2022-2023 Board Members

SACNAS at UCLA 2022-2023 Board Members

Dr. diana azurdia

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN BIOSCIENCE
CO-ADVISOR

Marisol Arellano

PHD STUDENT
CO-PRESIDENT

Jocelyn Rodriguez

PHD STUDENT
VICE PRESIDENT

Miranda NORMA SANDOVAL

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
CO-FINANCE

jessenya mil

PHD STUDENT
CO-OUTREACH COORDINATOR

jose soto

PHD STUDENT
GRADUATE student REPRESENTATIVE

JAKELINE LARIOS

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
CO-INTERNAL AFFAIRS

MARTIN

PHD STUDENT
external AFFAIRS CHAIR

PROF. JEFF LONG

DIRECTOR, CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
CO-ADVISOR

AVRIL RINCON

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
CO-PRESIDENT

AVA bignell

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
SECRETARY

Andrea Garcia-angulo

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
CO-FINANCE

NORMA SANDOVAL

PHD STUDENT
CO-OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Emil dominguez

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
UNDERGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE

DERICK diaz

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
CO-INTERNAL AFFAIRS

LEARN MORE ABOUT US BELOW!

Co-Chapter Advisor/Liason

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

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

SECRETARY

Jocelyn Diane Rodriguez

Standing: 2nd Year PhD Student
Program: Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program
Research Interest: Lung cancer metabolism
About me: I am born and raised in Southern California, in my free time I like to go to the beach, the movies and hang out with friends. I think a dream of mine would be to visit the 7 wonders of the world and I chose to pursue translational research because I want to make a difference in patient lives through novel discoveries.
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: I chose to be on the SACNAS board because I love that it is an inclusive community that strives to increase diversity and put on educational and resourceful programs for students.

FINANCE CHAIR

Avril Rincon
arincon22@ucla.edu
Standing: Junior Undergraduate
Major: Human Biology and Society
Research Interest: I am currently studying microridge morphogenesis in zebrafish periderm cells in the Sagasti Lab. We hope to better understand how mechanical and molecular factors shape the growth of cells.
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 baking recipes. In the near future, I hope to become a doctor and be an advocate for public health in underserved communities.
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: Coming to UCLA, I wanted to make sure that I could discover all my passions and career options. SACNAS was able to cultivate that environment for me by exposing me to what research was like! Seeing Latino students like myself thriving not only in higher education, but also in science, both inspired and motivated me to continue the hard work towards achieving my education in STEM.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS CHAIR

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

OUTREACH COORDINATORS

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.

Jessenya Mil
jessenyamil@g.ucla.edu
Standing: 2nd Year PhD Student
Program: Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program
Research Interest: Currently 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 different 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 understand the challenges persisting through achieving an education that is not easily brought upon me and I am aware that many first-gen URM students suffer the same disadvantages. I aim 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 an organization that advocates for URM students to pursue higher education and careers in STEM.

CO-Finance

Mirdanda Norma Sandoval
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.

Undergraduate Representative

Emil Dominguez
ERDominguez@Mednet.ucla.edu
Standing: 3rd year undergraduate
Major/Minor: Biochemistry/Biomedical Research
Research Interest: My background is in natural product total synthesis, electrochemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology and medicinal chemistry.
About me:
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.

Graduate Representative

Jose Soto

Standing:
Major/Minor:
Research Interest:
About me:
Why choose to be on SACNAS board?: