CNAS Blog

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Rayan Awais

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 06:51:01 +0000

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Rayan Awais Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/04/2024 - 22:51 More Blog Posts March 04, 2024

Name: Rayan Awais
Major: Mathematics
2023-2024: 2 ^nd Year Student

What makes UCR and/or CNAS stand out?

I believe what makes UCR stand out are the individuals who take the challenging route and help others in a welcoming way. The CNAS community is very welcoming on campus. Whether it is helping students get involved in volunteering opportunities like Little EINSTEINs, which provides creative lessons to elementary students, or taking the difficult classes like O chem, the community will always have your back. I remember when I was admitted into the science ambassador program at UCR, I always felt insecure about the fact that I was a math major, and everyone there was so intelligent. But, the group always supported me even if I did not know much about the sciences when everyone else did. They utilize my strengths as a math major and helped me grow into the best version of myself, even if that didn’t involve Biology. For anyone entering CNAS and feeling insecure about their skills and talents, just know that CNAS needs you and welcomes you very much!!!

In addition to being a Science Ambassador, what other organizations, clubs, or volunteer experiences are you involved with?

I am involved deeply in the University Honors Program as one of its ambassadors. As an ambassador of the program, I serve to educate and mentor others in a way that is motivational and inspiring. I do volunteering on the side with a club called Friend In Me, where students go to hospitals to cater to the needs of pediatric cancer patients. Finally, I do mathematic/computational research on campus, and I hope to get published by the end of the year. It is all due to the connections I made in the CNAS community, and in utilizing them, I was able to really benefit as a student.

What’s the best piece of advice you got when you were a new CNAS student?

In my opinion, I believe that being a CNAS student is the most challenging, but rewarding experience on campus. The best piece of advice I had received was from a 4th-year CNAS student, and he told me to always trust in my strengths. As a CNAS student, the classes are somewhat difficult and I always used to feel insecure about my performance in classes. It was through this insecurity that I could never do my best, as I had this fixed mindset that I just wasn’t good enough like the other students. However, if you push yourself and are kind to others, I believe the CNAS universe rewards you in some way (very hard to explain, you just have to try lol). So try your best regardless of what you think the outcome might be.

If you’ve participated in research, what’s been the most impactful part of that experience?

The most impactful part of that experience was the bond I gained with my professor. I believe conducting research on this campus with passionate professors like mine are not all about research. The professors at UCR go beyond their duties and help you find outside opportunities to help you be an academic weapon lol. Through my professor, I was able to conduct computational mathematic research but also got to travel to very cool conferences where I was able to interact with other nerdy math majors like me. I was able to find other opportunities in mathematics because of my experience in research. For example, my research landed me a spot at the International Joint Mathematical Meeting conference where I was able to volunteer at the Julia Robinson Festival. If it was not for my professor telling me about this experience, I would have never known.

What’s your secret talent?

Everyone asks me this question and if I tell you-that would yk break the laws of a “secret”. But, just because whoever is reading this is super cool, I will tell you. My secret talent is my ability to believe. Now, I do not mean that cliche “believe in yourself” stuff. I mean that I can believe in something so well that it becomes reality. For example, I believe that I will get an A on my O chem exam and it will come true, trust me…. *************************pls come true. But in all honesty, I believe and when you believe very well, anything is possible.

What are the keys to a successful first year experience?

Do everything. Just do everything and try everything. This is your time to figure out what you like. Go to that gaming club meeting. Try Skiing. Figure out what you like. When you know what you like and enjoy, you will figure out what you enjoy and love. If you try one thing and just fly with it, you never know what else was in your grasps. Make connections. Talk to professors and be super kind to them. Talk to them about their teaching, research, family etc. Professors give lectures and want you to have an enjoyable educational experience, showing them this through thought-provoking conversation is a great way to make yourself happy and make connections. It is easy to be a good winner, but very difficult to be a good loser. Your first-year might not be that pitch perfect All-As. Learn to fail and teach yourself to rise up and not let it define you. For example. I got a 18 percent on my chemistry midterm and it was multiple choice-4 choices. I was devastated and went into shock because if I just did not study, I would have got a higher score which is pretty odd. However, I laughed it off and analyzed why I did so terribly and with a redemption system in the syllabus(final grade replaces a midterm score), I got an A on the final and aced the class. So do not let your failures make you seem like its all over.

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Science Ambassador Spotlight: Jennalyn Resendez

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 23:24:53 +0000

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Jennalyn Resendez Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/10/2022 - 15:24 More Blog Posts Madeleine Haddad November 10, 2022

Name: Jennalyn Resendez
Major: Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology
2022-2023: 3^rd Year Student

Jennalyn, our Vice President of Tours, is this month's featured Science Ambassador. She was elected to the position in October and immediately got to work preparing for Discover UCR, an open-house event for prospective students. In just a couple weeks, Jennalyn trained all the new and returning ambassadors on how to give tours on a brand new tour route! She was able to meet with each ambassador individually to make sure everyone was confident on their tour-giving abilities. On the day of the event, Jennalyn worked tirelessly to pair up prospective students and their families with tour guides who had majors similar to tourists' interests. CNAS tours ran smoothly all day long, thanks to Jennalyn. We truly couldn't have done it without her. Jennalyn has big plans for the rest of the year, and we can't wait to see her success moving forward! Get to know Jennalyn some more below!

Describe a challenge you've faced and how you were able to overcome it.
One challenge that I faced when I got to UCR was that I had to quickly adapt to living on my own and being far away from all my family and friends. I am from Northern California, and I had never been away from home like this before. I knew that I had to find my own support system away from home in order to overcome the loneliness that I was feeling. I overcame this challenge by getting a CNAS Peer Mentor who introduced me to this Science Ambassadors Program. Within this program I have been able to surround myself with people who are passionate about science and people who truly wanted to help others find their place at UCR. I found my home in the Science Ambassadors Program, and I have found my own place here at UCR.

What is an experience you've had in college thus far that will stick with you for the rest of your life?One thing that I have experienced in college thus far that I will never forget was when I gave my first ever CNAS Science Ambassadors tour on Highlander Day during my 2nd year. This was a HUGE group of over 60 people, and my tour partner and I were basically shouting trying to make sure that everyone could hear what we were saying. By the end of the tour, I was exhausted and unsure if I had done a good enough job to make sure I had reached everyone in the way that I wanted to. Then, a girl and her family came up to me, got my attention, and said, “Jennalyn, I really enjoyed your tour.” She then introduced herself to me and asked me some questions about UCR as well as a few questions about my own experiences in college so far. After our conversation, she took out her phone and pointed to her screen and said, “This booth says “Submit your SIR” right? And it's over here?” (as she pointed in the direction of the booth). I replied, “Yes'' and she said, “Okay great, because I know now that this is where I want to go and I’m going right now to submit my SIR.” I was absolutely shocked. From the tour I gave and the barely 5 minute conversation I had with her, she had decided to choose UCR. I knew that I had made a difference in her life and that feeling was so fulfilling and rewarding that I knew I had found my purpose here at UCR.

What has your favorite class been thus far?
Thus far, my favorite class that I have taken at UCR is biol5LC which is the lab class for the Introduction to Evolution and Ecology course. This was the first time that I ever experienced fieldwork in person, and we got to hike up to Bio5C Hill and conduct our own research for projects we presented at the end of the quarter.

What is one piece of advice you have for your younger self?
One piece of advice that I would give my younger self would be to not stress about the things I cannot control. I would tell myself that everything happens for a reason, and everything that has already happened has led me to where I am today, and I am incredibly grateful for the life I get to live.

Pizza or tacos?
PIZZA!

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Student Spotlight: Sophia Parks

joanny — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 05:50:39 +0000

Student Spotlight: Sophia Parks joanny Thu, 10/28/2021 - 22:50 More Blog Posts October 29, 2021

Name: Sophia Parks
Hometown: Murrieta, CA
Undergraduate school, major and graduation year: University of California, Riverside, BS in Neuroscience, 2017
Graduate school, program, and graduation year: University of California, Riverside, Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology/Nematology, expected 2021
Websites: dillmanlab.org and propel.stanford.edu/scholar

How did you become interested in your field of study?
I have been interested in infectious diseases for as long as I can remember. I would watch "Monsters Inside Me" on the Discovery Health Channel as a kid and take notes on what not to eat to avoid parasites and which parasites are endemic to different regions all over the world. I was always interested in science and medicine throughout my primary education and would take time reading medical encyclopedias just trying to learn about as many diseases as I could.

As an undergrad at UCR I was planning on going to medical school. But I volunteered at an emergency room and within the first two hours, I realized that working in a chaotic medical system wasn’t for me. Around that same time, I started research in the biomedical department at UCR through the MARC U STAR program. This incredible program allowed me to participate in high level research and receive financial support. At this time, I fell in love with the research process of coming up with new ideas and using all kinds of tools to test them out. I realized I am passionate about research, working with my hands, and learned that I have a special talent for micro techniques such as dissections and injections.

Why UCR?
UCR has a very special place in my heart. I have seen growth and progress over the past several years. UCR has the unique role of serving underserved communities in the Inland Empire where I grew up. I originally wanted to stay close to home and be at an institution that is down to earth and has a diverse student population. UCR is the best place I could have been for my entire post high school education.

Please describe your research. Which lab are you working with?
I work in Dr. Adler Dillman’s lab in the Nematology department. My research is on the excreted/secreted proteins (ESPs) of parasitic nematodes. Parasitic nematodes release hundreds of ESPs into host tissues to increase their chances of successful infection and to evade host immunity. My initial project was on the fatty acid- and retinol- binding (FAR) protein family which are small, alpha-helix rich proteins. I found that FARs modulate host immunity leaving them more susceptible to bacterial infection. This was the first research to show that a nematode ESP directly alters the host's ability to elicit an immune response and alters the course of an infection.

Since FARs bind fatty acids, I became increasingly interested in lipid immune signaling in my model host organism, Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly. In humans, it is known that lipids cleaved from the membrane get converted by specific enzymes yielding downstream lipids that function in inflammatory or anti-inflammatory immune responses. In flies, that mechanism hasn’t been studied in detail. My current project is working on identifying lipids that are pro- or anti-immune and the mechanisms behind this signaling. On a day-to-day basis you’ll likely see me injecting thousands of flies with proteins and/or bacteria at the microscope for most of the day or running downstream immune assays.

Which faculty members do you work with? How has your faculty members been instrumental in your graduate work.
I have worked with many faculty members at UCR and there have been a few that have played a key role in my overall success. They include Drs Ernest Martinez, Sarjeet Gill, David Eastmond, Isgouhi Kaloshian, Naoki Yamanaka, and Adler Dillman. I want to highlight my PI Adler Dillman and our close collaborator Naoki Yamanaka. Dr. Yamanaka has been instrumental to my knowledge of the fruit fly as a model system and has continued to provide expert guidance to my research projects. In my opinion, Dr. Dillman is the best PI I could have ever asked for. He fosters such a welcoming and relaxed space for students to live up to their highest potential. He always has my best interest in mind and helped build up my confidence as a scientist while allowing me to be independent and to make significant contributions to the field. The support I received during my graduate career has been amazing and I am so thankful for all of the opportunities it has provided me with.

What are your plans for the future?
I am defending my dissertation on November 23 and will be starting as a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University in the new year. I am honored to be a part of the inaugural cohort of the Propel fellowship which strives to train a distinguished group of scholars at Stanford to create inclusive, diverse, and equitable future professors. I will be conducting research in Dr. Manuel Amieva’s lab in the Pediatrics department. My research will focus on how Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric epithelium. I will also utilize human gastric organoids to investigate population specific virulence factors that enable H. pylori to persist in the gut and often lead to gastric ulcers and cancer.

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CNAS Student Spotlight: Radhika Amin

joanny — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 20:03:41 +0000

CNAS Student Spotlight: Radhika Amin joanny Tue, 01/12/2021 - 12:03 More Blog Posts CNAS Communications January 12, 2021

Name: Radhika Amin
Major: Second year Neuroscience major
Hometown: Fremont, CA

As a student, you lived on campus, you were involved in a variety of student groups, volunteered with a number of organizations, and conducted research. Please share some of the highlights during your time at UCR. How has that changed during the campus closure?
I was fortunate to meet so many driven and passionate students and faculty during my time on campus. I could learn so many new things no matter where I was or what I was doing. When I joined the UCR Brain Game Center in the fall, I had no prior research experience, but the team was willing to put in the time to teach me the research methods I needed to succeed.

By the end of freshman year, I helped conduct a year long project on adaptive algorithms in memory training and presented findings at two undergraduate conferences. Being a part of this supportive community was conducive to my growth as an undergraduate student. The switch to remote learning was challenging, as many other students likely felt as well, because we had to quickly adjust to a new environment. I was worried that I may find it difficult to continue my involvement on campus. Fortunately, many of my extracurricular activities were able to transition to a virtual platform, so I found ways to stay connected.

Tell us more about the research you conducted with Professor Aaron Seitz and the UCR School of Medicine on stroke research? How did you become interested in this field of study?
I initially was drawn to research at the Brain Game Center, because of my experiences with concussions and head injuries from when I used to play soccer. I wanted to understand the relationship between brain structure and cognitive functioning, especially in those affected by traumatic brain injuries or those who are cognitively impaired. Therefore, after hearing about the stroke project from Professor Seitz, I was immediately interested.

We are working on using existing technology developed at the Brain Game Center to create an electronic-based neuropsychological battery, which is basically a group of tests that can assess multiple cognitive domains such as executive function, visuospatial abilities, etc. We are working on designing the battery so that it can accurately assess the cognitive abilities of stroke patients in the long term. We have also been working closely with doctors at the UCR School of Medicine in piloting the battery towards our target population this year. In light of the pandemic, there is an increasing need for such remotely administered tests because expert examiners that were once able to enter hospitals and assess patients may no longer be able to do so. I strongly believe that patients deserve the same standard of health care no matter the situation which is why I feel so passionate about this area of research.

You had the opportunity to participate in the RISE program last summer. Describe RISE and your experience with the RISE program.
The RISE program this summer was an incredible opportunity for my personal development. I am grateful for the support I have received throughout the program from program leaders, peer mentors, donors, and our research team. Over the program, I have gained a greater understanding of the interdisciplinary studies of my peers and the research that I am conducting as well. I collaborated with experts at the Brain Game Center and the UCR School of Medicine, while I drafted several proposals of the stroke battery. There are many tests that we want to include in the battery, but we are limited because we don’t want the entire assessment to be too long. Part of my job was to help determine what was important and what wasn’t important which was challenging. Overall, the experience has taught me how being patient and steadfast is crucial for continuing progress within any research field.

Any advice for prospective students?
As an undergraduate student, I learned the importance of putting my efforts towards activities that I am passionate about. I advise prospective students to spend time to figure out what they are really interested in and how that could relate to what they intend to do in the future. I am grateful to be a part of a team that has put in so much effort to help me learn, so I hope that future students can also find opportunities where they have this same ability to learn in their field of interest and grow as an undergraduate.

What are your plans for the future?
While RISE has helped me solidify what I would like to do in the future, it has also shown me the vast career opportunities within various fields of research. I plan to pursue a graduate degree in a field of education and health research. I am unsure of which specific career I would like to have, but I am excited to see what the future holds.

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CNAS Student Spotlight: Samantha Morales-Torres

joanny — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 20:26:01 +0000

CNAS Student Spotlight: Samantha Morales-Torres joanny Tue, 12/08/2020 - 12:26 More Blog Posts December 08, 2020

Name: Samantha Morales-Torres
Major: 3rd Year Neuroscience Major
Hometown: Riverside, CA

Take us through your decision to attend UCR. As a first generation college student, what did attending a university mean to you and your family?
After spending my freshman year at UCSD, I realized that I needed to make a change after my grades started dropping. Therefore, I transferred to UCR to return home while promising myself that I would bring my grades up and serve my community. I am not ashamed to admit that my grades were low when I transferred into UCR because my grades do not define me and I am able to learn from that experience. Thankfully, I have my family and friends that helped me bring myself back up so I started doing better academically and mentally. I cannot emphasize enough just how much I have been able to grow as a person and student at UCR. Not only have I started taking my Neuroscience upper division classes, which I am obsessed with, but I have also been able to keep my word on serving my community. I pay it forward by being a resource for younger students and serving as a role model of perseverance. I can confidently say that I have developed the skills I need to face challenges and overcome them in order to excel academically while always pursuing new opportunities and helping my community.

As the oldest in my family, being a first-generation college student has been a learning yet fulfilling experience. Although the imposter syndrome may creep in sometimes, I do my best to push those negative thoughts away when I remind myself of the work I am doing for me and my family. My mom is able to see how her sacrifices and hard work are paying off as she sees me excelling in my courses. I also serve as a role model for my younger sister, who is now a senior in high school. I see myself in her in so many ways, especially now that I see her applying to colleges. I aim to empower and encourage her to pursue her dreams in higher education and remind her that I will always be here to support her through the way, just like my mom does for both of us. Education means everything to my family, which is why I value learning everyday, especially at a university.

Having lived in Riverside your entire life, you are able to commute to UCR. How has your experience been as a commuter?
When I transferred to UCR, I was worried that my social life would be nonexistent as a commuter student, which is a common misconception. However, after attending orientation and transfer events, as well as getting involved on campus, I made so many close friends that I now consider to be my best friends. As a local commuter, I can recommend places that I frequent to my friends, which was certainly the case when we were deciding where to eat or hang out (pre-COVID). Even though I have lived in Riverside my entire life, I have discovered so many restaurants and attractions that I never knew about so I feel like I am learning more about Riverside alongside my friends. I have a newly found appreciation for my home and community, even with things that I am used to seeing for years now, like Mt. Rubidoux or the Festival of Lights. Driving to and from school was one of my favorite times of the day as a commuter because it was my break time to either blast my music or simply reflect on my day.

Please describe the activities and clubs you are involved in, the organizations you volunteer for, and any jobs you have.
I currently work at my previous (and predominantly Latinx) middle and high schools as a tutor for two college-preparatory programs, AVID and Upward Bound, respectively. I enjoy motivating the younger generations of students to become better students and achieve their goals, no matter how big or small they may be, in order to inspire them to pursue higher education. This is my way of paying it forward as a college student because this is the only way that I can, for now.

I volunteer through the COPE Health Scholars program at Riverside Community Hospital, where I rotate on different floors of the hospital to gain clinical experience. Through COPE, I have had the fortune to meet and interact with patients more, which humbles and further encourages me to pursue my medical aspirations. I am given the opportunity to bathe, feed, and transport patients, as well as observe surgeries and child-birth deliveries. In addition, I volunteer with the Riverside Free Clinic, which is a non-profit organization in Downtown Riverside that provides free or reduced cost services to the underserved and uninsured community of the Inland Empire. Some of these services include, but are not limited to: medical, dental, counseling, laboratory work, and pharmaceutical. I am involved in the Medical Spanish committee so I am able to translate in English and Spanish for the doctors and their patients.

I am the Mentorship Chair for the Latino Medical Student Association Plus (LMSA+). This year, we created two brand new mentorship programs called the Undergraduate Mentorship Program (UMP) and the Medical School Mentorship Program (MSMP). We recently hosted the Reveal Party socials for both programs in which mentors and mentees were able to virtually meet their match for the first time! I hope to see these programs flourish and become permanent mentorship programs within LMSA+ at UCR. I am proud to be a current LMSA+ board member because through my work, I take part in empowering our UCR pre-med community and influencing the future of LMSA+ at UCR.

If a student is interested in joining LMSA+, how can they become a member?
I highly encourage all pre-medical and pre-health students to join LMSA+ to be a part of a learning and supportive community on campus. You will find yourself surrounded with others that have the same passion and strive for learning as you do. LMSA+ provides a safe space for students of color who need extra support or resources to reach their medical aspirations, which was exactly what I needed once I transferred to UCR. LMSA+ prides itself in its diversity, which is what the Plus (+) stands for. Therefore, it is important to note that you do not have to identify as Latinx to join LMSA+!

We are using our platform to inform and discuss various topics, from social justice to climate change, on social media and during our events. As emerging health care professionals, it is our responsibility to bring awareness to these issues and make a change in our communities through our work. This year, we started a partnership with the UCR organization, African Americans United in Science (AAUS). Our mentorship programs are exclusively open to LMSA+ active members but through our partnership, AAUS members were invited to apply and waive our requirement.

To become an active LMSA+ member, you must apply through the General Member Application that opens at the start of every quarter. It is currently closed for Fall Quarter but will open again at the start of Winter Quarter. You can find this application on our website: www.lmsaucr.com. This application allows us to properly welcome you to our organization and gives us feedback about how to better support our members. There are never any membership or application fees. You do not necessarily have to be an active member to attend our meetings and events as we understand that some people may miss our General Member Application deadlines. However, when you become an active member, you are able to apply to the mentorship programs, gain access to additional resources, and receive priority registration for limited-space workshops. Being an active LMSA+ member is an ongoing process because you must attend two general meetings and one social event per quarter.

As a third year neuroscience major, where do you see yourself after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to take a gap year to study for the MCAT and prepare to apply for medical school. I would also like to use this time to become a certified medical interpreter for Spanish and learn American Sign Language.

My greatest aspiration is to become a neurosurgeon and stay in the Inland Empire throughout my career. As a neurosurgeon, my goal is to continue to pay it forward by staying to see and help my community and younger generations in the I.E. grow to become healthy and strong individuals. I want to give back to my community--which raised me through educational experiences and scholarships-- the way it did for me. I hope that the younger Latinx generations growing up in the I.E. get to see me or another Latinx doctor that looks just like them so that they, too, feel inspired to pursue their dreams. Everyday, I motivate myself to work hard because I am determined to pursue my dreams.

How are CNAS and your work with LMSA+ helping you to achieve your goal of going to medical school?
Since attending the CNAS Transfer Orientation, CNAS has provided me with many learning opportunities and resources to grow as a student. I am proud to be a part of a learning community that is driven towards scientific innovation and research. I appreciate how diverse the CNAS faculty and staff are because I am able to see someone who looks like me, achieving their goals and working in higher education to teach the next generation of scientists. I admire my female professors because it is so inspiring for me to see more women in STEM. In addition, I cannot thank my academic advisor enough for her guidance and support in adjusting to UCR and providing me with the resources I need to excel as a Neuroscience student. Through the CNAS STEM Pathway Program, I have also received guidance and found other transfer and commuter students like me. Last February, I attended a field trip with their STEM Connections Program to iFly in Ontario Mills. We learned and applied math and physics concepts and got to fly in a wind tunnel! I appreciate how CNAS offers affordable, learning opportunities like these to their students because it is so wonderful to see how CNAS encourages their students to learn through hands-on experiences and help each other out along the way. This is very important to me because as an aspiring medical student, I am given the opportunity to expand my knowledge and apply what I am taught in my classes to the real world.

Through LMSA+, I have not only found a new learning community for pre-medical students like myself, but my fellow board members are like my family now because they are always so supportive in my work for LMSA+ while ensuring I am doing well in all my classes. I am reminded that there is no such thing as a dumb question, which is always a relief to hear, especially because I am still learning how to apply to medical school, like many other students in our organization. When making the mentorship programs, I wanted to add in my own philosophy to encourage students to pay it forward, as I hope that our mentees someday become mentors. Through my leadership position specifically, I have learned more about time management and improved my public speaking skills. As a person who loves to learn and acknowledges the fact that the medical field is always growing, I know I hit the jackpot when I joined this organization because I am always learning something new, whether it be about myself or the medical field.

Given your work in the Riverside community as a tutor with AVID and Upward Bound, what advice would you give to middle school and high school students that are thinking about going to college?
The biggest piece of advice I can give to middle school and high school students that are thinking about going to college is to never believe and/or let someone tell you that you cannot do something. Do what makes you happy because you are capable of doing whatever you set your mind to. You can go to college and you will graduate someday. Also, do not feel ashamed of how long it may take you to do so, as we are all in our own lane so there is no competition.

In high school, you may hear people talk bad about staying home and attending a local community college or university, but do not let the opinions of others cloud your judgement or make you feel bad for your decisions because only you know what is best for you. I can assure you that it does not matter which college you attend. It is ultimately up to you to make your own college experience, which is unique to everyone. Find the little things in your everyday life that make you happy and be sure to enjoy your time in the present because time flies by. I know some difficult days may come up, especially because the imposter syndrome may try to creep in sometimes, but find your support group--whether it be family, friends, or an organization-- and stick to them. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Do not feel embarrassed or afraid of failing because as a person who has experienced it, I see it as it was: a learning opportunity.

I also want to add that even if you are not sure what you want to study or do yet, you have time to explore your options in college. Even if you do know, I encourage you to continue to explore other fields because you may find a subject that you enjoy and want to double major or minor in. If you realize that college is not for you, that is totally okay and I will support you in all of your endeavors.

The last thing that I want to say to all middle and high school students is a phrase that I have heard throughout my life: Si Se Puede!

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CNAS Student Spotlight: Caroline Hung

joanny — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:40:21 +0000

CNAS Student Spotlight: Caroline Hung joanny Tue, 09/29/2020 - 17:40 More Blog Posts CNAS Communications October 01, 2020

Name: Caroline Hung
Degree: 2^nd year Ph.D. student, Geochemistry in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Hometown: Kenmore, WA
Website

How did you become interested in Earth and Planetary Sciences and please share with us why you chose UCR to pursue your Ph.D.?

Hardly ever exposed to nature as a kid, I was raised in the crowded urban city of Taipei, Taiwan. After elementary school, my family immigrated to the rainy Pacific Northwest. There, I was immediately drawn to the lifestyle inspired by Lake Washington, the lush forests and mountain ranges. I started to feel a geographical and spiritual connection to the land. When obstacles as a first-generation immigrant stressed me out, I would retreat into the beauty of nature.

Because I was both equally drawn to subjects in the humanities and the sciences coming out of high school, I chose to attend a liberal arts school in rural western Massachusetts for college. After stumbling across a course on natural disasters, I became drawn to the Earth Sciences major. Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) is intriguing to me as a multidisciplinary subject, because it ties together biology, chemistry, and physics, but also added in are the spices of adventure and exploration with the crucial field component. I am a hands-on learner, so I quickly realized that I learn more efficiently and on a deeper level when I combined field sampling and lab analyses as I started to engage more in the scientific research process.

When senior year rolled around, I knew that I want to keep doing research in an institution that is competitive, innovative and supportive of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Because I was both an Earth Sciences and Biology major, I knew I wanted to study the co-evolution of earth environments and life. UCR EPS is in the forefront in this field. After a visit to UCR hosted by Dr. Tim Lyons, I was immediately impressed by the caliber of research done here. But mostly, the friendly and supportive environment of the UCR EPS faculty and grad students are definitely what sold me that I would be very happy here.

What are your research interests and what your current research is about?

I am interested in answering research questions in geobiology with a geochemical approach. Basically, how life on Earth has been affected by changes in the environment-- either in the deep geological time scale (think rise of oxygen or mass extinctions) or the modern (think climate change, often interpreted as the "6th extinction"). The way I think about these "changes" is through the tools (e.g., trace metals, isotopes and radiometric dating) and principles (e.g., weathering and biogeochemical cycling) of chemistry to describe mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth's crust and its oceans.

Currently, I have projects both in the ancient and modern. The former focuses on using redox-sensitive trace metal isotopes to study the redox state (i.e., how oxygenated was the water column?) of past oceans, specifically during the period of the Lomagundi. This is a critical period right after oxygen rose to a critical threshold 2.4 billion years ago, which is linked to the origination of complex, multicellular life. The latter focuses on studying and monitoring biogeochemical cycling in the drying Salton Sea, a hypersaline, eutrophic lake straddling between Riverside and Imperial counties.

The Salton Sea is about 2 hours southeast of UCR. What threatens the communities surrounding the Salton Sea? Take us through that system’s biogeochemistry and what you hope to accomplish with your research.

Due to changes in irrigation policies in the late 1900s, the once flourishing desert vacation spot has turned into an environmental wasteland with limited inflow. Excess nutrient run-off from the vast nearby agriculture has led to eutrophication of Salton Sea surface waters by primary producers, which results in oxygen depletion of the water column after bacterial decomposition of the algae. The Salton Sea water level is reducing at about 1ft/year (USGS) due to rapid evaporation in the intense desert heat. With salinity about twice that of the Pacific Ocean, the solubility for dissolved oxygen has also decreased.

The intense depletion in oxygen in the Salton Sea has led to two phenomenons that we are interested in studying: 1) the spatial distribution and concentration of toxic metals (e.g., Se, As, Pb, Mo, etc) accumulated in bottom sediments knowing that these metals have higher binding affinity to anoxic (without oxygen) sediments, and 2) the sulfur cycle when anaerobic microbial sulfate reduction takes over in the bottom anoxic waters. The excess accumulation of hydrogen sulfide as products of such metabolism gets released in surface waters during summer upwelling events from wind intensification and leads to a variety of ecological and quality of life detriments. Detailed water column chemistry in the temporal and spatial sense have not been produced since the last decade due to the difficulty to put a boat in the waters with unusable loading docks and hard-to-combat mud. However, with some effort, we are now able to use an inflatable Zodiac and outboard now to survey the waters.

Starting this summer, we have repeatedly surveyed the waters of the Salton Sea in parameters such as dissolved oxygen, salinity, oxidation-reduction potential, and dissolved organic matter. We will continue to build our "repertoire" of monitoring equipment and protocols, including hydrogen sulfide concentration detection to collaborate with SCAQMD's forecasting models. We hope our scientific efforts and communication could provide incentives for the surrounding community as well as local and regional authorities to act on sustainable, informed remediation efforts to combat the health hazards associated with the drying of the basin within the next century.

By interfacing with extensive stakeholders on the Salton Sea project—scientific, political, campus, and community— your work shows great commitment to social advocacy. Describe how this experience is shaping you as a scientist and a leader in this field.

I always think that scientists would have failed to fulfill their "civil obligation" if they did not attempt to share their findings with the public. I fell more and more in love with and excited about the Salton Sea project, because this work has important overdue societal impacts for our local community. At first, I was a little intimidated by the necessity to engage with extensive stakeholders on this project more so than any other project I have worked on as a geologist. But now, I do take full advantage to advocate for the Salton Sea by presenting informed findings and predictions.

Day-to-day work as a scientist could be isolating if you think about it-- from the field, lab to hours sitting in front of the computer, there may not be a lot of human interactions involved and it is easy to lose the sense of the greater context, or "purpose". Interfacing with multiple facets of engaging parties on this project has allowed me to think on a bigger picture beyond the numbers and nitty-gritty chemical equations, on how to carefully form words such that they are clear and understandable to people in policy or the community, and also on how to handle projects in a timely and ethical manner such that deadlines are met in collaborations. I am lucky to be able to truly practice and challenge myself on this with my participation in the Salton Sea Task Force organized by UCR's EDGE (Environmental Dynamics and GeoEcology) Institute. This is a think tank of a group of UCR scientists in disciplines across Earth and Environmental sciences, Economics, Policy, and Human Health to identify and carry out the most challenging research gaps in the Salton Sea crisis.

Where do you see yourself after completing your Ph.D.?

Because I came directly to graduate school after undergraduate, it is a little weird to think that I've never stopped being a student in my 23 years of life. The academic institution has always been my main support even when I felt like everything else in life was falling apart. My daily headspace has always been fulfilled by learning and thinking deeply. While the idea of working for the industry or for the government or private research entities do entice me, I would really strive to end up teaching in an institution that focuses on undergraduate education. I was a product of a liberal arts education that focused on teaching undergraduates, and have really gained from professors and fellow students who have first believed in me before I did myself. I have been graced with opportunities provided from professors who truly cared about their students and reached out. It would mean the world to me to help young students feel that way as I encourage and help them to find their calling and self-efficacy-- whether it is within the sciences or beyond.

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Science Ambassador Spotlight: Diana Medina-Yerena

Anonymous — Thu, 21 May 2020 23:21:02 +0000

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Diana Medina-Yerena Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/21/2020 - 16:21 More Blog Posts CNAS Communications Staff May 01, 2020

Name: Diana Medina-Yerena
Major: Biochemistry
2018-2019: 4th Year Student

"If someone were to tell fifteen year old Diana that she would be in my position right now, no part of her would believe this. After my first visit to the UCR campus I knew this was where I had the best chance of being the happiest undergraduate. In my time at UCR I have made life-long friends, I have traveled the country, and been involved in numerous opportunities that have shown me my likes and dislikes. I truly believe that if I were to have attended a different school, I would not have had the chance to experience half the opportunities that I've taken a part in. One of those experiences has been participating in the Science Ambassador program. Being able to spread my love of science to the younger generations, participate in diverse campus events and give back to my community along with some of the best people in CNAS has been an amazing opportunity.."

What is something you wish to master?
I want to master the piano. It has been a goal of mine since I can remember and one I have yet to start working on. I want to be the person that walks into a room with a random piano and shocks everyone with my piano skills.

What were you like in elementary school?
I was once asked to deliver a paper to another teacher, but I was too scared to enter the room so I left the paper in a bush and told my teacher I had delivered it. I think it is safe to say that in elementary school I was the super shy girl. At every parent teacher conference there was the, “Your daughter is doing good, but we wish she would talk more” discussion.

Imagine conjuring up a new language. What would it be like?
My new language would be a mixture of some of the most spoken languages in the world. I would want it to be accessible to many people, so we don’t have to expect for people on the other side of the world to learn our language.

If I gave you 100,000 dollars, would you be able to live without your smartphone for a year
Yes, I believe that I would be able to go a year without a smartphone. I think it would be a learning experience and would give me more time to spend the money you gave me.

Is there anything you would like to try at UCR, but haven't got around doing?
I want to go to the top of the bell tower.

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Science Ambassador Spotlight: Daniel Dorantes Valdez

Anonymous — Thu, 21 May 2020 23:20:26 +0000

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Daniel Dorantes Valdez Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/21/2020 - 16:20 More Blog Posts CNAS Communications Staff May 04, 2020

Name: Daniel Dorantes Valdez
Major: Pure Mathematics
2019-2020: 3rd Year Student

“A bit of advice that I would give to incoming UCR students is: enjoy your time here, make good friends quality over quantity, and definitely get involved going to school and then home is no fun!”

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Grad school. Hopefully somewhere in California.

How are you feeling right now?
Excited to be at a new school and meeting new people.

What Science Ambassador event did you enjoy the most?
The team-building course I loved being outside and doing physical activity.

What is your pet peeve?
One of my major pet peeves is when people sit at the same table as me and fidget constantly, it’s distracting and moves the table lol

If the human average life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
I would travel a lot more I would want to see all the world before I died.

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Science Ambassador Spotlight: Merett Saad

Anonymous — Thu, 21 May 2020 23:19:55 +0000

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Merett Saad Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/21/2020 - 16:19 More Blog Posts CNAS Communications Staff May 07, 2020

Name: Merett Saad
Major: Biochemistry
2019-2020: 4^th Year Student

What is your favorite color?
Spruce green- it’s very calming to the eye saturated brings spaces to life for those looking to illuminate their world with pure, extraordinary color. A great complement to Classic Colors.

Where do you consider to be your first place?
Molino's Coffee.

Do you have a favorite hangout spot on campus.
Yes, I do actually. I like to hang out at Coffee Bean.

What is your favorite class currently?
My favorite class continues to be my lunch hour. LOL

What is your favorite thing to do at UCR?
Other than studying, volunteering, researching, and running to and from lot 30, I like to go to yoga and Pilates and take hikes and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains.

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Science Ambassador Spotlight: Sophia Rogers

Anonymous — Thu, 21 May 2020 23:19:23 +0000

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Sophia Rogers Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/21/2020 - 16:19 More Blog Posts CNAS Communications Staff May 11, 2020

Name: Sophia Rogers
Major: Biology
2019-2020: 3rd Year Student

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in the sciences?
I decided to pursue a degree in science because I was exposed to the world of science at a young age. I was part of a Summer Science Camp in Elementary School where we did our own experiments and fieldwork. Since then, I have been fascinated with research.

What is your favorite movie of all time? Why?
My favorite movie of all time is Pirates of the Caribbean. I love how funny and carefree Captain Jack Sparrow is in the movie.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
If I could have one superpower, I wish that I could fly. I could finally beat the LA traffic.

Where is your hometown?
I am from Hillsborough, CA in the Bay Area.

Do have a favorite food? If so, what is it?
Yes, I do! My favorite food is cheesecake.

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