Graduate Student
Mentorship Initiative (GSMI)

My name is Lindsey Sofia Aguilar (she/her; Sofia) and I graduated with an M.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University and UC San Diego with a B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. I am interested in understanding how alterations in neural circuits underlying complex human behaviors contribute to various psychiatric disorders. I am looking forward to applying to PhD Programs in Neuroscience, and/or Clinical Psychology to address these topics at a graduate level!

Dreyton is a Mexican-American first-generation college graduate from Ohio. He earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University. Currently residing in NYC, he works as a lab technician in the SRSP Lab at CUIMC, using skin cell co-cultures to model human injury responses in vitro. His scientific interests include stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Dreyton aims to pursue a PhD to study cell interactions to better understand their coordination in producing physiological functions.

Danielle Amaegbo, originally from Abuja, Nigeria, is a Biochemistry major with a minor in Visual Arts at Austin College. Her research centers on optimizing peptide synthesis for improved hydrogel fiber formation and aggregation, aiming to enhance drug delivery systems. Danielle is passionate about developing nanomaterials and therapeutics for antimicrobial and anticancer applications. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology with a focus on drug development.

My name is Nanushka, but everyone calls me Nanu. I'm from Cataño, Puerto Rico, the smallest coastal town and where my love for science began. I earned my MSc in Microbiology Molecular Diagnostic, focusing on microbial dynamics in the Fajardo bioluminescent lagoon. Currently, I work as a laboratory tech at the STEM-GPA project. I aim to inspire future scientists, fostering curiosity and passion. I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in marine microbial ecology, contributing to science and helping my country and town.

Emilie holds a B.S. in microbiology & cell science from the University of Florida. She previously conducted research in leukemia genetics at the University of Florida and the National Institutes of Health. She currently works as a research technician at her alma mater, where she investigates epigenetics and therapeutic advancements for multiple myeloma. Emilie intends to pursue a PhD in cancer biology, and hopes to continue research in genetics/epigenetics and cancer. She is a proud Costa Rican American.

Natalie is a first-generation undergraduate student at St. John Fisher University. Entering her senior year, she will be applying to Psychology PhD programs and the NSF-GRFP for fall 2025 entry. Her research interests broadly encompass relationships, loneliness, and adolescents.

Andres Cadena was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. Fascinated by the mysteries of the brain, he pursued a degree in biomedical engineering with a minor in neuroscience at the University of Los Andes. He focused his research on leveraging computational modeling to explore neural computation, including representations, geometry, and dynamics. To delve deeper into this complex field, he plans to enter a graduate program in computational neuroscience to further unravel the intricacies of neural dynamics.

Joseph Capella is a Physiology graduate student at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. His thesis explores the role of voltage-gated ion channels in mitochondrial swelling and dysfunction, aiming to develop a biophysical model. He hopes to underpin the power of mathematical tools in physiology for understanding complex processes. He aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Biophysics, applying molecular dynamics simulations to the study of membrane protein structure and function.

I am a former whale researcher turned C. elegans neuroscientist, fascinated by how animals perceive the world. From studying one of the largest animals to working with one of the tiniest model organisms, I am curious about the genetic and neural mechanisms behind information processing. During my PhD, I aim to conduct exciting research while also gaining the knowledge and tools to develop educational projects for indigenous communities in Ecuador.

Isabella Cisneros received a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Developmental Biology from the University of Chicago. She is currently an NIH IRTA fellow in the Weinstein Lab, where she studies the epigenetics of fin regeneration. In graduate school, she hopes to continue pursuing her interest in regeneration using non-traditional model organisms. Outside of the lab, she is an advocate for science communication, writing for preLights and her Substack How We Talk About Science.

Teo Cooper (they/them) is a first-gen, queer, Black biologist from Oakland. They are a post-bacc scholar in the Kramer lab, where they study plant morphology using Aquilegia flowers to explore pollinator syndromes. Their research focuses on the evolution and development of floral traits. Teo aims to pursue a PhD in plant genetics and is dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to diverse communities.

Sofia Covarrubias received her bachelor's in Physics from California State University-Los Angeles in May 2023, and subsequently started a post-bacc at Caltech. She has done research in multiple fields of astronomy, including planetary science, orbital dynamics, stellar physics and evolution, and supernovae, and will be applying to programs in physics and astronomy. In addition, she is very passionate about outreach and DEI in science, and is hoping that she can make change in graduate school and beyond.

I am a first-generation student, born in Mexico and raised in Southern California. I’m in my final year of undergrad, studying Forensic Biology with minors in Chemistry and Bioinformatics. As part of Dr. Radlauer’s research group, I investigate the catalytic activity of novel copper complexes. This work, focused on green chemistry, has fueled my passion for graduate studies, where I hope to develop and enhance scientific techniques that could be used in improving reliability in forensics.

Shirley A. De La Cruz is a first-generation college graduate from South Central Los Angeles. Shirley received a BA in Psychology from UCLA with a minor in Central American Studies. She is presently engaged as a Research Coordinator on a community-based project with BIPOC youth and families in UCLA’s Department of Psychiatry. Shirley aims to pursue a Clinical/Counseling Psychology PhD and is interested in mixed methods research and community-informed healing interventions.

Samantha Dhanani received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College in neuroscience and behavior with a minor in science and public policy in 2023. Currently she is working as a research assistant in the Muhle Lab at the New York State Psychiatric Institute using mouse behavior to investigate an autism risk gene. She hopes to pursue a PhD in neuroscience with a focus on animal behavior but is open to branching out!

Fascinated by cellular connectivity and interactions, Jordin is passionate about uncovering the mechanisms that govern cellular function. She aims to pursue a graduate program in cellular and molecular biology to deepen her understanding of the factors driving persistent health conditions. Through her future research, she is committed to advancing our knowledge and contributing to efforts that improve the lives of those affected.

Pamela Duarte is a first-generation Mexican-American from Douglas, Arizona currently studying at Rice University. She is pursuing a degree in Cell Biology and Genetics and serves as an undergraduate researcher in the Uribe lab investigating the enteric nervous system utilizing zebrafish models and CRISPR/Cas9 knockdowns. Duarte hopes to pursue a PhD in Cancer Biology in hopes of identifying biomarkers for early detection and developing accessible therapeutic options for underserved communities.

Enycé Fairbanks graduated with a B.S. in Biological Science from Arizona State University. As Vice President of IDEAS Student Society at ASU, she fostered a community for online STEM students. Her research focuses on the cancer microbiome, aiming to enhance cancer therapies by leveraging microbes. Enycé aspires to pursue a PhD and contribute to innovative cancer treatments. Beyond academics, she loves traveling and plans to engage with international research communities and diverse cultures.

Gabriel Fajardo received a B.S. in Neuroscience from Boston College and is the Lab Manager at the Social Cognitive & Neural Sciences Lab at Columbia University. At BC, he conducted research utilizing multivariate statistical dependence analyses based on neural networks (MVPN) to identify brain regions responsible for audio-visual integration. He aims to understand how we/the brain efficiently and effortlessly encodes the rich, dynamic, and high-dimensional data from the social world.

As a soil conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, I work with farmers on implementing sustainable agricultural practices. At the University of Arizona, I researched exopolysaccharide and chlorophyll-a variation across different microclimates of biocrusts and characterized cyanobacteria species that form lichens. I hope to combine these experiences in graduate school by studying the utilization of micro-algae as a biofertilizer in promoting the health of cropland soils.

Isaac Garcia is a first-generation college student and attended the College of the Sequoias before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley where he received his B.S. in Chemical Biology. He is currently a post-baccalaureate researcher in the Schepartz lab at UC Berkeley and is investigating ways to alter backbones of polypeptide chains through biocompatible chemistry. He wishes to obtain a PhD in the field of Chemical Biology and ultimately become a Professor.

Julianna holds a BA in Psychology from Boston College, and is a Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital and Research Assistant at Harvard University. Her interests and body of work include brain MRI, moral cognition, decision-making, intergroup interaction, and ethics. Julianna is applying to Social Psychology PhD programs and wishes to explore these topics in a graduate setting, applying them to the development of academically-informed social policy initiatives.

Hi everyone! My name is David Abel Gragirenes Delgado. I’m proud to be born and raised in the island of enchantment, Puerto Rico, and I recently graduated with B.S. in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey. Right now I’m a post baccalaureate student at Weill Cornell Medicine as part of the ASPiRE PREP program. I want to pursue a PhD with a focus Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the context of Cancer to create new knowledge that will revolutionize how we understand and treat cancer.

Karla is a senior in Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Her current research focuses on creating synthetic ligaments to improve rehabilitation efforts by replacing the need for expensive equipment with 3D-printed biomaterial to ensure safe integration into the body system. She plans to pursue graduate studies in biomechanics or microfluidics to continue making accessible medical technology for all communities.

Diana was born in Oaxaca, Mexico and grew up in Central Los Angeles, CA. She is a first-generation high school and college graduate, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering - Biotechnology from UC San Diego. Her research experiences in synthetic biology and gene therapy have inspired her to pursue graduate school. She wants to utilize computational tools, statistics, and biology to make qualitative and quantitative predictions and understand biological systems and their interactions.

Amy Herrera is a first-generation Cuban American from Miami, FL currently exploring various developmental signaling pathways associated with NSCLC tumorigenesis and discovering alternate mechanisms to suppress unregulated cell proliferation. She will be graduating Emory with a Biology major and an Economics minor, and she aims to pursue a PhD in Cancer Biology. During her free time, she enjoys crafting, painting, hiking, making playlists, and hanging out with her best buds.

Edda Hobuss is a physics undergraduate at the City College of New York. She worked as a research assistant in a photonics laboratory for three years, where she researched light-matter interactions in 2-dimensional materials. Edda has since shifted her focus towards atmospheric physics where she hopes to understand more about the dynamics of orographic lifting and monsoons. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and embroidering.

I am a first generation college graduate with a bachelors in neuroscience currently pursuing a graduate degree in neuroscience with a computational emphasis. I became interested in computational neuroscience after completing research underlying zebrafish behavior and learning data visualization to analyze their neural firing patterns. I am currently working on understanding the neurobiological basis of food intake regulation. I aim to pursue research in neurobiological disease.

Born and raised on the Northern Mariana island of Rota, Heather’s passions lie in wildlife conservation, tropical ecology, and getting her local communities involved and excited about these research efforts. She intends to explore these avenues in graduate school with a long-term goal to continue conservation work within the Marianas, while applying the knowledge and various experiences she has gained at a more local level. In her leisure time she loves being outside and enjoying the wildlife around her!

Jupiter is a first-generation college graduate interested in how defects in genes and downstream cellular function contribute to and cause human disease. After completing their BA in Biology at Bennington College, they have since been working as a Research Technician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Jupiter is looking to pursue a PhD in cell and molecular biology starting next fall and is particularly interested in initiatives surrounding first-gen and LGBT inclusion in the sciences.

Ellie Rahm Kim is an international and non-traditional student studying Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Austin. She is passionate about understanding the cancer genome using computational techniques. Her research interests lie in developing algorithms that enhance personalized cancer therapies. Ellie is eager to further explore these areas in graduate school, aiming to contribute novel approaches to cancer treatment.

Haeun Kim is a first-generation college student in NYC and immigrant from South Korea. She is majoring in Biology, minoring in Women and Gender Studies, and pursuing a certificate in business. Her research focuses on the pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and potential therapeutics. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience and participate in teaching opportunities to one day become a professor.

I received my Bachelor’s in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan. Through my research, I aim to develop equitable medical interventions for infectious diseases. Outside of my research, I am committed to addressing structural barriers to produce long-term, sustainable changes towards health equity. I am applying to bioengineering PhD programs to help me reach these goals. As a first-generation student, I am really grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the GSMI program.

Ana Isabel is a first-generation graduate of the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science. She is working at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center where she aids in studies that research the effect of various types of foods in the body. For her PhD, she is interested in developing a well-rounded education in Food Chemistry to aid the protection of public health and development of food products and/or medicines that can aid in healing those with chronic illnesses.

Maria is originally from Brazil, where she completed her bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science. She is currently a Research Associate at the Laboratory of Lymphatic Immunobiology at NYU Langone Hospital, where she is working on understanding how the lymphatic system shapes immune responses in melanoma. Maria aims to apply for a PhD program this cycle and continue her career in cancer research, focusing on developing new methods and therapies to help improve the lives of patients with this disease.

Araceli Lopez is a first-generation, Mexican-American having graduated from Yale University with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology. Postgrad she lived and taught in Hong Kong. She hopes to earn her master's in public health epidemiology to address the impacts of climate change and disasters on women's health globally. Araceli plans to keep paying it forward as she advances in her career and is hopeful for what's to come.

Joseph Martinez is currently pursuing a Master of Engineering at Dartmouth College, having completed his undergraduate studies at Amherst College. He is passionate about exploring the ethical implications of AI and plans to pursue a PhD focusing on AI alignment and interpretability, aiming to contribute to safer and more transparent AI systems.

Alejandra received her B.A. in Psychology from Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá and currently works as a lab manager at New York University. She is interested in studying the effects of stress and early life adversity in cognitive-emotional processes through multimodal neuroimaging techniques and computational modeling. As a first-generation low income student, she is also an advocate for diversity and inclusion in higher education and science.

Coming to the US from Peru when he was 15, Jorge received his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2023, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. He found his calling to teach undergraduate chemistry while volunteering as a tutor for his local community college, and hopes to use graduate school to better understand how students learn at the interface of chemistry and mathematics. Once underserved himself, he’s also keenly interested in providing for students’ basic needs.

Miguel Mercado is an undergraduate at the University of Southern California pursuing a bachelor's in Mathematics and a combined degree in Physics and Computer Science to become a mathematical physicist at a university. His research focus is condensed matter theory, particularly in developing practical mathematical frameworks and state-of-the-art quantum technologies to study novel phases of quantum matter. His dream is to one day lead his own research group.

Nazeli Morales was born in the Dominican Republic and came of age in the Bronx, NY. She is a first-generation college graduate, receiving her bachelors degree in physics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Nazeli is interested in research at the intersection of physics and neurobiology, therefore she is applying to biophysics, quantitative biology, and neuroscience Ph.D. programs this fall. She is excited about learning both experimental and theoretical approaches in graduate school.

Goodness Nwokebu is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Enugu, with a degree in pharmacy. She is currently a research assistant at the Center for Genomics and Innovation, NABDA. She aims to pursue a PhD in the next application cycle to conduct independent research utilizing biomedical data analysis and omics data to revolutionize healthcare, specifically in Africa.

I am pursuing my master's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern Mississippi and will graduate in December 2024. My research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms underlying the innate immune response of mouse embryonic stem cells against Listeria monocytogenes. I aspire to contribute to developing innovative therapeutic strategies to mitigate resistance to infectious and non-infectious diseases. At my leisure, I enjoy cooking and hanging out with friends.

Nicole Park is a first-gen, Korean-American researcher pursuing a PhD in developmental psychology. She is currently working as a lab manager for the MiSo Lab at the University of Rochester, where she supports projects exploring how kids think about the social world. In her graduate studies, she aims to integrate her backgrounds in emotion science and cognitive developmental psychology to investigate the building blocks of social cognition, namely how people come to represent the social self and other.

I'm Joshua Payton from Durham, NC, a Biomedical Sciences graduate from North Carolina Central University. My research interests span cancer biology, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, public health-epidemiology, neuroscience, and biochemistry/structural biology. My goal is to pursue a PhD in these fields, aiming to be a leading expert and role model. I aspire to establish my own lab and mentor future scientists, inspired by the support and mentorship I've received.

Andres Hernandez graduated from Universidad de Guanajuato with a Bachelor's in Science in Chemistry. He is passionate about research and scientific outreach. He focuses on excited-state chemistry, particularly in organic pigments and light-matter interactions like those between carotenoids and proteins in crustaceans. With a strong interest in electronic structure theory, Andres aims to contribute to open-source software tools and advance knowledge in these areas.

Born in the U.S. to parents from Trinidad and the Dominican Republic, I grew up in the Bronx, New York. I am currently completing my undergraduate studies at CUNY York College, where I am involved in neuroanatomy research on macaque monkey and mouse brains, with a goal to publish before graduation. My aspiration is to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience to contribute meaningfully to my community and the scientific field, with a focus on advancing research into neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's.

Jessica earned her B.A. in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley and is interested in exploring how early life stress shapes the gut microbiome and influences psychopathology throughout development. She plans to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience to: (1) examine how preconception and prenatal adversities impact offspring mental health through the maternal microbiome; and (2) develop novel gut-based psychotherapeutic interventions.

My name is Fermin D. Redondo, I'm an undergraduate at Clemson University who stumbled into a passion for physics. Through varied research experiences, I came across the field of plasma physics. I want to do more research about processes like magnetic reconnection and turbulence in different physical environments. When not doing physics, I like to watch and make movies, play basketball, and read.

Jennifer "Jen" Ricano, a first-generation Cuban American, graduated from Duke University in 2020 with dual majors in Neuroscience and Linguistics and a minor in Spanish. Currently, she works as a research technician in Dr. Andrea Nackley's chronic pain lab at Duke. Jen plans to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience, focusing on neurolinguistics research, and is passionate about language learning, cognition, and aging, as well as promoting diversity in STEM.

Samuel G Rivera received his B.S. in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2023. He is interested in pursuing trophic ecology in coastal ecosystems and studying the interactions between marine and terrestrial food webs. Sam aims to pursue a PhD to improve our understanding of these systems and inform conservation efforts. Sam is also passionate about community outreach and aims to promote the sustainable use of coasts and beaches.

Steven Robles Blasini is a McNair and Benacquisto Scholar at the University of Florida studying Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Mass Communications. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved to the States at 9 years old. Steven has conducted research in the biomaterials, immunology, and systems biology space through his research at UF and external programs such as an NSF REU at UCSD and an Amazon SURE program at Columbia. Steven plans to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering.

Camila is a Neuroscience graduate from West Virginia University and currently works as a research assistant in Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. Her research focuses on developing brain-machine interface devices to aid in the understanding of the brain’s learning processes. Camila is interested in exploring the brain's plasticity and how these learning mechanisms can inform neural networks and machine learning algorithms. She plans to pursue a PhD in Bioengineering.

Astrid Noemí Romero-Vega is an aspiring planetary geologist, currently working as a field geologist, with a solid foundation in scientific research and data management. Romero-Vega possesses extensive research experience, with studies focused on Holocene SST oscillations documented from scleractinian corals and coral population changes, emphasizing environmental impact. Their work reflects a deep commitment to understanding Earth's processes.

Christa is a recent first-generation graduate of Boston University with a B.A. in Neurobiology and an M.S. in Biology. Christa plans to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience to conduct multidisciplinary research on innovative, accessible, and decolonial solutions to improve mental health. She also aims to advocate for initiatives that ensure equitable access to mental health resources, combat societal stigma surrounding mental health, and uplift diverse perspectives within the field of neuroscience.

Andrea is a senior at UC San Diego studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. How does the brain encode what we see? Can we reverse-engineer this process to evoke images through electrical stimulation? She is fascinated by how cognition and perception are shaped by interactions between neural circuits, specifically by how electrophysiological signals can inform how these interactions occur at higher-level cortical areas and aid in the development of visual prosthetics.

Gabriela holds an MSc in Bioinformatics from A.C. Camargo Cancer Center and a BSc in Biomedical Informatics from the University of São Paulo. Currently a Bioinformatics Specialist at The Rockefeller University, she plans to pursue graduate studies focused on advancing computational methods to explore the complex relationship between epigenetics, cancer, and immune mechanisms.

Ana is a first-gen American-brazilian who got her bachelor's in Biological Sciences at the State University of Campinas. She currently works as a Research Assistant at Brown University, uncovering signaling mechanisms of ALS suppressors and getting mesmerized at the opportunity to look at synapse development. She hopes to apply to PhD program that will allow her to continue unraveling molecular mechanisms of events such as synapse plasticity and epigenetics.

Danna, from Ibague, Colombia, is a Goldwater Scholar completing her Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering at NJIT. Her passion for understanding biological systems drives her interdisciplinary research in animal locomotion and fluid dynamics. Danna has also been involved in outreach programs to inspire immigrant students to pursue STEM fields. She aspires to pursue her PhD to integrate biological and engineering approaches to study animal biomechanics and promote rehabilitation strategies.

Roberto was born and raised in Queens, NYC. He finished his undergraduate degree in Physics & Mathematics in 2019 at Stony Brook University. His interests include applying microscopic plasma physics to the macro-scale phenomenon observed in neutron stars and black holes. His motivation to pursue a PhD is to study the largely unexplored area of Astro-plasma physics.

Kitzia Solis graduated with her Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience and is currently working as a lab manager in a neurocognitive aging lab. Her research experience has involved studying working memory precision, as well as using neuroimaging to investigate how the locus coeruleus affects perception and memory processes in older adults. She will be applying to cognitive neuroscience PhD programs.

I'm a rising senior at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, majoring in Environmental Science. My interests include ecology and wildlife, with research experience in insect ecology, agroecology, and molecular and marine biology. I aim to pursue graduate studies in animal behavior and population ecology, with a long-term goal of leading projects that advance the field and benefit disadvantaged communities.

I am currently a consultant at a Bioinformatic services company, holding a BSc in Industrial Microbiology and a MSc in Computational Biology. During my undergraduate career I worked in comparative genomics, antimicrobial resistance and virulence factor detection in H. pylori, then, for my master's I worked in breast cancer subtypes based on transcriptomes.
Aditionally, I worked in industry in human genetics diagnosis. My goal is to pursue a PhD in Genetics and/or Genomics focused in human genome.

Kevin received their B.A. in biology with a biochemistry emphasis from Macalester College in 2023 and is currently a postbac fellow at the NIH working under Dr. Tasha Morrison with a focus on understanding how newly recognized genes, including lncRNAs, regulate the biology of natural killer (NK) cells. They plan to continue their research endeavors by pursuing a Ph.D. in immunology. Hoping to continue in the field, their research interest lies at the intersection of immunology and neuroscience.

Kenneth completed his B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology at The City College (CUNY) in 2022. He has been a research technician in the Fouda-Nelson Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine ever since, studying pediatric HIV with a specific focus on antibody responses in children and pediatric HIV vaccine strategies. His research interests include understanding early life immunity and host immune responses against HIV. He aims to pursue a PhD in immunology to expand his knowledge and research interests.

Sarina aspires to advance perinatal mental health equity for Black women. Her 3 years managing a prenatal research study at Montefiore’s Pediatric Behavioral Health Integration Program in the Bronx,NY, deepened her understanding of the additional burdens low-income Black women face during pregnancy. She is applying to Clinical Psychology PhD programs with a focus on culturally-responsive interventions for perinatal mood disorders. Sarina strives to apply a multicultural lens to all her research endeavors.

Denise Yudovich is receiving her bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics at the University of Florida. She is specifically interested in studying plasma physics and how it pertains to stellar atmospheric astronomy. Understanding how stellar flares are formed and their impacts on exoplanet habitability are extremely fascinating to her. Denise aspires to participate in a graduate program that allows her to study these topics and that cultivates her abilities so that she may positively impact her surroundings.

Alen Zimic Sheen is an undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Engineering at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. His research centers on genomic studies of soil microbiota aimed at enhancing plant crop yields. Alen has conducted fieldwork in Chincha, Ica, Peru, where he collected and analyzed data on the rhizosphere of avocado trees. He aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Plant Biology or Breeding to develop new biotechnologies for agriculture and bioremediation of contaminated soils.