ESTEME 2020-2021 Mentors
Sophie Zhu
Epidemiology
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My research focuses on the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in marine systems but I also have experience with mathematical modeling of viral disease and population health assessments. I volunteer my time as a mentor because I was also a transfer student and want to offer my help to make the transition experience easier. One piece of advice I would give to students interested in research is to talk to multiple professors to gauge not only your interest but theirs as well!
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Noah Siegel
Immunology
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My research focuses on characterizing the lung microbiome during infancy and how its disruption can lead to complications during Adulthood. My experience is in metagenomic and transcriptomic sequencing. I come from the CSU system, which, historically, has less research opportunities than most UCs. I chose to volunteer as a mentor because I want to ensure UCD students can take full advantage of research prospects offered at Davis
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Helen Lamb
My research interests include asymmetric cell division, actin cytoskeleton regulation, cell-cell signaling, and how all these phenomena contribute to both normal development and cancer progression. I volunteer as a mentor because I want to share what I've learned to help make things easier for others!
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Charles Hammond
My research is on bioremediation of recalcitrant herbicides and pesticides in the environment. I was a transfer student and got my BS in civil engineering at UC Davis last June. I volunteer because sometimes a piece of advice can change your life, and it is helpful to talk to those who have already experienced something you are curious about.
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Jessica Greer
Ecology
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I am interested in pollination and avian ecology, with a focus on understanding how land-use and climate change impact plant-pollinator interactions. Specifically, I hope to study how hummingbirds respond to phenology shifts and how best to predict their responses to future changes. As a first year graduate student, I haven’t started my own research yet, but am still happy to meet with undergraduates who are interested in discussing/learning more about research!
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Mandy Frazier
Ecology
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My PhD research focuses on understanding how climate change stressors affect the behavior and physiology of polar fishes. During my undergraduate studies, having mentors was critical in helping me decide what path I wanted to pursue after graduation. As an ESTEME mentor I hope that I can help guide current undergraduates in helping them think about different post-undergraduate options in STEM and to help them decide what direction is best for them.
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Emily Steliotes
Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry
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My research focuses on various plant compounds and their broader food system impacts. Specifically, I am investigating whether increasing the nutrient content of crops improves human nutrition and which phytochemicals are most effective as biochemical pesticides. I chose to volunteer as a mentor because I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others.
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Nkechi Chidi-Ogbolu
Biomedical Engineering
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I am a Ph.D. Candidate of Biomedical Engineering and a part of the Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology (DEB) program. I work in Dr. Keith Baar’s lab with a research focus on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine in the musculoskeletal injury space, specifically injuries to connective tissue (tendons and ligaments). My long-term goals include a career shift into the “Business of Science” where she can use her scientific background in science communication, outreach, and business development. I am an international student who attended a historically black college/university (HBCU) in the United States. I chose to volunteer my time as a mentor to help ease the transition into graduate school especially for international students of color.
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Jorge Arroyo Esquivel
Applied Mathematics
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My research focuses on understanding how to design better conservation strategies by understanding the spatial structure of ecological populations. As an international student who is changing their focus from what they majored in to their grad program, I want to mentor students who want to get the best out of themselves and help them overcome their doubts of doing their next step in life.
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Claire Kouba
Hydrologic Sciences
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I study groundwater hydrology and water resource management in California, using tools like MODFLOW to simulate three-dimensional coupled groundwater-surface water systems and to predict the impacts of new infrastructure or climate change on a watershed. I am also currently providing technical support to the groundwater management process in Siskiyou County under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which involves communicating my science to a diverse group of local stakeholders at regular public meetings. Mentors have made a big difference in my life, and I am committed to demystifying the path to a STEM career for as many young people as possible.
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Allison Lau
Animal Behavior
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My research focuses on the variability in vocal communication of pair-bonding primates and the implications this variability has on pair-bonding quality. I use coppery titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus) as a model species and use diverse methodologies such as bioacoustics, focal observations, and experimental playbacks. I completed my undergraduate degree here at UC Davis before continuing on as a Ph.D. student in the Animal Behavior Graduate Group. I love helping students explore their interest in research, and am happy to provide resources for getting more experience!
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Lacie Newton
Entomology & Nematology
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My research interests include classifying and describing the increasingly threatened biodiversity on Earth, specifically cryptic species in trapdoor spider taxa, using various genomic techniques and bioinformatic tools. As a queer first generation college student, I volunteer as a mentor because I think my experience could serve as a potential guide for students with similar backgrounds who might not have had someone to advise them of the opportunities available in STEM.
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Rene Suleiman
Microbiology
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My research focuses on the cell biology of the intestinal parasite Entamoeba histolytica and how it causes tissue damage by taking bites out of host cells. I am working towards a career in undergraduate education. I volunteer to be a mentor because I went to a small liberal arts college and had little opportunity as an undergrad to research or be mentored by graduate students, and want to give back all of what I had to learn myself!
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Linda Ma
Biochemistry
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I am interested in how nuclei can migrate through narrow constrictions, as in the case of metastasizing cancer cells, immune cell response, and normal development. These studies have been done in vitro but never in vivo, our lab uses C. elegans as an in vivo model, my thesis work is on how the actin cytoskeleton can mediate nuclear migration in the absence of the microtubule-based pathway. I'm a first generation college student who grew up in East Oakland as the child of immigrants, mentorship had a huge impact in my life (research mentors, academic mentors), so I'd like to give back in any way that I can.
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Tina Truong
Immunology
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My research focuses on investigating how M. tuberculosis infect immune cells and successfully evade immune responses to develop sustained infections. I chose to volunteer because I'm a first generation college student that is also the first in my family to go on to graduate school and because of that I understand how difficult it can be to navigate the process and wish to be a source of guidance.
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Angelica Guercio
Integrative Genetics and Genomics
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I study how plants are able to sense and respond to their environment at the molecular level using protein structural biology and biochemistry. My training is mostly in genetics and genomics so I explore these processes on a holistic level through the evolution of these sensing-signaling pathways. I volunteer my time because I was discouraged to continue in STEM, but passionate mentors assured me that I was capable and provided me the tools and advice to support me and I hope to help others do the same.
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Paige Kouba
Ecology
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The goal of my research is to better understand how climate influences temperate forests, and vice versa. I have ongoing projects in the Eastern Sierras and in Central Massachusetts, using dendrochronology and forest census surveys to characterize tree growth and competition over time. I love talking about science concepts in new ways with new people, and I am excited about helping others build confidence in themselves as scientists.
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Abby Ray
Microbiology
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Our lab studies Mycobacterium tuberculosis and I use proteomics to study the host-pathogen interactions. Mentoring has played an essential role in my development as a scientist and I hope that through volunteering I will be able to help other UC Davis students get involved in science and research as well.
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Sarah Abusaa
Epidemiology
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My background is in infectious disease epidemiology, and I am interested in how vector population trends affect the risk for disease transmission. I currently research the ecology of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in California with the goals of refining statistical methods for estimating population abundance and predicting habitat range. Finding the right fit for a career in STEM can be daunting, and as a mentor I hope to help make the process easier.
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Tomas Gonzalez Fernandez
Post doctoral Fellow
Biomedical Engineering |
My research focuses in the designing of novel 3D printable bio-instructive materials for musculoskeletal tissue regeneration. After finishing my BSc in Biotechnology between Spain and Ireland through an Eramus Fellowship I started my PhD in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), upon the completion of my PhD I joined the Leach lab in the Biomedical Engineering Department at UC Davis to continue my academic training as an American Heart Association (AHA) Postdoctoral Fellow. As a mentor I can advice students with an interest in a career in academia and in international options and fellowships for studying abroad.
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Laney Casella
Biomedical Engineering
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I am researching electrically conductive materials to develop a platform for bone and tissue innervation (nerve ingrowth) to improve the implantation success rate of engineered tissues. My higher education has been in biomedical engineering with a focus on tissue engineering and biomaterials, and I have also done three internships at companies in the biomedical engineering field. I received my Bachelor's degree from the University of Akron in Ohio and now I am pursuing my PhD here at UC Davis. Volunteering as a mentor is very important to me since I am the first in my family to go to graduate school and without the mentors in my life, I may have never gotten involved in research or learned the tools to apply to graduate school. I hope I can be that mentor for students here!
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Toluwanimi Odemuyiwa
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Hi there! My research interests are in parallel computing, hardware-software co-design and general-purpose computing for GPUs (GP-GPU). I made it through undergrad thanks to the encouragement of several mentors, who gave me tips on how to study effectively, contact professors for research opportunities, and apply for industry internships. I would like to pay that forward and encourage other students throughout their undergrad experience.
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Tara CasoPlant Biology
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I'm broadly interested in improving crops through cellular biology and plant biochemistry research techniques with the ultimate goal of increasing global food security and nutrition. My undergraduate research consisted of molecular modeling projects using the Spartan program in addition to two summer research projects conducted at Michigan State University and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Currently, I'm interested in how hormone signaling is regulated by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) as well as how the UPS may potentially regulate both general and specialized metabolic pathways. I spent several years teaching and mentoring while in undergrad and I’ve had to figure out my route to grad school with very little mentorship; I look forward to sharing these experiences and fielding questions about the process!
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Taylor Heckman
Microbiology
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My research is on diseases impacting aquatic animals, with a focus on Streptococcus iniae, an opportunistically zoonotic bacterial pathogen of fish. I've have had incredible mentors in the past and I would have never gotten here without them. I hope to provide that same support and guidance to current students.
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Melisa Gulseren
Luis Flores
Forensic Science
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My research interests are in toxicology and microbiology, this would include testing for antibacterial in food we ingest on a daily basis. I am a first generation college student who went through the community college system. I saw firsthand how difficult and intimidating it can be, and that is why I chose to become a mentor and help anyone along the way.
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Christofer Brothers
Animal Behavior
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I am a second year PhD student in the Animal Behavior Graduate group, and I study Dragonflies and their predatory behavior across their life stages. As a multiracial individual, science helped build my confidence in my identity growing up and to this day. Research and Education are both important to me, and I've had a lot of help in going down this path of higher education, and am excited to return the favor.
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Jennifer Gin
Paola Langer
Ashleigh Thomas
Integrative Genetics and Genomics MS
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I am interested in computational biology, and am currently researching the brain tissue types specific to neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder and epilepsy. I have a computer science background, and have switched into genetics and genomics in the last few years. I spent four years off working in the technology industry before coming back for my MS at Davis. I want to be a mentor because I owe much of my progress and knowledge of academia and research to current and past mentors, and I want to help students at Davis who are interested in research/graduate school or industry careers gain more knowledge on these topics, as much of the processes are not very public.
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Gwyneth Manser
Geography
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My research focuses broadly on the food system, and I am currently studying regulations at farmers markets in Oregon. I have training in geography, anthropology, and environmental studies. I’ve benefitted tremendously from academic and professional mentorship and, as a queer woman in science, I hope help others navigate the confusing process of higher education and research.
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Analisa Brown
Education
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I am a first year doctoral student in the School of Education. I have a B.S in marine biology and M.S in Biology. I'm mainly interested in how students of color, particularly Black / African American students can overcome hostile science environments. Also, how their interactions with teachers and advisors in such environments shape their sense of belonging in science and higher education. I also love marine science and great white sharks.
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CJ Mileti
Are you a current mentor? Don't see your bio here? Please fill out the new mentor intake form for 2020-2021!