2014 Statewide Undergraduate
Symposium Proceedings & Profiles
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION
Davis
Berkeley
Santa Cruz
Merced
Santa Barbara
Riverside
Los Angeles
Irvine
San Diego
University of California Louis Stokes
California Alliance for Minority Participation—CAMP-NSF
is enabled by a Cooperative Agreement with the National Science Foundation, HRD #0603239
NSF LSAMP Senior Alliance 2011-2016
CAMP-NSF
University of California Louis Stokes
Alliance for Minority Participation
UC Campus site Directory
UC BERKELEY
UC RIVERSIDE
Carlos Fernandez-Pello, Ph.D.
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Department of Mechanical Engineering
and Associate Dean, Graduate Division
Email: ferpello@me.berkeley.edu
Diana Lizarraga, M.A.
CAMP Coordinator
Professional Development Programs
Phone: 510-643-8978
Fax: 510-642-0199
Email: ladiana@berkeley.edu
RICHARD CARDULLO, PH.D.
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Life Sciences Divisional Dean
Professor of Biology
Email: richard.cardullo@ucr.edu
Maria Franco-Aguilar
CAMP COORDINATOR
Graduate Division
Director, Academic Preparation
and Outreach
Phone: 951-827-3680
Fax: 951-827-2238
Email: maria.franco@ucr.edu
UC DAVIS
Lori M. Lubin, Ph.D.
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Department of Physics
Email: lmlubin@ucdavis.edu
RAYNELL HAMILTON, M.A.
CAMP Coordinator
Office of the Vice Provost
Undergraduate Studies
Phone: 530-754-9020
Fax: 530-752-6359
Email: rthamilton@ucdavis.edu
UC IRVINE
derek Dunn-Rankin, PH.d.
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Department of Mechanical &
Aerospace Engineering
Email: ddunnran@uci.edu
KIKA FRIEND, M.A.
CAMP COORDINATOR
Rockwell Engineering Center
Phone: 949-824-2363
Fax: 949-824-2634
Email: kika@uci.edu
UC LOS ANGELES
TAMA HASSON, Ph.D.
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Adjunct Associate Professor, Integrative
Biology & Physiology Department
Director, Undergraduate Research
Center - Sciences
Email: tama@lifesci.ucla.edu
DIANA AZURDIA, PH.D.
CAMP COORDINATOR
Undergraduate Research Center - Sciences
Phone: 310-206-2660
Email: dazurdia@college.ucla.edu
UC MERCED
Gerardo C. Diaz, Ph.D.
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Associate Professor, School of Engineering
Email: gdiaz@ucmerced.edu
Jesus Cisneros
CAMP Coordinator
Office of Undergraduate Education
Phone: 209-228-4248
Email: jcisneros@ucmerced.edu
UC SAN DIEGO
DAVID M. ARTIS, PH.D.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Academic Enrichment Programs
Student Center Bldg. B
Email: dartis@ucsd.edu
JACQUELINE AZIZE-BREWER, PH.D.
CAMP COORDINATOR
Phone: 858-534-8839
Fax: 858-534-8895
Email: jazize@ucsd.edu
UC SANTA BARBARA
GLENN E. BELTZ, PH.D.
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs,
College of Engineering
Email: beltz@engineering.ucsb.edu
Dorothy Pak, Ph.D.
CAMP co-Coordinator
Material Research Laboratory
Phone: 805-893-5314
Fax: 805-893-5027
Email: pak@mrl.ucsb.edu
Julie Standish, Ph.D.
CAMP co-Coordinator
Material Research Laboratory
Phone: 805-893-5314
Fax: 805-893-5027
Email: standish@mrl.ucsb.edu
MICHAEL V. Drake, M.D., Chancellor
Principal Investigator
Derek Dunn-Rankin, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair,
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Co-Director
MARJORIE DEMARTINO, M.F.A.
Co-Director
Proceedings & Profiles Editor
949-824-4813
dmartino@uci.edu
Silvia Swigert, M.S.
California LSAMP External Evaluator
Director, Research and Evaluation,
Center For Educational Partnerships
949-824-0201
sswigert@uci.edu
Amanda Valbuena, M.S.
Evaluation
avalbuen@uci.edu
Jason GAN
Program Assistant
949-824-2053
ganj@uci.edu
Mike Jenkins
Technical Support
949-824-3780
mjenkins@uci.edu
LAURA LE
Contract/Grants Analyst
949-824-1258
laural@uci.edu
CAMP is one of 42 Louis Stokes
Alliances for Minority Participation
funded by The National Science
Foundation; A. James Hicks, Ph.D.,
LSAMP Director, Education and Human
Resources Division of Human
Resource Development
UC SANTA CRUZ
THEODORE HOLMAN, PH.D.
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry
Email: tholman@chemistry.ucsc.edu
Malika Bell, M.S.
CAMP COORDINATOR
Minority Science Programs
Phone: 831-459-3761
Fax: 831-459-2884
Email: malika@biology.ucsc.edu
www.california-lsamp.uci.edu
2
California lsamp
University of California, Irvine
Lead Campus and
Administrative Center
CAMP Statewide Office
491 Social Science Tower
University of California, Irvine 92697
949-824-2053 • 949-824-3048 (fax)
This publication is based upon work supported by
the National Science Foundation Human Resources
Development under Grant #0603239. Any opinions,
findings, and conclusions or recommendations
expressed herein are those of the CAMP leadership
and participants and do not necessarily reflect the
views of NSF/HRD.
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Going Forward with
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Louis Stokes
California Alliance for
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2014 statewide symposium
Proceedings & Profiles
Dear Colleagues and Students: We are pleased to present the publication
of highlights from our annual UC Statewide Symposium. The undergraduate
work presented was simply outstanding. By participating in this event,
the premier systemwide CAMP activity, students test their understanding
and move forward in subject mastery. The symposium affords students the
occasion to share their scholarly work and grow in confidence in their own
abilities to communicate effectively with faculty and peers. For first time
presenters, the event is a gateway to other venues of scientific discourse.
Student scholarly work is reflected in the award winning abstracts appearing
in this publication, and demonstrates a level of achievement that is a model
for the nation. We also present exciting profiles of students on UC partner
campuses. Sincere thanks and appreciation to all the faculty who dedicated
time to judge the posters and provide feedback to presenters. Our faculty
are instrumental in guiding, inspiring and encouraging students. Working
together we are advancing STEM retention and degree completion as well as
success in graduate school.
General Information
About CAMP-NSF
6 2014 Symposium
Awardees and Presenters
1
0 Award Winning Research
1
8 Symposium Judges
0Keynote Speakers
2
21 Work in Progress
22 Campus Profiles
CAMP Symposium
Aims To:
 Support
undergraduate
research with a faculty
member;
 Encourage
firsttime presenters with
constructive feedback;
Marjorie DeMartino, M.F.A.,
Symposium Chair,
California LSAMP Co-Director
 Develop
Derek Dunn-Rankin, Ph.D.,
Professor and Chair, Mechanical &
Aerospace Engineering,
California LSAMP Co-Director
 Provide
student
written and oral
communication skills;
a UC
systemwide forum for
faculty and students to
meet and network;
 Foster
preparation for
and access to graduate
education;
The symposium provides a forum for expanding networks,
establishing new relationships, and enabling action plans.
 Set
national standards
for undergraduate
research.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 3
CAMP Program Features and update
Senior Alliance Best Practices
Support STEM Degree Success
n Summer Bridge programs
for
entering freshmen
n Orientation and smooth
transition for Community College
transfers
n Welcoming campus
environment and shared sense of
purpose
n Development of written and
oral communication skills
n Persistence in STEM majors
through academic, social and
professional activities
n Support for engaging
in
laboratory research
n Opportunities for summer
internships and research
n Professional development
through leadership in campus
activities, workshops and panels,
and in student chapters of science
and engineering organizations
n Faculty mentoring
in academic,
social, and professional settings
4
n Peer counseling
/ Peer tutorials
and study sessions
n Preparation of a scientific poster
or oral presentation based on lab
research and co-authorship of paper
or abstract
n Graduate school preparation,
GRE, personal statement, interview
skills
n UC Systemwide
undergraduate
and graduate networking
n Statewide research symposium,
encouraging first-time presenters
and faculty feedback
n Documentation of program
through data, publications and
newsletters
n Statewide networking
for all
participants
n Student tracking
through the B.S.
degree and graduate school
UC Minority STEM Undergraduate
Enrollment Projections
increase in alliance minority stem
Enrollment from baseline to year 2
UC Minority STEM BS Degree
Projections
increase in alliance minority stem
bs degrees from baseline to year 2
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 5
UC Systemwide Participants
2014 Symposium Presenters and Awardees
Presenters
Biological/Life
Sciences
Jesse Alas, UC Irvine
Ana Arteaga, UC Merced
Angela Avitua, UC Davis
Jennifer Batalla, UC Riverside
Michonne Behin, UC Santa Barbara
Joshua Borrajo, UC Berkeley
Alejandro Chavez, UC San Diego
Ely Contreras, UC Los Angeles
Marissa Gionet-Gonzales, UC
Riverside
Carlos Gomez, UC Merced
Martin Gonzalez, UC Davis
Garret Kasler, UC San Diego
Sara Kimmich, UC San Diego
Jessica Lopez, UC Irvine
Marisa Lopez, UC Irvine
Rachel Lopez, UC Los Angeles
Ciara Main, UC Davis
Guadalupe Martinez, UC Irvine
Akira McDaniels, UC Santa Barbara
Daniel McKernan, UC Santa Cruz
Rachel Meza, UC San Diego
Walid Mohamed, UC Riverside
Tonatiuh Montoya, UC Los Angeles
Meagan Moreno, UC Merced
Anna Naranjo, UC Davis
Steven Paniagua, UC Santa Cruz
Maribel Patino, UC Berkeley
Danielle Perez, UC Los Angeles
Lisa Razon, UC Santa Cruz
Antonia Rizo, UC Riverside
Ryan Solis, UC Davis
Joanna Valenzuela, UC Merced
George Villatoro, UC Santa Barbara
Gretel Anneliese von Son Palacio,
UC Riverside
Imari Walker Karega, UC Berkeley
Amanuel Weldemariam, UC San
Diego
Kristianna Wi, UC Riverside
Tyler Wishard, UC San Diego
Myriam Zavalza, UC Merced
6
From the top: UC Berkeley, UC Davis
Through research, CAMP students enter
the greater scientific and engineering community.
Physical Sciences
Raziel Acosta, UC San Diego
Cecilia Ajoku, UC Davis
Juan Castillo, UC Santa Barbara
Steven Chavez, UC Berkeley
Alina Escalera, UC Riverside
Alexander Finch, UC San Diego
Andrew Flores, UC Riverside
Joanna Flores, UC Santa Cruz
Maritza Flores-Marquez, UC
Merced
Sean Godinez, UC Irvine
Thomas Gonzalez, UC Santa
Barbara
Matthew Hernandez, III, UC Irvine
Abdiasis Hussein, UC Los Angeles
Sharon Idiga, UC Santa Cruz
Olivia Irving, UC Los Angeles
Raymond Jackson, UC Irvine
Sandrine Kyane, UC Santa Cruz
Daniel Linarez, UC Merced
Maltish Lorenzo, UC Los Angeles
Francisco Magallon, UC Irvine
Rudy Maltos, UC Merced
Brandon Matthews, UC Los
Angeles
Adrian Mendez, UC Berkeley
Manuel Mendoza, UC Riverside
Alexander Moreno, UC Irvine
Nelson Moreno, UC Santa Barbara
Edward Noriega, UC Santa Barbara
Martha Nunez, UC Riverside
Dean Orellana, UC Irvine
Ernesto Ortiz, UC Santa Barbara
Nathan Ortiz, UC Riverside
Rocio Pena, UC San Diego
Angel Pilar, UC Berkeley
Miguel Plascencia, UC Irvine
Rafael Quevedo, UC Riverside
Adolfo Rojo, UC Merced
Carmen Segura, UC Santa Barbara
Daniel Serrato, UC Santa Barbara
Senam Tamakloe, UC Merced
Edgar Valdez, UC Santa Cruz
Louie Vergara, UC Santa Cruz
Andres Vindas Melendez, UC
Berkeley
Cristian Virrueta, UC San Diego
Ian Weaver, UC Santa Cruz
Rahwa Woldeyesus, UC Davis
From the top: UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC Merced
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 7
CAMP-NSF
is dedicated to UC
undergraduate
achievement
in STEM.
Faculty mentored
research experience
is the cornerstone,
providing the
preparation and
impetus for
graduate studies.
UC faculty
assert that
creative research
is one of
the best ways
to prepare students
for persistence
toward the
B.S. degree
and success in
graduate school.
From the top: UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara
8
Special Merit
PHYSICAL SCIENCES/
ENGINEERING
Juan Castillo, UC Santa Barbara
Steven Chavez, UC Berkeley
Alina Escalera, UC Riverside
Sharon Idiga, UC Santa Cruz
Brandon Matthews, UC Los Angeles
Cristian Virrueta, UC San Diego
BIOLOGICAL/LIFE
SCIENCES
Sara Kimmich, UC San Diego
Rachel Meza, UC San Diego
Anna Naranjo, UC Davis
Steven Paniagua, UC Santa Cruz
Maribel Patino, UC Berkeley
Myriam Zavalza, UC Merced
Honorable
Mention
UC Santa Cruz
PHYSICAL SCIENCES/
ENGINEERING
Manuel Mendoza, UC Riverside
Rocio Pena, UC San Diego
Miguel Plascencia, UC Irvine
Angel Pilar, UC Berkeley
Ian Weaver, UC Santa Cruz
Andrew Flores, UC Riverside
Joanna Flores, UC Santa Cruz
Andres Melendez, UC Berkeley
Thomas Gonzales, UC Santa Barbara
Matthew Hernandez III, UC Irvine
Olivia Irving, UC Los Angeles
Martha Nunez, UC Riverside
Marisa Lopez, UC Irvine
BIOLOGICAL/LIFE
SCIENCES
Alejandro Chavez, UC San Diego
Daniel McKernan, UC Santa Cruz
Danielle Perez, UC Los Angeles
Ryan Solis, UC Davis
Joshua Borrajo, UC Berkeley
Marissa Gionet-Gonzales, UC
Riverside
Carlos Gomez, UC Merced
Imari Walker Karega, UC Berkeley
Jessica Lopez, UC Irvine
Rachel Lopez, UC Los Angeles
Ciara Main, UC Davis
Amanuel Weldemariam, UC San
Diego
Honorable Mention Awardees
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 9
Special Merit in Research Abstracts
Physical Sciences/Engineering
PREPARATION AND MAGNETIC
CHARACTERIZATION OF Ru2XZ
HEUSLER COMPOUNDS (X=Mn, Fe,
Co; Z=Si, Ge,Sn)
Juan Camilo Castillo, Sophomore, Electrical
Engineering Major, University of California, Santa
Barbara
Professor Ram Seshadri, Materials Department;
Jason Douglas
O
ur research focuses on characterizing the magnetic
properties of intermetallic Heusler compounds,
with particular attention on the development
of alloys in which phases of differing magnetic ordering
coexist within the same material, as this often leads to new
and interesting behavior. For instance, it has been noted
that ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic compounds
that are layered together exhibit a phenomenon known
as exchange bias; a possible application of these materials
is for magnetic data storage such as in hard drives .The
specific compounds studied were Ru2Mn1-xFexSi,
Ru2(Mn,Fe,Co)Sn, with x ≤ 1, all of which exhibit Heusler
crystal structures. We prepared these alloys using an arc
melter followed by annealing them in a furnace to obtain a
homogenous phase. We then analyzed the Heusler crystal
structures by X-ray diffraction and by scanning electron
microscopy. Furthermore, the magnetic properties,
including Curie and Neel temperatures, saturation
magnetization, and coercivity were characterized
using a superconducting quantum interference device
magnetometer. In the Ru2Mn1-xFexSi material we observed
exchange-spring behavior with increasing Fe, likely
caused by minor ferromagnetic phase. Consequently,
these materials provide an appropriate system to explore
exchange biasing and exchange-spring behavior.
10
PEROXYNITRITE-GENERATING
PLATFORM
Sharon Idiga, Senior, Molecular, Cell, and
Developmental Biology Major, University of
California, Santa Cruz
Dr. Pradip Mascharak, Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry; Tara Deboer
P
eroxynitrite (PN) is a reactive nitrating and oxidative
species that plays a key role in inflammation
mediated diseased states from neurodegenerative
disorders to diabetes. PN is formed from the reaction
of two free radicals: nitric oxide (NO), produced as
a signaling molecule by Nitric oxide synthase, and
superoxide produced from NADPH oxidase. It has been
difficult to observe PN directly within cells due to its
transient nature. The Mascharak lab has developed a
photo-controlled peroxynitrite-generating platform that
has been engineered to release PN in situ. A stable metal
nitrosyl, [Mn(PaPy3)(NO)]ClO4 (PaPy3=N,N-bis-(2pyridylmethyl)amine-N-ethyl-2-pyridine-2-carboxamide
(MnNO), was used as the source of NO because it rapidly
releases NO upon illumination with visible light. Xanthine
oxidase/hypoxanthine (XO/HX) was used as the source
of superoxide. Both sources are encapsulated in a sol gel
to avoid contamination. A multi-well plate was used to
study the chemistry of the precursors as well as PN. In
the PN-generating wells, we layered the NO sol gel and
the XO sol gel in the presence of HX; low powered visible
light was used to trigger the reaction. After 30 minutes the
well contents were analyzed by mass spectrometry. This
light activated platform allows studies of PN chemistry
at varying fluxes of its precursors. We plan to utilize the
multi-well platform to study the reactions of PN with
various biomolecules such as amino acids, peptides, and
lipids.
FABRICATION AND
CHARACTERIZATION OF A
POSITRON ACCUMULATOR
Alina Escalera, Senior, Physics Major, University of
California, Riverside
Dr. Allen P. Mills Jr., Dr. Adric C.L. Jones, Parth B.
Patel, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Peer Review Activity: What is
one thing you learned from
the research?
n We can burn methane under the Arctic
ice for energy
n Certain steps need to be taken to learn
software
n Cancer must avoid other cellular
processes to survive
n Egyptian fractions!
n Solar energy cannot power airplanes
or big boats
A
n electromagnetic coil, designed to house a
positron accumulator has been constructed and
its homogeneity tested. Measurement of the
magnetic field homogeneity has been achieved through
the construction of a novel magnetometer, capable of
measuring the field to an accuracy of at least 0.01 Gauss.
The accumulator is a low-pressure Penning-Malmberg style
buffer gas trap, used to accumulate substantial numbers
of positrons which can then be used in the production
and study of positrons (the antimatter equivalent of the
electron) or positronium (a pseudo-atom comprised of a
bound positron-electron pair). The design of the magnet
was made to maximize both the lifetime of trapped
positrons within the accumulator and the compression of
the trapped charge cloud, allowing larger positron densities
to be achieved. After characterization of the magnet
and accumulator performance has been completed, the
assembly will be integrated into the existing UCR positron
beamline.
n That epilepsy causes cerebral structural
changes
n DDT causes obesity in animals
n There is an optimal radius for a planet
in orbit to make “Earth” habitable
n Rabbit hearts are similar to human hearts
n Traumatic brain injury can be modeled
in rats
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles
11
INFLUENCE OF CATALYST
DEPOSITION ON CHARGE CARRIER
TRAPPING AT CATALYSTSEMICONDUCTOR INTERFACES
VISUALIZING ASSEMBLY OF
DIFFERENTLY ORIENTED DIPOLE
MOMENTS WITHIN CARBORANETHIOLS
ON METAL SUBSTRATES
Steven A. Chavez, Senior, Chemical Engineering
Major, University of California, Berkeley
Brandon Matthews, Senior, Chemistry Major,
University of California, Los Angeles
Ian D. Sharp, Ph.D., Center for Artificial
Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory
John Thomas, Harsharn Auluck, Logan Stewart,
Chad Mirkin, PhD., Paul Weiss, PhD., Department of
Chemistry and Biochemistry
T
he production of solar fuels via photoelectrochemical
water splitting is an attractive option for satisfying
the world’s demand for clean energy. The success of
this solar-to-chemical energy conversion depends highly
on the identification of a stable and efficient photoanode
for water oxidation. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is a
promising photoanode material because of its small band
gap, its stability over large pH ranges and favorable location
of its valence band edge relative to the water oxidation
potential. However, its surface is not catalytically active
for water oxidation and its performance is limited. This
problem can be mediated by the integration of an effective
water oxidation catalyst such as cobalt phosphate (Co-Pi).
Nevertheless, defects created at catalyst-semiconductor
interfaces can lead to charge carrier trapping, preventing
charge transfer to the catalyst and lowering conversion
efficiency. This work provides a quantitative analysis of
the accumulation of photogenerated holes at catalystsemiconductor interfaces as a function of semiconductor
doping and electrocatalyst deposition. In situ transient
photocurrent and photovoltage behavior of a BiVO4
photoanode coated with a Co-Pi electrocatalyst were
measured in both a standard aqueous electrolyte and in one
containing a sacrificial reagent. Associated time constants
were analyzed to determine deleterious carrier trapping
at these interfaces. Comparisons were also made with
nominally undoped BiVO4, and molybdenum doped BiVO4
with and without catalyst. Results presented here provide
an important step to identifying parameters affecting the
quality of BiVO4/Co-Pi interface and solidify a method of
analyzing similar types of interfaces of importance to the
development of artificial photosynthesis.
12
S
elf-assembly, at the molecular level, is governed by
interactions between the substrate and deposited
molecules, and among neighboring and nearby
molecules. Synthetic approaches in nanomaterials exploit
these interactions at the single-molecule level, giving
way to materials whose size, shape, and functionality
are regulated by nanoscale interactions. Controlling the
interactions between molecules, by choosing different
surfactants, can lead to nanomaterials with tunable
properties. Eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) was
chosen to help determine the roles of these interactions
at the nanoscale as supramolecular assembly can direct
surface morphology in the liquid state. Particles of
EGaIn were subjected to shear forces in solution via
ultrasonication, with cage molecules m-1-carboranethiol
(M1) or m-9-carboranethiol (M9) added as ligands to
create self-assembled monolayers on the subsequently
formed nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy
(SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
were used to examine the synthesized nanoparticles,
including determinations of their shape, size, and oxide
coverage. Preliminary results reveal correlations between
particle shape and dipole orientation, as M1 produced
faceted particles and M9 produced spherical particles.
Carboranethiols enable the formation of stable monolayers
that appear to dictate the resulting shape, size, and oxide
coverage of EGaIn nanoparticles based on the individual
dipole orientation. Polarization modulation infrared
reflection absorption spectroscopy was also used to
monitor varied dual codeposited carboranethiols on (flat)
Au{111}, determining the molecule that dominated surface
coverage in this competitive environment as a result of
more favorably interacting dipoles.
ORIGIN OF METHANE AND
OTHER HYDROCARBONS IN
MAGMATIC SYSTEMS
Cristian Virrueta, Senior, Earth Science Major,
University of California, San Diego
Professor David Hilton, Ph.D., Geosciences Research
Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
T
ectonic systems such as divergent, convergent, and
transform plate boundaries provide geochemists a
wide array of volcanic and geothermal edifices to
probe the Earth’s interior in order to further understand
our home planet. The study of carbon isotopes within
volatile gases, such as methane, can help pinpoint the
origin of these gases and provide evidence of any crustal
interaction that takes place during passage from the
magmatic source to the surface. In order to study the
13C/12C ratio in methane, a network of glass lines under
vacuum pressure are needed to separate, combust, and
capture the carbon from geothermal samples prior to
analysis using mass spectrometry. Here, we investigate and
characterize the carbon isotopic composition of methane
at different plate boundaries utilizing geothermal systems
as our means to capture deep-seated gases transferred
to the Earth’s surface. Primarily, we distinguish between
biogenic, thermogenic, and abiogenic methane as the
controlling source, or origin, of the gas. Samples collected
from the Salton Sea Geothermal System in California,
which interacts with the San Andreas fault zone, indicate
a strong thermogenic imprint to the methane. Analysis of
the Tengchong Geothermal Province revealed enriched
abiogenic signatures, ranging from -14‰ to -23‰. The
study of samples obtained from the East African Rift in
Ethiopia illustrates abiogenic properties associated with a
lower mantle plume. Utilizing water samples obtained from
Costa Rica, the head-space gas demonstrates biogenic/
thermogenic methane and small amounts of abiogenic
methane due to subducting marine carbonates.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles
13
Biological/Life Sciences
SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE
RESTING STATE BRAIN ACTIVITY
AND CLINICAL EXPRESSION OF
BIPOLAR DISORDER
DETERMINING COLLAGEN ISOFORM
RATIO AND STRUCTURE IN CEREBRAL
PALSY (CP) PATIENTS GRACILIS AND
SEMITENDINOSUS MUSCLES
Sara Kimmich, Senior, Cognitive Science Major,
University of California, San Diego
Rachel Meza, Senior, Biochemistry Major, University
of California, San Diego
Professor Lisa Eyler, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry
Professor Richard L. Lieber, Ph.D., Department of
Orthopedic Surgery
T
he course and expression of bipolar disorder
(BD) clearly differs between women and men.
Women more often have a seasonal pattern of
mood disturbance, and are more likely to experience
rapid cycling than men. Men are more likely to have a
comorbid substance use disorder, while women more
frequently have comorbid anxiety disorders. Previous
studies have observed sex effects in correlated resting brain
activity in the default mode network (DMN) of healthy
individuals, but more research is needed to see whether
a similar effects holds among BD patients. This study
investigates 1) how sex differences in DMN activity among
BD I patients compared to those seen among individuals
without BD, and 2) how sex differences may relate to
clinical or cognitive differences in BD. We compared 27
euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder to 28 age and
gender comparable healthy participants using functional
magnetic resonance imaging during a period of eyes open
rest. Averaged functional activity correlations between
the nodes of the DMN (medial prefrontal cortex, posterior
cingulate, and bilateral angular gyrus) revealed that
BD females tend to have greater co-activity within the
default mode network than male BDs, contrasting with
the pattern of greater connectivity among male healthy
participants compared to females (p=.01). Negative
psychotic symptoms were more pronounced in male than
female bipolar participants (p=.07). These results suggest
subtle sex differences in the inter-relationship of resting
brain activity within the DMN that may relate to clinical
differences between men and women with bipolar disorder,
including severity of negative psychotic symptoms.
14
C
erebral Palsy (CP) is caused by a neurological
pathology, and results in muscle stiffness
(spasticity), poor muscle tone, and/or uncontrolled
movements. It is now considered that abnormal
extracellular matrix (ECM) content, specifically an
increase in collagen concentration, may be causing the
disruption of normal muscle function. Collagen isoforms
Type I (high stiffness), Type III (high compliance), Type
IV (basement membrane), and Type VI (microfibrillar)
are the foci of this study. Our aim is to determine the
specific collagen environment in CP muscles compared
to typically developed (TD) muscles, in order to elucidate
the molecular basis of CP muscle stiffness. Collagen
content was quantified using the combined efforts of
ELISA and Western Blots. At this time, we have found
that all four isoforms have a 2.46 ± 0.19 fold increase
in CP muscle. However, these increases are at a ratio
proportional to concentrations found in TD; with Type
I found in the highest concentration, followed by Type
IV, Type III, and Type VI in the smallest concentration.
Further investigation is starting on the structure of
collagen tendrils on the muscle. Imaging with a new 3D
modeling system, 3View, will show if the increased collagen
is orientated uncharacteristically on the muscle fibers,
perhaps causing a change in the structural properties.
These findings may suggest that the reduced movement
and increased stiffness in CP patients could be due to
irregular collagen remodeling. These findings may give
new insight to a treatment regimen for these patients.
IMPACTS OF INDIVIDUAL
VARIATION IN INFECTIOUSNESS
ON DISEASE PERSISTENCE
Anna Naranjo, Junior, Animal Science Major,
University of California, Davis
What is one thing you
learned from the research?
n The functionality of Matlab
n About electrical field and how I should
affect a flame
n Bacteria can be used in a battery
n Adhesion of materials
n Soybean oil makes mice fat!
n That research exists for building
infrastructure on the moon
n Bacteria can be used for magnetic
mapping purposes
n They are trying to use methane from
permafrost to create clean energy
n There is a need for a global droughtfamine production model
n What can be done to help people with
spinal injury
n We can synthesize rare earth metals in
the lab
Dr. Sebastian Schreiber, Department of Evolution
and Ecology
M
athematical models of infectious diseases can
provide insights into the interplay between
epidemiological and population processes, such
as individual infectiousness and pathogen persistence.
Evidence from previous research shows that individuals
in a population exhibit different degrees of infectiousness;
some individuals do not infect others, while others are
highly infectious. Despite this evidence, it is not known
how this variability affects the persistence of pathogen
circulation within populations, or how this persistence
depends on population size. Here, we explore variability
in individual infectiveness using a stochastic discretetime model. By incorporating different distributions
for infectiousness, we can characterize the relationship
between the duration that the pathogen can persist,
individual variation and population size. We expect that
in smaller populations, with greater variation among
individuals, the disease will exhibit greater fluctuations,
and therefore the disease will not persist as long. This
variation can also affect the frequency of fade-outs and
reintroduction of disease. However, for large populations,
the variation in individual infectiousness will have less of
an impact, and persistence times should look similar to
models that use the same value of infectivity for the entire
population. By comparing the new model that incorporates
individual variability to the homogeneous model, we can
identify when individual variation has a significant impact
on disease persistence.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles
15
Kinesin-1 linker proteins
involved during Cytoplasmic
Streaming in Drosophila
Oocytes
Steven Paniagua, Junior, Biochemistry Major,
University of California, Santa Cruz
Dr. William Saxton, Department of Molecular, Cell
and Developmental Biology; Donna Fullerton
K
inesin-1 is a motor protein responsible for the
movement of organelles, such as mitochondria
and vesicles, toward the plus ends of microtubules.
Two known linker proteins are Kinesin Light Chain
(Klc), which helps bind Kinesin to many different cargos,
and Milton which has been found to bind Kinesin-1 to
Mitochondria. We are studying the linkage of Kinesin to
its cargoes by observing a Kinesin-dependent progress
called cytoplasmic streaming. At a late stage of Drosophila
oocyte development, the surrounding nurse cells, which
are connected to the oocyte via cytoplasmic bridges, dump
their cytoplasm into the oocyte. When this happens,
the oocyte mixes the new cytoplasm into the oocyte by
streaming to ensure even distribution within the oocyte.
My project is investigating how Klc and Milton may be
involved in streaming. I am observing the effects of Klc
and Milton inhibition on ooplasmic streaming through
use of time lapse confocal microscopy. This was done by
quantifying the velocity of fluorescent yolk endosomes
during streaming in oocytes in which Klc or Milton or both
were knocked down by RNAi. The results indicate that Klc
is important for ooplasmic streaming and that Milton is
not.
16
ALBUMIN INCREASES PROLIFERATION
AND NEUROGENESIS IN THE DENTATE
GYRUS OF THE ADULT HIPPOCAMPUS
Maribel Patino, Senior, Neurobiology, University of
California, Berkeley
Daniela Kaufer, Ph.D., Department of Integrative
Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute; Oscar
Vazquez
T
he role of serum albumin in the development of
post-traumatic epilepsy has been documented
in several animal studies. These studies have
shown that albumin exposure, either by direct
experimental administration or through leakage caused
by the breakdown of the blood brain barrier, evokes
hypersynchronous neuronal activity similar to that
of epileptic seizures. We further characterized this
animal model of post-traumatic epilepsy by testing the
hypothesis that if animals were exposed to albumin via
intracerebroventricular injection, then the epileptogenic
process that follows would also increase hippocampal
proliferation and neurogenesis. To test this hypothesis,
adult mice were infused with bovine serum albumin
or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF). Animals were
injected with the thymidine analog 5-Ethynyl-2´deoxyuridine (EdU) 29 days post-treatment and perfused
24 hours later. Hippocampal sections were collected and
analyzed for the incorporation of EdU into the DNA of
proliferating cells, expression of the proliferation marker
PCNA, and expression of the early neuronal marker
doublecortin. Quantification of this analysis revealed
that expression of neuronal and proliferation markers
was significantly higher in hippocampal sections of
albumin treated mice compared to aCSF treated mice. This
difference suggests that albumin increases proliferation
and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the adult
hippocampus 30 days post-treatment.
PARASYMPATHETIC REGULATION
OF VENTRICULAR ACTION
POTENTIAL IN MURINE MODELS
Myriam Zavalza, Senior, Biological Sciences Major,
University of California, Merced
Yuriana Aguilar, Ariel L. Escobar; School of Natural
Sciences, School of Engineering
T
he electrical activity of the heart, including
the regulation of the heart rate, is differentially
controlled by the autonomic nervous system
(ANS). Although it has been well established that
the vagal innervation of the heart regulates the
chronotropism and the excitable properties of the
atrium, the role of parasympathetic regulation of the
ventricular action potentials (AP) it is still a subject
under debate. The experiments presented here were
designed to shed some light on the molecular mechanism
by which a parasympathetic innervation can regulate
ventricular excitability. The principal neurotransmitter
in parasympathetic pathway is Acetylcholine (ACh),
an ester of acetic acid and choline, which is released locally
from varicosities in the synaptic cleft and rapidly degraded
by Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a cleaving enzyme. The
role of cholinergic regulation of the excitable properties
in the ventricular free wall was asses by performing
electrophysiological recordings of Aps in Langendorffperfused mouse hearts. Intact mouse hearts were perfused
with drugs that can interfere/ modulate a downstream
parasympathetic pathway. Specifically, hearts were perfused
with synthetic cholinergic agonist (Carbamilcholine)
and antagonist (Atropine) to definitively establish the
role of parasympathetic regulation of ventricular APs.
In addition, the turnover of endogenous Acetylcholine
release was evaluated by impairing the enzymatic activity
of AChE with the AChE-inhibitor Paraoxon. Altogether,
the experiments presented in this poster seek to define the
role of vagal stimulation on the ventricular function under
physiological conditions.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles
17
Thank you faculty for giving generously of your time
2014 Symposium Judges
Lead Judge:
Physical Science / Engineering
Derek Dunn-Rankin, Ph.D., Professor & Chair,
Adam Burgasser, Ph.D., Physics, UC San Diego
Carlos Coimbra, Ph.D., Mechanical & Aerospace
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, UC Irvine
Biological/Life Sciences
Poonamjot Deol , Ph.D., Cell Biology and Neuroscience ,
UC Riverside
Lisa Eyler, Ph.D., Psychiatry, UC San Diego
Tama Hasson, Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology,
UC Los Angeles
Caroline Kane, Ph.D., Molecular & Cell Biology, UC
Berkeley
Judith Kjelstrom, Ph.D., Biotechnology, UC Davis
Geoff Lewis, Ph.D., Neuroscience Research Institute, UC
Santa Barbara
Chad Saltikov, Ph.D., Microbiology & Environmental
Toxicology, UC Santa Cruz
Jorge Torres, Ph.D., Chemistry & Biochemistry, UC Los
Angeles
Richard Weiss, Ph.D., Chemistry
& Biochemistry, UC Los Angeles
Engineering, UC San Diego
Phil Crews, Ph.D., Chemistry, UC Santa Cruz
Gerardo Diaz, Ph.D., Engineering, UC Merced
Oscar Dubon, Ph.D., Material Science & Engineering,
UC Berkeley
Jason Hein, Ph.D., Chemistry & Chemical Biology, UC
Merced
Ted Holman, Ph.D., Chemistry, UC Santa Cruz
Lori Lubin, Ph.D., Physics, UC Davis
Roummel Marcia, Ph.D., Mathematics, UC Merced
Martha Mecartney, Ph.D., Chemical Engineering and
Material Sciences, UC Irvine
Erik Menke, Ph.D., Chemistry, UC Merced
Kenneth Millett, Ph.D., Mathematics, UC Santa Barbara
Kalyanasundaram Seshadri, Ph.D., Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering, UC San Diego
Facilitator:
Jose Romero-Mariona, Ph.D., UCI Alumnus, BD Fellow
(2004-06)
18
Judging Criteria
 Research Content:
Significance and
quality of the project topic and
execution
 Research Contribution: Student’s
articulated contribution to the work
 Poster Visual Quality: Layout and
content, use of graphics and images,
appropriate references
 Student Presenter: Demeanor,
enthusiasm, engagement, response
to questions
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles
19
UC SCIENTISTS SHARE THEIR PASSION FOR RESEARCH
2014 Symposium Keynote Speakers
Dr. Regina Ragan
Welcome Dinner Keynote
R
egina Ragan received her B.S. summa cum laude
in Material Science and Engineering in 1996 from
the University of California, Los Angeles. She also
received the award of Outstanding Bachelor of Science,
the highest honor in her graduating class in the School of
Engineering and Applied Sciences, when graduating from
UCLA. Dr. Ragan received her Ph.D. in Applied Physics in
2002 from the California Institute of Technology working
on bandgap engineering to produce new optoelectronic
materials. As a Ph.D student she was awarded the National
Science Foundation, Bell Laboratories and Intel graduate
fellowships. From 2002-2004 she was a postdoctoral
scholar in the Information & Quantum Systems Laboratory
at Hewlett Packard where she worked on molecular
electronic systems.
Since 2004, she has been a faculty member in the
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials
Science at the University of California, Irvine. She is a
recipient of the National Science Foundation Faculty Early
CAREER Award. Her research includes nanomanufacturing
and determining fundamental structure-function
relationships of nanosystems under two research thrusts
(1) directed assembly of metal-dielectric nanoarchitectures
for scalable fabrication of optimal sensors, plasmonics and
metamaterials; and (2) design and fabrication of molecular
tailored surfaces for control of surface electronic structure
for catalytic and electrochemical systems. Dr. Ragan
remains active in mentoring graduate, undergraduate and
high school students from diverse backgrounds. In 2013,
Dr. Regina Ragan with Dr. Derek Dunn-Rankin
she was given the position of Director of the Program for
Diversity in Engineering Education in the Henry Samueli
School of Engineering at UC Irvine. Important goals
include increasing underrepresented student enrollment
and providing an atomosphere for achieving excellence.
“I am from Los Angeles and I took advantage of every opportunity in the LA area,
from attending UCLA to having an internship at Bell Laboratories, and
completing my Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology. I persisted.
You never know where something will lead. I never thought that I would be
on the faculty at UCI. My advice is to work hard, especially in challenging situations,
and stick it out – you will appreciate where it can take you.”
—Professor Regina Ragan, UCI
20
Dr. Luisa Iruela-Arispe
Awards Dinner Keynote
L
uisa Iruela-Arispe is a cell and developmental
biologist and Distinguished Professor in the
Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental
Biology at UCLA; Interim Director of the Molecular Biology
Institute and Chair of the Molecular Biology Graduate
Interdisciplinary Program. She is strongly committed to
education and training of the next generation of scientists,
and is willing to accept undergraduates for research
training. Twelve individuals have received Ph.D. from her
laboratory and she has trained 12 post-doctoral fellows,
many of these now at top institutions like UCSF and the
Burnham Institute. In the last four years, 3 MARC students
have trained in her laboratory and are pursuing Ph.D.
careers in research.
Dr. Iruela-Arispe is also actively involved in her field of
research and has organized several meetings including
two Gordon Conferences, two Keystone Meetings, and
the 16th International Vascular Biology Meeting 2010.
She was President of the North American Vascular Biology
Organization (NAVBO) from 2006-2007. Her research
centers in understanding the molecular regulation
of endothelial cell commitment and differentiation,
Dr. Luisa Iruela-Arispe
patterning of the vasculature and homeostatic vascular
function. This information has provided the basis to
develop strategies to control vascular growth during
pathologies. Dr. Iruela-Arispe has published over 144 peer
review articles, 12 reviews and 7 book chapters.
“My parents shared a passion for education and knew that education was the path
to success and attainment. After I started my master’s I found my passion. You need to know
what you like, and who you are becoming is an important part of self discovery.
My mentors made me believe in myself – and allowed me to disagree. ”
—Professor Luisa Iruela-Arispe, UCLA
Non-Judged Posters, Work-in-Progress
T
he Work-in-Progress session provides an opportunity for students to discuss
their research, their role in the work and laboratory skills gained, and next
steps. It allows students who feel they are not quite ready for a judging
experience to practice effective scientific communication, share what they have
accomplished to date, and plans for the next level of investigation, data acquisition
and analysis. Participants include guest presenters from area institutions.
Diego Bautista, UC Irvine
Asis Campos, UC Berkeley
Lauren Crudup, UC San Diego
Ahtziri Fonseca, Pomona College
Marielisa Hecht, UC Irvine
Eunice Hernandez, UC Santa Barbara
Ruben Lopez, UC Riverside
Karissa Munoz, Claremont Mckenna
Kimberly Ayala, Pomona College
Cynthia Perea, UC Riverside
Sindy Ramirez, UC Santa Cruz
Gabriela Sanchez, UC Santa Cruz
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles
21
Performance, Persistence,
and Success in STEM!
UC Berkeley Cal NERDS:
New Experiences for
Research and Diversity
in Science
U
C Berkeley’s Cal NERDS
Center is the home of
LSAMP and affiliated STEM
programs supporting students
along the B.S. degree pathway and
admission to graduate education.
Located in historic Stephens Hall, the
NERDS Center welcomes students
with dazzling murals in Native
American tradition. The colors and
designs characterize a special space –
a student’s Home Away from Home.
The NERDS Center is many things
to the students who frequent the
generous space: study areas with
“secret” study rooms, with 24/7
access, continuous collaborative
learning, social relaxation, quiet
contemplation or noisy celebration
after exams. It provides access to a
computer lab, printers, LCD, poster
plotter, and copy machine. Its use is
as multi-faceted as the student goals
for college and career. It also hosts
statewide meetings, including the
UC American Indian Counselors
and Recruiters Association and
the Northern California Forum for
Diversity in Graduate Education,
among others.
The Center houses an array of
STEM programs and provides
a welcoming environment for
networking, studying, and social
activities important in creating a
strong sense of community. The
center exists to advance student
Siblings Maryrose Barrios, Physics
undergraduate major and James
Barrios, College of Natural Resources
undergraduate major enjoy the student
center before their trip to Alaska for
AISES. Notice their new Cal jackets!
Overview
The NERDS Center establishes a welcoming social and
academic environment where
STEM students can explore,
develop, and realize their academic, personal and cultural
strengths. The Center offers a
combination of high-quality,
mentored research experiences,
academic support, community
service, leadership development, and professional networking to help students survive, thrive, and identify their
unique pathways to successful
graduate school or professional
careers.
Artwork in the NERDS Center symbolizes diversity science students and how
their intellectual capital is powerful, valuable, and vital to UC Berkeley. Lakota
Chief Leonard Crow Dog, Jr., is Artist-in-Residence. He is married to CAMPNSF Alumna Victoria Crow Dog.
22
achievement along the degree
pathway and to open opportunities
that include faculty mentored
research, internships, scholarships,
career coaching, participation in
empowerment coaching, science
and engineering societies, peer
tutoring and study groups, and other
professional development.
It serves as an information
clearinghouse, and provides
breathing room from the competitive
routine of navigating a major research
university. Students frequenting
the space include newly enrolled
freshmen, community college
transfer students, undergraduates,
and graduate students. There are
student mailboxes, and students are
provided with a “graduate school
toolbox,” full of essential supplies
like business cards and flashdrive,
and sundry items needed to organize
for success. Team Captains help build
community and offer science and
writing tutoring/mentoring, math and
physics bootcamps, and coaching for
Wintana Alem holds the mechanical
hand that she helped to build during
one of the NERDS Center philanthropic
workshops. The hand will be donated to
an amputee in Africa. Maryrose Barrios earns her B.S. degree
in Physics! Barrios plans on pursuing
graduate studies in Atomic, Molecular,
and Optical Physics.
AISES Region 2 Conference hosted by UC Berkeley chapter of AISES. CAMP scholars Jessica Hernandez, President of the UC
Berkeley Chapter, and Vice President Andres Vindas did an outstanding job of organizing the event including having Chancellor
Birgeneau as a lunchtime guest speaker.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 23
poster printing. In May, you will find
the main study hall festooned with
blue and gold streamers, celebrating
Commencement and graduating
Research Scholars.
One of the long-term objectives
is to develop a digital diversity
ecosystem that supports current
and future NERDS and Alumni who
would like to stay connected after
graduation.
Behind all that the Center is and
does for Berkeley students, is a
committed individual who tirelessly
advocates for student achievement:
Diana Lizarraga. A Program Director
Programs Housed
under the Cal NERDS
Umbrella
Diana Lizarraga, Director
Louis Stokes
Alliance for Minority
Participation in the Sciences
Research Program – NSF
LSAMP
California
Scholars Program
for Women in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics
Bergeron
in Science and
Engineering Student Training
and Research in Science
Women
the Torch Math and
Physics Transfer Student
Program
Pass
LEADS Pre-PhD STEM
UC Research Program
UC
UC LEADS Pre-PhD
STEM UC Summer Research
Program
Visiting
Bridge to the Doctorate
Graduate Student Fellowship
Program (in partnership with
the Graduate Division)
NSF
UC Berkeley Alumnus and Stanford Physics Ph.D. graduate student Crystal Bray,
UC Berkeley Alumnus Chris Morales, and UC Berkeley NSF Bridge to the Doctorate
Ph.D. Fellow in Endocrinology Lacey Andrews during break time at the NERDS fall
leadership conference.
CAMP Scholars Camille Martinez, Material Science Engineering, and Giovanni
Rivas, Mechanical Engineering, enjoy a spirited game of foosball during a study
break.
24
UCB CAMP students prepare for a
student panel presentation for visiting
Native American high school students.
From left to right: Claudia Rangel
(Civil and Environmental Engineering),
Michael Preston (College of Natural
Sciences), and Jessica Hernandez
(Marine Science).
Cal NERDS enjoy lasting friendships
throughout the trials and triumphs of
pursuing a STEM degree. Peer-to-peer
mentoring, social networking with
other science and engineering majors,
and small group study sessions bind
students in a dynamic community that
prizes excellence.
with a personal mission, Lizarraga
works to bolster the campus
experience especially for first
generation students.
“I consider myself to be a diversity
evangelist!” she says.
She not only directs the center,
but serves as the advisor for UC
Berkeley’s student chapters for AISES
and SWIS. She is also a life member
of SACNAS, and annually takes
about two dozen students to the
conference to present their research.
Additionally, her calendar includes
preparing students to present at
AISES, Sigma Xi, UC LEADS, and
others, and participates in the Forum
for Diversity in Graduate Education.
Lizarraga was a CAMP student at
UC Davis, where she earned a B.S.
degree in Agricultural Systems and
Environment, and a master’s degree
at the University of San Francisco in
Human Resources and Organizational
Development.
Our Definition of Nerd:
An intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular
technical discipline or profession. NERDS are hardworking,
passionate, and science-loving students!
Our mantra: Be Your Authentic Self!
What Students Say:
“It is very comforting walking
into the NERDS center and seeing
people like you struggling together
to get through difficult STEM
courses and pushing each other to
succeed.”
–Areidy Aracely Beltran,
Environmental Earth Science
“Being a CAMP scholar has
opened doors for me that I did not
even know existed.”
–Adrian Quiroz, Civil and
Environmental Engineering
“With a support system like
the NERDS/CAMP staff, it is no
longer an option to give up on my
dream to have a Ph.D..”
–Diana Rosendo,
Applied Mathematics
“CAMP-NERDS made it possible
for me to do research in summer.
Not only did the NERDS programs
fund my research, NERDS also
provided meetings, workshops,
a GRE class, and a poster
presentation symposium.”
–Gerard Leyva, Physics
“Being part of CAMP-NERDS
has helped me learn about
graduate studies. CAMP has also
allowed me to travel and attend
events, and it has proven to be an
invaluable resource.”
–Alan Mendoza,
Nuclear Engineering
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 25
UC Santa Barbara Profiles in Excellence
Students Experience Research
at Home and Abroad
Thomas Gonzalez
Aspiring Polymer
Biochemist Completes
Internship in the
Netherlands
T
homas Gonzalez will
complete a B.S. in Biochemistry
at the University of California,
Santa Barbara in June 2014 and
is currently applying to graduate
programs in Toxicology. He has
participated in CAMP at UCSB since
2012, working with Dr. Nate Lynd
in Professor Craig Hawker’s research
group on a project investigating the
functionalization of specific polymers
using light scattering techniques.
Gonzalez furthered his interest in
polymer chemistry in summer 2013
with a Cooperative International
Science and Engineering Internship
(CISEI) through the UCSB Materials
Research Laboratory. He was
selected to spend ten weeks at
Technical University Eindhoven
in the Netherlands working on
a research project in Prof. Bert
Meijer’s laboratory entitled, “New
Supramolecular Architectures
Exhibiting Piezoelectric Properties.”
While in the Netherlands, Gonzalez
spent his weekends traveling
26
around Europe, visiting Amsterdam,
Rotterdam, Brussels, Rome and Paris.
Reflecting on his experience, he says,
“Upon leaving the Netherlands, I
realized that I gained more than just
learning how to become a better
scientist; I was able to experience and
truly appreciate the global impact
the sciences have on the world.”
Through his immersion in the
scientific community at Eindovern,
Gonzalez gained a taste of the broader
impact that research exerts on the
world’s economy and advancement.
He adds, “Despite difference in things
like culture and language, the vision
and passion for conducting scientific
research remains the same and it is a
truly uniting factor for all.”
Gonzalez will pursue the Ph.D.,
and would like to complete at least
one post-doc position in a forensics
program. He hopes to become a lab
manager or director of a forensic
facility. Until then, he says, “My
‘dream school’ is one that can truly
offer quality toxicology training.”
Maritza Sanchez
Maritza Sanchez’s Paper
Awarded First Place at
SHPE Conference
C
ongratulations to UCSB CAMP
student Maritza Sanchez for
being awarded first place in
the Undergraduate Technical Paper
Competition at the 2013 Society
of Hispanic Professional Engineers
(SHPE) National Conference in
Indianapolis, Indiana. Sanchez, a
third year Mechanical Engineering
major, presented research she
conducted in Professor Carlos
Levi’s lab under the supervision
of graduate student Chandra
Macauley during the summer
California Alliance for Minority
Participation (CAMP) program.
Sanchez was selected as a finalist
in the SHPE competition based on
her abstract, “Investigating High
Performance Ceramic Coatings for
Next Generation Gas Turbines,”
and was awarded first place for her
research paper and oral presentation.
Former UCSB CAMP
Student Part of
UCR Research Team
Recognized for Repairs
on Pixel Detector at
CERN
M
anuel Olmedo, former
UCSB CAMP undergraduate, is currently part of
a research team at UC Riverside
recently recognized for their work on
the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS)
pixel detector, a particle tracker
integral to the study of fundamental
particle physics. Olmedo graduated
in June 2010 with
a B.S. in Physics
from UCSB and is
currently pursing
a Ph.D. at UCR
with Professor
Gail Hanson, a
distinguished
professor of physics and astronomy
Manuel Olmedo
and team leader
of the project. Olmedo, who has
been with the project since last fall,
is researching the Higgs boson. The
research team has been working on a
project called the CMS experiment,
located at the Large Hadron Collider,
part of the CERN complex in Switzerland. The project seeks to uncover
new physics that will help to complete the Standard Model of physics,
a comprehensive theory that explains
the interactions between all fundamental elementary particles, accounting for most measurements to date.
CMS research has already led to the
discovery of the Higgs boson earlier
this year, and in the future may lead
to future evidence for supersymmetry,
heavy neutrinos, and extra-spatial
dimensions. The CMS pixel detector
is essential for such research.
UCSB CAMP Intern, Juan
Camilo Castillo
J
uan Camilo Castillo joined CAMP
in June 2013 and is currently a
sophomore Electrical Engineering major. During the Summer 2013,
he participated in the UCSB CAMP
Summer Internship program under
Juan Castillo, Class of 2016
the guidance of his faculty mentor
Professor Ram Seshadri in the Materials Department. Castillo’s project
focused on characterizing various
magnetic properties found in the
solid solutions of several transition
metals. He presented his summer
research at the 2013 SACNAS conference in San Antonio, TX, and at the
2014 CAMP Statewide Symposium
(see abstract p. 10). Castillo is also
engaged in leadership activities. He
attended the 2013 MESA Student
Leadership Conference and served
as the Internal Vice President for Los
Ingenieros, Society of Professional
Engineers (SHPE) chapter. Honors
include the Dean’s List (having a
gpa greater than 3.5), College of
Engineering Honors Program, and
LSAMP Scholar. Castillo plans to
graduate in Spring 2016.
Interview with Juan Castillo
What impact has research had on your undergraduate education?
I believe that undergraduate research has definitely broadened the scope of
what I currently know and what I will learn in the future. In fact, I find myself
somewhat excited to see what problem I will face in the future.
What is your current research project?
I am currently working on preparing and characterizing Ruthenium
based Heusler compounds. Specifically the full Heusler compounds, and
characterizing various magnetic properties found in the solid solutions of
4d transition metals. So in essence I’m making and working with different
magnets.
Have you decided on a career goal?
Currently, I’m still in the moment in my life where I feel like I have time to
still be undecided. However, I and considering either going into academia or
industry.
What do you enjoy most about research?
What I enjoy most about research is discovering the little overlooked detail
that drastically change the way you looked at a problem. I find it very similar
to being a detective and having a break in a case!
How has CAMP helped you advance in your field?
I find that I’ve become much more motivated and driven to advance my
professional self. Having a program like CAMP that guides me through what it
means to do research while enlightening me on the highly regarded “soft skills”
is something invaluable. I can definitely attribute a lot of my recent success to
being in CAMP.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 27
Savoring the Moment
UC Santa Cruz:
STEM Diversity Graduation!
T
he Class of 2013 STEM
diversity graduates celebrated
with food, festivities, families
and friends on May 31, 2013 at the
Merrill College Cultural Center.
Forty students who participated in
UC Santa Cruz’s affiliated programs
- CAMP, MARC, IMSD,
UC LEADS – enjoyed
the time to savor their
accomplishments and
share their plans for the
future.
“Welcome!” announced
Malika Bell, STEM
Diversity Programs
Director. “To me that’s
what diversity means –
everyone is welcome.” Bell
recognized the importance
of parental support and
extended thanks to all who had
encouraged the students along their
degree pathway.
Bell told the graduates, “We are
happy to see all of you succeeding,
and to have so many here to applaud
your achievement.”
That sentiment was echoed by
Yulianna Ortega, Assistant STEM
28
Diversity Director, who has also
shared the trials and triumphs
of the students throughout their
undergraduate education.
Each year, Bell and Ortega handstitch colorful stoles embellished
with the graduation year, one for each
of the graduates. Faculty directors
from the STEM programs officially
presented the hand crafted stoles with
hearty congratulations.
Each graduate had a moment at the
podium to thank those who helped
them achieve their B.S. degree –
parents, faculty, program staff,
friends. The students expressed
appreciation for the many ways in
which they had received support and
encouragement.
A special memorial for Don
Rothman, senior lecturer in
writing, was included in the
ceremony. Rothman guided student
writing skills for nearly 40 years
at UCSC. He was the founder of
the Central California Writing
Project and influenced the lives
of countless numbers of students.
Rothman’s widow accepted an
award of appreciation for the many
contributions to diversity student
success that Rothman made during
his career.
Speakers included Dr. Alan Zahler,
Professor of Molecular, Cell and
Developmental Biology, Faculty
Director of MARC (Minority Access
to Research Careers, funded by NIH).
Professor Barry Bowman,
Molecular, Cell and Developmental
Biology and faculty director of IMSD
(Initiative for Maximizing Student
Diversity) offered students five points
to think about as they begin the next
phase of their lives:
Also participating in the
celebration were CAMP Faculty
Director Ted Holman, Professor of
Chemistry and Biochemistry, and
Nancy Cox-Konopelski, Director of
the Academic Excellence Program
(ACE), which offers small discussion
sections supporting large science and
math lectures.
1 You are trained as scientists and
engineers: stay informed, vote for
policies that support scientific
data;
2Read books – this is important,
read something every day;
3Don’t put too much emphasis
on money – take a job because it
makes you happy not because it
pays more;
4Be a finisher – finish what you
start, finish your projects- that
report or that book chapter before
you begin something new;
5Eat your veggies! Be healthy,
watch the kind of calories you
eat and make choices for good
nutrition. This is a big issue today.
Professor Barry Bowman
CAMP Students Completing First Year
of Graduate Education
Darrel Deo (engineering) enrolled in a master’s in Mechanical
Engineering at Stanford University, Fall 2013
Juan Ledesma (applied physics) began a Ph.D. at the University of
Wisconsin, Madison
Crystal Reynaga is pursuing a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology at UC Irvine.
Dr. Melissa Jurica, Director IMSD,
congratulates Juan Ledesma, Class of
2013.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 29
Community, Commitment Foster
Leadership Through Research
UC San Diego Student-Faculty Partnership
Transforms Learning Environment
UC San Diego Summer Research Conference Showcases
Summer Researchers from Throughout the Nation
S
tudents representing 61
colleges and universities
throughout California and
the U.S. participated in the UCSD
Summer Research Conference,
August 15, 2013. Steadily growing
into a truly national event, the
conference is sponsored by Academic
Enrichment Programs (AEP), in
association with the Experiential
Learning Cluster and Student Affairs.
AEP is home to CAMP-UCSD and
to affiliated programs, including
the Amgen Scholars, UC Scholars,
McNair, MARC, and Engineers
for Exploration, among others.
Additional support was provided
by the Vice Chancellor of Student
Affairs. The conference, held at the
Price Center, drew 220 summer
research presenters.
CAMP leaders support successful
conference:
nDavid Artis, Ph.D., AEP Director,
emphasized the national scope
of the event, stating, “In addition
to most of the UC campuses,
students came from several Ivy
League schools–Harvard, Yale, and
Brown.”
nDr. Jacqueline Azize-Brewer,
CAMP Coordinator, enlisted
faculty, postdocs, and graduate
students as moderators for
the roundtables. Additionally,
Azize-Brewer, whose Ph.D. is in
Neuroscience, helped to prepare
the CAMP students for their oral
presentations, thus transmitting
mentoring practices that she
herself had received as a STEM
transfer student, undergraduate,
and graduate student at UCSD.
Below, UCSD CAMP Summer
Scholars display their well earned
certificates recognizing their
research accomplishments and oral
presentations at the conference.
30
Students whose research was
funded by CAMP-NSF:
nElena Caceres, Molecular Biology,
mentored by Dr. Mark Huising,
Clayton Foundation Laboratories
for Peptide Biology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Corticotropin Releasing Factor Receptors
mediate Urocortin 1 associated with
increases in B-cell mass.
nAlexander Finch, Structural
Engineering, mentored by
Professor Yu Qiao, Structural
Engineering Department.
Performance of Low-Weight
Percentage Polyetherimide Lunar
Concrete.
nJesus Gastelum, Molecular
Biology, mentored by Dr. Elina
Zuniga, Department of Biological
Sciences. Investigating Virus-Host
protein interactions in human
Dendritic Cells infected with
recombinant LCMV.
nGarret Kasler, Bioengineering/
Biotechnology, mentored by Dr.
Todd Coleman, Bioengineering
Department. Exploring the causal
relationship between the Local
Field Potential and neural network
patterns in the context of Goal
Directed Decisions in Animals.
nSara Kimmich, Cognitive Science,
mentored by Dr. Lisa Eyler,
Psychiatry. Sex differences in the
clinical expression and resting state
brain connectivity of bipolar disorder.
nRachel Meza, Biochemistry/Cell
Biology, mentored by Dr. Richard
Lieber, Orthopaedic Surgery and
Research. Determining Collagen
Type I and III Ratio in Cerebral Palsy
Patients Gracilis Muscles.
nRocio Pena, Chemical
Engineering, mentored b Dr. Olivia
Graeve, Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering. Alumina and Silica
Nanofluid Characterization for Heat
Transfer Applications: A Dynamic
Light Scattering Study.
nAmanuel Weldemarian,
Nanoengineering, mentored by Dr.
Todd Coleman, Bioengineering.
Clinical Applications of Epidermal
Electronics in ECG Monitoring.
“We are excited that the San Diego region continues to grow as a nationally
significant center of undergraduate research.”
–David Artis, Director, Academic Enrichment Programs
UC San Diego Alumna
Crystal Garcia
Enjoys Graduate Study
at San Diego State
C
rystal Garcia completed a B.S.
in Structural Engineering with
a minor in Mathematics in
June 2013 at UC San Diego. She says,
“I am proud that as a UCSD Alumna
I am part of a community that keeps
growing in education and diversity.”
Garcia plans to work in industry.
Spring 2014 marks the completion
of her first year in a master’s program
in Civil Engineering at California
State University San Diego, for which
she had built a strong foundation.
“I believe UCSD gave me a well
rounded education and prepared me
for graduate school.”
Her special area of interest – and
her “passion” – is seismic design.
“Being a California native,” says
Garcia, “I know the importance of
building strong structures that would
withstand earthquake exposure.”
As an undergraduate Garcia
enjoyed conducting research “because
you get to learn things outside of
the classroom and make your own
discoveries.”
Among her design projects are
a 36-inch robotic crane that safely,
efficiently, and accurately transferred
cargo while withstanding a 3N
force; an 18-inch scaled model of a
reinforced concrete column; a 21-inch
water tower model for seismic
resistance, and a two-span reinforced
concrete pedestrian bridge.
In Summer 2012, Garcia had an
internship at the Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety. A highlight
of the experience was being able to
modify the methane drawings based
on code.
During her undergraduate career
Crystal Garcia followed a carefully
crafted plan to prepare for graduate
“UCSD gave me a well-rounded education and prepared me for graduate school.”
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 31
education. She
intern, which included
attended the CAMPacting as the liaison and
sponsored graduate
program ambassador
application workshop
and assisting with
and numerous events
planning lab tours,
where graduate
faculty events, and
school was discussed,
outreach activities.
including Coffee and
“Crystal used her
Conversation with
positive and abundant
Faculty, Postdoc/
energy to connect
Research Scientists
with and mentor other
and graduate students.
CAMP students,” says
She had received a
Dr. Jacqueline AzizeCAMP research kit and
Brewer, UCSD CAMP
Crystal Garcia
she also won a CAMP
Coordinator.
Leadership Prize.
Garcia is a member
From Spring 2011 to Fall 2013
of the Society of Civil & Structural
Garcia served as the CAMP-UCSD
Engineers and ASCE. She is a Society
of Women Engineers Scholar,
a NACME Scholar (National
Action Council for Minorities in
Engineering), and an XSEDE Scholar
(Extreme Science and Engineering
Discovery Environment).
For inspiration, Garcia turns to
her mother. She says, “My mother
is definitely my hero. Being a single
mother she sacrificed a great deal to
ensure I had all the opportunities she
did not have.”
So far, her graduate experience at
CSU San Diego has been “awesome.”
“I am really enjoying being part of
a new campus where I can expand
my network and discover new
knowledge.”
UC San Diego CAMP
Leadership Prize
to support their academic and
professional development, including
a graphic calculator, 32 GB USB drive
with UCSD portfolio, and business
card holder as well as a set of books,
“Getting What You Came For,” “A
Ph.D. is Not Enough,” and “The
Ph.D. Process.”
C
AMP participants at UCSD
have the opportunity to apply
for a “Leadership Prize.” The
2012-13 academic year marked the
second time for the awards, part of
the array of opportunities offered
by Dr. Jacqueline Azize-Brewer,
CAMP Coordinator for the San Diego
campus.
Twenty-four students were selected
in recognition of their participation
in CAMP events and activities and
in other leadership activities outside
of CAMP. Students have the option
of selecting from an array of items
“I accidently discovered CAMP. It was only fitting that I would discover CAMP by accident
as most discoveries in science are done so in the same manner. And a discovery it was!
Through the events offered in CAMP, I learned about the different paths of many people,
and it helped me focus and enhance the once blurry picture of my future.”
–David Quintanilla, Class of 2013, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Leadership Awardee
Congratulations Leadership Prize Winners!
Gabriela Bernaldino, Structural
Engineering
Liliana Busanez, Chemical
Engineering
Elena Caceres, Molecular Biology
Karen Carrasco, Cognitive
Science, Specialization in
Neuroscience
Alex Finch, Structural Engineering
Giovani Galicia, NanoEngineering
Crystal Garcia, Structural
Engineering, B.S. 2013
Jesus Gastelum, Molecular
Biology
Alan Gomez, Bioengineering, B.S.
2013
32
Mary Graves, Chemical
Engineering
Miriam Guemes, Human Biology,
B.S. 2013
Sara Kimmich, Cognitive
Science, Specialization in
Neuroscience
Faviola Loera, Mechanical
Engineering
Rachel Meza, Biochemistry and
Cell Biology
Luis Moreno, Biochemistry/
Chemistry
Adam Munoz, Chemical
Engineering
Joseline Ochoa, General Biology
Isis Perez, Biochemistry and Cell
Biology
David Quintanilla, Mechanical
Engineering, B.S. 2013
Nancy Ronquillo, Aerospace
Engineering
Dominga Sanchez, Structural
Engineering, B.S. 2013
Adriana Solis, Mechanical
Engineering
Andrew Villalobos, Structural
Engineering
Mario Zuniga, Environmental
Engineering, B.S. 2013
Dr. Tataw Receives
His Doctoral Hood
at UC Riverside 2013
Commencement
Ceremonies
Gabriela Bernaldino
Introducing Gabriela Bernaldino, Structural Engineer
C
lass of 2014 graduate Gabriela
Bernaldino, B.S. Structural
Engineering, has special
interest in dam design, hydraulic
structures, and earthquake and geotechnical engineering. She knew
from a young age, watching her dad
build things, that she wanted to build
“structures of her own.”
Bernaldino has taken every advantage of research opportunities at
UCSD and the San Diego region. Her
initiation into research occurred as a
high school student participating in
COSMOS 2008 at UCSD, the California State Summer School for Math
& Science, the UC system’s premier
science academy for top high school
students. Living on campus for four
weeks and meeting faculty provided
a window into her future as an engineering undergraduate and affirmed
her decision to apply to UCSD.
Another enriching experience was
study abroad in Rome, Italy during
summer 2012, for the Engineering
of Historical Construction Program.
She enjoyed learning about historical
structures and the engineering design
associated with Italy’s renowned
national treasures.
Additionally, she was a water production engineering intern with the
City of San Diego, and she conducted
a research project through the City
and the San Diego County Water
Authority, titled, “An Investigation
on the Design and Modeling of Seismic Performance for the Oivenhain
Dam and Reservoir,” won First Place
Poster, Civil Engineering Category,
SACNAS 2013 National Conference.
A master’s degree in civil or
structural engineering is next on
her educational pathway. She also
intends to mentor young Latinas and
encourage them to pursue careers in
engineering. She had served as the
CAMP Intern in 2010-2011, and was
the outreach coordinator for SHPE,
Society of Hispanic Professional
Engineers.
Interview with Gabriela Bernaldino
How did you get interested in
engineering - especially dams,
hydraulic structures, etc.?
My father use to be a construction
worker. Since I was a little girl, the
thought of building a house from the
ground up motivated me to play with
Legos and build structures of my
own. I had the opportunity with the
City of San Diego to practice dam
inspection, dam construction, and
do research on the San Vicente Dam
for academic internship credit. … I
did a summer independent research
project involving the Olivenhain
Dam and Reservoir, in Escondido,
California.
You participated in COSMOS.
How did that experience
support your education at
UCSD?
This program reassured me that
I wanted to pursue a degree in engineering and UCSD offered the pro-
Oben Moses Tataw, Ph.D.
D
r. Oben Moses Tataw
completed the Ph.D.
In Chemical Genomics
in the Department of Computer
Science and Engineering at UCR.
He was a UCR undergraduate,
Class of 2005, completing a B.S. in
Computer Science, and earned a
M.S. in Computer Science at UC San
Diego. Dr. Tataw was a ChemgenIGERT Fellow and GAANN Fellow.
His research interests include
computational biology, data mining,
and general biological informatics.
Ph.D. advisors were Dr. Amit RoyChowdhurry and Dr. Eamonn Keogh.
Tataw’s doctorate represents 100%
completion rate for the UC San Diego
Bridge to the Doctorate cohort. Dr.
Tataw is a Senior Software Engineer
at NUMI Financial, Carlsbad, CA.
NUMI is a leading program manager
in the prepaid financial services
industry. Congratulations!
Bernaldino continues on page 45
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 33
From the Peach State to Puerto Rico
UC Berkeley Bridge to the Doctorate
Fellows Share their Personal Stories
Lacey Andrews,
Endocrinology (2nd year
Ph.D. Student)
Undergraduate Institution:
Rochester Institute of Technology
“I hail from
the city-state of
peaches, grits,
and the best
soul food in the
whole planet also known as
Atlanta, Georgia!
However, I
attended and
graduated
(Valedictorian)
from Mount Zion
High School
in Jonesboro,
Georgia
and immediately took a train to
Rochester, New York to attend
Rochester Institute of Technology as
a biomedical sciences major. During
my sophomore year, I decided that
research was a passion of mine. As
a result, I applied for and became a
member of LSAMP and conducted my
first research experience at Syracuse
University. Because I became addicted
to this research of discovery and
truth, I also researched in Brazil,
Ghana, and my home institution
before graduating with a B.S. and
flew out to Berkeley, CA and into
the department of Endocrinology.
And to be frank, my first year of
graduate school was an emotional
roller-coaster! The adjustment, the
workload, the failures, the successes,
the long nights, the early mornings,
the free lunches, grad talks, research
talks, talk talks, the dying cells, the
happy cells, lecturing, presentations,
and much much more! BUT...I have
learned so much and have been
pushed so much more than I thought
possible.
Edy Cardona, Material
Science & Engineering
(1st year Ph.D. Student)
Undergraduate Institution:
UC Berkeley
“Even though
I grew up near
downtown
Los Angeles, I
attended Grover
Cleveland High
School in Reseda,
California.
During this time,
I developed a
strong interest
in physics
from reading
books like
Brian Greene’s
“The Elegant
Universe.” In fact, the combination
of this type of books and high school
science classes motivated me to
formalize my general interest in
physics and pursue it in college. As
an undergraduate physics major
at UC Berkeley, I participated in
several research internships. These
opportunities helped me refine my
career focus into developing new
materials for more efficient electronic
devices. As a result, I’m currently
pursuing a doctoral degree at the
Department of Materials Science and
Engineering, with an emphasis in
semiconductor technology. What
I like the most about conducting
research is knowing that my
findings can have a wide range of
technological applications and
societal impacts. By developing new
materials, I am contributing to the
creation of more powerful devices,
which enable other scientists and
engineers to discover and create novel
technology in many other fields,
such as medicine, robotics, and space
exploration.”
Karina Chavarria, Civil
and Environmental
Engineering (2nd year
Ph.D. Student)
Undergraduate Institution:
UC Los Angeles
“My passion
for water quality
originates from
growing up
in deprived
conditions
and being sick
from water
related diseases
throughout my
childhood. At
an early age,
I realized that
I wanted to
pursue a career
that would
help me be part of the solution.
After completing high school in
Guatemala City, I immigrated to the
United States. This decision was
not easy, but I knew I had a better
“To be frank, my first year of graduate school was an emotional roller-coaster. The
adjustments, the workload, the failures, the successes, the long nights, the early mornings,
grad talks, research talks ...”
34
opportunity of a great education.
Once in California, the first thing
I had to do was to learn English.
I registered at Evans Community
Adult School in Los Angeles. I took
English classes from 7 A.M. to 7
P.M. every day. At Evans, I joined
the student council and became the
secretary in 2003-04 … responsible
for organizing outreach events. Once
I earned my high school diploma,
I registered at Los Angeles Valley
College (LAVC). I became a math
and science tutor. I gained so much
being a tutor; I strengthened my
communication and organizational
skills. I graduated Summa Cum
Laude from LAVC earning an A.S.
in mathematics and physics. This
was a great achievement for me and
a reassurance that leaving home
was worth it. It was also a strong
motivation to continue pursuing my
dream which I was able to do when I
transferred to UCLA. I was fortunate
to work under Professor Jennifer Jay,
civil and environmental engineering.
I had the opportunity to work in three
main projects that deal directly with
water contamination. These projects
have fueled my passion for the
environment and my determination
to become a professor. I graduated
with honors in 2012, earning a B.S.
degree in civil and environmental
engineering. At Cal, I am pursuing a
Ph.D. in environmental engineering.
My first year was unforgettable.
The graduate program is extremely
challenging and competitive;
however, I found a great support
system in other students in the
department and also the professors
who are more than happy to help you
succeed. I am fortunate to continue
doing research in water quality,
mainly positive-energy wastewater
treatment and nutrient removal
technologies. I believe that my time
here at Cal will serve me greatly in the
future.
Monica Nichole
Hernandez, Plant Biology
(2nd year Ph.D. Student)
Undergraduate Institution:
UC Los Angeles
“I was born in Pomona, California
and went to Diamond Ranch High
School. I took an AP Biology class,
part of it focused on animals and
while this was interesting, it was the
section on plants that amazed me.
Previously, I had been debating if I
should major in history or English
when I went to college, but this experience drove me to major in biology.
During their first two years, the Bridge to Doctorate Fellows are actively engaged in
coursework and research activities consistent with the expectations of all graduate
students. At the same time, students will be involved in specific activities that are
required of LSAMP BD Fellows, including the following professional development
activities:
Research
group meetings (how to prepare, contribute, and be heard)
Ethics/Integrity/Success
Getting
the most from your PI interactions
External
funding fellowship application information
Academic
Library
skill resources and development
Balancing
Getting
work and life
the most out of a professional conference
Research
Writing
writing and publications
Institute presentations
successful grant proposals (NSF focus)
Post-doctoral
opportunities
When I went to UCLA I took a course
in the life sciences and when I realized that I was more excited learning
about photosynthesis than all about
the human body, I decided to join a
lab that focused on plant research. I
became a member of Dr. Ann Hirsch’s
lab which did research in plant and
microbe interactions. I loved it. I
stayed at the lab
for three years
and when I was
a senior, I was
encouraged to
go to graduate
school to earn
a Ph.D. in plant
biology. This led
me to apply to
the department
of Plant and
Microbiology at
UC Berkeley.
My first year
at graduate
school was far been one of the most
interesting years I have experienced.
In my program we are required to
rotate in three different labs before
choosing a permanent lab. This was
exciting for me because I was able to
conduct different types of research
and learn new techniques. Projects
included examining plasmodesmata
structure and function and how auxin
producing bacteria affect the redox
states of Arabidopsis plants. During
my rotation in Dr. Steven Lindow’s
lab I examined how oxygen and
surfaces affect surfactant production
by the plant bacterial pathogen
Pseudomonas syringae. This research
greatly appealed to me and I chose
to join the Lindow lab permanently.
Currently, I am continuing to examine
surfactant production and how this
is regulated by surfaces. Studying
P. syringae and its interaction with
plants will provide more insight into
microbe-plant interactions. Knowing
more about these interactions can
lead to a greater understanding of
plant diseases caused by bacterial
pathogens. This knowledge can
be applied to the development of
biological controls in order to prevent
diseases from devastating agricultural
crops.
UC Berkeley continues on next page
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 35
Maribel Jaquez,
Mechanical Engineering
(2nd year Ph.D. Student)
Jesyka Melendez,
Integrative Biology (2nd
year Ph.D. Student)
Undergraduate Institution:
UC Irvine
Undergraduate Institution:
University of Puerto Rico-Cayey
“My
hometown is
Coachella, CA.
As a young girl, I
would constantly
ask my father
questions about
his construction
job. I would ask
him so much that
one particular
day, at the age
of seven, my
father took me
to a construction
site where he
was building a house. As I got off my
father’s worn out pick-up truck my
attention was directed towards the
frame of the house. I found myself
tripping over the pieces of wood as
I imagined building things. On this
day I knew my future was within
building and taking things apart to
better understand them. My father
made it clear that this type of job was
for men and not young ladies. … I
still decided to major in mechanical
engineering and double major in
materials science at the University of
California, Irvine. I have learned two
things: a) engineering is a rigorous
major, and b) engineering is indeed a
male-dominated field. When I visit
my hometown in Coachella CA, the
expectations of family and friends
are that a woman is to be married,
and a working mother with children.
Thus, this continued perception of
women instills in me the motivation
to become a role model. When I
started [at Cal], I was very unsure of
joining a laboratory, but the kindness
and the support at UC Berkeley
encouraged me to join a group where
I will be happy for the next few years.
I was able to join a professor’s group
in the Materials Science department,
showcasing how interdisciplinary the
research is at Berkeley.
“I grew up in the small rural town
of Cayey, Puerto Rico. Surrounded
by wild, untarnished nature, my love
for the great outdoors developed. I
quickly grew into an animal rights
activist and environmental health
advocate. I initiated my high school’s
recycling program and created it’s first
animal health club. As cliche as it may
sound, I love
animals! I always
have. Thus, my
high school
career advisor
suggested that I
study veterinary
sciences. Naive
to other more
appropriate
career choices
in the sciences,
I enrolled as a
Biology major at
the University
of Puerto Rico
at Cayey. However, the summer
before my first semester of college I
participated in the Research Initiative
for Scientific Enhancement (RISE)
program, and it changed my life
forever! During the 5 weeks that
followed, I learned about scientific
research and, although it took me
another 4 years to discover the field
of behavioral ecology, it was the
beginning of my academic journey
towards a Ph.D. Currently, I am a
second year student graduate student.
I am interested in the molecular
underpinnings of mate choice across
the marvelously diverse world of
mating systems. Specifically, I have
begun developing a project with the
monogamous California mouse, and
promiscuous brush mouse, where I
hope the elucidate the importance
of immunogenes under varying
pressures of mating stress.
36
Chukwuebuka
“Ebuka” Nweke, Civil
& Environmental
Engineering (2nd year
Ph.D. Student)
Undergraduate Institution:
UC Davis
“My name is
Chukwuebuka,
but everyone
calls me Buka.
I was born and
raised in Lagos,
Nigeria until
immigrating
to the U.S. at
the age of 12. I
spent my high
school years
in Inglewood,
CA, attending
a small high
school called
City Honors but played sports for
Morningside High. I attended UC
Davis for my undergraduate studies
majoring in Civil and Environmental
Engineering. At UC Berkeley I’m
continuing my studies in Civil
Geotechnical Engineering. I chose to
attend Cal to escape my comfort zone
in order to progress and I can say that
I am accomplishing that. The year was
extremely difficult, rigorous, painful,
unbelievable, “enjoyable,” rewarding,
and satisfying. The workload and
expectations are partially to blame for
the pain, but the majority of it comes
from [my own] self expectation.
Overall, the experience is the main
prize. The whole first year experience
led to my progression and I hope it
continues to lead to that same result.”
SPOTLIGHT ON GRADUATING SENIORS, CLASS of 2014
UC MERCED CAMP SCHOLARS
CONDUCT CAREER-DEFINING RESEARCH
Jose Guardarrama, B.S.
Mechanical Engineering
J
ose Guadarrama is a senior
Mechanical Engineer student
completing his B.S. degree in
spring 2014. He has performed
research at UC Merced with faculty
mentor Professor Gerardo Diaz, and
the University of Iowa, with Professor Albert Ratner, both in methods of
biomass conversion. Upon graduation, Guadarrama plans on furthering
his education by pursuing a Ph.D.
in renewable energy and alternative fuels. He has used the resources
at UC Merced well, receiving NSF
summer fellowships and currently
working on a
senior design
project with
DARPA funds
which he received
by submitting a
proposal. Aside
from his academic
success, being a
first generation
student, Guardarrama feels the
need to mentor
his fellow colleagues. Being a
part of SHPE he
has helped several
underclassmen
gain knowledge
in engineering
applications. He
has been admitted
to several doctoral
programs, including the University of
Illinois at Urbana Champaign; University of Iowa; Ohio State University;
and UC San Diego.
Adam Martin, B.S.
Mechanical Engineering
A
dam Martin is a Mechanical Engineering major who
hails from Torrance, California. He is a UC LEADS and CAMP
Scholar. He joined Dr. Gerardo Diaz’s
Mechanical Engineering laboratory
in the summer of his sophomore year.
The Diaz laboratory is interested in
exploring the potential use of plasma
gasification for the conversion of
waste to renewable energy, thus,
helping mitigate many waste management issues. Martin is currently
working on plasma arc gasification
of biomass to produce synthesis gas.
He made important contributions to
designing and assembling the plasma
gasification reactor. The findings may
impact future conversion methods of
biomass into synthesis gas which can
serve as a refined source of renewable
fuel. He also maintains an active role
in the SACNAS, SHPE, and NSBE
chapter at UC Merced. He believes
these organizations are critical for
retaining and increasing the number
of non-traditional students in STEM
fields. In Fall 2014, Martin plans to
enroll in a Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering, choosing from several graduate school offers including
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and UC San Diego. Martin has
been recommended for the Bridge to
the Doctorate fellowship at UCLA.
“The CAMP Program gave me the opportunity to become a part
of the research being done by Dr. Gerardo Diaz in bio-energy. Not
only did it allow me to become part of a life-changing experience
but it opened doors to go to places which I would have never
imagined. I have been able to attend national conferences and
present my work while networking across the country.”
“I feel fortunate to have
been a part of a community
of motivated scholars, who
share similar challenges
being first-generation college
going, and coming from
disadvantaged communities.
College can be rather difficult
at times and CAMP was
there to make sure that I
achieve my future goal of
obtaining a doctoral degree.
As an alumnus of CAMP, I
believe it is my duty to help
students from disadvantaged
backgrounds to make a
profession in STEM an
attainable career goal.”
—Jose Guardarrama
—Adam Martin
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 37
UC Riverside Prepares Students for Advanced Degrees
Path to Ph.D. - Ultimate Challenge Course
UCR’s Escalera Has
Passion for Physics and
Edge for Graduate School
A
lina Escalera is set to
graduate with a B.S. degree
in physics from the University
of California, Riverside in June 2014,
and plans to begin graduate studies
in Fall 2014. Her longterm goal is a
Ph.D. in physics. She acknowledges
her success in research is due to
Symposium, in 2011 and 2014, when
she won the Special Merit in Research
award (see page 11), and at the UCR
Symposium for Undergraduate
Research, Scholarship and Creative
Activity. In 2013, she won the Albert
Staats Award in Physics, presented
by the UCR Physics Department, for
design and construction of scientific
apparatus.
Productive doesn’t begin to describe
her educational accomplishments.
Her undergraduate career also
provided an avenue for sharing her
passion for physics. She participated
in the Physics Open House and
Physics Welcome Event, aimed at
encouraging prospective students in
STEM fields.
“Alongside my academic career,
I have always enjoyed sharing my
passion for physics with others,”
Escalera says. “This includes my
children as well as the general public.
Escalera believes that exposure to
abstract concepts at a young age
(when the mind is most malleable)
can provide a strong foundation for
future studies.”
She also believes that, “the
mindset required for considering
mathematical concepts has wideranging benefits by cultivating good
logical and critical thinking skills.”
She is currently developing lesson
plans to teach children ages two
to six about math and physics at
UCR’s Child Development Center.
In addition to her involvement in
outreach activities, she maintains
a student web blog on physics
and astronomy, an activity she
has pursued since 2012. She also
contributes to mainstream media
sites, such as Yahoo News, where her
article on the Leonid meteor showers
was published (2010). Locally, she
participated in the City Riverside’s
“Long Night of Arts and Innovation,”
at which she demonstrated basic
physics phenomena for the general
public.
What will the future bring?
Certainly, challenges, opportunities,
and new problems to solve. One thing
is certain: pursuing the doctorate
will present Alina Escalera with
opportunities to succeed and shine.
ALINA ESCALERA: STUDENT,
PARENT, SCIENTIST
“invaluable” support from programs
including CAMP. A transfer student
from Mt. San Jacinto College,
Escalera participated in the Honors
Enrichment Program (2007-2011).
During her senior year, Escalera
served as a research assistant under
the mentorship of Professor Allen
Mills, and also as the student assistant
in the physics department under the
supervision of Herbert Kuehne. These
experiences, added to her previous
record of engagement in academic
life, have fostered in her excellent
analytical and logical reasoning skills.
Esalera has presented her research
at the annual CAMP Statewide
38
“My time at UCR has been a significant and
humbling experience in my life and has fueled a
deep appreciation for education. I have had the
opportunity to interact with many influential
individuals, a few of whom will continue to
be a source of inspiration long after we go our
separate ways. I am excited at the prospect of
attending graduate school and dedicating more
of my time to my studies in physics, as well as
further contributing to outreach programs that
encourage women in physics. It is because of my dedication and drive that
I have accomplished so much in my life. I am a dedicated student, parent
and scientist.”
“It is because of my dedication and drive
that I have accomplished so much.”
“The challenge course reminds the students that although it’s scary when they are
high up on the ropes, there is someone to catch them if they slip.”
—Maria Franco-Aguilar, Director, GradEDge
UC Riverside’s GradEDge Elevates Newly Enrolled Graduate Students
T
he UCR GradEDge program
supports incoming graduate
students in STEM fields and
provides a head start on their research
prior to enrollment in the fall. The
Summer 2013 program served 60
students.
Director Maria Franco-Aguilar
developed GradEDge as an outgrowth
of the National Science Foundation’s
AGEP (Alliances for Graduate
Education and the Professoriate). Her
goal is to help students transition into
graduate education and to navigate
the twists and turns that students
encounter on the path to Ph.D.
completion.
“You can’t take it with you, but you
can leave so much behind,” FrancoAguilar says of her efforts to build
student support programs throughout
her 25 years of service at UC
Riverside. She tells students, “Think
of me as your MapQuest to getting
acclimated to UCR.”
GradEDge provides students with
the opportunity to acclimate to the
campus environment and ‘settle’ into
the UCR community, especially if
they are from out of state. Students
are connected with the many campus
resources during the eight-week
program. Students receive a $5,000 stipend,
professional development workshops,
and an NSF grant-writing course to
prepare them, when the time comes,
to submit their application for the
Graduate Research Fellowship
Program.
During the academic year the
group is invited to monthly “Get
Connected” meetings hosted by
the Graduate Division’s Academic
Preparation and Outreach Unit.
One important outcome of “Get
Connected” is exemplified through
the use of the Graduate Student Travel
Grants. The grant allows travel that
is often impossible because financial
concerns, but more than that, it offers
an opportunity for students to report
on their conference experience at
subsequent sessions.
The most important outcome
of the “Get Connected” meetings
however, is the sense of belonging to a
welcoming community.
“As a result,” says FrancoAguilar, “I see our students sharing
information and helping each other
succeed.”
The program starts off with the
Team Building/Challenge Course,
which helps build relationships.
“The challenge course reminds the
students that although it’s scary when
they are high up on the ropes, there is
someone to catch them if they slip,”
says Franco-Aguilar.
She adds, “That is actually how I
see my role in these programs. I am
here to cheer them on but should they
slip, I’m here to help them get up on
their feet again.”
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 39
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION AND INNOVATION
UC Irvine Students Thrive
in Laboratory Research
Environment
Exciting Research on
Microwave-Assisted
Spark Ignition and
Premixed Flames Propels
Verenice Mojica and
Salvador Badillo-Rios,
Class of 2015
T
wo mechanical and aerospace
engineering majors are well on
their way to making important
contributions to their field. Verenice
Mojica and Salvador Badillo-Rios
conduct research in energy systems
and combustion analysis. They
have presented posters at national
conferences and have been inducted
into Sigma Xi, the Scientific Society.
They are active in several professional
organizations and are engaged in a
variety of CAMP activities and events
In Summer 2013, both students had
conducted research at UC Berkeley,
through the Cal NERDS umbrella.
Verenice Mojica worked with
Professor Carlos Fernandez-Pello
(UCB CAMP Faculty Director), on
a project, “Analyzing the Transition
from Laminar to Tubulent of
Premixed Flames Propagating Past
Repeated Obstacles While Applying
an Electric Field.” Salvador BadilloRios worked on “Enhancement of
Flame Development by MicrowaveAssisted Spark Ignition in a Constant
Volume Combustion Chamber for
Propane-Air Mixtures.” His summer
project was in Professor Robert
Dibble’s lab, and he also received
mentoring from Dr. Jyh-Yuan Chen,
and graduate students Ryan Butt and
Benjamin Wolk. They made sure that
Badillo-Rios did not leave the lab
“without having learned something
new.”
Badillo-Rios says, “Professor
Chen is very welcoming … I am
now determined to learn more about
40
combustion modeling and I have
Professor Chen to thank for that.”
Badillo-Rios continues to work as an
undergraduate research assistant in
the UCI Combustion Laboratory. He
also tutors CAMP students in physics,
calculus, thermodynamics, CAD
Design and Matlab programming
language. He is active in the
Association of Energy Engineers and
helped establish a chapter at UCI.
Verenice Mojica has served as
a research assistant in the UCI
Department of Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering, on a (2012)
test bed for advanced small-scale
Mojica/Rios continues on page 43
Graduating Senior
Diego Bautista Studies
Distresses on SoCal
Roads
C
lass of 2014, Diego Bautista,
is a UCI civil engineering
major and transfer student
from El Camino College in Torrance,
CA. Bautista as born and raised in
Guatemala, where he grew up seeing
people impoverished and deprived of
a quality life. He felt that by studying
engineering and through engineering,
he could improve lives. He moved to
Los Angeles at age 18, and enrolled
in El Camino College focusing on
pre-engineering before transferring
to UCI. Bautista decided on the University of California, Irvine for his
bachelor’s degree because of the prestige of the university and the School
of Engineering, and also because of
the short distance to his family in Los
Angeles.
As a community college student,
Bautista participated in MESA (Math,
Engineering, Science Achievement),
holding peer study group sessions to
build math skills. It’s one of the ways
give up” on her when she
was struggling.
In Fall 2014, Lopez
will be applying to
Bioengineering graduate
programs, including at
UC Riverside and UC San
Diego. She is particularly
interested in the joint
Bioengineering Ph.D.
offered by UC Berkeley
and UC San Francisco.
“Most importantly,” Lopez says,
“I’m looking for a field or project that
really captivates me, and a mentor to
help me become a better researcher.”
She hopes to conduct R&D for a
biomedical engineering company
and some day to be part of a team that
improves or discovers a device that
helps save lives.
Marissa Lopez
Marisa Lopez Enjoys
Interdisciplinary
Biomedical Engineering
C
Diego Bautista
he shares his passion for science and
engineering.
He adds, “As a civil engineer, I feel
I can give back not only to my local
community, but also give something
back to the country of my birth.”
Bautista has been involved in
structural engineering research,
further applying skills that he
developed during summer 2012,
when he was an intern on a
construction project in Guatemala
City. He has worked as a survey
technician for the Bucknam
Infrastructure Group, collecting
different types of distresses on asphalt
and concrete roads in cities across
Southern California. He also created a
database of water public works for the
City of Huntington Beach.
Immediate plans after graduation
include exploring the many and
varied aspects of the civil engineering
field by starting his professional
career in an established engineering
firm, and working toward an area of
specialization. For now, he will defer
applying for graduate education until
a specific area of interest captures his
imagination.
lass of 2015, Biomedical
Engineering major Marisa
Lopez conducts research on
cell culture and cancer cell migration.
She is a CAMP Scholar, having
received research support for summer
2012 and summer 2013, and loves
that biomedical engineering uses
both engineering principles and an
understanding of biology to advance
the medical field.
Starting in Winter Quarter 2014,
Lopez received a fellowship from
NIH-Minority Biomedical Research
Support program. She says, “Initially,
I had no idea what biomedical
engineering was until a friend of mine
decided to major in it.” And once she
looked into it, she adds, “There was
no other option for me!”
Lopez has presented her research in
San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the Ana G.
Mendez Universidad Metropolitana
undergraduate symposium, and
in Houston, Texas, at the MAES
symposium. She also presented at
the 2013 and 2014 CAMP Statewide
research symposium at Irvine for
which she received Honorable
Mention. Her leadership experience
includes membership in SACNAS
(chapter secretary) and MAES
(chapter public relations).
Marisa Lopez attended Fullerton
Union High School, where she says
many of the teachers were supportive
and encouraging and liked to
challenge their students. Among
them, she says, was Mr. Giannetti, her
AP/IB Physics teacher who “refused to
UCI Alum is Co-Author in
Journal Of Immunology,
Conducted Research at
King’s College, London
O
scar Diaz, UCI Class of
2013, B.S. Biological
Sciences, is pursuing
a master’s degree in biology at
California State University Los
Angeles, where he participates in the
MBRS-RISE M.S.-to-Ph.D. program.
Diaz was published November
2013 as co-author in the Journal
of Immunology, for research
conducted as an undergraduate
at the Laboratory of Cellular and
Molecular Immunology, Gavin
Herbert Eye Institute, UCI School of
Medicine. First authors include Dr.
Xavier Dervillez, Dr. Huma Qureshi,
and Dr. Azize Chentoufi. The title
of the publication: Asymptomatic
HLA-A*02:01-resricted epitopes from
herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B
preferentially recall polyfunctional
CD8+ T cells from seropositive
asymptomatic individuals and protect
HLA transgenic mice against ocular
herpes.
Following graduation in summer
2013, Diaz conducted research
at King’s College, London, in the
Cardiovascular Division and Randall
Oscar Diaz continues on page 45
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 41
UCI Graduate Student and CAMP Alum Participates in
Transfer Action Team at UC Office of the President
V
ladimir Diaz-Ochoa,
Doctoral Candidate in the
Department of Microbiology
and Molecular Genetics, was
nominated as UCI’s representative
at a meeting with University of
California President Napolitano and
the Transfer Action Team. He joined
students representing all 10 campuses
on January 6, 2014 at the UC Office
of the President (UCOP), in Oakland,
California. Diaz-Ochoa had learned
first hand how to navigate his path
through community college to the
University of California, and continue
on to graduate education.
UCI CAMP STUDENTS AT BECKMAN
CENTER EVENT: The 2014 National
Academy of Engineering National (NAE)
Meeting was held on Thursday, February 6, at the Beckman Center in Irvine,
California. Featured speakers included
Charles O. Holliday, C. D. Mote, Jr.,
Corale Brierley and presenters from the
NAE Frontiers of Engineering Symposia who are recipients of the Gilbreth
Lectureships. Twelve CAMP students
enjoyed the welcome by Chairman
Holliday and sessions on topics such
as technologies for offshore structures
in extreme environments and energy
storage for sustainable transportation.
Pictured here: Leonora Pena, Alejandro
Sherman, Dr. D.C. (Dan) Mote, Jr., President NAE (Regents Professor, University
of Maryland, College Park), Kika Friend,
Brian Morey, Salvador Badillo-Rios,
Verenice Mojica, Carlos Covarrubias,
and Gilberto Cardenas.
42
The Transfer Action Team was
convened by the President to examine
the ways in which the University can
streamline the process for California
community college students who
are preparing for transfer to a UC
campus.
According to contacts at UCOP,
consulting with transfer students is
essential part of the Action Team’s
fact-finding effort.
In addition to meeting with the
President and the Action Team,
Diaz-Ochoa also participated in an
informal focus group with the UC’s
Chief Information Officer. The goal
of the focus group was to solicit
student views regarding emerging
technologies that may help UC recruit
and prepare prospective community
college students for transfer. Vladimir Diaz-Ochoa completed an
Associate of Arts degree in Chemistry
at Cerritos College in 2005, and a B.S.
in Biological Sciences at UC Irvine in
2009.
As an undergraduate, as a MARC
Scholar and CAMP student, he
gave numerous poster and oral
presentations, including at SACNAS
and ABRCMS as well as at Sigma Xi.
As a graduate student, he
has expanded his professional
development to ever greater degrees,
presenting at the 2013 Cell Symposia:
Microbiome and Host Health,
Lisbon, Portugal; at the 2012 AAAS
Conference in Vancouver, B.C.;
and at AAAS 2013 Conference in
Boston. He won Third Place in the
oral presentation competition at
the Institute for Immunology Fair
at UCI, for his research Salmonella
Typhimurium Overcomes Manganese
Starvation in the Inflamed Gut
via the SitABCD, MntH and ZupT
Transporters. He also presented in
2012 at the American Society for
Microbiology Annual Meeting in San
Francisco, for which he received a
travel award.
Promising Engineers, Mojica and Badillo-Rios continued from page 40
reciprocating engine studies.
She instrumented a small scale
combustion engine to create a
test bed for analyzing an engine’s
performance, using LabVIEW for data
acquisition. The project compared
engine performance with gasoline and
a biofuel derived from pine trees.
Currently Mojica is working on a
project using infrared thermography
to obtain reliable temperature
measurements on a plate. She used
Matlab image processing toolbox to
obtain a temperature distribution
plot. Previously, Mojica worked at
the UCI Department of Mathematics
on a project analyzing the game of
Chomp using mathematical and
computational analysis to find the
generalized winning strategy for any
board size. In addition to CAMP,
Mojica is a UC LEADS scholar and
member of MAES, Latinos in Science
and Engineering. She has presented
posters at SACNAS and the CAMP
Statewide Undergraduate Research
Symposium.
Honors and Awards
Q&A with Verenice Mojica
Verenice Mojica
 Pi Tau Sigma Honorary Member
 Sigma Xi, Scientific Research
Are you
planning on
graduate
education?
I do plan to
attend graduate
school and I
am considering
applying to UC
Irvine, UC San
Diego, and UC
Los Angeles.
Society
 MGE@MSA/WAESO
2013
Honorable Mention, Poster
 MAES 2012 Symposium Second
Place Award, Poster
 Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc.
Scholarship
 MGE@MSA/WAESO 2012 First
Place Poster
 MGE@MSA/WAESO 2012
Competitive Scholarship
 Dean’s Honor List 2011
 Carolyn McKitterick
Scholarship
 Orange County Bar Foundation,
Higher Education Mentoring
Scholarship (2010-2013)
 Chancellor’s Excellence
Scholarship 2010
Salvador Badillo-Rios
 Sigma Gamma Tau, Aerospace
Engineering Honor Society
Xi, Scientific Research
Society
Pi Tau Sigma, Mechanical
Engineering Honor Society
 Kia Motors America, Inc.
Scholarship
 Hispanic Scholarship FundMazda Foundation (USA), Inc.
 MAES Padrino Scholarship
(Sponsored by Lockheed
Martin)
 James Publishing’s Kids
Engineering Scholarship
 MAES President’s Scholarship
(Sponsored by Exxon Mobil)
 Boeing Engineering Scholarship
 Sigma
Do you have a
career goal in
mind?
My ultimate
goal is to
obtain a Ph.D.
in Mechanical Engineering and help other Hispanic students pursue higher
education in a STEM related field.
Please comment on some of the mentoring you have received
UC Irvine has become my home and I am so grateful for all the people
who have supported me throughout my undergraduate career. I would like to
thank Kika Friend, Leonora Pena, and the CAMP staff for their unconditional
support. Also, I would like to thank Dr. Derek Dunn-Rankin and the Lasers,
Flames, and Aerosols Laboratory for allowing me to be part of their lab. I
am extremely grateful for Dr. Derek Dunn-Rankin for his mentorship and
support because it has allowed me to grow as a student, a researcher, and most
importantly as a person.
Tell us about your summer experience at UC Berkeley
I had the opportunity to be part of the UC Berkeley NERDS Summer
Program in 2013. I worked in the Microgravity Combustion Laboratory
under the mentorship of Dr. Carlos Fernandez-Pello (CAMP-UCB Faculty
Director). Diana Lizarraga and the NERDS staff were extremely welcoming
and they were always concerned with my success. This made my experience
very pleasant and I am thankful for their support. Dr. Fernandez-Pello and his
students were extremely helpful and attentive to my needs which allowed me to
excel in my work. I enjoyed presenting my poster at the Cal NERDS Summer
Research Symposium.
Badillo-Ramos Q&A on page 44
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 43
Q&A with Salvador Badillo-Ramos
What are your plans for the future?
My long term goal includes obtaining a Ph.D. in order to further my
research at a national research laboratory. I am interested in the field of
energy and combustion and in ways of reducing emissions by optimizing
various combustion systems. Another one of my goals is to be a role model to
minority students in my community. I enjoy motivating students to pursue
STEM fields and to continue into higher education.
“I am interested in the
field of energy and
combustion and in ways
of reducing emissions
by optimizing various
combustion systems.”
What is your special focus or specific areas of interest?
I want to explore the areas of
thermodynamics and combustion.
Specifically, I am interested in working
in the Aerospace industry on gas turbines
or jet engines. I took a position as an
undergraduate research assistant at the UCI
Combustion Laboratory. I worked full time
two summers ago under Professor Scott
Samuelsen by assisting in the development
of an Exhaust Enthalpy Control Unit to
improve the efficiency of combined cooling,
heat, and power systems. In addition, I
created an independent research project
to investigate the breakup process for fuel
emulsions in combustion systems. I have
learned immensely from this rigorous
research experience, including how to
develop an experiment and research plan,
compose a scientific research paper, and
deliver a concrete presentation.
Please comment on the mentoring you
have received.
Before enrolling at UCI I attended the
CAMP Summer Science Academy, run by
Kika Friend, which eased my transition
to campus by exposing me to college-level
classes and introducing me to Hispanic
freshmen in the sciences. More importantly,
we also had the privilege to speak with
Hispanic upperclassmen and UCI alumni
excelling in their field. This networking experience helped reshape my mode
of thinking and allowed me to realize that Hispanics can achieve great
things. I have also participated in the University of California Leadership
and Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) program. I had the
opportunity to conduct research at the Combustion Analysis Laboratory at
UC Berkeley summer 2013. I received great mentoring from the graduate
student supervising me. Diana Lizarraga, Director of the Cal NERDS Center,
would always motivate us to do our best.
Research at home campus, other UCs or abroad helps students
develop intellectually, personally and professionally.
44
Oscar Diaz
continued from page 41
Division of Cell and Molecular
Biophysics. Among his investigations
were protein expression in Arctic
express cells and protein purification
using gel filtration and polyhistidinenickel affinity chromatography.
Currently, Diaz is working on
the application of non-radioactive
translation detection method of
Sendai Virus proteins to LLC-MK2
cells.
As he reflects on his educational
journey, he says, “No words can
sufficiently describe my gratitude to
my mentors and friends in the CAMP
program,” adding, “I can honestly say
that I am a lifelong CAMPer.”
Prior to his freshman year at UCI
Diaz participated in the 2009 CAMP
Summer Science Academy (aka “Boot
Camp of the Mind”). He later served
as a peer tutor in chemistry, organic
chemistry and biology. Diaz was on
a fast track to complete the B.S. in
Biological Sciences in four years,
and took advantage of professional
development opportunities, including
conducting research through NIH-
Oscar Diaz is pursuing a master’s degree at CSU Los Angeles
MBRS, Minority Biomedical Research
Support and, in his senior year,
participating in MARC, Minority
Access to Research Careers. In
February 2014 he presented in the
MORE programs winter poster
session. Previously, he has presented
at AAAS and ABRCMS.
Diaz expects to complete the
master’s in 2015 and enter directly
into a doctoral program in virology/
immunology, but also keeping his
options open for an MD-Ph.D. and
the chance to work in translational
research. His top choice is UC San
Francisco. He hopes to return to
Northern California where his family
resides.
UCSD’s Gabriela Bernaldino Interview continued from page 33
gram I wanted. Also, I was awarded
a two-year COSMOS scholarship
[during] my senior year of high
school. Coming from a background
where my parents did not have the
opportunity to obtain a middle
school education was a critical
issue in financing college. COSMOS
gave me the financial stability to be
on my way to becoming a structural
engineer.
Please share your experience in
Italy! What did you learn that
you never thought you would?
My trip to Italy was a memorable
experience that broadened my
horizons and inspired me to take my
dreams to an international level. I
learned many historical engineering
techniques. I also learned the value of
the rich architecture in Rome and the
potential for earthquakes endangering
the integrity of structures such as
the Basilica. I never thought I would
learn about preserving art culture
through an engineering perspective.
What has your experience
been like as a Water Production
Engineering Intern at the City of
San Diego?
Working with the City of San
Diego has been a memorable learning
experience. I met engineers that
have inspired and motivated me to
pursue graduate education. What
I learned outside the classroom
is to communicate effectively
and emphasize with coworkers.
What professional societies are
you involved with?
I am a member of Society of
Hispanic Professional Engineers
(SHPE), I was the student intern
for California Alliance for Minority
Participation (CAMP), a sister of
Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc., and
a presenter of Society of Advancement Chicanos Native Americans
Scientist (SACNAS), for which I
won Best Poster.
Have you decided on a longterm goal?
My long-term goal is to obtain
a Ph.D. in structural engineering
and become a professor with a
geotechnical/earthquake focus.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 45
UC Davis Grads Committed to Making Contributions
Alumni Apply Ambition, Knowledge and
Skills to Long-term Career Goals
Spring Quarter 2014
Graduate Sets Sights on
R&D at Lockheed Martin
O
bdulio Ochoa double
majored in Aerospace
Science Engineering and
Mechanical Engineering, completed
his degrees in March 2014. Currently,
he is conducting research under
the guidance of Dr. Benjamin Shaw
of the Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering department.
Born and raised in South Central
Los Angeles, and as a fifth grader,
Ochoa he had the opportunity to visit
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
in Pasadena. He was intrigued by
the Mars Exploration Rovers but
admits that at the time he did not
comprehend the magnitude of that
engineering feat. It was in this visit
that the seeds of curiosity were
planted and were gradually nurtured
by his success in math and physics.
His acceptance into UC Davis offered
the perfect environment to pursue his
interest in space-based applications.
Ochoa’s current research
compliments the work done by
Professor Shaw in his “International
Space Station Droplet Combustion
Experiment.” He had the good
fortune to be accepted as a McNair
Scholar and had the opportunity
to present his research in the
Undergraduate Research Conference
at UC Davis as well as in a Research
Poster Competition hosted by MAES
in Houston, Texas, where he took
first place. He says that he cannot
stress enough the value of the support
and guidance he has received from
the McNair Scholars Program.
He acknowledges that his current
academic success has not been an
individual effort, but is owed to all of
his advisors and mentors throughout
his academic career.
He enjoys giving back. As a
sophomore, Ochoa began reaching
out to his local communities through
the Early Academic Outreach
Program (EAOP), where he has had
the opportunity to mentor and guide
students from 8th-12th grade become
competitively eligible for college
admissions.
“Helping students from low-income
and underrepresented communities
brings great satisfaction,” Ochoa says,
“you see students grow and before
you know it they are sharing their
college goals!”
Volunteering at numerous FAFSA
workshops gave Ochoa a forum
to help Spanish-speaking parents
understand the financial aid and
admissions process. His community
involvement does not stop there. He
“Helping students from low-income and underrepresented
communities brings great satisfaction,” Ochoa says,
“you see students grow and before you know it they are
sharing their college goals!”
46
is currently the vice president of the
Chicano and Latino Engineers and
Scientists Society (CALESS), through
which he planned and coordinated
a STEM day event for over 100
students.
Ochoa has interned for Lockheed
Martin and loved the experience.
He had the opportunity to work in
the Space Based Infrared System
program and presented his work to
management and executives from the
company. He expressed his interest
in pursuing a Ph.D. in Aerospace
Engineering and was presented
with a return offer to support his
goals. Ochoa would like to continue
working for Lockheed Martin in
Research and Development (R&D),
and in the future pursue a teaching
career at a research institution.
He states, “Having experience in
industry and as a scholar will allow
me to better serve the needs of future
students.”
TASHA BARR,
BIOMEDICAL
SCIENTISTIN-TRAINING,
Completes first
Year of PH.D.
PROGRAM at UCR
T
asha Barr completed a B.S.
in Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology at UC Davis in June
2013. As an undergraduate, she
had numerous opportunities to
experience research, networking,
and the fellowship of the scientific
community. The 2013-14 academic
year marks the completion of the
first year of her doctoral studies in
Biomedical Sciences at UC Riverside,
for which she received the Dean’s
Distinguished Fellowship Award.
Barr’s pathway to enrolling in the
Ph.D. began in community college,
where she developed a passion for
research and for giving back – tutoring and mentoring underrepresented
high school students interested in
STEM fields. This activity is very
important to her – to reach out to the
next generation of science and math
students preparing for college.
“As an academic scientist, I plan
to encourage and inspire underrepresented students to pursue a
career in science,” Barr says.
Her desire to continue on to
graduate school was “solidified”
by conducting summer and
academic year research as well as by
attending professional conferences.
Barr states, “I have learned that
attending conferences is critical
for understanding the world of
research.” She adds, “The remarkable
opportunities for networking
are numerous.” As a member of
SACNAS, CAMP, and student chapter,
American Society for Microbiology,
Barr has plenty of engagement in
activities outside of the classroom
and lab.
Additionally, to enrich her life
experiences, Barr lived and studied
abroad, in Mendoza, Argentina,
during spring quarter 2011. She says,
“Living in another country made
me appreciate what I have, respect
other cultures, and become a humble
individual.”
“As an academic scientist, I plan to
encourage and inspire under-represented students
to pursue a career in science.”
Tasha Barr Shares Her Pathway
from Community College to Ph.D. Program
“I have always valued higher
education. Even at a very young
age I knew that I wanted to
attend college despite the fact
that no one in my family had
a college degree. Although I
had plans to attend college, I
struggled to find motivation in
high school because I had no
specific interests. [But then]
the experience of my younger
brother’s birth changed that. I
admired how genuine the nurses
were to the patients and visitors.
I decided to major in nursing
at Cosumnes River College in
my hometown of Sacramento,
CA. This
all changed
when I
learned about
scientific
research and
it was not
long before
I changed to
a biological
sciences
major.
My interest
in bacterial
pathogens
and infectious diseases
developed
during my
first microbiology course. The time that I
spent in lab is what I enjoyed the
most. This led me to work at both
the biology and chemistry stockrooms. Independently, I made the
solutions needed for the chemistry lab experiments and practicals. I maintained the microbiology laboratory, inoculated,
streaked, and poured plates. My
confidence in basic laboratory
skills grew quickly. I also worked
as a tutor in the Math Center on
campus and volunteered every
Friday at McNair High School’s
Math Engineering and Science
Achievement (MESA) program in
Stockton, CA.
My community college
biology instructor informed
me about the UC Davis Center
for Biophotonics Science
and Technology (CBST), a
HHMI/FASTRAC program for
community college transfer
students interested in conducting
research. I participated in a
two-week internship, and
[subsequently] enrolled at UC
Davis. I was inspired by my
UC Davis mentor, Dr. Lorena
Navarro, who studies the
molecular basis of host-pathogen
interactions. She is a vision of
where I see myself in the future.
I studied the immunoregulatory
function of tubby-like protein
4, or TULP4, which has been
suggested to suppress the innate
immune response. I presented
this research at the 2012
Annual Biomedical Research
Conference for Minority Students
(ABRCMS). I had also presented
another project conducted with
Dr. Navarro, “Yersinia protein
kinase A autophosphorylation:
Characterization of site-specific
mutations,” at SACNAS, for
which I won Outstanding Poster
Presentation. Spending six
years as an undergraduate was
a long journey, however it was
well worth my time because I
discovered my interest in hostpathogen interactions and my
passion for conducting research.”
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 47
UCLA Undergraduate Research Center, Sciences
Sparking the Flame
for Careers in Scientific Research
T
he UCLA Undergraduate Research Center (URC) for Sciences serves students and faculty in all areas of life
and physical sciences, engineering and mathematics. Our primary mission is to promote, develop and celebrate
undergraduate student research with the overall goal of enhancing undergraduate education and preparing students
for academic and research careers. The URC Sciences serves approximately 4000 students a year and houses 31 research
programs which include CAMP and early pipeline programs dedicated to exposing students to careers in research.
One such program is the Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences (PEERS), an intensive program committed to promoting academic excellence and professional development for students dedicated to careers in the
life or physical sciences or mathematics. PEERS is a two year program for incoming freshmen. Students receive personal academic advising, collaborative learning workshops for science/math classes, block enrollment in science classes, and other
benefits. CAMP supports professional development and travel to conferences. Three PEERS/CAMP students are profiled.
Jennifer Pena,
UCLA Class of 2014,
Will Pursue Ph.D.
J
ennifer Pena entered UCLA
entirely unaware of the research
opportunities available at a
premier Research University. While
fully aware of her passion for science,
she knew little about science-related
career options. As a freshman she
entered PEERS. She recounts,
“[PEERS] opened my eyes to a world
of opportunities very early on in
my undergraduate career by having
students attend talks in a variety
of fields and workshops on career
options. This allowed me to discover
my love for research.”
CAMP and PEERS proved a vital
Jennifer Pena
48
and key stepping stone for Pena.
The summer after her freshman year
she participated in BISEP wherein
she learned basic molecular biology
techniques and attained a broad
overview of many biological fields.
PEERS and BISEP, Pena says, were
integral to her success. She joined
Dr. Elissa Hallem’s lab during winter
quarter of her sophomore year
and has researched the immune
response of Drosophila to infection
by entomopathogenic nematodes
over the past two years. She attributes
much of her success to Dr. Hallem’s
mentorship and support.
Pena’s impressive academic
record gained her admission to the
University of California Leadership
Excellence through Advanced
Degrees (UC LEADS) program.
Soon after, she was admitted to
the prestigious Howard Hughes
Undergraduate Research Program
(HHURP).
“This program challenged me
in a unique way,” Pena explains,
“by requiring students to give a
presentation on a journal article out
of their field with faculty experts
in the field present at the talk. This
process … helped prepare me for my
future in research.”
The summer before her senior year,
in what she considers the highlight of
her undergraduate career, she worked
in Dr. Stephen Harrison’s structural
Biology lab at the Harvard Medical
School in Boston, MA through the
HHMI EXROP Program.
Jennifer’s is a premier example of
UCLA’s Undergraduate Research Center-Sciences pipeline student. Having
participated in research for just over
two years, she is confident she wants
to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of
Immunology/microbiology. She will
begin graduate school Fall 2014.
Navy Veteran
Richard Flores Studies
Circadian Rhythms
R
ichard Flores is not
your traditional UCLA
undergraduate. He served
in the U.S. Navy for six years
immediately following high school.
As a Nuclear Reactor Operator &
Electronics Technician, he served
as an expert in reactor theory,
operations, and safety. The Navy
gave him the Engineer’s Most
Knowledgeable Reactor Operator
Award in 2008, so clearly Flores had a
knack for science.
After leaving the military and being
admitted into UCLA Fall 2010, Flores
came to a revelation: he had the
freedom to make his own choices.
“In the military, at all times, there is
someone who knows where you are
and where you’re supposed to be,”
says Flores. Originally a blessing,
the lack of constant surveillance
and direction made him feel slightly
abandoned as a freshman in college.
He also felt somewhat unprepared for
Richard Flores
the challenging academics at UCLA,
as he had attended a high school that
did not emphasize higher education.
His doubts waned after he participated in PEERS, where he attended
each workshop and seminar, and
interacted with the others in the
program. Over time,
Flores found that he
had built his own
community; the
people who initially
seemed like strangers
ended up becoming
his best friends. The
scientists invited to
present their research
awakened the scientist
within him. Flores
admits, “Finding out
[…] I possessed the
power to become a scientist myself
changed the path my life would take.”
Flores currently works in Dr.
Christopher Colwell’s lab within
the Department of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Sciences where his project
focuses on circadian rhythms in
a mouse model of Huntington’s
disease. Flores presented this work
at the CAMP Statewide Symposium
and SACNAS National Conference
in 2013. He also had his research
supported through CARE Fellows,
CARE Scholars and most recently as
a scholar in the NIH-funded Minority
Access to Research Careers.
Thanks to his successes and
support from several programs,
including CAMP, Flores strives
to promote science among
undergraduate minorities. He
understands the importance of
reaching out to the community and
understands how “a conversation
with a brilliant scientist […] can
change your life and illuminate
unexplored paths you may have never
considered.”
Flores plans to apply for Ph.D. programs in Neuroscience for Fall 2015.
UCLA Class of 2014,
Brandon Matthews
Wins CAMP Statewide
Research Award
A
s a freshman Brandon
Matthews would never have
pictured himself immersed
in research, but the UCLA PEERS
program impacted his career goals
early in his undergraduate career
and exposed him to the myriad
opportunities available through
research.
Matthews currently works in
the physical chemistry laboratory
of Dr. Paul Weiss. As a researcher
he was part of the CARE program
and its summer counterpart, CARE
SEM SPUR. This pair of programs
trained him to communicate his
research orally and in writing, skills
that enabled him to become more
comfortable with himself as he
developed as a scientific researcher.
Advice Matthews would offer to
students just starting research is to
“not pigeonhole yourself into one
thing.” He says, “There is literally
so much out there you don’t know
about and if you were to focus only
on what you know and like, you’d
miss opportunities to find out what
you love and where your true passion
lies.”
Brandon Matthews
With funding from CAMP,
Matthews presented at several
national conferences. In fall 2013 he
was chosen by the Assistant Provost
of Undergraduate Research and URCSciences Director Dr. Tama Hasson
to represent CAMP systemwide at
the Louis Stokes Midwest Center for
Excellence inaugural meeting. (Please
refer to article on the next page.)
He also represented UCLA at the
2014 CAMP Statewide symposium
where he received a Special Merit
in Research award in the Physical
Sciences category. Another major
highlight was his trip to the Annual
Biomedical Research Conference
for Minority Students (ABRCMS),
stating, “It was an amazing experience
seeing all the undergraduates, and
particularly Black undergraduates,
come together in celebration of
research and success.”
Matthews is grateful for the
opportunities afforded him, but
above all, he attributes much of his
success to his mother who has been
a constant mainstay and source of
encouragement.
He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in
Chemistry and will begin graduate
school Fall 2014.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 49
National Conferences Lead To Distinction
UC-LSAMP Presents at Louis Stokes Midwest Center of Excellence Conference
O
ur UC Alliance for Minority
Participation—CAMPNSF—took pride in having
two presentations at the October 2013
Conference sponsored by the Louis
Stokes Midwest Center of Excellence,
the first center of its kind
funded by NSF.
Dr. Tama Hasson, UCLA
CAMP Faculty Director,
presented on the PEERS
Program: A Successful
retention program for
URM science students.
PEERS is a two-year
freshman/sophomore
program for STEM majors
who have had more than
typical life challenge
hurdles to overcome to reach
UCLA. The program’s goal is
to bring these students into the
scientific community by helping
them to maintain a science major
and encouraging undergraduate
research. Participants take “Pathways
to Science” seminars, collaborative
learning workshops, research
seminars by UCLA professors, and
the opportunity to be exposed to and
involved in research.
PEERS Scholar Brandon
Matthews – also a CAMP student
– presented his research at the
California NanoSystems Institute,
“Visualizing Assembly of Differently
Oriented Dipole Moments within
Carboanethiols on Metal Substrates.”
Matthews worked with John
C. Thomas, Logan Stewart and
Paul S. Weiss, Director of CNSI,
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
& Biochemistry & Materials Science
and Engineering. Matthews also
presented this project at the AAAS
annual conference held in Chicago,
February 2014, and won Special
Merit in Research at the 2014 CAMP
Statewide Symposium (see page 12).
Diana Lizarraga, Director of Berkeley CalNERDS, presented: Innovative
Retention Methods for “Technologically Amplified” Scholars. She shared
experiences with today’s undergraduates, hyper-connected college
students – the “Millennials.” These
students have capitalized on “microlearning moments” via the various
online search engines. Lizarraga’s talk
engaged faculty and program managers in a discussion on innovative
technology-based models of retention. She introduced some novel and
cost-effective ways to connect with
students outside of the 8-5 routine,
and provided packets that illustrated
some of the retention techniques utilized at Berkeley.
Also attending were Maria FrancoAguilar, UC Riverside CAMP
Coordinator and Director, Academic
Preparation and Outreach, Graduate
Division, and Marjorie DeMartino,
CAMP Statewide, UC Irvine.
UC Santa Cruz students, led by Malika Bell and Yuliana Ortega, enjoyed the excitement of ABRCMS, Annual Biomedical
Research Conference for Minority Students, in Nashville, November 2014. Many students received travel awards. The conference
features hundreds of undergraduate posters and keen competition for recognition. It is sponsored by NIH.
50
UC Santa Barbara group at SACNAS 2013, led by Dr. Julie Standish, enjoyed the many opportunities for networking and
discussing research on a national stage.
CAMP Students Shine At SACNAS National Conference
T
he University of California was well represented at one of the premier minority science conferences in the
nation: SACNAS, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (celebrating its 40th
Anniversary). Approximately 3,700 attendees convened in San Antonio, Texas for four days of scientific research
presentations, professional development, networking, exhibits, culture and community. Nearly every UC partner attended,
and CAMP Scholars from UC Merced, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz won awards for poster or oral presentations in
their respective disciplines:
UC MERCED
nViridiana Murillo:
Biology.
Mentor: Professor Jennifer Manilay,
School of Natural Sciences,
Developmental Immunology.
nAlexandro Perez-Tovar:
Mechanical Engineering. Mentor:
Professor Gerardo Diaz, School of
Engineering, Renewable Energy
Conversion, UC Merced CAMP
Faculty Director.
UC SAN DIEGO
nGabriela Bernaldino:
Senior,
Structural Engineering. Mentors:
Professor Lelli Van Den Einde,
Department of Structural
Engineering; Kelly Rodgers, San
Diego County Water Authority.
Programs: CAMP, Faculty Mentor
Program
nLindsay Henderson:
Senior,
Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
Mentors: Professor Alexander
Zambon and Curtis Lim,
Department of Pharmacology;
Chris Schumate Ph.D., and Brian
Rasnow Ph.D., Etaluma Inc.
(Carlsbad, CA). Programs: CAMP
and IMSD
nEduardo Valle: Senior, Chemical
Engineering. Mentor: Professor
Darren Lipomi and Graduate
Student Aliaksandr Zaretski,
Department of NanoEngineering.
Programs: CAMP, Faculty Mentor
Program, McNair
nTyler Wishard: Senior, Physiology
& Neuroscience. Mentor: Professor
Hollis Cine and Regina Faulkner,
Ph.D., The Scripps Research
Institute. Programs: CAMP and
MARC
UC SANTA CRUZ
nAracely Acevedo:
Graduating
Senior 2014, Molecular, Cellular
and Developmental Biology.
Mentor: Professor Glenn
Millhouser, Department of
Chemistry and Biochemistry
nNatalia Herrera: Junior,
Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology. Mentor: Professor
Victoria Stone, Department of
Environmental Toxicology and
Microbiology. Programs: MARC
and CAMP
nCruz Ortiz: Alumnus, Class
of 2012 (B.S. Earth Sciences),
first year graduate student at
University of Florida. Mentor:
Professor Russ Flegal, Department
of Environmental Toxicology and
Microbiology. Award on research
conducted at UCSC.
CAMP 2014 Proceedings and Profiles 51
2014 Statewide Undergraduate Symposium
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION