Hometown:
San Diego, CA
Year entered CMB program:
2020
Lab:
Brief Summary of Research:
Investigating the role of protein arginine methyltransferase CARM1 in estrogen signaling as a potential target for combating endocrine resistant breast cancer
Why did you decide to attend graduate school?
When I was an undergraduate, I was part of a summer research internship that gave me a lot of freedom and independence in my project. I realized I loved doing benchwork and figuring out how to answer the questions I came across. I attended graduate school to gain the knowledge and experience to lead my own research projects.
What inspired you to go into your field of study?
My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 10 years old. I am fortunate enough that my mom is now 10 years in remission, but not everyone is so lucky. My life experience taught me the smallest things can make the biggest impacts, which is why I chose to study cancer at a molecular level.
What are your long-term career goals?
I plan to become a university professor and continue to pursue cancer research. I also want to increase diversity in academia and be a mentor and support to students from marginalized communities in higher education.
When you are not in the lab, you are…….?
Biking around Madison!
What is your favorite memory so far in the CMB Program?
Every time I hang out with my cohort! We have gone sledding at Elver Park, ice skating on Lake Wingra, and tubing down the Sugar River. Now that we have all chosen our labs, we don’t get to see each other as often but over the course of the past year, we have formed a special bond with each other and I look forward to our hangouts!