Describe your background
In my undergrad I worked in labs studying cellular signaling pathways in cancer cells, gene-editing with CRISPR/Cas9, and also had experience in iGEM competition (synthetic biology).
Describe your area of research and/or your area of specialty
I am interested in immunoengineering. I spent one year in Dr. Kolade Adebowale's lab studying viscoelasticity's impact on CD8+ T cell migration through confocal live imaging. In the future I would like to study immunology, especially T cells, in interdisciplinary research, including live cell imaging, biochemistry, mathematical modeling, synthetic biology, etc. I aim to make contributions in improving immunotherapy in the future.
Have you received any outstanding mentorship or guidance during your time in the program that made an impact on your research and/or the trajectory of your career?
Dr. Kolade Adebowale is an awesome mentor who taught me how to do research with hands-on training. He taught me how to efficiently talk about science to others, how to critically think about your experiments, how to better communicate with others, how to plan ahead, etc.
What has been your favorite part about your graduate experience in the program?
Working in Dr. Kolade Adebowale's lab and getting support and building friendship from our neighboring labs, including Dr. Vira Kravets's lab and Dr. Erika Cyphert's lab.
Any thoughts or advice you'd like to share with prospective graduate students?
Be brave to try anything. Be active.
If you are an Alumni from our program, what is your current role, or what are your career prospects and plans for the future?
I plan to work as a research assistant for another year in UCSD in another lab and apply for PhD for Fall 2027.