Jasmine Esparza

/in /by

Meet recent UCLA graduate, Jasmine Esparza, who majored in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and minored in Biomedical Research. She is now studying for her PhD at UC Davis. Jasmine was just awarded an NIH T32 Molecular and Cellular Biology Training Grant. She also recently published her undergraduate research, “Defining a role for GPCR/cAMP/Creb signaling in HFSC activation,” in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 

During her time at UCLA, Jasmine was a part of Dr. William Lowry’s lab in the Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. As an undergraduate, Jasmine was also awarded the Beckman Research Scholarship, a prestigious award presented to outstanding UCLA undergraduate researchers who are majoring in Chemistry, Biochemistry, MIMG, or MCDB, and who are committed to completing an honors or departmental thesis project with a UCLA Beckman Faculty.

 

How did you first get involved in your research at UCLA?

In high school, I participated in the UCLA Biosciences Research Internship where I worked directly with a graduate student, learned the wet lab basics, and presented my findings to UCLA faculty and students. I absolutely enjoyed this program and I knew I wanted to continue doing research in undergrad. Entering UCLA, I was fortunate enough to be selected to participate in a program called Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences (PEERS). I didn’t know it at the time, but this program truly jump-started my career in research. With the help of networking opportunities with PEERS, I found a wonderful lab that I thrived in. My graduate student mentor, Matilde Miranda, was a role model and constantly supported me. When I decided I wanted to go to graduate school, my PI, Dr. William Lowry, and Matilde ensured I was taking the right steps to be a competitive applicant, such as getting funding opportunities and presenting my research at various conferences.

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

I had a truly wonderful research experience at UCLA. I attribute my positive experience with my lab, the Lowry lab. The moment I realized I want to invest my future into research, I made sure to surround myself with a supportive community and take every possible opportunity I could to better myself as a scientist. I changed my major from Biology to Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) since I knew these classes utilize primary literature to supplement and expand on class concepts. I minored in Biomedical Research, where I learned to communicate my science in oral and poster presentation formats. I participated in research enrichment programs such as CARE Scholars, CARE Fellows, and the MSD fellows program offered by the URC. I also was selected as UCLA Arnold and Mabel Beckman Scholar, which I considered my biggest accomplishment as an undergraduate scientist since my research was recognized at the national level. Overall, research kept opening doors for me so I kept going through them. I am grateful for all of the opportunities that I had that made my research experience at UCLA a positive one that I will never forget.

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

If you are thinking of getting involved in research, one piece of advice that I would give is don’t feel like you have to know everything about a lab’s field of research when you are reaching out or just starting. Professors and graduate students will not expect you to be experts in the field. A supportive lab will guide you to gradually learn all the necessary concepts to fully grasp the project.

What is your current research about for your PhD at UC Davis?

I am currently studying how metabolism and epigenetics play a role in gametogenesis, the development of sperm and egg. My project is specifically focusing on how carbohydrate metabolism is regulated to ensure that sufficient metabolites or substrates, such as acetyl-CoA, are produced for chromatin-modifying enzymes to ensure successful sperm and egg development.

What are your future career goals?

I am currently in the process of trying to decide if I want to pursue industry or academia. No matter what path I take, I know I want to mentor undergraduate students in research. Without mentorship and a supportive community, I would not be where I am today. I want to help the next generation of scientists, especially underrepresented minority students. I am excited to see what the future holds.

Andrew Evans

/in /by

Meet UCLA senior, Andrew Evans, who is majoring in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. He recently published a paper as first-author titled, “Producer–scrounger relationships in yellow-bellied marmots” in Animal Behaviour.

Andrew works in Dr. Daniel Blumstein’ lab in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

In my first year at UCLA, I talked with my academic counselors about being involved in research, and they recommended the PI that would be a good match. I simply sent an email to Dan Blumstein (a faculty researcher) and ended up doing lab work for a quarter before moving on to other data collection based on my initial interests. I just kept doing the work, did it well for a year, and was nice enough that Dan and my grad student mentor, Dana Williams, asked me to join them and the marmot team in the field for the following summer. After working in the Rocky Mountains with them, I started my project on social foraging with some of the data I had helped collect in the field. It really was a matter of me getting in there, sticking to it, and one thing leading to the next.

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

At the start, I was able to learn the foundations of research, while observing how my grad student mentors and PI perform their research at the next level up. As I’ve gotten more confident with the process and more friendly with the other lab members, I’ve been able to speak up and contribute more of my ideas to the lab’s work and discussions. So it’s really been an entry-level footing into research work that’s allowed me to see what a career in research would be like. Also a lot of fun, weird stories. I’ve been involved with two labs at UCLA, and both have been fun to work in and fun to tell others about. I guess not many people get to pet baby marmots, chase foxes, and look at computerized dog skulls for hours on end.

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

Know that you’re not supposed to know everything yet. Be confident reaching out, knowing that these researchers are expecting undergrads to reach out, and be comfortable asking questions if things aren’t clear along the way. Be open and friendly. The biggest part of research as an undergrad is getting comfortable in the research process and the surrounding community of researchers. So if you’re simply coming in, doing the work, doing the tasks, and leaving every day without talking to anyone, you’re missing out on the opportunity to make your work more fun, make new friends, and get closer to people who can be helpful resources in the future.

What are your future career goals?

I’m looking to get into a career (and further education later) in natural resources, sustainable resource use, conservation, and restoration. I’m getting my degree in ecology, so I’m looking for a career that uses the principles I’ve been learning about in class to make real efforts at improving our natural world and our relationship to it.

 

Sarah Alkidim

/in /by

 

Meet UCLA senior, Sarah Alkidim, who is majoring in Physics, with minors in Environmental Engineering and Mathematics. Sarah recently published a paper titled, “Distribution of microplastics in soil and freshwater environments: Global analysis and framework for transport modeling” in Environmental Pollution.

Sarah is a part of Dr. Sanjay Mohanty’s SEALab (Subsurface Engineering & Analysis Lab) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

During my sophomore year, I took my first environmental engineering class and loved it. It took me a couple of months to build up the courage, but I eventually emailed my professor asking if there were any positions for undergraduates open at his lab. At first, I got no reply. This is fine; professors are very busy! I waited a few more months and emailed again, this time getting the opportunity to meet with graduate students at Professor Sanjay Mohanty’s SEALab (Subsurface Engineering & Analysis Lab). After a couple of weeks rotating with graduate students during fall of my junior year, I was directed to a new project that was picking up because it was where I was needed most. I’ve been working with this group ever since on microplastics, which are plastics typically less than 5 mm in size. Lab work focused on quantifying the vertical transport of microplastics through soil, and through this I learned useful lab techniques related to designing and setting up such an experiment. On the other hand, my remote work collecting and analyzing data with my group culminated in a global review of the occurrence and transport of microplastics in terrestrial environments.

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

I felt my work was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as most other people might feel as well. Because of these exceptional circumstances, research has been conducted remotely since March 2020. Nonetheless, I feel fortunate to be working with a group that has helped me develop both inside and outside the lab. Writing, reading, and presenting scientific work are all vital parts of successful research and communication, and these are all skills that I have gained at SEALab. In addition, I now have a community of mentors and peers that offer support and value me and my work. Though I don’t have any previous experience to compare to, this was more than I had envisioned for my undergraduate experience at UCLA.

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

In my experience, there can be too much pressure on undergraduates to successfully get into research as soon as possible. I personally had no idea undergraduate research opportunities even existed! My advice would be to go easy on yourself. Take your time and find your interests–these might change as you take more classes. Don’t be afraid to figure it out by reaching out to graduate students or professors from classes to talk about their research! I definitely think I would have benefited more if I had done that. One more piece of advice is try to not be discouraged if you don’t find any opportunities that interest you right away; keep looking for people who can help you, and keep exploring.

What are your future career goals?

Although my research thus far has been in the field of environmental engineering, I am looking to continue my education and research within the realms of physics. More specifically, I want to explore condensed matter physics and am interested in both theoretical and experimental research. One possibility I am considering is focusing on the intersection of fundamental physics and sustainability. I also really enjoy teaching, so these two things have led me to apply for graduate programs in physics.

Kevin Sun

/in /by

Meet UCLA senior, Kevin Sun, who is double majoring in Human Biology and Society, and Asian Studies. Kevin recently published a paper titled, “A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth” in JoVE Journal.

Kevin is a part of Dr. Hilary Coller’s lab in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Development Biology.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

I got to know my research project (and the lab, in general) through the biomedical research minor. Previously I was a volunteer research assistant for a different lab, so I had some research experience. But I wished to have more independence in terms of planning my own experiments and working on them by myself to better prepare myself for graduate school. So I asked the minor’s director, Dr. Ira Clark for advice. He informed me that my PI, Dr. Coller was recruiting undergraduate students back then and briefly introduced the projects to me, which sounded really fascinating. When I met with Dr. Coller, within the short period of time listening to her explaining the projects, I was able to tell that she is really committed to training undergraduate researchers. Her ability of breaking down the scientifically complicated projects and explaining them in a really detailed but understandable way really inspired me. And the active projects at that time fall perfectly on my research interest, which is basic/translational cancer biology. I met with my mentor on the same day and immediately started to work on the day after, which is so far the best decision I have ever made in college. With the help of my PI and postdoc mentors, I spent a quarter or two to learn the skills and complete the training, then started to work on experiments individually or even plan for my own experiments.

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

If I would describe my research experience in a couple of words, I would say “rewarding”, “intriguing” and “nerve-wrecking”. My lab works with many clinically relevant projects and many of our studies have clinically applicable significance. Therefore as an aspiring MD/PhD student, seeing any progress in our projects always feels really rewarding and makes me want to go back to lab right away the next day. On the other hand, there are so many unanswered questions in everyday research that constantly intrigue me (which also really stresses the importance of asking questions!). And in terms of nerve-wrecking, doing an important experiment for the very first time by myself always gives me a lot of stress. But again, these experiences are also extremely valuable for my future’s training and being able to do them is a really self-rewarding process itself.

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

I would suggest everyone interested in doing research to read more papers! The ability to read and understand scientific literature is incredibly important, especially if you are planning to go to medical school or graduate school in the future. When you are planning to join a lab, reading some previous papers published by the principal investigator is the best way to catch up with their current research goals and familiarize yourself with potential topics that might come up during the interview with the PI. Reading a lot of papers after joining a lab is just equally as important as before joining a lab. There are numerous techniques that you would not be learning without the protocol papers. And there are also numerous updates in the field everyday that as a scientist you have to keep yourself up with. Therefore, I would suggest other undergraduate peers to learn how to interpret scientific articles and read a lot of them!

What are your future career goals?

Coming into UCLA as a pure pre-med student, my participation in research in the past three years really shifted my goal from just being a physician to a physician-scientist. I find the intersectionality of physician-scientists’ career truly attractive. Therefore in the long term, I see myself going into academic medicine as both a healthcare professional and a basic scientific researcher, likely in areas of cancer biology. And in the short term, I plan to work as a research associate during my gap years and then (hopefully) matriculate into a MD/PhD program.

Yeyang (Benson) Zu

/in /by

Meet UCLA senior, Yeyang (Benson) Zu, who is majoring in Environmental Sciences and minoring in Environmental Engineering and Statistics. He was recently published as co-author the papers, “Nitrate removal uncertainty in stormwater control measures: Is the design or climate a culprit?” in WaterResearch and “Biochar Selection for Escherichia coli Removal in Stormwater Biofilters” in the Journal of Environmental Engineering. 

Yeyang is a part of Dr. Sanjay Mohanty’s lab in the department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

How did you first get involved in your research project? 

I was interested in exploring the water treatment field after finishing C&EE 154, so I approached Professor Mohanty’s research group, named the SEALab, early in the winter of my second year. Professor Mohanty took a chance on me, and he is extraordinarily caring about his lab members. I was assigned to assist a Ph.D. candidate Renan, who is also extremely patient in teaching me experiment design and lab skills. Even though I have pivoted my focus to energy study for graduate school, experiences in the SEALab are the most inspiring research experience I have had at UCLA.

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

I am inspired to learn how to design an experiment from reviewing the literature, stating hypotheses, designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data. I appreciate having the opportunity to work with Renan. I studied stormwater treatment systems to improve pollutants removal. In particular, I assisted laboratory experiments that link biochar properties with its bacterial (E.coli) and munition compounds (Nitrate) removal efficiency. My lab skills also get improved by producing agar plates, quantifying the E.coli data samples by using spread-plate methods. Even during the pandemic, I also collected and analyzed over 30 research publications to view the potential impact of different SCMs design and various climates on nitrate removal. Fortunately, two of our research were written in papers and got published.

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

I want to encourage those who haven’t found their passions in science research to reach out bravely. I understand it’s hard to find something you feel very passionate about, but it should not be an excuse for us to not get involved in research. You will find that each research field has its attractions if you study deep enough. Even if you decided to pivot your study afterward, the analysis and lab skills will still get honed. Studying in such a campus with oceans of resources, I highly recommend you do not hesitate to participate in research.

What are your future career goals?

I will continue my energy study at Stanford University for the MS program under the Civil Environmental Engineering Department. I aim to research how to organize diverse energy sources such as coal, solar, and wind, providing the most sustainable and efficient electricity or heat supply. I aim to earn a Ph.D. degree and have my own company in either infrastructure or transportation planning.

Francesca DePrima

/in /by

Francesca DePrima is a UCLA senior, majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Environmental Engineering. She recently published a paper titled, “Distribution of microplastics in soil and freshwater environments: Global analysis and framework for transport modeling” in Environmental Pollution.

Francesca currently works in Dr. Sanjay Mohanty’s lab in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

When I first started the introductory course for Environmental Engineering taught by my Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Mohanty, I had never learned about green infrastructure or its applicability. After hearing about his research on subsurface process, green infrastructure, and remediation in class, I wanted to learn more about the field and went to his office hours to talk more about his work and the opportunities for undergraduates in his lab. I was able to learn about some of the research projects in the lab, and I was particularly interested in the projects centered around studying microplastics as an emerging contaminant. I got involved in projects examining microplastics as a pollutant in stormwater biofilters and the project in which I was recently published as a co-author, a study on the global distribution of microplastics in soil and freshwater environments.

 

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

My research experience has been very rewarding. When I first started at UCLA, I was amazed by all the research opportunities available to undergraduates and knew I wanted to get involved with research, even though I did not know what my own interests were until I began taking courses for my minor. From my experience in Dr. Mohanty’s lab, I have not only learned technical skills in lab work and writing scientific research papers, but have also discovered some of my research interests in stormwater remediation that I will be able to take with me to industry and throughout my career. This is particularly because the lab has a large focus on mentorship and in teaching undergraduates.

 

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

Before joining a lab, it is very important to do your research on the work of different labs in departments you are interested in. By looking at some of the publications from the PI or members of the lab, you can learn about their work and get an idea of if it fits with your interests. After finding a lab you want to work in, it is also crucial to continue to show initiative in getting involved in a research project. Additionally, while I would tell other students to find a lab conducting research on something you are interested in or passionate about, I would recommend to jump in and take advantage of the opportunities available even if you are not certain about what you are interested in researching. As an undergraduate, you may not know exactly what you are interested in when first starting research, but through persistence to get involved and gaining experience in a variety of research projects, you can learn where your own research interests lie.

 

What are your future career goals?

After earning my Master’s, I plan to go into industry as a water resources engineer. In particular, I want to continue working with stormwater treatment systems and technology and researching emerging contaminants. Throughout my career, I hope to implement green infrastructure and new stormwater treatment technologies to diversify our water portfolio, more effectively manage our water resources, and work to reduce inequities in access to clean water.

Andy Liao

/in /by

Meet UCLA senior, Andy Liao, who is majoring in Biology. Andy recently published his research titled, “BK Channels Regulate LPS-induced CCL-2 Release from Human Pulmonary Endothelial Cells” on American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.

Andy currently works in Dr. Schwingshackl’s lab in the Department of Pediatrics at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. He is also currently a scholar in our Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.

How did you first get involved in your research project?

I joined Dr. Schwingshackl’s laboratory during Winter of 2019 with a limited background in basic laboratory skills and a strong resolve to gain exposure to the academia research field. Under the tutelage of my Principal Investigator, Dr. Schwingshackl, and his Assistant Research Scientist, Dr. Tatiana Zyrianova, I refined my data analysis and laboratory skills, particularly with running Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs). My research productivity culminated in a co-authorship on an original research paper titled “BK Channels Regulate LPS-induced CCL-2 Release from Human Pulmonary Endothelial Cells.” Since my involvement in this research project, I’ve developed an interest in the distribution and pathology of acute respiratory distress syndrome in pediatric and geriatric populations, and a passion for contributing to the medical field by studying science at the microlevel.

 

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

My research experience at UCLA is best characterized as a constant upward trajectory of learning and growth in both the professional and personal sense. I started my research journey mostly maintaining cell culture by feeding, splitting, and seeding cells. However, during this past year I’ve acquired several important laboratory skills including gene and protein expression assays, immunofluorescence microscopy, and fluorescence-based methods of ion current detection. From this experience, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the inner-workings of academia research and learned the importance of organization, attention to detail, and fluid teamwork – virtues that will ground me as I pursue a path in medicine.

 

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

I would suggest that students approach getting involved in research with a growth mindset. Apply to academia or clinical research positions and determine if the work environment fosters your individual learning. In addition, I’d advise to proactively make an effort in understanding the larger purpose of your laboratory responsibilities and experiments. View your day-to-day in the laboratory through the lens of what you can learn to maximize what you can gain from your research experience.

 

What are your future career goals?

I am on the pre-medical track, aspiring to be a pediatric physician. Currently, I am searching for job opportunities for my gap year and preparing to apply to medical schools this upcoming cycle. Getting my medical degree is my top priority, but in the future, I plan on expanding my areas of expertise to encompass various different disciplines. My goal is to also branch off into clinical research, to witness firsthand how the skills I’ve learned in academia research translate to the clinical setting. Additionally, I plan to get a master of business administration in healthcare and learn more about Eastern Medicine, so as to incorporate a more holistic approach in my practice. Lastly, after accomplishing all of these aforementioned career goals, I plan to focus on teaching during the later years of my life.

Roni Touboul

/in /by

Meet Roni Touboul, a UCLA senior majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics. Roni recently published two papers titled, “YY1 expression and PD-1 regulation in CD8 T lymphocytes” in ScienceDirect and “Defective Natural Killer Cells in Melanoma: Role of NKG2D in the Pathogenesis and Immunotherapy” in Critical Reviews in Immunology.

Roni currently works in Dr. Benjamin Bonavida’s lab in Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics.

How did you first get involved in your research project?

As a freshman in high school, I developed a passion for research and it became a dream of mine to one day “cure cancer.” However, it was my interest in immunology once I started college at UCLA that drove me to begin searching for research in the Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) department. After emailing some professors whose research peaked my interest, I began doing research with Dr. Benjamin Bonavida and quickly realized that this was something I could see myself doing in the future. With the help of Dr. Bonavida I have learned about the specific mechanics of cancer and cells, expanded and refined my ability to critically analyze data and research from related papers, mastered search engines such as Google Scholar and PubMed, and learned to extrapolate data to create my own figures in scientific papers. Through this experience, I was able to continue doing research on cancer related topics like the one I am working on now that explores the question of how RKIP regulates Onco-T cell immunotherapy.

 

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

I would describe my research experience at UCLA as extremely fulfilling in that I gained a wealth of knowledge and a mentor in the process. Both of which have been incredibly rewarding. I was able to see firsthand the multitude of opportunities undergraduates have available to them and personally utilized opportunities to publish studies, showcase my work, and apply new skills I have learned. In the process, I have become a better reader, writer, and critical thinker which are all skills that will take me further in both my professional and personal life. All in all, my research experience at UCLA is an excellent catalyst to achieving my post-graduate goals.

 

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

My singular piece of advice is to follow your passions. When met with two research options, the competitive atmosphere at UCLA, and other universities like it, can lead you to pick the one that is the “better” resume builder. However when you are researching a topic you are passionate about not only will you be more excited to learn and do the work, but you will find that the research will be easier to do. Furthermore, I would also advise students to take the time to make sure their capabilities will align with what they are asked to do. In other words, not only should students research a topic that they’re passionate about, but they should look for a lab that, for example, matches their time commitments and capabilities.

What are your future career goals?

Immediately following graduation, I want to pursue a career in laboratory research. I want to take the time to perfect my research abilities and learn more about how I can conduct my own research in the future. After this I believe that I will best be able to apply my skills by attending medical school and specializing in general surgery. A dream of mine would be to take these skills abroad and continue doing research so I can fulfill both my passions of research centered and patient centered work. I aspire to be a doctor that helps underserved communities in both the lab and the hospital.

Melinda Berman

/in /by

Meet Melinda Berman, a UCLA senior majoring in Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Environmental Science. Melinda recently presented her research at an AGU meeting and was a recipient of the Outstanding Student Presentation Award (OSPA). The OSPAs are awarded to students for outstanding presentations of research in Earth and space science.

Melinda is currently also an Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP) scholar.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

I met my advisor, Dr. Pablo Saide, during a field campaign studying wildfires that I participated in during a summer internship in 2019. I worked with him on the forecasting team for the campaign and have continued working with him ever since. My research project is developing a novel algorithm quantifying burn area of wildfires from satellites to help better predict smoke emissions.

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA? 

My research experience at UCLA has been enriching and incredible! It has given me a new passion for wildfire research and understanding the role that wildfire plays in our world. Additionally, I have learned that I want to be a professional research scientist. My research experience has taught me how to have perseverance and to be a critical thinker.

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

Have confidence in yourself! It can be really intimidating to reach out a professor you want to work with, but you can do it. Even if you think you might not hear back, you should reach out because you don’t know what opportunities that professor or researcher might have for you. And even if they don’t have an opportunity for you, they might be able to guide you to another one. Having confidence in yourself will also be important when you obtain a research position. It will allow you to come to your advisor with opportunities and ideas that can help push your research even further.

What are your future career goals?

I’m planning on attending graduate school in the fall with the goal of obtaining my PhD in meteorology or atmospheric sciences. In graduate school, I hope to research severe storms and related hazards like tornados. After graduate school, I want to be a research scientist for the federal government or at a university.

Soumya Ravichandran

/in /by

Meet Soumya Ravichandran, a UCLA senior majoring in Psychobiology. Soumya was was able to present her research at the Obesity Society Obesity Week 2020 conference. Recently, she was also published as a first author in Scientific Reports for her paper titled, “Alterations in reward network functional connectivity are associated with increased food addiction in obese individuals.”

Soumya has been conducting research as part of Dr. Arpana Gupta’s lab in the Division of Digestive Diseases in the UCLA Department of Medicine.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

While I had some exposure to research in high school, it was my interest in neuroscience that propelled me to join my current lab during my freshman year of college under my PI, Dr. Arpana Gupta. During my first few quarters in the lab, I spent my time learning the basics of neuroimaging modalities and performing literature reviews on the brain-gut axis. As I became more acclimated with the lab, my PI encouraged me to shadow another student who was researching sex differences in resting state connectivity in obese individuals. It was through this experience that I became fascinated with exploring the neural correlates of food addiction across males and females. With the help of my PI and research mentors, I decided to pursue this independent research project through the next year with the goal of finding sex-specific connectivity differences in individuals with food addiction that could clinically contribute to the variability seen in their response to diet interventions.

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

Extremely rewarding. Coming to college, I had no idea the extent of opportunities that undergraduates would be exposed to. With every step of the way in my project, my research mentors and fellow students have offered me such a strong support system by always offering new insights and constructive solutions to my research efforts. I am also extremely grateful to my PI for her constant encouragement, without which I would not have been able to experience such enriching opportunities such as presenting at a national conference or publishing a manuscript. In addition to deepening my own knowledge, being involved in research at UCLA has allowed me to grow as a writer, reader, and independent thinker; all skills that will carry with me onto future endeavors.

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

Finding a lab that complements your research interests is incredibly important. Many students often jump into a lab for the sake of a resume boost or simply for the eagerness to get involved in a research project. However, rushing into a lab that you may not be fully interested in often leads to burnout or discouragement when faced with minor setbacks or difficulties. Taking the time to learn about the lab’s work and mentally checking if it is the right fit for you, prior to joining, can benefit you in the long run by making significant strides in your research much easier to achieve.

What are your future career goals?

I plan to attend medical school and pursue my goal of becoming a doctor after completing my undergraduate degree at UCLA. However, through this path, I plan to continue my research involvement and hopefully be able to translate the clinical implications of my research to create tangible improvements in patient care. Prior to my college, I had always thought of a career in medicine and one in research as two mutually exclusive paths. However, I now realize the interconnectedness of these two fields and the imperativeness of research efforts in order to improve the future of medicine with regards to targeted interventions, personalized medicine, and novel therapeutic techniques.