Aashay Arora

I'm Aashay, a second year physics PhD student working with Professor Frank Wüerthwein on experimental high energy physics. More specifically, I work on the CMS experiment at CERN and I am trying to study how the Higgs boson interacts with other particles in the standard model and beyond. I am also the outreach coordinator for the Physics department. Outside the lab, I enjoy rock climbing and playing the guitar.

Clarissa Do O 

Hilliary Frank

Deborah Kim

Deborah is a 4th-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry here at UCSD. In the Grassian Group, her research is focused on developing micro-spectroscopic tools to probe complex environmental interfaces. Deborah is also a co-outreach coordinator for SWIGS - the Society for Women in Graduate Studies, where she plans and participates in outreach events to the local San Diego community in hopes to promote interest in STEM for underrepresented students. Outside of the lab, Deborah can be found covered in clay in the pottery studio, swimming, or looking for new treasures at the farmer's market.

Georges Leconte

Georges is a first year ACS Bridge fellow at UCSD in the Chemistry & Biochemistry department on the chemical biology track. He is a big fan of synthetic organic chemistry and the ways that it can be used to probe/understand biological systems. Outside of lab, he loves listening to avant-garde music, reading Russian literature, and playing video games.

Aniket Zodage

Kaitly Aguilar

Kirsten Bali

Avani Benegal

My name is Avani Benegal, and I am a first year student majoring in biochemistry at UCSD. I chose this major because I enjoy studying chemistry and biology, and it will prepare me for dental school in the future. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends, cooking, and playing spikeball.

Jonathan Camacho

Huishan (Natalie) Chen

Huishan (Natalie) is a second-year biochemistry undergraduate intending to pursue a PhD in biochemistry-related fields. Currently, she is working in the Komives lab, studying the NFkB protein. She is interested in further exploring career paths in biotech and life science companies. She joined the DPS cohort program because she found people with similar interests and backgrounds. In her free time, she enjoys baking and playing badminton.

Ashleann Chen

Ashleann is a 2nd-year undergraduate astrophysics student with a minor in engineering mechanics that's geared towards controls avionics. She is interested in the study of low-mass stars and dwarf stars as well as utilizing AI and machine learning on exoplanet detection. During her free time, she enjoys playing chess, video games, and baking

Cheryl Chu

Cheryl is a first year student studying biochemistry at UCSD. she is a very indecisive person. She is still not sure what kind of career path she wants to take. She is a first generation college student and she enjoys drawing, hanging out with friends, listening to music, and San-x characters. Cheryl joined the DPS Cohort Program because I wanted to learn more about the field of my major and what kind of opportunities I can gain. During her free time, Cheryl likes to try many variety of ramen brands, play rhythm games, and ice skate.

​​​​​​

Kailene Fabian

I am Kailene a first year student studying Chemistry at UCSD. I am a Latina first generation college student and I enjoy being around farm animals, especially horses. I am interested in the Medical field because I would love to provide medical attention to many people in need of it. During my free time I love to be around my family and be at parties. I joined the DPS Cohort Program because I wanted to find people with the same back stories as me, be able to connect, and learn what comes next for us. 

Thomas Frisch

Thomas is a first-year student studying Biochemistry at UCSD. He enjoys playing Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, and surfing. Thomas is interested in the field of antibiotic resistance because it will be a major issue in the near future. Thomas joined the Cohort Program to learn more about career opportunities in Physical Sciences. During his free time, Thomas enjoys playing chess, reading, and watching movies.

Emmanuel Galindo Montellano

Jeffrey Hoac

Aiden Ji

Aiden is a first-year student studying Mathematics/Secondary Education at UCSD. He is a first-generation college student and he enjoys tennis and videogames. Aiden is interested in the field of mathematics because it feels like there is a lot of freedom in the field of math. Aiden joined the DPS Cohort Program because he wanted to have access to relationships that would be beneficial and rewarding to build. During his free time, Aiden likes to spend time with friends and family.

Myra Khandelwal

Myra is a first year student studying Physics at UCSD. She enjoys stargazing, reading research papers and encyclopedias, practicing photography especially astrophotography, participating in adventure sports, and the standard-traveling. Myra is interested in the field of Astrophysics it gave her life the purpose that she was looking for. She found her passion in Physics and Math. During her free time, Myra likes to play with her one-year old bitch; try new things like new cuisines like Mongolian, Russian etc; new adventure sports like rafting, rock climbing etc; and going out for leisure drives.

Carmen Lopez

Carmen ( she / her) is a first-year Hispanic student studying Chemistry. She enjoys going out with friends, buying anything monkey related, and finding new music to obsess over every week. As she is always up for an adventure, Carmen joined the Student Cohort Program to broaden her experiences and get insight for others who have been in her position. Carmen is always eager to learn and ready to accept any challenges that may come her way. 

Yong Qi Lu Tan

I am a first-year student studying Biochem at UCSD. In my family, only my older brother and I is/was attending college. I like to drink water. I prefer to drink beverages rather than eating food.

Jhazmyn Marinas

Luis Millan

Viet Anh Nguyen

Viet Anh is a first-year student studying Pharmacological Chemistry at UCSD. She is a first-generation college student. She enjoys drawing, discovering new places with friends, listening to music, making beverages, and volunteering. Viet Anh is interested in the field of Chemistry and Biochemistry because she wants to study the structures and textures of the universe as well as gain knowledge in the processes of producing vaccines. She joined the DPS Cohort Program because she loves to get connections with people in the same field and shares and listens to other peers' and mentors' experiences.

Haaset Owens

Haaset Owens is an undergraduate majoring in Mathematics-Computer Science at UC San Diego. She currently has an interest in research, especially regarding social issues in IT. She joined the DPS Cohort Program to find community with classmates studying in similar fields, and learn of diverse perspectives and potential paths within STEM. As a hobby, Haaset enjoys creating and learning about visual art.

Víctor Raúl Pérez Vela

Víctor is a 2nd year astrophysics student devoted to grasping the depths of mathematics and physics for cultivating future harvest in science. Joined the Cohort Program to learn how to communicate and educate preminently as well as developing skills to push further the limits of human knowledge.

Alicia Pham

Alicia is a first-year undergrad student studying Math-CS at UCSD. She enjoys going on hikes, playing badminton, and eating good food. Alicia is interested in the field of computer science because she wants to have a career as a software engineer. Alicia joined the DPS Cohort Program because she wants to make long lasting friendships with her peers, get more help from those that are already in the program, and explore more opportunities that will allow her to be more social. Alicia likes reading webcomics, watching YouTube/Netflix, and eating poke.

Alyssa Pickar

Alyssa is an undergraduate double majoring in General Chemistry and English Literature/Writing. She hopes to pursue a career in patent law with a specialization in biotechnology or pharmaceutical fields. She currently works in the Sailor Research group, focusing on working with porous silicon nanotechnology. Outside of school, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and watching sunsets at gliderport.

Juliana Pizano

Akhil Ram Shankar

Yasmin Ramirez-Michel

Yasmin is a first-year student studying Data Science at UCSD. They are a first-gen college student and enjoys running, painting and playing with their cat. She joined the Cohort to meet other like minded individuals and to succeed with support.

Kamayani Richhariya

Andrew Rodriguez

Andrew is a first year student majoring in Secondary Education Mathematics at UCSD. Andrew is from the Central Valley and plans on becoming a high school teacher! Andrew is interested in mathematics because he loves complex equations and manipulating numbers. Andrew joined the DPS Cohort Program because it’s like AVID for college students! During his free time, Andrew likes to go out with friends, practice his French, and loves eating food!

Janet Rodriguez

Janet is a first-generation college student and this is her first year at UCSD! She is currently studying math, and enjoys painting, reading, knitting, and playing volleyball! She joined this cohort because she wanted to make new friends in stem, and connections for life 😯

Zack Roland

Zack is a first-year student studying Math-CS at UCSD. He is a first-generation college student that enjoys listening to music, watch/reading anime and manga, and playing tennis. Zack is interested in the field of bioinformatics because it is a great blend of biology and CS which are 2 fascinating disciplines. Zack joined the DPS Cohort Program because he aspires going into academic research and the internship path and hopes that the program will let him explore the various opportunities that the university has to offer.

Elijah Khalil Rosales

I am a first generation Biochemistry major who is interested in entering industry after graduating, but is open to learning about more career paths! As someone who didn't have an opportunity to connect with STEM growing up, I am grateful to have the opportunity to conduct research in the Yeo Lab, while also helping as a lab assistant in the Mishanina Lab.

Jared Rosas

Sophia Sandoval

Sadrac Santacruz Ibarra

Sadrac is a first-year student studying Data Science at UCSD. He is a first-generation college student and she enjoys coding, cocking, and going to the gym. Sadrac is interested in the field of Data Science because, when he was little he discovered that his passion was computers. When he first created his first script he felt joy and passion. These experiences led Sadrac to pursue a college degree since in the future he plans to help his community with programs and algorithms that will benefit the community. Sadrac joined the DPS Cohort Program because he felt he could be part of a supportive community that would help him progress toward his goals. Also that this program is related to his STEM career here could ask questions and most likely get these questions answered. Lastly, Sadrac loved the idea of creating bonds with his peers because he believes that connections are one of the most important parts of college. During his free time, Sadrac likes to code, cook, sing, go to the gym, do calisthenics, and video games, and spend time with his friends.

Carina Shuler

Carina is a first-year student studying Chemistry at UCSD. She is a first-generation college student, and she enjoys being active, going on adventures to anywhere, and practicing self care and relaxation techniques. During her free time, Carina likes to go to the gym, read books or watch movies, and going out with friends.

Camille Isabella Sicat

I'm Camille, a first-year student majoring in Data Science at UCSD. I first got interested in Data Science because I realized I could be interdisciplinary, meaning I could use my interests in science, history, and social justice alongside my programming knowledge. I enjoy being in the Cohort Program because it's given me support through both academics and the new friends I've met there. In my free time I like drawing, writing, and playing Genshin.

Sakaleshwar Singh

Berlynn Smith 

Julianne Marc Tamayo

Julianne is a second-year Physics major specializing in Astrophysics. She joined the Cohort Program because she wanted to be part of a network with students sharing similar goals. In her free time, she enjoys reading fiction, challenging her caffeine tolerance, finding new places to get lost in, and hiking up different trails

Comely Tan

Comely is a first-year student studying biochemistry at UCSD. She is a first-generation college student and hanging outdoors, reading, and watching dramas. Comely is interested in the field of biochemistry because she is interested in independent lab work and wants to go into pediatrics. Comely joined the DPS Cohort Program because they offered a good opportunities for connections, priority registration, and extra academic help. During her free time, Comely likes watching movies/shows, listening to music while relaxing, and learning about other topics of interest on her own.

Nathan Tolentino

Tram Tran

Grace Ukpong 

Monique Urena

Monique is a first-year students studying Mathematics/Applied Science at UCSD. As a first-gen college student, she turned towards any opportunities that would help her succeed in university, thus, why she joined the Physical Sciences Cohort Program. She is highly interested in the field of environmental science and hopes to use her education to further any research that will benefit our plant. During her free time, Monique likes to spend time and have coffee with her friends. 

Sergio Veliz

Sergio is a second year student studying Physics. He joined the Cohort program to find like minded people and feel less stressed about adjusting to college life. He is a first generation college student interested in the field of condensed matter physics and possibly doing work in a national lab. What he does during his free time are playing online games with friends, reading, watching anime, and going to the gym.

Gaia Wajdowicz