SACNAS at UCLA    2021-2022     Board Members

Dr. diana azurdia

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN BIOSCIENCE
CO-ADVISOR

Marisol Arellano

PHD CANDIDATE
CO-PRESIDENT​

EDGAR PEREZ REYES

PHD CANDIDATE
VICE PRESIDENT​​​​

AVRIL RINCON

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
FINANCE CHAIR

JESSENYA MIL

PHD STUDENT
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS CHAIR

NORMA SANDOVAL

PHD CANDIDATE
CO-OUTREACH COORDINATOR

AMberlene De La Rocha

PHD CANDIDATE
​GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

PROF. JEFF LONG

DIRECTOR, CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
CO-ADVISOR

CARLOS GALVAN

PHD CANDIDATE
CO-PRESIDENT​

Jocelyn Rodriguez

PHD STUDENT
SECRETARY​​​​

JAKELINE LARIOS

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
INTERNAL AFFAIRS CHAIR

Salena gallardo

PHD CANDIDATE
CO-OUTREACH COORDINATOR

MIRANDA DIAZ-INFANTE

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
UNDERGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE

LEARN MORE ABOUT US BELOW! 

Co-Chapter Advisor/Liason

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Dr. Diana Azurdia
Associate Director, Graduate Programs in Bioscience
Dazurdia@mednet.ucla.edu
​
Website: http://bioscience.ucla.edu/

Academic History:
  • Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
  • B.S. Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles
​

About me: Dr. Diana Azurdia has been a member of SACNAS for 16 years. She is a Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute (2014 LPSI) and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Advanced Leadership Institute (2016 SACNAS - HHMI ALI) Alumni. Currently, Dr. Azurdia serves on the national SACNAS Board of Directors and as a UCLA Chapter Co-Advisor.  
 
Dr. Azurdia leads UCLA’s effort to enhance diversity in the biomedical graduate student population by cultivating a strong inclusive graduate training culture focused on personal wellbeing, professional development, mentorship and leadership. She has directed several programs that broaden participation in science, served as adjunct faculty in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department at CSU Los Angeles and performed postdoctoral research in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, investigating the role of Wnt/betacatenin signaling on histone modification and its role in metastasis and proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer cells. She earned her PhD in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry from UCLA, where she was a NIGMS Predoctoral Fellow (F31), and graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from CSU Los Angeles, where she was a NIH MARC trainee and participated in the NSF LSAMP program. Dr. Azurdia is a first-generation Guatemalan-American and the first in her family to attend college. She grew up in a low-income household with very limited resources and her first exposure to the idea that science could be pursued as a career came through the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program. As the beneficiary of broadening participation programs she believes that initiatives that promote access to STEM degrees are important for equal representation of all identities in science, the creation of innovations that serve all communities and income equity. Consequently, Dr. Azurdia has devoted her career to promoting initiatives that serve those causes. Additionally, she attributes her ability to navigate her academic career to key mentors and therefore a major focus of her work centers on the propagation of effective mentoring of underrepresented individuals in STEM. ​

PRESIDENTS
Carlos Galván
carlos827@g.ucla.edu
​Standing: 3rd Year PhD Candidate
Program: Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program
Research Interest: I am currently studying stem cells in our hair follicles and their relationship to hair growth and skin cancer.
​About me: I’m a first-gen college student and graduated from UCLA with a BS in Biochemistry in 2019. I’ve always had the curiosities to figure out why things happen and had a high disease prevalence in my family/friends growing up, so research has allowed me to tackle down these two areas. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking, kayaking & playing soccer.
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: SACNAS at UCLA has served me as an undergraduate student at UCLA and continues to do so as a graduate student. The community, resources, and networking put forth through our chapter has definitely helped me navigate through grad school and relate to so many coming from similar backgrounds with similar career goals as me. Being a part of the board gives me the opportunity to foster a community within UCLA and give back to those that don’t have the resources or opportunities so easily accessible to them.
​Marisol Arellano
marisolarellano@ucla.edu 
Standing: 3rd Year PhD Candidate
Program: Molecular Toxicology
Research Interest: Our group is interested in studying the causes of Parkinson’s Disease, both environmental and genetic, using cell and zebrafish models. Altered proteostasis, particularly dysfunction of autophagy, has been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases, including PD, that lead to accumulation of misfolded neurotoxic proteins. Environmental factors likely contribute to much of the risk of developing PD as genetic factors alone, such as mutations and polymorphisms, account for fewer than a third of all cases. Pesticides have been implicated in increasing the risk of PD but few chemicals have been identified. My project aims to identify specific pesticides that alter autophagy and give rise to the conditions where misfolded neurotoxic proteins can accumulate to impair neuron health. These studies will identify pesticides that potentially alter risk of developing PD and deserve further study in human cohorts.
​About me: Hello, my name is Marisol Arellano, and I am a proud first-generation Mexican American and college graduate. I am now the first in my family to pursue a Ph.D. for which I am studying the molecular basis of environmental toxins that increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. As the eldest child in a family of six, I have achieved my goals through hard work and the support and guidance from a strong community. For this reason, I have prioritized leadership and mentorship as ways to contribute to the growth and expansion of my community. I have worked towards this by serving as a Peer Mentor and Resident Advisor during my undergraduate career. More recently, I have actively participated in outreach activities (e.g. Explore Your Universe) and in SACNAS at UCLA as a general member and a member of the student Board. I look forward to reconnecting with the greater UCLA community as we navigate in-person activities!
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: The SACNAS community has given so much to me and helped me become the leader I am today. I aim to pay it forward and contribute to this community so that others may also benefit from the cultivating environment that SACNAS fosters. As well, I believe serving on the Board affords me the opportunity to challenge myself to grow as a leader and scientist as I gain a better understanding of how I can best participate in and serve our community.

Vice President 
​Edgar Perez Reyes
eperez3@g.ucla.edu
Standing: 3rd Year PhD Candidate
Program: Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program
Research Interest: Lung cancer immunology
About me: I like to swim, workout, hike, and anything outdoors. I loooove to eat also.
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: To increase URM students in STEM and become a leader for the next generation scientist.

SECRETARY 
​Jocelyn Rodriguez
Standing: 2nd Year PhD Student
Program: Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program

​FINANCE CHAIR
Avril Rincon
Standing: 3rd Year Undergraduate Student
Major: Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
About me: I am a first-gen student looking out for adventure and opportunities. Being part of the STEM field has helped amplify this along with my intellectual curiosity; it pushes me to do better in all I do. I also enjoy the great outdoors and learning new food recipes.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS CHAIRS​
Jakeline Larios
Standing: Senior Undergraduate
Major: Physiological Science
Research Interest: In the future, I am interested in pursuing translational research on disorders such as obesity, heart disease, or diabetes.
About me: I am a first-gen Latina from Fontana, CA. I like to roller skate, paint, and watch Marvel movies. I am an aspiring Physician-Scientist. I hope to make contributions to health care, the scientific community, and educate others across multiple disciplines. Research is essential for our knowledge of how the world, humans, and organisms work. There is so much to be discovered—research findings allow us to learn and develop a comprehensive understanding of life.
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: I chose to be on the SACNAS board because I deeply resonate with the mission of SACNAS. I also had the opportunity to present my summer research poster at the 2021 SACNAS NDiSTEM Digital Conference. Through collaboration with other attendees and mentors at this conference, I felt inspired to be surrounded by an abundance of Chicanx STEM researchers who have made immense contributions in science. Furthermore, I aim to play an active role in increasing diversity in STEM at UCLA. ​

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS CHAIR
Jessenya Mil
jessenyamil@g.ucla.edu
Standing: 2nd Year PhD Student
Program: Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program 
Research Interest: I am interested in investigating the influence of cell metabolism in cell fate specification during the cortical development. 
About me: I am a first-gen college graduate and graduate student from Beaverton, Oregon. I earned my B.S. in Biology and minor in Chemistry from Linfield University in 2019. I worked as a research assistant at Oregon Health & Science University where I researched hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as a condition arising in Noonan Syndrome patients. I took the opportunity to explore a new field for my graduate studies and I am now in a neurodevelopment lab. When not in the lab, I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, spending time at the beach, and playing soccer!
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: As a first-gen Latina in STEM, I have persisted through achieving an education that was not easily brought upon me and I am aware that many first-gen URM students suffer the same disadvantages. I strive to minimize the burden of future URM students pursuing a career in STEM. SACNAS at UCLA's mission exemplifies these values and I am grateful to be part of a community that supports URM students to pursue higher education.

OUTREACH COORDINATORS
Salena Gallardo 
Standing: 3rd Year PhD Candidate
Program: Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program
​About me: Hi, my name is Salena Gallardo and I am a second year MBIDP graduate student in the Butler lab. I am currently investigating the cellular mechanisms responsible for generating distinct classes of dorsal interneurons during spinal cord development. I received my bachelors degree in biochemistry from Cal. State San Marcos. I am a first generation college student and Latina Woman in STEM. On my free time I like to run, hike, and camp.
Norma Sandoval 
normaps@ucla.edu
Standing: 3rd Year PhD Candidate
Program: Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology (MCIP)
Research Interest: Studying the effects of hypothalamic estrogen signaling on thermoregulation and metabolic health
About me: Born and raised in Los Angeles, I attended Santa Monica Community College during the first years of my undergraduate studies. I then transferred to UCLA, where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physiological science in 2015. Yearning for more hands-on research experience, I spent 3 years working as a research technician for a laboratory in the Department of Cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine. This experience made me realize that I had the potential to expand scientific knowledge and validated my desire to pursue a PhD. In the Fall of 2019, I began my graduate studies in the Molecular, Cellular, & Integrative Physiology program at UCLA. I am pursuing my doctorate degree in Dr. Stephanie Correa’s lab, where my research focuses on elucidating the effects of hypothalamic estrogen signaling on metabolic health. As a first-generation college graduate and the daughter of Central American immigrants, I understand the importance of mentorship, outreach, and an inclusive and supportive environment for student success. Through my participation in SACNAS, I want to play an active role in broadening participation in STEM for minoritized students.
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: As a first-generation college student, I felt overwhelmed. I had no idea what I was doing and had to teach myself how to navigate the realm of academia and science. This soon changed when I found the SACNAS@UCLA chapter. Walking into my first meeting and seeing a room filled with people who looked like me and who shared similar struggles as myself made me feel at ease. I found a community where we all support each other and share resources to help our journey in academia. As I went on to pursue my PhD, I knew I wanted to be a part of this organization to continue helping other students who come from marginalized communities. Given my personal experiences, I believe that outreach events such as the ones that I have and will continue to organize as Outreach Coordinator of the SACNAS@UCLA chapter, are crucial for providing early science learning experiences to students and will broaden participation in STEM for minoritized students.

UNDERGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE
​Miranda Diaz-Infante 
mirmie12@g.ucla.edu
Standing: Junior undergraduate
​Major: Bioengineering
Research interest: I am currently researching in a lab where our overall focus is centered around sarcomas and high throughput screening. Currently, the project I am working on is focused on creating a high throughput method for testing the effectiveness of prodrugs metabolized by the liver.
About me: I am currently a 3rd Bioengineering undergraduate with a passion for cancer research. When I’m not focused on studying or research, I enjoy going to watch musicals, hiking, playing records (including Sinatra or Dean Martin), learning more about mysteries, and having a good laugh with friends. My dream is that one day we will be able to live in a world where cancer is no longer considered a death sentence; essentially a world where cancer is akin to the common cold. I hope to help create a better world for us and for future generations through research.
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: I chose to be on SACNAS board so I could help students to find the same sense of belonging that I found in SACNAS.

Graduate Representative
Amberlene De La Rocha
ajdelarocha@g.ucla.edu
Standing: 4th year PhD Candidate
Program: Pharmacology
Research Interest: I use mouse models to study Alzheimer's disease risk genes and their effect on the microglial response to amyloid pathology.
About me: Before college I had never considered a career as a scientist. A mentor suggested volunteering in a science lab, and I fell in love with research. Now I enjoy being a lab mentor for undergraduate students who are exploring this career option. In my free time I like listening to podcasts and binge watching tv shows while I knit, cross stitch, embroider, or quilt. I also like to stay active by doing Aikido, Krav Maga, and yoga.
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: I serve on the SACNAS board because I believe in our mission of recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities. SACNAS facilitates networking and community building that benefits students as they grow in their career.