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"Research is creating new knowledge."-Neil Armstrong
SUMMER RESEARCH
ENRICHMENT INTERNSHIP
x
Next generation scientists
SUMMER RESEARCH
ENRICHMENT INTERNSHIP
X
Next generation scientists
SREI x NGS Summer 2026
Coordinators
Ritvik Suraparaju
Aileen Luke
Tzu-Chin Chen
Elika Seifi
Aditya Sarkar
Shadee Ghiassi
Leo Chen
Rachael Ranney
SREI x NGS Mentors
Meet the mentors for SREI x NGS Summer 2026!
Nicole Hopkins
Bio sci 2026 Human Bio
Hi! My name is Nicole Hopkins, and I have just graduated from UCI. I’m currently majoring in Human Biology and am on the pre-med track. I’m an undergraduate researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, working in the Nicholas Lab under graduate student Naveena Ujagar. Our research focuses on the pathogenic and non-pathogenic subsets of Th17 cells. We work with human blood, extracting the immune cells of interest and running flow cytometry for analysis. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, trying new matcha lattes, and crocheting! I’m excited to work alongside you all and support you in your academic and scientific journey!
Mimi Lee
School of Biological Sciences, Class of 2026, Human Biology B.S Graduate, Sociology Minor
Hi! My name is Mimi, and I am an incoming Human Biology B.S graduate with a minor in Sociology. My career goal is to become a Physician Associate, with interests in women's reproductive health and ophthalmology. I am currently an undergraduate researcher in the Seiler Lab here at UCI where I study how transplanted fetal rat tissue can be used in retinal transplant therapies in rats with the goal of improving treatment for retinal degenerative diseases. In this role, I analyze and record videos testing the visual acuity of transplanted rats. I am also a 2025-2026 UROP Fellow and I'm excited to be presenting in the UROP Symposium in May 2026! In my free time, I love sunset beach walks, trying different drink and food places, hanging out with my friends, and being creative. As a new SREI mentor, I am looking forward to meeting and supporting you!!
Sebastian Sandru
University of California, Irvine, Sophomore, Biological Sciences
Hey! My name is Sebastian. I am currently a second year Biological Sciences Major planning to specialize in Human Biology. I am currently an undergraduate researcher in the Villalta Lab within the UCI School of Medicine. I am on several projects, one of them including a project that focuses on bioengineering CAR constructs to then experiment in effector and target cell models to utilize in Regulatory T cells as a brand new approach to suppressing autoimmune responses and reducing muscle inflammation for gene therapies in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I personally love that I am not only making an impact on new clinical approaches toward DMD, but how difficult and challenging the work can be. Research has taught me to look at all perspectives and how collaboration and team work is an important skill in this field. I am also an EMT and am apart of Anteater Emergency Medical Services on campus. I love to go to the beach, hike, and go backpacking when I have the time.
Anika Saha
Henry Samueli School of Engineering, Class of 2028, Electrical Engineering
Hey, everyone! My name is Anika Saha, and I’m a second-year Electrical Engineering major, heading into my third year after this summer. I’m really interested in hands-on engineering and applying classroom concepts to real-world systems. On campus, I’m involved with IEEE as an Open Project Space Lab Instructor and work on the battery subteam for ZotSun, UCI’s solar car project, focusing on energy storage and power systems. I’m also part of Dr. Hung Cao’s HERO Research Lab, where I design low-power PCB hardware for a wireless ECG monitoring system on mice.
In my free time, I enjoy cooking, watching movies, cafe-hopping, and going on random side quests. This will be my first year as a mentor, so I’m super excited to get to know you all and support you on your research and academic journey!
Jrmy Trillanes
UCI, 4th, Human Biology
Hello! My name is Jrmy Trillanes and I'm a 3rd year Human Biology major at UCI. I'm part of Dr. Ding's lab where I work on a FISH protocol to study the spatial and temporal arrangement of molecules in individual cells. Outside of school, I volunteer at the Veteran's hospital of Long Beach and work part-time as a swim instructor. I like going to the beach, going out for food and drinks, and listening to music.
Prabhtaj Gill
UCI, 2027, human bio
Hi! My name is Prabhtaj Gill, and I am a third-year Human Biology major at UC Irvine. I am currently an undergraduate researcher in the Urology department at UCI, where I am gaining experience in clinical and translational research. Through this work, I have developed a strong interest in medicine and hope to continue exploring opportunities that bridge research and patient care. Outside of school, I enjoy staying involved in campus clubs, and finding ways to apply myself. I look forward to connecting with everyone and being part of this program!
Javier Zavala
UCI, 2027, Human Biology
Hey! My name’s Javier Zavala and I’m a third year Human Biology major at UC Irvine. I’m part of the In-Vivo team at Akbari Lab where we study pathophysiological mechanisms underlying conditions like cardiac arrest with a focus on cerebral perfusion, neuroprotection, and systemic recovery in translational in-vivo models. Utilizing advanced neuromonitoring techniques with clinically relevant interventions, we aim to develop strategies that improve neurological outcomes and survival following acute injury. Outside of school and research, I enjoy watching F1, soccer (La Liga & Premier League), trying new cafe/boba spots, and going to the zoo with friends! I look forward to meeting you all!
Duke Thai
UC Irvine, 4th, Biological Sciences
Hello! I'm Duke Thai, and I'm a 4th-year Biological Sciences major at UC Irvine. I'm an undergraduate collaborating in the CogNos lab with Dr. Schechtman. I'm currently seeking to unravel the potential effects of melatonin, an over-the-counter sleeping aid, on memory consolidation during sleep. I aspire to attend to medical school sometime after graduation. In my free time, I like to do calisthenics and am an adult Lego advocate. I look forward to meeting all of you guys!
Isis Saenz
Biological Sciences, 3rd year, Human Bio major & Medical Humanities minor
Hi! My name is Isis Saenz, and I am a third year undergraduate majoring in Human Biology, with a minor in Medical Humanities. My career goal is to become a physician, and working in pediatrics would be a dream come true! On campus, I am involved in the Human Biology Club, where I serve as the Alumni Social Media Coordinator this past school year. I am also involved in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Sleep Lab (CogNoS) where I help conduct studies observing different effects sleep can have on memory consolidation. Outside of school, I love exploring new places with friends, baking, and listening to all kinds of music! I am so excited to be a part of this program and to meet all of you!
Callista Do
University of California, Irvine, 2027, Human Biology
Hello! My name is Callista and I'm a third-year Human Biology major. I'm currently working at a Dermatology clinic, which sparked my interest in the field. I also work at CHOC as a research intern where I work with a team to collect data for our studies, while also being given the chance to shadow doctors in the Emergency Department. Outside of school, I enjoy trying new cafes and rewatching my favorite shows.
Hellen Nguyen
UCI, 4th Human Biology Major
Hi! My name is Hellen Nguyen and I am an incoming fourth year Human Biology major at UCI. Last year, I joined the Pediatric Urology lab under the direction of Dr. Antonie Khoury. This clinical research is in connection with UCI School of Medicine as well as CHOC. The research project I am currently working on investigates Hydronephrosis, a congenital condition that affects the kidneys in pediatric patients. My role is to examine patient medical data to see how the use of ultrasounds can be optimized to improve patient care. The patient data is collected from CHOC and several other institutions and then combined to study ultrasounds and patient outcomes. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants and cafes, and spending time with my friends and family!
Celine Atoian
UCI, 2nd Year, Chemistry Major
Hello! My name is Celine, and I am a second-year Chemistry major. I am on the pre-med track and hope to pursue a career in pathology. As a member of the research committee at FCP, I am currently involved in two research projects focused on health literacy in underserved populations and demographic factors that influence VTE risk. I also have past experience working in a biochemistry lab, where I gained skills in protein synthesis and purification. I look forward to meeting everyone!
Brianna Min
UCI 2nd year Biological Sciences
Hello! My name is Brianna, and I am a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Biological Sciences, but I'm planning on specializing in Human Biology and double majoring or minoring in Public Health Policy. I am part of the Lane lab, working to investigate neural progenitor cell therapies for demyelination in a JHMV viral model of multiple sclerosis (MS) and better understand the manifestation of MS. I am also a CHC peer mentor helping the incoming freshman honors students with their transition to college! Outside of school, I like to bake, journal, and try new foods and cafes!
Aayush Sachdev
Graduated Human Biology Major
Hello! My name is Aayush Sachdev and I've graduated from UCI. One research lab that I worked at is called the Xu Lab. It is a neurobiology lab where I do neural circuit tracing on the subiculum of mice brains using a modified rabies virus. The second research lab that I was in is called the Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program (EMRAP). Although I help enroll patients for a lot of the studies in the program, I primarily research ways to improve naltrexone prescriptions given to patients with alcohol use disorder and creating food models to teach students how to use an ultrasound. Outside of research I like to read and write comic books, ride my skateboard, and play tennis. I'm excited to be able to mentor and help you with your research journey!
Aditya Sarkar
University of California, Irvine, 2nd year, Biology
Hello! My name is Aditya Sarkar, and I am a 2nd-year biology major (with hopes of switching to becoming a human biology major during my 3rd year). My research focuses on selective cancer treatments for patients, with emphasis on cell passaging of Tumor Cells, Freezing and Thawing cell lines, collecting & dissecting patient tumors, Interpreting 3D-printed tumoroids, and Interpreting Live-Dead stain. Outside of cell line work, I also love going to the gym, gaming, side questing anywhere and everywhere, and being a foodie. I hope to help you all out and also to learn about you guys as well!
Aileen Luke
UCI, 3rd year, Microbiology and Immunology
Hi! My name is Aileen and I'm a 3rd year Microbiology and Immunology major at UCI. I'm currently a student researcher in the Bio 199 program with Dr. Anderson's lab at the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. Although the lab focuses primarily on brain and spinal cord injury research, the project that I am a part of seeks to develop an immunotherapy treatment for a type of brain cancer, called glioblastoma. Being part of this lab has helped me gain an interest for and insight into the research process and I'm so excited to share that! Outside of academics, I love to cook, go for hikes or long walks, and listen to all types of music. I'm so looking forward to being part of SREI and meeting all of you!
Tingshan Zhao
UCI, 3rd year, Human Biology
Hi, my name is Daniel Zhao, and I am a third-year Human Biology undergraduate. I am currently working in the Rose Lab, where we map the heterogeneity of motor neurons in the developing brainstem to see how unique gene expression can drive significant diversity of motor neuron cell types. These same patterns can then be used to explore why certain neurons are affected in childhood neurological diseases. My role in the project is to use computer software like ARIVIS to analyze and modify 3D light-sheet fluorescent images. Outside of school, I am a certified personal trainer and nutritional coach, and I love weight lifting and wrestling.
Jayden Lacossiere
University of California, Irvine, 3rd year, Human Biology Major
Hello! My name is Jayden Lacossiere. I am a 3rd year Human Biology Major who pursues research in total synthesis--essentially understanding how to make compounds you use everyday. I love research and can't wait to help you develop new foundational research skills.
Nathan Le
Biological Sciences, 3rd year, Human Bio
Hi! I'm Nathan and I'm a 3rd year Human Biology major in the Hussain Lab. I primarily work on research focused on insulin signaling and its role in metabolic regulation. I enjoy volunteering at free clinics and being a learning assistant for my past courses, especially organic chemistry!
Joshua Rogers
UCI, 3rd Year, Human Biology
Hello! My name is Joshua and I am a third-year Human Biology major. I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine. I was involved in translational research at UCR where I worked on a project focused on developing a cost-effective micro-fluid diagnostic chip capable of detecting infectious diseases, with a focus on Leishmania. On campus and outside of school, I enjoy playing hockey, going to the gym, and spending time outdoors. I'm excited to be a part of SREI and look forward to meeting everyone and sharing my experiences!
Mohamed Elamir
Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health, Junior, Public Health Sciences
Hey everyone, I'm Mohamed Elamir and I'm graduating from UCI with a BS in Public Health. My research during my undergrad here was at the Yassa Translational Neuroscience Lab where I focused on how behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia could serve as predictors for the onset of dementia in individuals with Down Syndrome. The main factor I looked at was if type of housing/care affected their symptoms or onset of dementia. Outside of lab, I love to fish and play soccer.
Selene Situ
School of Bio Sci, 3rd year, Human Biology Major
Hi! I'm Selene, and I am currently a third year Human Biology major here at UCI. My career goal is to be a physician and I am a part of a neuro-oncology lab on the medical campus. In the Acharya Lab, we focus on treatments for cancer-related cognitive impairments. Outside of research, I am involved in Human Biology Club and Beta Beta Beta, a biological sciences honors society. In my free time, I like to go to the gym, read books, and try out new cafes!
James Pham
UCI, 2024, Human Biology Major/Medical Humanities Minor
Hello! My name is James. I graduated UCI with a B.S. in Human Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities. My research experience involves being an assistant specialist for Dr. Bota's Lab at the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center for the last four years starting from undergrad until now. As an assistant specialist, I work closely alongside staff scientists to generate data from experiments. I typically run various assays on experimental drugs and routinely culture cancer cell lines in hope to discover/develop new drugs for glioblastoma. Previously, I have been part of animal studies where I test experimental drugs and perform surgical procedures on mice. From my involvements, I have co-authored two publications highlighting new novel targets for the treatment of glioblastomas. When I'm not studying, I enjoy playing sports like golf or tennis and the company of family and friends. I hope to be able to apply my skill sets from my research experience to make this a great experience for you all!
Juliana Wong
UC Irvine, First Year, Biological Sciences Major
Hello! I'm Juliana Wong, a first year Biological Sciences Major at UC Irvine. My goal is to become either an Ophthalmologist or Pediatrician. I am an undergraduate researcher in the Physiological Optics and Vision (POV) Lab and my project focuses on the neural pathways of vision. On campus, I am involved in the Human Biology Club, Research Outreach, MusicsAlive (violinist), Euphonic Video Game Ensemble (violinist), AMSA, and Music Mentorship (piano teacher). During my free time, I love going on runs, spending time with family and friends, getting boba, listening to music, and playing the piano and violin.
Claire Pham
UC Irvine, 27 (graduating Fall 27), Chemistry Major (switching to Bio)
Hello! I am Claire, a UCI 3rd year majoring in chemistry with a biochemistry concentration. I am hoping to become a physician and am especially interested in dermatology and oncology. Although I am currently looking for a lab at UCI, I was recently a part of the Artandi lab at the Stanford Cancer Institute where we focused on cancer drug discovery using biochemical approaches. My project specifically aimed to engineer telomerase complex assembly to accelerate therapeutic inhibitor development. For fun, I love rating new boba/coffee spots, going to Costa Mesa on hot days, crocheting, and drawing. This will be my first year as an SREI mentor and I can't wait to work with you all!
Meryam Dakhil
UCI 3rd Year Biological Sciences Major
Hi! My name is Meryam Dakhil and I'm a third year student at UCI majoring in Biological Sciences. I'm currently an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Mohammed Shahait prostate cancer clinical lab where we work on translational research related to prostate cancer and robot-assisted surgical procedures to help improve patient treatments. Outside of school I love spending time with my friends, going to the beach, and taking pictures. I'm very excited to be part of this program and meet you all!!
Rachael Ranney
UCI, Graduated 2026, Major: Human Biology, Minor: Medical Anthropology
Hi! My name is Rachael Ranney and I recently graduated from UCI with a Human Biology major with a minor in Medical Anthropology! I am currently applying to MD and DO schools this cycle as well! I am very passionate about the field of medicine and could definitely see myself going into a field like Family Medicine! At UCI, I was involved in the Human Biology Club as the 2025-2026 Outreach Logistics Coordinator, the Uni Stu 1 Discussion Leader program (where I was a DL & Coordinator), and the MARS mentor program. I was a Learning Assistant for multiple classes on campus (Bio 100, M118L, M115, & Head LA for N120B), and am currently shadowing multiple doctors on the UCI Health Hospital Campus in Orange, CA. I was also involved in research on the UCI medical school campus focused around muscle immunology, and am currently volunteering at Kaiser Permanente through the COPE program as a scholar and leader. Outside of school, I love to read a good mystery book, bake new cookie recipes, and play fun tabletop games. I am super excited for this program and cannot wait to meet everyone!
Brenda Duong
UCI 2nd Year, Public Health Sciences Major
Hi!! My name is Brenda and I'm a 2nd year majoring in Public Health Sciences. I'm a part of the Seiler Lab, focusing on stem cell culturing to develop retinal organoids with the aim of restoring vision caused by retinal degeneration. I also work as a research assistant for the UCI School of Education's LIT-Pro team and as an afterschool program tutor. In my free time, I love reading, going on long/short walks with friends, and trying out new dishes! I'm so excited to get to know you all :-)
Saanvi Agrawal
UCI 3rd Year, Human Biology Major
Hi! My name is Saanvi Agrawal and I'm currently an incoming fourth-year Human Biology major at UCI. I'm a pre-dental student with hopes of specializing in orthodontics in the future, and am interested in incorporating research in my future career plans. I'm also an undergraduate researcher at the Yan Lab at UCI, where I work with Malaria parasites in mosquitos from Ethiopia. On campus, I am also a board member of the Patient Project and have been a part of the We (Skin)care research committee. In my free time, I like to thrift, bake, and go to cafes!
Natalie Sargisyan
UCI, 3rd Year, Human Biology Major, Psychological Science and BME minor
Hi! My name is Natalie Sargisyan and I am an undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine studying Human Biology. I am currently involved in research at UCI in areas related to reproductive health and neuroscience, where I assist with research design, survey development, coding, analysis of neurological oddball and auditory click experiments, and data organization. I am passionate about mentorship and enjoy working with and supporting younger students as they begin exploring their interests in science and medicine. I love helping students feel more confident in their abilities and encouraging their curiosity about the world around them. Through this program, I hope to make research feel more approachable and show students how exciting and impactful scientific discovery can be.
Elika Seifi
UC Irvine, Sophomore (2nd Year), Biological Sciences Major, Medical Humanities Minor
Hello! I’m Elika Seifi, a second-year Biological Sciences major at UCI with a minor in Medical Humanities. I hope to become a physician one day, and I’m especially interested in dermatology, ENT, and ophthalmology. On campus, I am involved in several research projects through the Free Clinic Project, where I have contributed to public health studies focused on health literacy, perceived stress, and food insecurity, and I have also worked on clinical research in Radiation Oncology and at UCI Health. In Radiation Oncology, my work focuses on expanding radiomics data from imaging and identifying factors that help distinguish fibrosis from residual tumor tissue. At UCI Health, I assisted with clinical experiments using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) integrated with Thrombo Embolus Deterrent Stockings (TEDS) to study their effect on muscle atrophy during long periods of immobility. I was also a research assistant in the Auditory and Language Neuroscience Lab, where I led participants through auditory and vocal synchronization experiments. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing tennis, scrapbooking, and spending time outdoors. This will be my second year as an SREI mentor, and I’m excited to share my experiences and support students as they explore research.
Sayali Bhide
School of Bio Sci , 3rd year, Human Biology major/Health Informatics minor
Hello guys! My name is Sayali Bhide, and I am currently a rising fourth year Human Biology major at UCI with a minor in Health Informatics! I am planning to pursue an MD/PhD after undergrad, and become a pediatrician in the future. I am currently a part of the Whiteson Lab, where I focus on phage therapies, mainly finding phages that can infect antibiotic resistant bacteria ( S. Aureus strain, P. Aeruginosa strains, and more) from patients, and testing what phage concentrations result in the most effective death rates of bacteria. I also work as a tutor part time, am currently in the process of getting my Phlebotomy license, and am involved with the MARS Mentor program from ROUCI. Outside of school, I learn various forms of dance, do theater, and love cafe hopping for matcha! Super excited to help you with your research journey this summer!
SREI x NGS Summer 2025
Coordinators
Emily Nguyen
Rachael Ranney
Evelyn Le
Leo Chen
Joleen Wardeh
Ketaki Lole
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Brandon Ton
SREI x NGS Mentors
Meet the mentors for SREI x NGS Summer 2025!
Eric Tran
UCI 2024 Graduate, Human Biology B.S.
Hello! I'm Eric and I graduated from UCI with a B.S. in Human Biology. My research experience mainly consists of being a member of Dr. Audrey Lew's lab where we research Neuroscience Core Concepts and focus on pedagogical work. I also did research at Illumination Institute where we study breast cancer in the Vietnamese American population alongside USC. Lastly, I assist with some clinical research as an ophthalmic technician. Outside of school, I enjoy playing Pokemon Go and gyming with my friends. This will be my fourth year as a part of SREI so I hope to make this an enjoyable experience for you all!
James Pham
UCI 2024 Graduate, Human Biology B.S. & Medical Humanities Minor
Hello! My name is James. I graduated UCI with a B.S. in Human Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities. My research experience involves being an undergraduate research assistant and then a junior specialist in Dr. Daniela Bota's Lab at the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center where we study mitochondrial pathways in hopes of exploiting them for treatment of glioblastomas. I routinely culture tumor cells derived from patients diagnosed with glioblastomas, run various experimental assays, and perform surgical procedures on mice models in hopes of advancing our objective of developing a novel treatment. When I'm not studying, I enjoy playing sports like golf or tennis and the company of family and friends. I hope to be able to apply my skill sets from my research experience to make this a great experience for you all!
Hung Doan
UCI 3rd year Pharmaceutical Sciences
Hello! My name is Hung Doan and I'm a 3rd year pharmaceutical sciences major at UCI. I am interested in cardiology and cardiac diseases. I'm part of Dr. Eguchi's lab where I work with stem cells to study the cardiac diseases in cardiomyocytes in the dish. Outside of school, I volunteered at the local clinic and worked part-time as dental assistant over the summer.
Elika Seifi
UCI First-year Biological Sciences Major
Hello! I’m Elika, a first-year undergraduate majoring in Biological Sciences, with the goal of specializing in Human Biology and pursuing a minor in Medical Humanities. My career goal includes becoming a physician and I am highly interested in the fields of dermatology, neurosurgery, and rheumatology. On campus, I am involved in three research projects through the Free Clinic Project club and am also a research assistant in the Language and Neuroscience lab where I lead subjects through cool instrumental experiments! Outside of academics, I like to play tennis, add more pieces to my scrapbook, and crochet. This will be my first year as an SREI mentor and I am beyond excited to meet everyone and share my experiences!
Donya Mohammadi
UCI 2025 Biological Sciences Major
Hi! My name is Donya Mohammadi, and I’m a third year biological sciences major at UCI. I’m super passionate about women’s health and hope to pursue a career in healthcare to work against reproductive health inequities. I am currently working as an undergraduate student in Dr. Gyorgy Lur’s Neurobiology Lab where I am studying the effects of adolescent stress on the estrus cycle and cognition of female rodents. In my free time I love to go on a run, curl up with a book, or try a new cafe. This will be my second year as a mentor for SREI, and I can’t wait to meet all of you!
Benjamin Yee
UC Irvine 3rd Year, Graduating 2025, Biological Sciences
Hi! My name is Ben, and I am a third-year Biological Sciences student at UCI. I am an undergraduate researcher in the Malik Lab at UCI's Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. Here, I help study the mechanism behind electroacupuncture as an alternative treatment for chronic hypertension. Outside of school, I love to eat out at new restaurants, go to the gym, and walk my dog (whenever I'm back home). I look forward to meeting you all soon!
Kaylin Quyen Ho
UCI; Class of 2027; Biological Sciences
Hi! My name is Kaylin Quyen Ho and I am an incoming third year undergraduate at UCI majoring in Biological Sciences. I have been a part of the Free Clinic Project for two years and am currently the head of my committee, Clinic Operations. I am also a part of the Parsons Lab, where we use transgenic zebrafish to study diabetes and other conditions in the pancreas. I am currently attempting two different approaches to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the insulin producing β-cells in the pancreas to create a model of a potential mechanism of diabetes. This would hopefully provide more insight into the disease. In my free time, I enjoy getting matcha, baking, and running!
Anny Do
UCI 3rd year BioSci Major
Hello! My name is Anny and I am a third year biological sciences major at UCI. My current research focuses on learning about the limitations of spinal cord injury through clinical trials and motion capture techniques. I joined the Free Clinic Project since I was a freshman and have worked with the research committee on projects that assess patterns of health literacy and patient diagnoses among underserved communities. Besides research, I love to fill my free time with music, beach trips, and an occasional coffee shop visit. This will be my second year as an SREI mentor and I am excited to work with you all!
Ritvik Suraparaju
UCI, 2nd Year, Biological Sciences Major
Hello! My name is Ritvik Suraparaju, and I am currently a 2nd year student under the school of Biological Sciences at UCI. I am currently under the Research Committee at FCP, with my current project revolving around a retrospective study measuring the relationships among metabolic syndrome risk factors between underserved populations at free clinics. I am also a member of the Akbari Lab, where we assess the effect of various interventions on the nerulogical outcomes of rats after cardiac arrest and CPR!
Outside of school, I like to watch football and play Valorant. This is my second year at SREI, so I hope I can help make this program a wonderful experience!
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Tzu-Chin Chen
UCI, Freshman, Biological Science
Hello! My name is Tzu-Chin Chen, but I also go by Dora, like Dora the Explorer. I’ll be a sophomore after this summer, majoring in Biological Science with plans to pursue a double major in Education. While my career goal is to become a general surgeon, I’m also excited to explore other opportunities along the way. I previously worked as a student researcher at the UCSF Yamanaka Lab, Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, where I studied the gene SFPQ in the context of cellular reprogramming and regenerative medicine. This experience allowed me to dive into advanced techniques like molecular cloning, q-PCRs, and CRISPR-based gene targeting. Right now, I’m applying to wet labs at UC Irvine, building on my previous experience in dry labs. Outside of STEM, I’m involved in the ASUCI Office of the President, where I explore my passion for art and work towards bridging the gap between art and STEM majors at UCI. This is my first year as a mentor, and I can’t wait to work with all of you!
Aileen Luke
UCI, 2nd year, Biological Sciences Major
Hi! My name is Aileen and I and a 2nd year Biological Sciences Major at UCI. I'm currently a student researcher in the Bio 199 program with Dr. Anderson's lab at the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. Although the lab focuses primarily on brain and spinal cord injury research, the project that I am a part of seeks to develop an immunotherapy treatment for a type of brain cancer, called glioblastoma. Being part of this lab has helped me gain an interest for and insight into the research process and I'm so excited to share that! Outside of academics, I love to cook, go for hikes or long walks, and listen to all types of music. I'm also a self appointed tea expert. I'm so looking forward to being part of SREI and meeting all of you!
Hera Kim
UCI, 2026, Biological Sciences
Hi! My name is Hera Kim, a third-year Biological Sciences major at UCI. I am an undergraduate researcher at Beier lab, which focuses on studying psychiatric disorders using mice models. Currently, I am working on a project investigating the role of the globus pallidus externa in controlling social behavior using chemogenetics. Additionally, as a member of the FCP research committee, I am involved in a retrospective study analyzing patterns of metabolic illness in underserved populations, as well as a study assessing the metabolic risk factors. I look forward to meeting all of you!
Ruth Emily Edillor
UCI, 3rd Year, Biological Sciences and Public Health Policy
Hi everyone! My name is Ruth and I’m a third year double majoring in Biological Sciences and Public Health Policy. I am also a part of the Public Relations committee for FCP. I am currently an undergraduate researcher at the UCI Laboratory for Neurophysiology and Deep Phenotyping, where we study biomarkers related to Parkinson's Disease. I am also involved in an oncological research internship at UCSF and previously worked on biomedical research at Harbor UCLA, studying disparities in pulmonary function testing based on race/ethnicity. Outside of FCP/research I work as a writing tutor and in my free time, I love going to the beach, reading, and playing guitar! This is my second year mentoring for SREI and being in FCP so I'm excited to continue working with SREI and to meet all the new mentees :)
Allyson Nguyen-Saeteurn
UCI 3rd Year Biological Sciences Major & Health Informatics Minor
Hi! My name is Ally and I’m a 3rd year pursuing a bachelors in Biological Sciences and a minor in Health Informatics. I’m currently a part of the Media & Marketing committee of FCP. I also am an undergraduate research assistant in Burke Lab studying the host-cell interactions and bacterial pathogenesis of the tick-borne Rickettsia parkeri pathogen. In my free time, I enjoy doing hot yoga and trying matcha cafes! I’m so excited to meet all of you :)
Curtis Le
UCI 3rd Year, Neurobiology Major & Philosophy Minor
Hello! My name is Curtis Le and I'm a 3rd year Neurobiology major and Philosophy minor at UCI. I am currently an undergraduate researcher in the Beier Lab, which focuses on drug addiction and investigating neural circuitry underlying various mental health disorders. Outside of research, I have a variety of hobbies including going to the gym, watching sports, and writing. I look forward to meeting all of you!
Ekin Atila
UCI 3rd Year, Biological Sciences & Biomedical Engineering
Hi! My name is Ekin Atila and I am going into my fourth year as a biomedical engineering and biological sciences student at University of California Irvine! I currently pursue undergraduate research at Dr. Naomi Chesler’s Cardiopulmonary Health Lab at UC Irvine, and study sex-specific effects of myocardial infarction-induced pulmonary hypertension in murine models. As I continue my research pursuits, I aspire to enhance my understanding and approach toward research in cardiovascular disease mechanisms and sex-specific effects. In my free time, I enjoy producing music, going on scenic runs, and going to concerts. This will be my second year as an SREI mentor, and I look forward to sharing my past experiences with you all and helping you develop your research interests!
Michelle Cheng
UCI 3rd Year, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology B.S.Hello! My name is Michelle and I am a third year Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major, and Co-President of the Free Clinic Project. I am a student researcher in Dr. Jusiak's lab in the UCI School of Medicine, studying tumor growth and host survival using Drosophila flies. Lastly, I am passionate about food security, working as a Basic Needs Advocate at the UCI Basic Needs Center and starting and leading the food pantry volunteer collaboration with Share Ourselves for the Free Clinic Project.
Elsa Di Matteo
UCI 3rd Year, Biological Sciences Major
Hello! My name is Elsa and I’m a 3rd year bio sci major at UCI. I have currently joined the Hicks lab where we study stem cells for muscle regeneration! My specify project is regarding cancer cachexia and I specially focus on the pathology aspect of it. I am looking forward to applying to be a pathologist assistant and have a big interesting in helping/mentoring students navigate the collage experience as well as getting involved in research. I am part of the Spanish interpreter committee of FCP and look forward to helping incoming college students!
Jobeth Ly
UCI 3rd Year, Human Biology Major
Hello, my name is Jobeth Ly and I am a third-year Human Biology major at UCI. My career goal is to become a physician, with an interest in dermatology and ophthalmology. I am currently an undergraduate researcher in the Morrissette Lab, where we study the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. My current project is focused on testing the fitness of alpha-tubulin mutated parasite lines using competition assays. I am also an undergraduate volunteer at the Hearing and Speech Lab at UCI. Outside of research, I like to explore new cafes and go to the beach. I look forward to meeting all of you!
Rachael Ranney
UCI 3rd Year, Human Biology Major
Hi! My name is Rachael Ranney and I am an incoming 4th year Human Biology major with a minor in Medical Anthropology! I am currently on the pre-med track and plan to apply to medical schools next year! I am very passionate about the field of medicine and could definitely see myself going into Family Medicine! On campus I am involved in the Human Biology Club (where I will be the Outreach Logistics Coordinator next year), the Uni Stu 1 Discussion Leader program (where I am a DL & Coordinator), and the MARS mentor program. I am also currently doing research on the medical school campus focused around muscle immunology, and volunteering at Kaiser Permanente through the COPE program. Outside of school, I love to read a good mystery book, bake new cookie recipes, and go to the beach with friends. I am super excited for this program and cannot wait to meet everyone!
Aayush Sachdev
UCI 3rd Year, Human Biology Major
Hello! My name is Aayush Sachdev and I'm about to become a fourth-year undergraduate at UCI. One research lab that I work at is called the Xu Lab. It is a neurobiology lab where I do neural circuit tracing on the subiculum of mice brains using a modified rabies virus. The second research lab I'm in is called the Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program (EMRAP). Although I help enroll patients for a lot of the studies in the program, I primarily research ways to improve naltrexone prescriptions given to patients with alcohol use disorder and creating food models to teach students how to use an ultrasound. Outside of research I like to read and write comic books, ride my skateboard, and play tennis. I'm excited to be able to mentor and help you with your research journey!
Isis Saenz
UCI 2nd Year, Biological Sciences Major
Hi! My name is Isis Saenz, and I am a second year undergraduate majoring in Biological Sciences, soon to be Human Biology with a minor in Medical Humanities. My career goal is to become a physician, and working in pediatrics would be a dream come true! On campus, I am involved in the Human Biology Club, where I was newly appointed as the Alumni Social Media Coordinator for the upcoming school year. Outside of school, I love exploring new places with friends, cooking and baking, and listening to all kinds of music! I am so excited to be a part of this program and to meet all of you!
Faith Cribbs
UCI 3rd Year, Human Biology Major
Hi hi! My name is Faith, and I’m a 3rd year Human Biology major! My goal is to become a Gastroenterologist with hopes of pursuing a fellowship in advanced endoscopy. I am an undergraduate researcher in the Whiteson Lab here at UCI, where I focus on phage therapies! I work with the ESKAPE pathogens found in Cystic Fibrosis patients, testing them against various phage and acid concentrations to see which concentrations yield the most effective and sustained bacterial death rates! In my free time I enjoy sewing, and I’m a matcha fiend who loveees finding new cafes to try! I am also a big beach goer (even though I can’t swim well LOL) and will pet any and every cat I see. I am super excited to be able to support you all on your research journey, can’t wait to meet you!
Kailee Kim
UCI 2nd Year, Biological Sciences Major
Hi! I’m Kailee, a current second-year Biological Sciences major at UCI. I’m currently one of the co-coordinators for the CHC Peer Mentor Program, where I support honors students through community-building events and resources. Outside of CHC, I volunteer at the UCI Medical Center and am in both the PERC Outreach and COPE Health Scholars programs, where I’m passionate about promoting health equity and gaining hands-on experience in healthcare settings. When I’m not studying or volunteering, I love going out with friends, trying new foods and drinks, exercising, and reading. As a new SREI mentor, I am greatly looking forward to meeting everyone!
Sayali Bhide
UCI 2nd Year, Biological Sciences Major
Hello! My name is Sayali Bhide, and I am a second year undergraduate student at UCI. I am majoring in Biological Sciences, in the process of changing over to the Human Biology major, and minoring in Health Informatics. My research interests include immunology and microbiology, and I am currently working in the Whiteson Lab, focusing on bacteriophage science. I also work as a tutor and am involved in a couple of neuroscience research projects via internships outside of UCI. Beyond academics, I enjoy various forms of dance, theater, and exploring beaches and cafes! This will be my second year as a mentor, and I am very excited to meet everyone!! :)
Annie Le
UCI 4th Year, Human Biology and Cognitive Sciences
My name is Annie and I’m an upcoming 5th year double majoring in Human Biology and Cognitive Sciences. I’m working with Dr. Sato & Dr. Nick on higher STEM education projects. I’m familiar with coding, especially with R and Python language, for data analysis and visualizing. I am also involved in BMB lab where we investigate bilingualism and bilingual brain. Besides school, I love basketball and watch basketball games. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you!
Ashton Beckham
UCI 4th Year, Human Biology
Heyo! My name is Ashton Beckham. I recently graduated with my B.S. in Human Biology from UCI. I plan on going to medical school in the future and am currently still working on building my resume. During my time at UCI, I was involved in the Fortin Lab of Neurobiology and Behavior where we measured the brain activity of rats doing an odor-sequence task. Some of my hobbies include playing video games, going to the gym, and taking my dog to the beach.
Luna Witchey
UCI 4th Year, Microbiology and Immunology
Hello! I am Luna Witchey, and I just graduated in Microbiology and Immunology at UCI! It's super exciting since I have been interested in Immunology since I was in middle school and soon I will start my PhD in Immunology at UCI! My research so far has been in Immune aging and glycobiology. Basically, we investigate how and why the immune system gets worse at reacting to things that make you sick as you get older by focusing on sugars stuck to proteins on the surface of your white blood cells. I work in Dr. Mkhikian's lab in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Science in the UCI med school campus. I typically work with a lot of mice! We take their blood to investigate their white blood cells so see the changes on their surfaces. I also try to be active in my hobbies! I teach taekwondo, I do Lindy Hop Ballroom dancing, and I love oil painting! I hope I can help you do real science this summer!
Valerie Henriquez
UCI 3rd Year, Human Biology
Hi! My name is Valerie, and I’m currently a third-year Human Biology major. I’m an undergraduate researcher in the McNulty Lab, where we study how certain proteins are involved in inflammation and cancer. We use cryo-TEM and other biophysical tools to understand how large molecules interact, with the goal of helping restore their function in disease. Before this, I worked with mouse models of muscular dystrophy to study muscle regeneration and immune responses. Outside of research, I love crocheting, discovering new food spots around the OC, and going to concerts. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned and meet you all!
Anvika Vudutha
UCI 2nd Year, Biological Sciences
Hi! My name is Anvika Vudutha and I am a 2nd year Biological Sciences major, hoping to switch into human biology soon! I am currently an undergraduate researcher in the Luptak lab located in Natural Sciences. We study novel modes of cell regulation combined with the study of RNA biology as it possesses unique catalytics activities which aids in many processes such as protein synthesis, splicing, and RNA maturation. We study these RNA in live cells using in vitro selection and structure-based bioinformatics to search for new catalytic RNAs and aptamers in mammalian genomes. As an undergrad in the lab, I mainly run experiments such as RNA and DNA extraction, harvesting and culture cells, BCA analysis and many others. Some other things I am involved in on campus are Biological Sciences Student Council, medical volunteer at Lestonnac Free Clinic and an Outreach mentor for the Human Biology Club. Outside of school, I love to cook, watch TV, and play sports. I look forward to meeting you all!
Nicole Hopkins
UCI 3rd Year, Human Biology
Hi! My name is Nicole Hopkins, and I’m going into my fourth year at UCI. I’m currently majoring in Human Biology and am on the pre-med track. I’m an undergraduate researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, working in the Nicholas Lab under graduate student Naveena Ujagar. Our research focuses on the pathogenic and non-pathogenic subsets of Th17 cells. We work with human blood, extracting the immune cells of interest and running flow cytometry for analysis.
In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, trying new matcha lattes, and crocheting! I’m excited to work alongside you all and support you in your academic and scientific journey!
Benjamin Bartlett
University of Michigan, Year 1, Sustainability & Environment, MS
Hi everyone! My name is Ben (he/they), and I’m a recent graduate from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Molecular Environmental Biology. I’m currently pursuing my M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. This is my second year as a mentor, and I’m really excited to work with you all! During my undergrad, I served as the lab manager for two research labs and participated in several others. My honors thesis explored the socioenvironmental determinants of HIV/AIDS prevalence in San Bernardino County. This summer, I’m serving as the ArcGIS Director for a nonprofit and leading research on the environmental impacts of Project 2025. I also bring experience as a legislative researcher for both the UC system and U.S. Congress, as well as work in science policy and lobbying.
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Gladys Serenity Torrez
School of Biology; Microbiology and Immunology Graduate
Hello! My name is Serenity Torrez and I graduated with a Microbiology and Immunology major from UCI. I am interested in allergies and autoimmune diseases and hope one day to become an allergist. I was research assistant in Dr. Neikrug’s lab where we study the relationships between sleep, exercise, and health outcomes. I tutor elementary and high school students in up to AP level math, science, and history and get them ready to take the SAT.
Krutik Patel
UCI 4th Year Human Biology Major
Hello! My name is Krutik Patel and I am a Human Biology major graduate from UCI. I have been a lab tech for 4 years at a start up in Irvine called Rubicon Biotechnology developing a drug to help recovery following cardiac arrest as well as traumatic brain injury. At UCI I am part of the Rose lab, which studies neurodevelopment of brainstem motor neurons in embryonic mice - specifically the development of cranial nerves 3 and 4. Outside of UCI I enjoy tending to my pet snails (they just had babies!!!!) as well as hiking around OC. I am excited to help everyone make the most of this opportunity.
Juno (Caroline) Yu
UCI 5th Year Human Biology Major
Hello! I’m Juno, I’m headed into my second year as a UCI Human Biology student. (I’m a transfer student: three amazing years at UCSC, now I’m here!) Prior research experience includes studying mutated amyloid peptides in a Drosophila model at UCSC, and I’m currently an undergraduate researcher in the Sajjadi Lab (also studying Alzheimer’s). I’m also on the Perceived Stress and Food Insecurity and the Caprini Risk Score teams under the Free Clinic Project’s Research Committee! I’m aiming for medical school, and in my free time I sing with UCI’s Aerodynamix A Cappella :)
Ellie Svenson
UCSB 4th Year Economics Major
Hi everyone! My name is Ellie and I’m an incoming fourth-year student majoring in Economics at UCSB. I’ve had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in two labs. The first focused was a lab experiment on blockchain and property rights, where I used R to analyze behavioral data, and the second was in UCSB’s LITE Lab, where I conducted a human subjects experiment on the emotional impact of climate change information. I’ve also led research projects on baby bonds as a tool to reduce the racial wealth gap and on the impact of COVID-19 on high school student absenteeism. These experiences have fueled my passion for research and public policy, and I plan to pursue a masters or phD in Economics. Outside of academics, I love matcha and exploring new food spots with friends. I’m excited to be part of the SREI team and look forward to meeting and supporting you all!
SREI Summer 2024
Coordinators
Ketaki Lole
Emily Nguyen
Brandon Ton
SREI Mentors
Meet the mentors for SREI Summer 2024!
Eric Tran
UCI Graduate, Human Biology B.S.
Hello! I'm Eric and I just graduated from UCI with a B.S. in Human Biology. My research experience mainly consists of being a member of Dr. Audrey Lew's where we research Neuroscience Core Concepts and focus on pedagogical work. I also do research at Illumination Institute where we study breast cancer in the Vietnamese American population alongside USC. Lastly, I assist with some clinical research as an ophthalmic technician. Outside of school, I enjoy gaming and gyming with my friends. This will be my third year as a part of SREI so I hope to make this an enjoyable experience for you all!
Michelle Cheng
UCI 2nd Year Bio Sci Major
Hello! My name is Michelle and I am a second year Biological Sciences major at UCI. I am the current vice president of the Free Clinic Project. I am a student researcher in Dr. Jusiak's lab in the UCI School of Medicine, studying tumor growth and host survival using Drosophila flies. In addition to the Free Clinic, I am also involved in the Campuswide Honors Collegium student council and work as an honors ambassador for our program.
Ruth Edillor
UCI 2nd Year Bio Sci & Public Health Policy Major
Hello, my name is Ruth and I’m a second year double majoring in Biological Sciences and Public Health Policy! I’m currently a member of the Public Relations committee for FCP. I was also a student researcher at the Harbor UCLA Lundquist Institute, where we looked at disparities in pulmonary function testing due to predictors based on race/ethnicity. In my free time, I love going to the beach, crocheting, and playing guitar! This is my first year mentoring for SREI and my first year in FCP, so I’m excited to get involved and meet everybody!
Ritvik Suraparaju
UCI 1st Year Bio Sci Major
Hello! My name is Ritvik Suraparaju, and I am currently a 1st year student under the school of Biological Sciences at UCI. I am currently under the Research Committee at FCP, with my current project revolving around a retrospective study measuring the presence of metabolic diseases among patient records of the An Lanh Free Clinic, and I am currently pursuing a position in a neurobiology lab at UCI. Outside of school, I like to watch football, exercise occasionally, and play Valorant. This is my first year at SREI, so I hope I can help make this program a great growth experience for everyone involved!
Dennis Le
UCI Graduate, Human Bio B.S. and Medical Humanities Minor
Hi, I'm Dennis! I am a UCI graduate with a B.S. in Human Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities. I was also FCP's 2023-2024 Head of Media and Marketing! I am currently a research assistant in the Sajjadi Lab, where we study blood, postmortem MRI, and audio interviews for biomarkers of cognitive impairment. The main research project I am involved in is analyzing spontaneous speech interviews from The 90+ Study and Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) for acoustic and linguistic markers of dementia, which we hope to utilize in machine learning-based dementia detection. Outside of school, I love making art and animation, as well as gaming with my friends. I had many fun learning experiences during my time involved in research, which motivated me to join the SREI program. I look forward to sharing these experiences with all of you as a mentor!
Katherine Le
UCI 1st Year Public Health Sci Major
Hello! My name is Katherine Le and I am currently a first year undergraduate at UC Irvine majoring in Public Health Sciences. I have had research experience in various fields including microbiology, biomedical sciences, and ecology/public health. I am currently a lab assistant in the Martiny Lab at UCI and am undergoing the UROP program at the Faiola Lab at UCI. I have also worked in the Pathways to Stem Cell Science lab with Dr. Victoria Fox (USC) where I worked with cancer cells to study the anti cancer properties of freshwater algae. Additionally, I worked with bacteriophages with the goal of studying their efficacy as a therapy for bacteria derived illnesses. I’m excited to help future researchers investigate their topics of interest!
Anny Do
UCI 2nd Year Bio Sci Major
Hello! My name is Anny and I am a second year biological sciences major at UCI. My current research consists of investigating cases of spinal cord injury and assessing range of motion. Another project that I am involved in is about learning and memory patterns in rodents. I have been in the Free Clinic Project for a little over a year. Here, I am part of two research projects in which we analyze patterns of metabolic illnesses and study assessments to measure health literacy in underserved populations. I am also a writer for a student-run health literacy journal where I break down scientific articles about public health and medicine into layman's terms. Besides research, I love to fill my free time with music, beach trips, and movie nights. I look forward to working with you all and hearing about your interests in and outside of research!
Kim Nguyen
UCI 3rd Year Bio Sci Major, Health Informatics Minor
Hi, my name is Kim Nguyen and I am currently a junior undergraduate in the School of Biological Sciences, majoring in biological sciences and minoring in health informatics. I am hoping to become a pulmonologist as my career goal. I am a student researcher in the Department of Biological Chemistry, studying the emergence of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in cancer immunosuppression by using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. I am also a co-lead for perceived stress as a part of FCP research committee, focusing on the perceived stress level and stressors among medical clinic patients and UCI undergraduate students. I used to be a mentee before becoming a mentor, so I am eager to provide support as to how I received help from other people, either academic or non-academic aspects.
Donya Mohammadi
UCI 2nd Year Bio Sci Major
Hi! My name is Donya Mohammadi, and I’m a second year biological sciences major at UCI. I’m super passionate about women’s health and hope to pursue a career in healthcare to work against reproductive health inequities. I am currently working as an undergraduate student in Dr. Gyorgy Lur’s Neurobiology Lab where I am studying the effects of adolescent stress on the estrus cycle and cognition of female rodents. Additionally, I am a health equity scholar in Dr. Heike Thiel De Bocanegra’s lab which focuses on identifying reproductive health barriers among refugee women. In my free time I love to go on a run, curl up with a book, or try a new cafe. This will be my first year as a mentor for SREI, and I can’t wait to meet all of you!
Briana De Jesus
UCI 4th Year Bio Sci Major
Hi! My name is Briana De Jesus, and I am an incoming fourth year majoring in Biological Sciences at UCI. I am an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Momoko Watanabe’s Lab, which focuses on developing three-dimensional human brain organoids from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and evaluating their effectiveness in studying the progression of neurological diseases and disorders, such as Fragile X syndrome. I am also serving as the current Recruitment Committee Head for the Free Clinic Project. Outside of academics and extracurriculars, I like to bullet journal, collect stationery, and spend time with friends and family. This will be my first year participating in SREI as a mentor, and I am looking forward to meeting everyone soon!
Henry Cheng
UCI 1st Year Computer Science Major
Hello! My name is Henry Cheng, and I am a 1st year Computer Science major at UCI. I am a research intern in the ZhangLab, and my current focus is on spatial RNA-sequencing data preprocessing. I am also a part of the Research Committee at FCP, with my project being about the retrospective study of patient records from the An Lanh Free Clinic. My hobbies are playing Valorant, exercising, and drawing. This will be my first year with SREI, so I hope to make this a learning experience for everyone!
Aayush Sachdev
UCI 3rd Year
Hi! My name is Aayush Sachdev and I'm about to become a third year undergraduate at UCI. I've worked in a research lab since April 2023, and I've recently just got into my second research lab. My first research lab is called the Xu Lab. It is a neurobiology lab focused on doing locus coeruleus monosynaptic outputs tracing using an engineered rabies virus and yellow fever vaccine virus. I get to use tissue clearing and imaging techniques such as lightsheet microscopy and serial 2-photon tomography to analyze the specific location of neurons in the brains of mice. My second research lab is a part of the Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program (EMRAP). I've just started it and don't have a lot of experience in it, but the research projects in this program are focused on improving patient care in the emergency department. I'm excited to be able to mentor and help you with your research journey!
Ben Bartlett
UC Berkeley 3rd Year Molecular Enviromental Bio Major
I'm Ben Bartlett, a third-year student majoring in Molecular Environmental Biology at UC Berkeley. My experience includes research at the Organic Student Farm, where I focused on mapping native bee populations in the Bay Area and Costa Rica. Additionally, I've worked as a zero waste associate researcher, concentrating on scalable projects like circular vermicomposting and securing grants from the Green Initiative Fund (TGIF). I also serve as an associate for the University of California's federal branch, where I contribute to policy research supporting LGBTQIA+ youth and act as a liaison to Congress. This summer, my focus is on studying HIV/AIDS rates in San Bernardino and their impact on marginalized LGBTQIA+ youth, particularly through an environmental justice perspective and examining East Bay watersheds. For my senior thesis, I plan to investigate the adverse effects of ozone on flower reproductive patterns, morphology, and pollinator-host plant interactions, drawing upon queer theory.
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Serenity Torrez
UCI Graduate, Microbiology & Immunology Major
Hello! My name is Serenity Torrez and I am a graduating Microbiology and Immunology major from UCI. I am interested in allergies and autoimmune diseases and hope one day to become an allergist. I am a research assistant in Dr. Neikrug’s lab where we study the relationships between sleep, exercise, and health outcomes. Outside of school, I volunteer in St. Joseph hospital where I get to see the cutest patients in the mother and baby unit. In my free time, I enjoy baking cookies and reading fairytale stories.
Hera Kim
UCI 2nd Year Public Health Sci Major
Hi! My name is Hera Kim, a second-year Public Health Sciences major at UCI. I am an undergraduate researcher at Beier lab, which focuses on studying psychiatric disorders using mice models. I am part of a research group that focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind gender differences in depression and SSRI resistance. My recent research used a chronic restraint stress (CRS) mice model to investigate the influence of sex on stress exposure. Additionally, as a member of the FCP research committee, I am part of a retrospective study, where we analyze the pattern of metabolic illness in underserved populations. Beyond research, I volunteer at Delhi Center and Southwest Community Center, both located in Santa Ana, to address food insecurity in underserved communities. I look forward to meeting all of you!
Benjamin Yee
UCI 2nd Year Bio Sci Major
Hi! My name is Ben, and I am a second-year Biological Sciences student at UCI. I am an undergraduate researcher in the Malik Lab at UCI's Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. Here, I help study the mechanism behind electroacupuncture as an alternative treatment for chronic hypertension, and I also work in their research clinic to assist in their concurrent clinical study about this treatment. Outside of school, I love to eat out at new restaurants, go to the gym, and walk my dog (whenever I'm back home). I look forward to meeting you all soon!
Jazmyn Mulford
UCI 4th Year Human Bio Major
Hello everyone! My name is Jazmyn, and I will be a fourth year Human Biology major here at UCI. I am currently working as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Thomas Lane's Neuro-immunology Lab, where I study the effects of Viral Infection on Alzheimer's Disease. I am also a part of the Biological Science Student Council (BSC), an organization on campus that provides academic resources and promotes student advocacy. In my free time I love to swim, do hot yoga, and go to new places with friends. This will be my first year as a mentor for SREI, and I can’t wait to meet all of you!
Ekin Atila
UCI 2nd Year Biomedical Engineering Major
Hi! My name is Ekin Atila and I am a second-year biomedical engineering student at UCI. I am currently working as an undergraduate student at Dr. Chesler's Cardiopulmonary Health Lab in which we are currently striving to improve cardiovascular health through mechanical engineering and vascular biology. By focusing on ventricular function and blood flow dynamics we hope to better understand and prevent heart failure. So far, I’ve learned how to perform echocardiogram analysis, heart rate variability data analysis, and other data analysis techniques. Also, I got the chance to pursue and present research in health disparities among marginalized communities, and I hope to continue my research in this field throughout the rest of my undergraduate journey. On the side, I love to produce music, play the piano, and go on scenic runs. I’m looking forward to being a part of SREI and meeting everyone!
James Pham
UCI Graduate, Human Bio B.S. and Medical Humanities Minor
Hello! My name is James. I recently graduated UCI with a B.S. in Human Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities. My research experience involves being an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Daniela Bota's Lab at the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center where we study mitochondrial pathways in hopes of exploiting them for treatment of glioblastomas. I have presented my findings at local and national conferences, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting and the UCI Annual Cancer Center Scientific Retreat. When I'm not studying, I enjoy playing sports and the company of family and friends. Although this will be my first year as a mentor for SREI, I hope to be able to apply my skill sets from research to make this a great experience for you all!
Andrea Yanez
UCI 3rd Year Bio Sci Major, Health Informatics Minor
Hi, I'm Andrea Yanez, a 3rd-year Biological Science major with a Health Informatics minor. My passion lies in forensic pathology, sparked by a fascination with gory and crime-related films. In my research journey, I've had the opportunity to work with Dr. Ekamol at the American Heart Association Comprehensive Hypertension Center at UCI. Our focus was on investigating the root causes of kidney disease. Recently, I've joined Dr. Azizi's lab, where our research delves into physiology and biomechanics, particularly concerning severe muscle contusions and their impact on muscle mechanical function. Outside of school, I find pleasure in activities like weightlifting, boxing, and indulging in cozy cafe study sessions.
Luke Chi
UCI Graduate, Human Bio Major
My name is Luke Chi, and I am a human biology major graduate from UCI and on the pre-med track. I am a part of the Center of Neurobiology and Behavior research department at UCI in the Spatial Neuroscience Lab, studying human path integration, spatial memory, and large-scale navigation in complex environments using fMRI and fully immersive VR. I am also a part of the research committee at the An Lành Free Clinic Project, analyzing trends in stress, health literacy, demographics, and prominent diagnosis to serve the underserved community in Orange County. See you soon!
SREI Summer 2023
Coordinators
Katherine Ngo
Ketaki Lole
Mentors
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Luke Chi
My name is Luke Chi and I am a third-year human biology major at UCI on the pre-med track. I am a part of the Center of Neurobiology and Behavior research department at UCI in the Spatial Neuroscience Lab studying human path integration, spatial memory, and large-scale navigation in complex environments using fMRI and fully immersive VR. I am the Co-head of the research committee at the An Lành Free Clinic Project, analyzing trends in stress, health literacy, demographics, and prominent diagnosis in order to serve the underserved community in Orange County. I’m also a tutor at the UCI Intercollegiate Athletic Department and a former instructor at JustTalk, a nonprofit organization providing opportunities for foreign students to improve their English communications skills at no cost through online platforms. See you soon!
Anmol Gill
My name is Anmol Gill, and I am a third year Biological Sciences major. I am hoping to become a Physician Assistant in the future. I am currently the co-lead of the Retrospective Study as part of the UCI Free Clinic Project. Our goal is to evaluate the magnitude of the association between metabolic syndrome such as hypertension among patients with diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the uninsured, Hispanic population at the Lestonnac Free Clinic. I am also the Treasurer/Fundraising chair for the Physician Assistants Coming Together (PACT) Club on campus. I immensely enjoy uplifting and supporting others whether that be in an environment of medicine, research, or education. This has led me to where I am today.
Safa Zarah
Hi! My name is Safa and I am a third-year Psychology major here at UCI. I am originally from Afghanistan, but I grew up in Orange County. I have a strong passion for research and am currently conducting research focusing on TBI. During my free time, I enjoy hiking, exploring new coffee shops, cooking, and spending quality time with family & friends! I'm excited to get involved with the SREI program and make this an enjoyable and enriching experience for you all.
Eric Tran
Hello! I'm Eric, an incoming 4th year Human Biology major at UCI. I am also the current president of the Free Clinic Project. My research experience consists of a year at Dr. Lew's lab where we research Neuroscience Core Concepts and focus on pedagogical work. Outside of school, I enjoy gaming and playing sports with my friends. This will be my second year as a part of SREI so I hope to make this an enjoyable experience for you all!
Emily Nguyen
Hi everyone! My name is Emily Nguyen and I am a first year undergraduate student majoring in Biological Sciences at UCI. I am passionate about advocating for health equity and hope to improve patient experiences through the collaborative pursuits of clinical research. In addition to being a part of the research committee for the Free Clinic Project, I am currently working under Dr. Sadigh Gelareh to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of multi-level interventions that mitigate financial toxicity for oncology patients. Though I am relatively new to the field of research, I am looking forward to sharing my experiences and insights as a mentor for SREI!
Saivishnu Tulugu
Hi everyone, my name is Saivishnu (Sai) Tulugu and I'm a third-year public health year student. I'm passionate about health and social justice and want to dedicate my academic and professional interests to addressing healthcare disparities and finding ways to combine population and clinical medicine techniques to address treatments for cardiovascular disease. I am currently working in Dr. Akbari's Lab where we aim to study neurological outcomes in a rodent model after cardiac arrest. I hope to explore the connections between global ischemia, neurological deterioration, and arrhythmias. I'm also involved in clinical research as a part of the HELIOS lab aiming to find more culturally informed ways to address medication adherence and hypertension control. Apart from research, I'm involved with environmental work on campus such as The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) funding sustainability-related projects at UCI. My goal for SREI is to inspire mentees to follow their research passions and address any of their worries/uncertainties about getting started. You all got this!
Roseanne De Guzman
Hello, everyone! I'm Roseanne De Guzman, an incoming 4th Year pre-med student at UC Irvine. As a research project lead in the Free Clinic Project, I hope to work against inequity throughout undergrad and, eventually, a career in the healthcare field. This is something I also pursue through clinical research at the Family Planning Lab with Dr. Thiel de Bocanegra, where I specifically study reproductive and maternal health among Filipinx/Fil-Am women. I've also worked as a cardiologist's Medical Assistant in addition to being involved in campus organizations like We (Skin)care at UCI and the Campuswide Honors Student Council. Skin care is a personal love of mine, along with reading, drawing/painting, photography, travelling, hiking (easy trails), etc.!
Santosh Sankaran
Hey, my name is Santosh Sankaran. I am a soon to be fourth year Biological Sciences student. My research experiences include working in a prostate cancer immunology/pathology lab. Our research was oriented towards differentiating the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment between racial groups in terms of gene expression and epigenetic alterations. This would help identify prognostic markers that contribute to the marked increase in prostate cancer mortality in Black-American patients. As someone who is passionate about civic issues and working to amend disparities in healthcare, I believe my research is a great fit for the person I am. I look forward to helping you all identify research niches that reflect the person you are. Outside of research, I enjoy volunteering outdoors in my free time. I enjoy the outdoors as well as contributing to a cause beyond me. I do everything from tree planting to gardening. As for personal hobbies? I love reading science fiction.
Tanvi Sondhi
Hi everyone! My name is Tanvi Sondhi, I am a fourth year Molecular Biology and Biochemistry major at UCI. I'm interested in pursuing a career in health care! I am an undergraduate researcher in the Prescher lab where I'm working on developing an imaging technique for macrophages using bioluminescent reporters and spectral phasor analysis. I am also a member of the Free Clinic Project research committee, where we analyze patient data from the An Lành Free Clinic for trends in demographics, health literacy, and stress. Outside of research and school, my interests include baking, reading, and travelling!
Gabbie Pacho
Hi, my name is Gabbie and I'm an incoming fourth year at UCI studying biological sciences. I transferred to UCI from UC Santa Cruz last year and am serving as the Head of Public Relations for FCP this year. I have a strong passion for contributing to causes that provide equity for all, which is why I enjoy being a part of FCP so much. I worked as a medical scribe, optometrist's medical assistant, and will be interning for another optometrist this summer. At UC Santa Cruz, I was an undergraduate researcher involved in a neurobiology lab where we studied the effects of nicotine on the brain. I am hoping to get more involved in research at UCI this upcoming year. My career goal is to become an optometrist, and my goal as a mentor for SREI is to help you all find something you are passionate about doing within the field of research. I hope to make this an enjoyable and memorable experience for you all :) But besides school and work, in my free time I enjoy working out, playing volleyball, trying new foods, and playing the piano.
MEET THE MENTORS
2022
Allyson Lee
allysl1@uci.edu
Hi! My name is Allyson Lee, a second year biological sciences major at UCI. I'm interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare field, whether through directly interacting with patients as a healthcare professional or indirectly, by working in a clinical laboratory or research setting. Currently, I'm part of the Hochbaum lab's osmotic stress project, which aims to understand how bacteria survive in conditions of stress, such as the presence of osmolytes or antibiotics. Being in a research lab showcased how classes are really just providing the background material that can then be used to understand and solve real-world situations. I believe that participating in research underscores how essential critical thinking skills are to addressing any sort of problem in the world, and doing it in a supportive team environment just makes the whole process much more enjoyable. Having some sort of question or concern, being able to devise a way to solve that uncertainty, generating results, and being able to interpret them in a way that brings about understanding is a hands-on learning experience that I find to be rewarding and motivating. I wish that I was able to participate in tangible learning experiences earlier on, and by being a mentor for SREI, I can help steer students in the direction of participating in hands-on learning experiences. I look forward to working with everyone and being a part of your educational journey!
Neiman Araque
araquer@uci.edu
Hello! My name is Neiman Araque, and I am currently an upcoming fourth year undergraduate student majoring in Psychological Science and Philosophy at UCI. My research experience includes being a part of the Child Narratives Lab under the direction of Dr. J. Zoe Klemfuss. Our research in the lab primarily focuses on how children construct a narrative of their memory, observing different cognitive, social, and environmental factors that affect this ability. Much of the research in the lab concerns topics not only of theoretical developmental psychology, but of applied topics such as forensic psychology as well. Last year, I led a grant-funded project that looked at juror’s perceptions of children in court and how it affected their believability. My career goal is to eventually work in academia as a professor and potentially do psychological clinical work on the side. I enjoy teaching and sharing knowledge with others, since knowledge has been very impactful in my own life. I also enjoy applying what I learn into practice. When I am not conducting research, I am giving a campus tour, helping produce TEDx Talks, or performing improvised comedy. Don’t ask me to make a joke though, I’m off the clock.
Saivishnu Tulugu
stulugu@uci.edu
My name is Saivishnu Tulugu and I'm a second-year public health year student. I'm passionate about health and social justice and want to dedicate my academic and professional interests to addressing healthcare disparities and finding ways to combine population and clinical medicine techniques to address treatments for cardiovascular disease. I am currently working in Dr. Akbari's Lab where we aim to study neurological outcomes in a rodent model after cardiac arrest. I hope to explore the connections between global ischemia, neurological deterioration, and post-recovery viability. Apart from research, I'm involved with environmental organizations on campus such as Earth Reps and The Green Initiative Fund. My goal for SREI is to inspire mentees to follow their research passions and address any of their worries/uncertainties about getting started.
Hi everyone, my name is Kaylen and I am a recent UCI graduate with a degree in human biology. I first joined SREI as a mentee back in 2018, gained much insight into the research process that shaped my academic career throughout undergrad, and will be returning as a mentor again this year. My research experience consists of 2 years in the Chan lab studying a novel protein involved in the oxidative stress response, presenting at Excellence in Research and UROP symposiums, and being an ambassador for the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at UCI. If you have any questions about how to find faculty and get involved in research at a large university, please let me know, as I am more than happy to help guide you. Outside of research, I love film and video editing, hanging out with friends, traveling, and trying out new foods. If you have new OC restaurant recommendations, I'm all ears!
My name is Luke Chi and I am a second-year Biological Sciences major at UCI on the pre-med track. I am a part of the Center of Neurobiology and Behavior research department at UCI in the Spatial Neuroscience Lab studying human path integration, spatial memory, and large-scale navigation in complex environments using fMRI and fully immersive VR. I am also a part of the research committee at An Lành Free Clinic Project, which analyzes trends in stress, health literacy, demographics, and prominent diagnosis in order to serve the underserved community in Orange County. I’m a former instructor at JustTalk, a nonprofit organization providing opportunities for foreign students to improve their English communications skills at no cost through online platforms. So, no need to stress! I’ll break the research down into easy chunks. I am telling you, research is at the forefront of unprecedented discovery; no one knows the answer, not even the teachers.
Michael Nguyen
michaln4@uci.edu
My name is Michael Nguyen and I am a first year chemistry major. I am currently a part of the research committee for the Free Clinic Project. Our goal is to improve the quality of care that underserved patients at An Lanh Free Clinic in Garden Grove receive by running studies on their well-being. My team and I are involved in projects regarding stress, health literacy, and health insurance coverage of patients at the clinic. I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine, where I will continue doing research to expand the limits of medical science.
Jennifer Tran
jennit12@uci.edu
Hi everyone! My name is Jennifer Tran but I usually just go by Jen. I am just finishing up my senior year here at UCI as a Microbiology and Immunology major! After I graduate, I plan on taking a gap year before applying to medical school. I currently work in Dr. Lbachir BenMohamed's lab in UCI's School of Medicine and we do research on HSV-1, HSV-2, and SARS-CoV-2 in order to develop a vaccine against these viruses. Outside of research, I have a strong passion for education and I have been a part of the Bio Sci Peer Tutoring Program for almost three years now! Our program's goal is to provide free tutoring services in order to help our peers succeed in their courses. Being a part of my research lab for two years has been one of the most rewarding experiences that I've had in college and I look forward to imparting my knowledge on my time in my lab!
Hi everyone! My name is Kenny Diaz and I just graduated from UCI with a B.S. in Human Biology and a B.A. in Spanish Literature and culture. My research experience consists of being a member of the Cohen-Cory lab, the AREYTO Lab, and assisting with clinical research at the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. For the Cohen-Cory lab, I've been a lab member for the past two years and we focus on researching how certain drugs affect the growth of individual neurons in the eye/brain of tadpoles! We do this by labeling individual cells with a fluorescent protein and seeing how they grow over time following exposure to the drug. We are currently writing a paper about our findings that will be published this summer! For the AREYTO lab run by Dr. Julio Torres, I was a member of this lab from Fall 2020 through Fall 2021 and the focus of this lab's research was to investigate how people learn languages. Specifically, how people who grew up speaking Spanish learn a third language in comparison to people who learned Spanish later in life learning a new language. Lastly, I assisted with a poster alongside Dr. Shen at the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center where we investigated whether hormone replacement therapy would help reduce anxiety and depression in transgender and diverse gender patients. My overall career goal after college is to become a primary care doctor! Outside of school, I love playing video games, watching anime, taking care of my 3 aquariums and exploring new things!
Roseanne De Guzman
rgdeguzm@uci.edu
Hello, everyone!! I'm Roseanne De Guzman, an incoming 3rd Year Pre-Med student at UC Irvine. As a member of the Research Committee here at the Free Clinic Project, I hope to work against inequity throughout undergrad and, eventually, a career in the healthcare field. To gain clinical experience, I currently work as a cardiologist's Medical Assistant. But on campus I'm also involved in organizations like We (Skin)care at UCI and the Campuswide Honors Student Council. Skin care is a personal love of mine, along with reading, drawing/painting, travelling, hiking (easy trails), etc.!
Madison Lansing
lansingm@uci.edu
Hi I’m Madison! I’m a third year Biological Sciences major with a huge passion for brain research. Although a lot of my life consists of school, my free time usually involves coffee, my cat and a Goodwill. Looking forward to warm weather and my time as a mentor!
Eric Tran
ericht1@uci.edu
Hello! I'm Eric, a Second Year Bio Sci Major looking to specialize in Human Biology. My research is limited but I hope to get involved over the summer and do my best to make SREI an enjoyable experience for all of you!