About
I graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Human Biology and an M.S. in Biology. During my time at UC San Diego, I worked in Dr. Fred Gage's lab at the Salk Institute, where I studied neurodegenerative diseases using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to differentiate astrocytes, microglia, neurons, and organoids. I also gained valuable experience in Dr. Judith Varner’s lab at Moores Cancer Center, focusing on how the immune system regulates the tumor microenvironment and inflammation in cancer. For my master’s thesis under Dr. Varner's supervision, I investigated whether the phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages is determined by the tumor microenvironment or the identity of tumor cells, utilizing flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing on various in vivo tumor models. After graduating, I joined iXCells Biotechnologies, where I focused on using genomic editing techniques in iPSCs to develop new cellular models for neurodegenerative and rare diseases. As a new graduate student at UCLA's MMP department, I am excited to explore more clinically relevant topics in cancer immunotherapy. Outside of the lab, I enjoy trying out new boba places, playing volleyball, and board games.