Major(s): Biological Anthropology (B.S.), minors in Computational Social Science (CSS) and Human Developmental Science (HDS)
College: Thurgood Marshall
UC San Diego graduation year: 2025
URH Research Programs:
I currently study social determinants of health from an anthropological perspective. My research over the past year has focused on understanding the causes of the decrease in preterm birth during the early COVID-19 pandemic through qualitative interview analysis, and also looking at issues of overmedicalization within US maternal healthcare. Currently, my research focuses on how adherence to cultural values and perceived social support influences stress reactivity within the children of Mexican-descent mothers.
Why and how did you decide to get involved in undergraduate research?
The lab my mentor runs (the Non Epigenetics Lab) was actually one of the main reasons I chose to come to UCSD as an out-of-state student. I sent Dr. Non an email asking if I could volunteer for her during my freshman year, and I started attending lab meetings and eventually became more involved with different projects as time went on. I got involved in research because I have always been passionate about understanding how our environment can influence our health, and really wanted to help generate research around this topic. My mom is also a professor, so I think I also looked up to her and wanted to follow in her footsteps.What has been the most exciting/interesting thing you've discovered through this research?
The most exciting thing that I've experienced while doing my research was when our qualitative interviews helped us see our larger nationwide data analysis of preterm birth rates during the pandemic in a new light. The perspectives of the clinicians helped us push our analysis above and beyond what we had originally hypothesized, and it really helped me see the value of doing mixed methods analysis.
What did you gain from this program/experience?
Being able to participate in URH programs has absolutely shaped my entire undergraduate experience. These programs have allowed me to prioritize my research, helping me to really throw myself into my work, and to develop a stronger relationship with my mentor and others within my lab. These research programs have opened so many doors for me, pushing me to work on publishing my research, and even helping me present at a national conference in my field. I am so grateful to have made the connections that I have through SRP, and I have gained so much conference and collaboration experience that will prove invaluable to my future goals.
What advice would you give to students starting research?
It is okay to fail, and it is okay to not know everything! When you start out in a lab, you often feel like everyone else knows more than you, and the imposter syndrome can hit really hard. Remember that everyone starts out somewhere, and that you don't have to be perfect. If you work hard, and ask lots of questions, you will start to figure things out and you will start to develop relationships with others in your lab, which begins to make you feel less overwhelmed and alone. No one really does anything alone or truly knows everything, and often the best work is done through collaboration. Also, it sounds cheesy, but you really do miss 100% of the shots you don't take, so apply for that grant or send that email! Often, the worst case scenario is that they say no, but in the best case, you might get a great spot in a graduate program or a coveted grant!
What are your future goals?
Next year, I will be completing an honors thesis within the anthropology department on women's health during times of conflict. I am currently applying to a Fulbright, so I hope to continue my research in Poland post-graduation. I will then be applying to graduate school to pursue a Master's in Public Health and a PhD in Anthropology.
Anything else you want to share?
Thank you to my mentor Dr. Amy Non, and all the other amazing people in my lab; I would not have gotten this far without them!
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