Alberto Castanedo

Year /  College / Major

2^nd year transfer student, senior

Revelle College

Majoring in Molecular Synthesis

Which UR Programs have you been a part of?

McNair Program

What are you researching?

I work in the Siegel Lab which focuses on natural product and small molecule synthesis with an emphasis on molecules that may lead to therapies for various diseases. I am currently working with Fatty Acid Esters of Hydroxy Fatty Acids which have been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties.

Why did you decide to get involved in undergraduate research?

When I decided to pursue a career in chemistry, I learned early on that getting experience in the lab would be important for my success. Being exposed to research also helped solidify my desire to pursue chemistry.   

How did you get your start?

I started out my academic journey at a community college so there were no undergraduate research opportunities there. I discovered various summer research internships online and through programs at my college. I applied to as many as I could and ended up accepting a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) position at Boston University. The following summer I participated in The Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program at my community college and conducted research at California State University, Long Beach. During that summer I also contacted my current mentor with a resume and expressed my interest in joining his lab. He welcomed me in, and I was able to continue with undergraduate research at UCSD and go on to be a McNair scholar as well.

How have you been affected by COVID?

I was really looking forward to being in the lab this summer and getting a lot of work done, since that can sometimes be difficult during the academic year due to classes. I am applying for PhD programs this fall and I wanted to continue improving my lab skills to be as best prepared for graduate school as I can.

How are you being innovative in order to continue doing research?

Utilizing technology and collaborating with other research groups in order to conduct remote research. We are currently using a search tool and database developed by the The Dorrestein Lab at UCSD to further explore the prevalence and biological activity of the compounds we are interested in from the safety of our home.

What is keeping you hopeful right now?

All the hard work that healthcare professionals, scientists, and the University is doing to keep everyone safe and informed.

What are your future plans?

I hope to get into a PhD program in organic chemistry and get more involved in outreach programs for underrepresented people in STEM. In the long run I’d like to be a PI to inspire students to pursue careers in research.