Growing up, I lived in various places including Guerrero Mexico and California, but for most of my life I have called Iowa my home. High school was where I discovered my interest for the sciences, specifically for biology after taking courses in microbiology and human anatomy & physiology. Throughout high school I also had the opportunity to work in various research labs at Iowa State University as part of the Science Bound program where I discovered for the first time what it meant to be a biomedical science researcher. By the end of high school, I knew I enjoyed conducting research and learning about all things involving diseases, medicine, and human health.

As an undergraduate at The University of Iowa, I further refined my skills as a research scientist during my time in Dr. Damian Krysan’s and Dr. Sarah Beattie’s labs. Under their mentorship, I identified a novel mechanism of antifungal resistance in the yeast C. albicans and helped identify endoplasmic reticulum function disruption as the mechanism of action for a novel antifungal compound, respectively. I graduated with honors in microbiology and with a certificate in global health studies in Spring of 2023 from The University of Iowa.

The more time I spent exploring various research opportunities as an undergraduate, the more I was convinced that research was the place for me to make a meaningful contribution. My research experiences in combination with my interests in microbiology and immunology lead me to applying for the Pathology M.S. where I decided to join Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam’s lab. 

During my time in the Mangalam lab, I aim to better my understanding of microbiology, immunology, and autoimmune diseases. Additionally, I look forward to further developing my scientific independence, problem solving abilities, collaboration, and communication skills. 

Outside of the lab and classroom, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, baking sweet treats, volunteering, and making all things art related (sketching, painting watercolor & acrylic, and jewelry making).