As of July 2024, I am a rising Junior at the University of Houston majoring in Honors Biology. I am part of a BS/MD program that provides acceptance to Baylor College of Medicine out of high school. Currently, my career interest lies in orthopedic oncology, however at this stage in my journey, I am open to seeing the different fields in medicine.
I have always been fascinated by the potential of stem cells in regenerative medicine for orthopedics and as treatment for leukemias and lymphomas. This interest led me to the competitive PCCSM program, where I worked at MD Anderson in the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy during Summer 2024. There, my research focused on inducing NK cell memory, and I gained insight into the remarkable capacity for growth and regeneration that stem cells possess.
However, this near-limitless capability of stem cells to proliferate and differentiate largely mirrors that of cancer, which led me to the Xian-Mckeon lab at the University of Houston in Fall 2023, where I have been working since. Using novel stem cell cloning techniques, we are able to isolate, grow, and analyze single stem cells to identify markers that we can target in treatment options. My work focuses on drug development for airway diseases including lung adenocarcinomas, IPF, COPD, and asthma.
I have had the opportunity to present my different research experiences at the AACR 2024 Annual Meeting, UH exCITE Talk (People’s Choice Award), MD Anderson Summer Research Conference and Elevator Speech Competition (Finalist), University of Houston Undergraduate Research Day, Latino Health Summit (First place award), and Capital of Texas Undergraduate Research Conference.
Outside of research, I remain active in school and community service through the Bonner Leaders Program as a project lead for the LEAD Program, in which we help develop leadership skills for mostly African-American and Latino youth who lack access to mentors and role models. I recently concluded my 250 hour extended PATH internship with the UH Bounce Program where I developed and delivered a health/nutrition program for minority youth in Houston, worked as a leader of 2 research projects, and led a weekly diabetes prevention program. I am also a NSM Student Leader, through which I work to provide mentorship and guidance for rising freshmen and underclassmen.
Connect with me on LinkedIn to learn about my other experiences and to discuss how my enthusiasm for science, research, and community engagement can drive meaningful and positive change.