Dr. Sonya Neal

Co-Founder, Faculty Advisor

I'm an Associate Professor of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at UC San Diego and HHMI Freeman Hrabrowski Scholar. I'm a Black in STEM, a first-generation college student, and a proud mother of two. My research strives to understand the basic biology of protein homeostasis and how organisms use quality control pathways to mitigate this universal biological stress. I enjoy mentoring, outreach, spending time with family, running, and watching basketball and football.

Sneha Patel

Board Chair

Hi! I am a PhD candidate in Biological Sciences at UC San Diego. I am a member of the Leutgeb Lab where I am investigating the role of respiration-related oscillations and theta oscillations across various brain regions in a spatial working memory task in rodents. I went to UC San Diego for my Bachelors degrees in Biology and Psychology, but I am originally from the Bay Area. During my free time, I enjoy going to the beach, working on puzzles, photosynthesizing, doing my nails, and shuffling.

Eric Jordahl

Mentorship Chair

Hi everyone! I am a PhD candidate in Biological Sciences at UC San Diego. I am a member of the Neal lab where I study proteotoxic stress regulating mechanisms of the endoplasmic reticulum in pancreatic cancer. I am originally from Philadelphia, PA and got my bachelors in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Pittsburgh. When not in lab, I love spending time with friends, baking, cooking, indoor plants, and playing with my cat, Apollo!

Caliope Marin

Events Chair

I'm a third-year graduate student in the Biological Sciences Graduate Program, working in Dr. Bayless's lab, where I study a sex hormone-responsive neural population involved in suppressing aggression. I owe my path into science to an outreach initiative I participated in as an undergraduate at UCLA, where I had the privilege of learning from incredible mentors. Outside of lab and BUMMP, you can usually find me spending time with my dogs and family, and finding the best place to get tacos.

Angelica Rock

Finance Chair

Hi everyone, I am a PhD student in Biological Sciences at UC San Diego. I am a member of the Goldrath lab where I am looking at the influence of hormone receptor expression by CD8 T cells during infection. I went to UC San Diego for my B.S. in Human Biology, but I am originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. Outside of lab, I enjoy running, skiing, swimming, hiking, and traveling.

Alexa Novales

BRAP Coordinator

 Hi friends! I am a Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences, teaching primarily biochemistry courses. I grew up in San Francisco, earned my BS in Chemistry from Cal State Long Beach, and completed my PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at UCLA before conducting my postdoctoral research in UCSD's Neurobiology Department. As a devoted educator holding teaching credentials in Chemistry and English Composition, my past experience spans from being a High School Teacher to a Lecturer of Chemistry & Biochemistry at UCLA. I am deeply passionate about fostering science literacy and clear scientific communication. Outside of the classroom, you can find me visiting local coffee shops, baking, or relaxing with my rescue pup, Rambo!

Cailyn Sakurai

Mentorship Officer

Hi everyone! I’m a PhD student in the Biological Sciences program at UCSD. I am a member of the Lee lab, and my research focuses on understanding the interplay between lipids and proteins that ultimately dictate distinct organellar features, such as the cristae in mitochondria. I am originally from Richmond, California, and I attended Chapman University for my bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Outside of the lab, I love to climb, play tennis, and go vintage shopping.

Ryan Stoner

Events Officer

I am a PhD student in Biological Sciences at UC San Diego and a member of the Kendrick Lab. My research focuses on understanding how cytoplasmic dynein is regulated at growing microtubule plus-ends and how this regulation influences the initiation of intracellular transport. I am originally from Denver, Colorado, and completed my undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder. Outside the lab, I enjoy running, hiking, learning how to surf, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with friends.

Rachel Field

Events Officer

Hi everyone! I am a PhD student in the BioSci program at UCSD. I am a member of the Trotter Lab where I study how astrocytes respond to disruptions in vascular signaling and brain homeostasis during healthy aging. I grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia and earned my B.S. in Biology from Duke University. Outside of lab, I enjoy spending time in nature, yoga, reading, watching basketball, and hanging out with friends!

Parnaz Boroon

Finance Officer

 Hi everyone! I am a BioSci PhD student in the Smith Lab at UCSD. My neuroscience research is focused on understanding the neural mechanisms behind the social transfer of pain relief. I am originally from LA (always been a SoCal girl). I got my BS in Biology at San Diego State University and my MA at CSU Chico (obviously could never leave California). Outside the lab, I love to watch reality tv, lift, go on sunset walks, and be surrounded by friends and family!

Wenjia Huang

Finance Officer

Hi everyone! I’m a postdoc in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego. I grew up in China and was the first in my family to pursue research and earn a Ph.D. After getting my bachelor’s in Human Biology at UCSD, I moved to Massachusetts for my Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School. Now back in sunny San Diego, I study the role of the blood-brain barrier in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Outside the lab, I love hiking, crafting, and trying new restaurants!

Rachel Fishman

Mentee Committe, Chair

Hi everyone! I am a fourth year undergraduate student at UC San Diego with a major in Molecular and Cell Biology and a minor in Chemistry. I am a member of the Ernst Lab where I am studying the early secretory pathway, including how the ER-Golgi interface is formed and the mechanisms behind sequential sorting and processing of cargo. I grew up in Olney, Maryland and I moved to San Diego when I graduated high school. During my free time, I love spending time with family & friends, crocheting, and doing crossword puzzles!

Jessica Ly

Mentee Committe, Social Media Chair

Hi Everyone! I’m Jessica, a BSMS student in the Parast Lab at UC San Diego. I study trophectoderm specification in vitro as a model for implantation and placenta development. I completed my BS in Molecular and Cell Biology here at UCSD. A fun fact about me is that I live in Norway and speak fluent Norwegian. Outside of lab, I enjoy running, cooking and swimming with the leopard sharks at LJ shores!

Yasmyn Ek Johnson

Mentee Committe, Mentee Event Chair

Hello! I am a third-year undergraduate student at UC San Diego studying General Biology. I am interested in gaining research experience and exploring opportunities to join a research lab, with plans to pursue a career in the healthcare field. I grew up in SoCal and love going to the beach, painting and crafting, and spending time with my lovely dog Gojo!