June - August 2025

Completed baseline research at UCSF under the mentorship of Hannah in the Bivona lab, confirming baseline levels of all of our cells, and confirming that knocking down MALAT1 in our cells did not impact other components necessary to the cells' survival or that could manipulate our research. Now I will be completing lots of data analysis from MA and continuing to work in close collaboration with the Bivona lab, possibly going in a few more times to wrap up some experiments and collect more data. Overall, an amazing experience, and I am so glad for the skills I have acquired, and the hands-on experience was like no other! 

April, 2025

I have successfully completed my literature review on the methods used to treat mutated EGFR lung cancer and what work needs to be done in the field for better results. It was a difficult process to parse through so many dense studies, but I am very proud of the work I have done and of my final product. 

March, 2025 

I am very excited to announce that my research in partnership with UCSF will be focusing on the lncRNA MALAT1 and its implications in NSCLC, as to whether it pushes the cells into a drug-tolerant persister state. I will be starting in the lab on June 12th and working three times a week for 5-hour periods to conduct my research. I can't wait for this summer and to learn many valuable techniques. 

February, 2025 

I have been introduced to Hannah Bergo, whom I will be working closely with and will be my primary mentor for this research. She has recently graduated from UCSB and is doing research in the lab before applying to medical school. 

December, 2024

I finally connected with Dr. Trever Bivona and Dr. Collin Blakely at the Bivona lab, and they have agreed to take me on in the lab! Their lab specializes in understanding the molecular drivers of non-small cell lung cancer and how to improve patients' quality of life. I am so excited about this opportunity and can't wait to get started in the summer! 

November, 2024

Contacted our family friend, Dr. Steven Hays at UCSF, who is a pulmonologist and the head of the lung transplant program. We had an insightful conversation about possibilities in the field and how I can meaningfully contribute to cancer research. He has connected me with researchers and the P.I. at the Bivona lab at UCSF, so I am excited to talk to them.