Currently in my third year at the U of A, I'm pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience & Cognitive Science (emp. Computational Neuroscience) and a dual minor in Biochemistry & Computer Science. SACNAS has opened many doors for me, giving me the opportunity to do summer research at the National Institutes of Health and network with neuroscientists around the country. Following graduation, I plan to apply to a MD/PhD program, and pursue a career in medicine, complemented by a strong background in biomedical research.

I am a non-traditional student, wife, and mother of three, who will be graduating this spring with a BGS, focused in Science, Technology, Health, and Society. I plan on applying to medical school this upcoming summer with hopes to stay in Tucson. Having had cancer earlier in my life, I can relate to those who have cancer, and hope that one day I will be an oncologist working with Native American patients through the Indian Health Service (IHS).

As a first-generation college graduate with an interest in scientific discovery, I knew that I had a desire to become a scientific researcher. After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I worked as a Research Technician/Specialist before deciding to pursue graduate school. I am now a fifth year Cellular and Molecular Medicine doctoral candidate researching how changes in muscle proteins can lead to disease with the hope of reducing the prevalence of heart disease.