Justin Amakor

Meet Justin Amakor: a 3rd year Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology major. During his freshman and sophomore year, he previously participated in the PEERS program; an intensive two year program that is committed to promoting academic excellence and professional development for students dedicated to careers in the life or physical sciences or mathematics. The primary objective of the program is to increase the number of students who develop a strong foundation in the sciences and make teaching and/or research a part of their life’s work. Justin also participated in the Richard Morgan Undergraduate fellowship program whose objective is to increase diversity in the physician-scientist workforce by providing individualized research preparation and mentorship for undergraduate students who plan to apply to MD-PhD programs, including the UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). Justin is currently an active member of the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) and recently attended his first conference this past weekend. We were fortunate enough to gain a little insight on Justin’s research experience at UCLA:

 

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

As a freshman, I participated in a program called PEERS. There I was provided with valuable mentorships and was taught how to get into research. I was then introduced to my research project
through the Richard Morgan Undergraduate Fellowship Program, a summer fellowship aimed at increasing diversity in the physician-scientist workforce. From this program, I joined the Spencer
Lab, where I am currently studying the effect of osteopontin on cell-cell communication in the dystrophic muscle niche.

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

My research experience at UCLA has been nothing short of amazing. From my research experience, I have learned a multitude of skills both inside and outside of lab work. The
challenges I have faced have been a great learning tool to strengthen my critical thinking, analytical, and laboratory skills. The Spencer Lab is so welcoming and supportive, and it is an
absolute pleasure to work with them. Most importantly, my experience has confirmed my passion for pursuing the MD/PhD route.

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

To get into research, actively seek out opportunities by talking to your science professors, cold emailing, and joining UCLA science newsletters. To fully enjoy research, don’t be afraid to ask
questions! Dedicating time to research is what makes it satisfying and enjoyable. Put in what you want to get out.

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

I will attend the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) symposium in February, which will be my first conference. My past presentation experience would be at the summer
undergraduate research showcase. Presenting your research can be nerve-racking, but getting support from your mentor and PI is the best way to resolve that. Ask them about concepts you
don’t understand and how they have presented their research.

5. What are your future career goals?

My current future goal is to become a Physician-Scientist by getting my MD/PhD. I hope one day to see the real-time application of my research.

Karen Garcia

Meet Karen Garcia, a 3rd year Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology student. Karen was kind enough to give us a little insight on her research endeavors and experience as an undergrad. As a member of the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program, she recently attended the 2022 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) conference where she presented her work on “ToxiOmics: Using Chemogenomics to Understand the Impact of Environmental Chemical Exposures on Genes and Diseases”. Her work with Dr. Yang was so impressive that she was awarded the Presentation Award in Computational & Systems Biology. When she’s not working on her research, Karen keeps herself busy as a member of SACNAS at UCLA and a board member for Hermanas Unidas de UCLA.  Keep up the great work!

 

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

During my first year, I participated in the programs PEERS and BISEP which taught me about the various ways I could get involved in research. I looked into different labs that aligned with my interests and was fortunate enough to join the lab of Dr. Xia Yang. Since then, I have been working on our ToxiOmics project where we have been developing a tool that can be used to understand how environmental toxicants are linked to human diseases at the molecular level.

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

My research experience has been incredibly rewarding. I have received excellent mentorship from both my graduate student mentor and PI and have gotten to work with people with whom I share similar goals. Being exposed to new challenges has also helped me gain skills I never would have imagined I could achieve. I am really glad to be a part of such a great lab where there is always an opportunity to learn and grow.

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

Take advantage of every opportunity you can! Whether it’s participating in different programs that can help you get started in research or learning a new skill once you’re already in a lab, don’t be afraid to take a chance. Always keep an open mind, you never know where these opportunities will lead you.

4. Can you describe your experience on preparation and presenting for a conference?

I was fortunate enough to attend the ABRCMS conference this past November. Since it was my first conference, I was quite nervous but also very excited. When preparing my poster I looked at different resources to get an idea of the key things I should include and then I ran it by my mentor and PI to make sure I was on the right track. During the poster session, I treated my presentation to the judges as more of a conversation which helped me answer every question they had more comfortably and with enthusiasm.

5. What are your future career goals?

I plan on pursuing a career in translational research as I have always been fascinated by how science can be used to benefit human health.

Justin Quan

Meet UCLA senior, Justin Quan, who is majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics (MIMG) with a minor in Biomedical Research. As a member of the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, Justin recently attended the 12th annual Southern California Eukaryotic Pathogen Symposium (SCEP 2022) where he presented his work “Toxoplasma gondii encodes an array of novel TBC-domain containing proteins including an essential regulator of the secretory pathway”. Through his research with Dr. Peter Bradley’s lab, their studies provided “new insight into intracellular vesicle trafficking” and won the Best Talk Award for SCEP 2022! Justin also participated in the 2021-2022 cohort of the Beckman Scholars Program which is an invite-only program that supports outstanding UCLA undergraduate researchers who are majoring in Chemistry, Biochemistry, MIMG and MCDB. Our team had an opportunity to speak with Justin about his research experience at UCLA:

 

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

I started working in Dr. Bradley’s lab during the summer before my freshman year. For about a year, I was working on entry level CRISPR-mediated epitope tagging of novel genes. While I was not directly given my current project, my transition towards studying secretory organelles in Toxoplasma gondii felt very fluid. Overtime, my project gradually grew, and I focused on studying the mechanism of intracellular vesicular trafficking.

 

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

Research has been my greatest learning tool at UCLA. This ongoing experience allows me to constantly apply concepts learned in class to practical real-world applications on the bench. Having an independent research project has also trained me to problem-solve failures and come up with novel techniques. The best part of research was meeting my new friends, graduate students and undergraduates alike. Bonding over failed westerns or late-night grinds in the tissue culture are hallmarks of doing life science research.

 

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

If and when you start conducting research, try to dig deeper into your project and the science. Research is all about what you put into it. The more you put in, the better of an experience you will have and the more you will learn from it. Going for a mechanistic understanding really helps to grow your research project.

 

4. What are your future career goals?

With my major in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and minor in Biomedical Research, I plan to pursue a M.D./PhD. degree with the hopes of someday running a translational research lab within a large academic institution.

 

Way to go, Justin! We’re excited to see what’s in store for you in the future.

Abigail Gutierrez

Say hello to Abigail: a fourth-year Neuroscience major. As a member of the De Biase lab, Abigail studies Microglia: dynamic, macrophage-like cells within the CNS. They remove cellular debris and pathogens from surrounding tissue and exert powerful neuroprotective and/or neurotoxic effects during disease and injury. She also participates in the Louis Stokes California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP),  whose goal is to enhance diversity in STEM fields at the PhD and faculty level by providing financial and professional development support to students from groups underrepresented in these fields. Abigail was kind enough to answer a few questions regarding her research experience:

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

I was first involved in health disparities research my sophomore year. That experience made me realize I love the process of research, however I wanted to do something that enriched my passion and major, Neuroscience. Being placed in the wonderful MD/PHD Richard Morgan MSTP program, led me to be placed in Dr. De Biases lab. This is where I have been researching Microglial-Extracellular matrix interactions related to memory and neuronal function in aged mice!

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

My research experience at UCLA has been extremely enriching and
insightful. Research has definitely shown me the need for scientists, there is a lot more we don’t know in science. Since joining I feel that I have developed strong critical thinking skills and a love for research. There is nothing quite like creating your own ideas and creating a plan on how to evaluate those ideas. Being with a group of like minded people has given me extreme confidence to pursue my goals:)

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

My one piece of advice is to remember your background before you compare yourself to other undergraduates in the lab. Some people might have had lab experience in high school while you may have had none. Just remember you can get on any level with hard work.

4.) What are your future career goals?

My future career goal is to get an MD/PHD in neuroscience!

 

You’re doing an awesome job, Abigail! Keep up the great work!

 

Keya Jonnalagadda

Meet Keya: a fourth-year Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics major. As a Beckman Scholar, Keya will be studying the motility and function of this parasite. She focuses on identifying the interdependencies between proteins within the microtubules of the T. brucei flagellum, as well as characterizing these proteins. Keya hopes to gain a lifelong scientific community through Beckman Scholars to help her build a career in research.

 

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

I became involved in my current research project by reaching out to a few labs across the MIMG department. I was (and still am!) especially interested in infectious diseases so when I heard back from Dr. Hill’s lab, I felt it was a good fit. I got involved in my project almost immediately because I was super interested in studying parasites and also because I wanted to learn as many techniques as I could right away. It has just evolved into a larger project since then!

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

My research experience at UCLA has been great. I really liked having the opportunity as an MIMG student to take classes where I read about current research and learned about molecular biology techniques before I even started volunteering at a lab. And when I did take the leap and start at the Hill Lab, everyone there was accepting and supportive about my career goals in research. I feel that I wouldn’t be where I am today in research without the help of the people I do research with here every day.

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

My advice to students trying to get involved is to just send an email or stay behind after class and talk to your professor about any kind of question or idea you have. Don’t hesitate! The only criteria to get involved with research is to be interested, and as long as you express interest, you will find your place at a great lab.

4. What are your future career goals?

I’m applying to PhD programs this fall in Infectious Diseases and Immunology or Microbiology in the hopes of one day being a research scientist developing real solutions to real global health issues.

Frankie Villalobos

Meet UCLA senior, Frankie Villalobos, who is majoring in Physiological Sciences with a minor in Chican@ & Central American Studies. In addition to participating in the URC-Sciences Summer Program performing research with UCLA faculty, their first paper was published Fall 2021 in MPDI titled “Mitochondrial Heterogeneity in Metabolic Diseases” that discusses how mitochondrial heterogeneity is both beneficial and detrimental to the cellular system.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

I first got involved in my research project and my lab through my LS23L TA. He helped me get in touch with a graduate student in the Shirihai lab. Since then, I have had the best, and most privileged, experiences and have been able to join on multiple research projects.

 

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

Getting into research at UCLA is one of the more challenging things you can do. Especially if you are looking into either funded research or popular topics like cancer biology. However, there are plenty of resources that will help you get to your goal. As I previously mentioned, my LS 23L TA helped me get into research. Although the TAs are a wonderful way to get into research, there are plenty of other way into getting research. You just need to find out your best path into getting it.

 

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

Just do it! You won’t know if it’s the right environment for you unless you try it out. Other things to consider are the work environment and your research topic. Also, remember to have fun!

 

What are your future career goals?

Currently, I’m not sure what my career goal is. I do know that I will be applying to grad school and, hopefully, getting my PhD in Physiology.

Arjun Verma

Meet UCLA Senior, Arjun Verma, who is majoring in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology with a minor in Bioinformatics. As a member of the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, he submitted work and presented at the Western Thoracic Surgical Association and was one of 19 podium presentations at a conference that typically only accepts residents and attending physicians for presentation.

Arjun was published as a first author in the article “Incidence and Outcomes of Laryngeal Complications Following Adult Cardiac Surgery: A National Analysisthat discuss the increased morbidity of Laryngeal complications which call for further development of active screening protocols in order to increase early detection. In addition, Arjun recently co-authored a publication in JAMA Cardiology called “Center-Level Variation in Transplant Rates Following the Heart Allocation Policy Change“.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project? 

During junior year of high school, an eye opening research experience at the University of Massachusetts Amherst solidified my passion for biomedical research. After searching for research opportunities online, I found the CORE Lab’s website and saw a plethora of clinical outcomes research projects. I knew that clinical outcomes research was the perfect opportunity for me to apply my machine learning knowledge to clinical problems. Thus, when I committed to UCLA, I immediately emailed Dr. Benharash and joined the lab in my first quarter on campus.

 

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

My research experience at UCLA has been extremely rewarding. When I joined Dr. Benharash’s CORE Lab, I was immediately greeted with a warm, collaborative lab environment. Members in the lab, including surgical residents, medical students and other undergraduates, were excited to have me contribute to their projects and develop my research skills. My research typically involves applying data science and machine learning techniques to large datasets of surgical patients in order to identify clinical and hospital factors that contribute to postoperative complications and prolonged length of stay. One of my most impactful projects has been to develop machine learning models to predict length of stay after cardiac operations. These tools will be implemented in the UCLA electronic medical record systems and will help inform patient scheduling strategies. Ultimately, this project allows hospital administrators and surgeons to reduce waiting list times. Through my experiences in the CORE Lab, I further developed my programming skills, learned several machine learning techniques and how to write professional, scientific manuscripts that are suitable for publication in peer reviewed journals.

 

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

I think that there are two important things that make a good research experience: an amazing mentor and a true passion for the research topic. I would recommend taking time to find a research project and mentor that will provide you with opportunities that will be both personally and professionally fruitful. In addition, I would encourage people to reach out to labs with the intent of diving deeply into the subject material.

 

What are your future career goals?

After graduation, I plan to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician scientist. I hope that my future research projects will also involve developing additional machine learning models to predict clinical outcomes following surgery.

Tianqing Li

Meet recent UCLA graduate, Tianqing Li, who majored in Bioengineering and Applied Mathematics. Tianqing was recently published as first author for her undergraduate research. “A Multi-Pronged Evaluation For Image Normalization Techniques” is published in IEEE Explore. She also presented her work at the 2021 IEEE 18th International Symposium.

As an undergraduate, Tianqing was a part of Dr. William Hsu’s lab in the Department of Radiological Sciences. Tianqing is now a PhD student at Duke Biomedical Engineering.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

At the beginning of the pandemic, I emailed several different research labs to look for remote research opportunities. Prof. William Hsu was very kind to schedule a meeting with me regarding my previous research experiences and current interests. Later I was introduced to one of his PhD students, Leihao, and started to help with an ongoing project related to lung CT image processing.

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

It has been a very fruitful experience for me, in terms of both crucial research expertises and future career development. It was the first time that I had the chance to start a new research project from scratch, actively get involved in lab activities, and eventually draft and publish an academic paper. It was also during this process that I confirmed my interest in continuing with more advanced research and decided to apply to graduate schools.

 

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

My major advice is to not get immediately discouraged by the frustration that almost everyone will encounter when they try to enter a new lab/get into some new area. For me, reading more about the current state of the art in the field, and certainly looking for advice and help from other people in the lab have been very helpful.

 

What are your future career goals?

Given the fact that I am still in the very early phase of my graduate study, it is uncertain for me to decide which direction I would like to pursue, in particular, academia versus industry. But I am certain that I enjoy research-based work and am open to different types of opportunities.

 

What will you be studying as a PhD student at Duke University?
I am currently a first-year PhD student advised by Professor Timothy Dunn at Duke Biomedical Engineering. Our lab works on developing ML/AL-empowered robust 3D behavioral tracking systems for lab animals – tools for high-resolution movement quantification and better understanding of the nervous system.

 

 

Sophia Winter

Meet UCLA senior, Sophia Winter, who is majoring in Environmental Science with Atmospheric Sciences minor. This summer, Sophia was awarded the 2021 JSIP Best Presentation Award for her research presentation as part of the Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering (JIFRESSE) program.

The JIFRESSE program is a highly selective program where undergraduates work on a project as part of a collaboration between UCLA and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) that focuses on monitoring global warming and climate change in California.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

I heard of the JIFRESSE program through an undergraduate mentorship hosted by Chi Epsilon Pi (XEP), a national meteorological honors society at UCLA. XEP has historically been for graduate students in the Atmospheric Science Department, but recently organized an undergraduate chapter for students affiliated with the Atmospheric and Oceanic Science (AOS) Department. I minor in AOS, so I was able to join a mentorship group led by a graduate student. We meet about once a quarter to talk about our goals and future plans. JIFRESSE was one of the programs my mentor recommended.

 

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

I have had a really diverse research experience. In the Fall of my sophomore year, I was part of the Sustainability Action Research (SAR) program offered through the Institute of the Environment & Sustainability (IoES). My team gathered information about undergraduate research opportunities and accessibility in the realm of sustainability. We compiled a report with design recommendations for a website to host all past, present, and future sustainability-related research projects by students. Last year, I was a research assistant for a graduate student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. Using data obtained through DNA metabarcoding, I studied how hummingbird diets change based on sex, age, and across altitudinal and rural/urban gradients. JIFRESSE was the first research experience in line with my future career goals because I want to pursue a research position in the earth sciences. I mapped and analyzed landslide movement along California’s Big Sur coastline. I learned so much about remote sensing and got to practice my coding and oral presentation skills.

 

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

I recommend not being too selective about the topic of a research opportunity. I have done different types of projects in varying fields and have learned valuable skills from each experience. Also, I know reaching out can be intimidating, especially at a school with such high achieving and intelligent students and faculty, but keep in mind that everyone has been where you are. Everyone had to start somewhere, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there just because you might not have research experience yet. UCLA is a research institution that has many faculty members who value and have a need for help from undergraduates.

 

What are your future career goals?

This past year made me realize how much I like the freedom of remote work. I would also love to do field research but want a position that is primarily remote so I can have the flexibility to travel. After college, I plan to work for a couple of years to clarify my area of focus for graduate school. Ideally I want to work for a government agency like NASA or NOAA and do remote sensing work in glaciology. Any research-focused career in earth science that helps the environment in some way will be engaging and fulfilling.

Swetha Sankar

Meet UCLA senior, Swetha Sankar, who is majoring in Astrophysics. Swetha was recently published as first author for her paper, “V488 Per revisited: no strong mid-infrared emission features and no evidence for stellar/sub-stellar companions” in The Astrophysical Journal. This past summer, Swetha was also selected to participate in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program with the National Radio Astronomy Observator and presented her research at the Summer Student Symposium.

Swetha is currently a part of Dr. Ben Zuckerman’s laboratory in the UCLA Department of Physics & Astronomy.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

During the Fall semester of my Sophomore year, I was interested in pursuing research and gaining hands-on experience in my field of study. In particular, my interest in a few of Dr. Ben Zuckerman and Beth Klein’s papers on white dwarf atmospheres and their significance in defining extrasolar planet properties led me to reach out to them. After a meeting in which we discussed my current research interests, I was given the opportunity to work with Dr. Carl Melis at UC San Diego on an unusually dusty stellar system.

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

This opportunity has definitely provided an invaluable experience for me as I have gained many technical skills and improved my public speaking. Additionally, it has also provided me with a community of people who have helped me grow as a person and an undergraduate student researcher under their mentorship.

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

Do not be afraid or intimidated of reaching out and expressing your interest in a topic of study! If you are unsure where your interests lie, I would advise attending talks hosted by the department. Faculty on campus are more than willing to mentor you, help you grow as a researcher, and teach you the necessary skills needed to succeed.

 

What are your future career goals?

Currently, I am conducting research on low mass dwarf galaxy evolution and aim to apply to graduate school for higher studies in observational astrophysics with an interest in black holes and their influence on galactic evolution.