Meet our Organizers

I'm an assistant professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at UCSD. I'm a Black in STEM, first generation college student and proud mother of two. My research strives to understand the basic biology of protein homeostasis and how organisms use quality control pathways to mitigate this universal biological stress. I enjoy mentoring, outreach, spending time with family, running, and watching basketball and football.

Hello friends! I'm a 4th year Ph.D. candidate in the Dutton Lab at UCSD. I grew up in Antigua and Barbuda and did my undergraduate studies at Howard University. I am a first-generation college student, and the first in my family to pursue a Ph.D.  I study the interactions between phages and other microbes in cheese. When I am not in lab, I am colouring, writing or cuddling my pup, Mecca.

Hi! I’m a 4th year Ph.D. student in Dr. Cressida’s Madigan’s lab at UCSD. I study bacterial infections that affect the nervous system, such as bacterial meningitis, using zebrafish as a model organism. I’m from Tucson, AZ, but got my bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley. Go Bears! I then spent two years as a research scientist at the University of Washington before beginning my graduate work. In my free time I love watching baseball/playing fantasy baseball, cooking, running, and spending time with friends!

Hello! I am a 1st-year Ph.D. Student in Biology at UCSD! I am currently rotating in labs around the department and have interests broadly in Cell and Molecular Biology with specific focuses on protein quality control and protein kinases and regulation. I grew up in Montgomery County, PA (Near Philadelphia), and received my bachelor’s in molecular biology at the University of Pittsburgh. When I’m not in lab, I love spending time with friends, juggling, baking, and playing with my cat, Artemis!

Hi! I am a 4th year Ph.D. student in Dr. Deborah Yelon's lab at UCSD, where I research heart development using zebrafish as a model organism. I was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. I attended Santa Clara University for my bachelor's degree in bioengineering. During my free time, I love baking, running, and trying various DIY projects.

I'm a 1st-year Ph.D. Student at UCSD. I'm originally from Chennai, India, and I received my B.S. in biochemistry with a minor in art history from UCLA. I'm the first in my family to pursue a Ph.D. and wouldn't be where I am without the mentors I've had along the way, which is why I resonate with BUMMP's mission. Outside of lab and mentorship, I enjoy going to the beach, visiting art museums, trying new restaurants, and watching reality TV! 

Hello! I am a 4th year Ph.D. student in Dr. Cressida Madigan’s lab at UCSD. I grew up in Tucson, AZ, and received my bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Arizona. Now, as a graduate student in Dr. Cressida Madigan’s lab, I study tuberculosis meningitis in a zebrafish model. Outside of lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors, crafting, and playing with my dog!

I am an MD/PhD graduate student in the lab of Dr. Cressida Madigan at UCSD. I study nerve damage in leprosy using zebrafish as a model organism. I went to UCLA for undergrad and then spent two years doing research at the NIH in Bethesda, MD before starting grad school. When I'm not in lab, I love going to the beach, paddleboarding, and trying new foods around San Diego.

Hi everyone, I am a 2nd year Ph.D. student at UC San Diego! I am a member of the Rivera-Chávez lab where I study host-pathogen interactions of Vibrio cholerae. I grew up near Sacramento, California, and attended UC Davis where I earned a bachelor's degree in Global Disease Biology and minors in Public Health and Medical Entomology. When I am not in lab, I love baking, reading, fly fishing, and watching football and baseball.

I am a 3rd year Neurobiology major undergraduate student at UC San Diego from San Diego, CA. I have a great interest and passion for neurobiology, genetics, and bioethics and am hoping to pursue either clinical or scientific research in the future. I am also a huge dessert/baking enthusiast and love listening to music, learning more about eco-friendly/sustainable/POC-owned fashion, and spending time with friends.

My name is Mary Alarcon and I am your Master student representative for the BUMMP program. My preferred pronouns are she/her. I was raised in Los Angeles but now reside in lovely San Diego. My short-term goal is to get into UCSD Neuroscience/Biological Sciences PhD program this upcoming academic year. My long-term goal is to continue researching the brain to better understand why individuals behave the way they do. I look forward to helping find opportunities and support for master students in order to ease the transition to the next phase of their academic pathways. I am very excited to represent you!