students thinking about getting involved in research is to engage with it at their own pace. There have been several times when I burnt myself out from doing too much. It’s okay to slow things down and accept that setbacks are commonplace. Doing so also helps you better understand your project, and taking breaks can give you time to sit back and think about your work differently. There have been several times when I spent way too long on a problem, only to find a solution for it after stepping back and being in a more relaxed state of mind. At the end of the day, working too much will not only degrade one’s work, but it will also degrade the self.

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

I attended and presented at the 2023 UC LEADS symposium. Preparing for a conference is very much like preparing for a presentation in class. You have to make sure your information is easily digestible and concise. As well as be ready to anticipate any questions you can see people asking during your presentation. Most conferences have you present a poster and the making of the poster is usually what’s new to students during their first conference. As long as all of your information is concise and your figures are easy to decipher, you can freely design it as much or as little as you like. Admittedly, making a poster is a considerable endeavor and I would recommend you ask your labmates to provide feedback. You can even present it in front of them to rehearse. My biggest piece of advice would be to make a slideshow first, then move all of the information onto the poster format later. Focus on the content first, then turn your attention to the presentation of said information. Once you actually present, it’s also okay to not know the answer to questions you get asked. No one expects you to know everything there is to know about your subfield.

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

My work is in the process of getting submitted or being written up. I’m a coauthor on journal submissions but a first-author on conference papers. Both are relatively similar. Typically, you’d produce a manuscript, which is like a combination of a lab report and a literature review. You put your original work in and contextualize its value to the field. You’d submit it to a journal or conference and go through a peer review process where people with relevant experience will review your paper. If your paper gets accepted, you will typically get comments from the reviewers on corrections you can make to improve the work. The submission and review process can take time so don’t feel bad because the experience can be nerve-wracking.

6. What are your future career goals?

After getting my bachelor’s degree, I am going to pursue a Ph.D. in astrophysics. I ultimately want to go through graduate school and see if I would enjoy being a professor. If not, I can definitely see myself working in private research or the technology industry.