Posts classified under: Student

Natalie Pinkowski

“(she/her) I grew up in Long Beach, then went to San Diego State for my undergrad in biology and neuroscience.  After I graduated, I moved to Albuquerque New Mexico to pursue my PhD in biomedical sciences at the University of New Mexico.

I earned my PhD in Dr. Russell Morton’s lab at UNM studying mild traumatic brain injuries and spreading depolarizations. My dissertation work focused on the acute behavioral deficits observed after mild traumatic brain injuries and the role that spreading depolarizations play in these signs of injury. During my graduate studies, I found passion for academic leadership, service, student advocacy, mentoring, and teaching.

I am now a postdoc in Dr. Tiffany Greco’s lab in the Neurosurgery Department at UCLA. Here, I will be researching the mechanisms at play in female specific traumatic brain injuries. I am excited to be joining the IRACDA group to better prepare myself for a future career in university teaching.”

Victor Mendoza

I come from the small indigenous Ben Zaa community of Teotitlán del Valle in the Central Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, where Zapotec is our primary language. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the significant health and educational disparities my family and community faced. These experiences ignited my passion to address these challenges, with a focus on obesity and related health problems, which disproportionately affect minority populations, including my own.

This drive led me to pursue a B.S. in Chemistry & Biochemistry at California State University, Long Beach, followed by a Ph.D. in Molecular Metabolism & Nutrition from The University of Chicago. As the first in my family to graduate from high school and college, I feel privileged to break new ground for future generations. My research in the Reue lab focuses on understanding sex differences in lipid metabolism. Using the Four Core Genotypes model, we aim to unravel the metabolic mechanisms behind sex-biased obesity co-morbidities.

My goal is to secure a faculty position where I can contribute meaningfully to the field of metabolism and mentor the next generation of scientists, particularly those from underrepresented, first-generation, and/or low-income backgrounds.

Beyond my scientific work, I remain deeply connected to my cultural heritage, dedicating my free time to preserving the art of Zapotec rug weaving—a tradition that reflects the resilience and creativity of my people.

OLIVIA JUSTYNSKI

I am originally from Rhode Island and earned my undergraduate degree at Mount Holyoke College, a women’s college that is gender diverse. I graduated in 2016 with majors in biological sciences and mathematics and wrote my senior thesis on epidemiological modeling of tuberculosis in the US.

I pursued my PhD at Yale University in Dr. Valerie Horsley’s lab, where I studied the role of apoptosis and the detection of dead cells during wound healing using a mouse model. During my graduate education, I also developed an interest in science outreach, communication, and teaching. After finishing my graduate studies, I began my postdoctoral research in Dr. Alvaro Sagasti’s lab at UCLA. I am currently investigating the function and characteristics of migratory cells in zebrafish skin during early development.

I am honored and excited to be an IRACDA scholar at UCLA. My long-term goal is to achieve a faculty position at a primarily undergraduate institution, which will integrate my passions for rigorous and collaborative research in the field of skin formation and healing as well as teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Merel Dagher

I was born in the country of Syria and my parents and I immigrated to the United States when I was 4 years old. In 2016, I received my Bachelor of Arts degrees in Cognitive Science and Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2017, I began graduate school at the University of California, Los Angeles under the mentorship of Prof. Anne Andrews. My research examined the neurobiological effects of exposure to in utero stress and antidepressants on offspring using a rodent model. In May 2022, I graduated with my PhD in Molecular Toxicology and shortly after, began my postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Prof. Catherine Cahill. My current research examines brain circuits involved in chronic pain and opioid seeking.

 

During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I have been fortunate to have incredible professors that have inspired me to pursue a teaching-focused faculty position. I have enriched my research experiences with teaching neuroscience and psychiatry courses throughout my academic training. Through the IRACDA program, I hope to advance my understanding of how to support students, empower them to enjoy and succeed in education, and mentor the great minds of generations to come.

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