BUILD Students of the Week: May 17, 2019

UNIV 395

Diego Velarde
Year One Scholar

Major: Biochemistry

Hails from: Downey, Calif.

Research Interests: Multidisciplinary study of drug synthesis and application in combatting severe human diseases.

Personal Interests: Playing guitar and writing music, surfing, working out

Favorite Scientist: Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX; and Bill Nye, American science educator

Fun Fact: I was a published musician before I was a published scientist.

 

UNIV 495

Peter Joseph Santiago
Year Two Scholar

Major: Physics

Hails from: San Diego, Calif.

Research Interests: Materials Science and Engineering. Renewable Energy Questions. Hydrogen Storage, Fuel Cell, Solar Cell Technology, Nanotechnology

Personal Interests: Eating and The Office

Favorite Scientist: Enrico Fermi, Italian and naturalized-American physicist and the creator of the world's first nuclear reactor, the Chicago Pile-1

Fun Fact: I learned how to ride a bike summer 2018

 

UNIV 495

Phoenix Pedro
Year Two Scholar

Major: Anthropology

Hails from: Visalia, Calif.

Research Interests: Biocultural anthropology, social determinants of health, and stigma & health

Personal Interests: Dismantling the patriarchy & institutional racism, also roller skating

Favorite Scientist: Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, research psychologist, for risking her livelihood and reliving her trauma in an attempt to protect women and all survivors of sexual violence

Fun Fact: I can put together an Ikea dresser all by myself (in 3 days)

 

UNIV 495

Wilma Figueroa
Year Two Scholar

Major: Health Science; Chemistry Minor

Hails from: Long Beach, Calif.

Research Interests: Wilma Figueroa is a NIH-BUILD research scholar pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a minor in Chemistry at California State University, Long Beach. Wilma has had the opportunity to work with two research labs: one team focuses on examining sleep characteristics on adiposity among Latinx children, while a second team uses an ecological approach to examine substance use and misuse among young adults. She has authored and co-authored manuscripts examining prescription stimulant misuse and prescription stimulant avoidance self-efficacy. Wilma participated in the 2018 Summer Research Program in Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and led a study using data from the National Ambulatory Care Survey from 2005-2015 to identify correlates of antibiotic prescribing for Group A Streptococcus pharyngitis. As a doctoral candidate, Wilma aims to address gaps in literature regarding the intrauterine exposure to prescription medication.

Favorite Scientist: My mentors - Dr. Niloofar Bavarian and Dr. Selena Nguyen-Rodriguez

Fun Fact: My family's native roots are deeply embedded in the Peruvian culture. Given that I grew up around authentic Peruvian food, one of my littler perks is going to new/old Peruvian restaurants and checking out their food. So if you are looking for a good Peruvian restaurant, call me! :)

UNIV 495

Yohanna Brown
Year Two Scholar

Major: Psychology major, Health Science Minor

Research Interests: Stress and inflammatory biomarker research and development, Stress reactivity and chronic health outcomes (psychological/cardiovascular/metabolic), Mindfulness and chronic pain management.

Personal Interests: Wikipedia worm holes, diary art, body movement, karma.

Favorite Scientist:I am currently interested in the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn. I am reviewing adaptations of his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) curriculum for elderly populations.