Laura Martins

Laura Martins is an undergraduate student studying Molecular and Cell Biology at SJSU. If we could describe Laura with one word we would describe her as adventurous. She is always up for trip to Starbucks for her passion ice tea lemonade or a trip for food with the lab. Laura loves to travel. She has been to Nicaragua and Ghana with Global Medical Brigades, a non-profit organization at SJSU. She has provided health services in rural communities to those in need. Laura has been very involved with medicine through this program, she is even planning on attending medical school to become and OB/GYN! Finishing her undergrad she hopes to backpack Scotland and Switzerland.

LSAMP Scholar

Massie Majidi

Massie Majidi is a bright transfer student from Foothill Community College. Now in his 2nd year at SJSU he is working hard on getting a degree in Molecular Cell Biology. If he isn’t in the lab he is putting in work on the basketball courts! One day Massie wants to work in the field of biotechnology and manage his own projects. He hopes that working in this lab will provide him with experience in Drosophila and collaboration in a lab.

RUMBA 2019

Ismahan is a driven and intelligent member of the Grillo-Hill lab who is as passionate about biological research and its medical applications. She's not only a great student but an awesome all around person with a lively personality. Aside from school, ismahan has a wide arrange of interests ranging from dance and fashion to minority rights and culture. She's a future doctor in the making!

Cancer Federation Fellowship

Hillary Gates

Hilary Gates is currently in the masters program at San Jose State University. Her work in the lab particular focuses on natural pH changes changes in stem cells and how it relates to Beta catenin levels. Her interests of study are in developmental biology. On her free team she enjoys trail running in the Santa Cruz Mountains, baking various sweets, and organizing as well as cleaning the lab. When she can, she hides small toy dinosaurs in the lab for her labmates to find.

GRADUATE EQUITY FELLOWSHIP SCHOLARSHIP AWARD 2018

Jafer Zaidi

Jafer is an undergraduate senior studying Biology with a concentration in Molecular Biology. He is currently researching Beta-catenin. He has already taken the MCAT and is going to be applying to Medical School. If he decides not to go to medical school, he is considering a master’s in biotechnology. In his free time, he enjoys watching the Golden State Warriors take dubz and shooting hoops with his friends.

Martey Haw

Martey is a very bright and motivated individual, who is also a junior studying Molecular Biology at San Jose State University. Since the first grade, he has aspired to pursue a career as a doctor as he has always had a passion for helping others. Martey was born and raised in the Philippines, but moved to the United States in 2013, leaving his schnauzer behind. He enjoys long walks in the kitchen as he waits for banana bread to bake. When Martey chooses to be physically active, he likes to kick a soccer ball here and there. If you’re into supernatural and sci fi series, such as Arrow or the Flash, Martey is the perfect watch and actually chill buddy.

Office of the Provost Undergraduate Research Award 2017, 2018

CSUPERB Howell Scholar 2019

Gabriel Castellanos

Gabriel is an undergraduate junior with a concentration in molecular biology & a minor in bioinformatics. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a degree bioinformatics or pursue medical school. He's a strong believer in being multifaceted, so he's a part of a the business fraternity Alpha Kapa Psi. Gabriel enjoys spending his free time outdoors, practicing his guitar skills, and working on his music.

Zubair Lakhia is a sophomore heading into 2019. He is majoring in Biochemistry. He wants to pursue a career in biotech or analytics—specifically bioinformatics. An indication of his love for travel Zubair has visited 80% of the Caribbean islands. His taste buds have been described as a marvelous miracle of this world. He enjoys devouring new plates and cuisines from all over the globe. His compassion for understanding others and relating to the less fortunate has lead him to help out those that have less. He has built sustainable housing in Bangladesh. One of his life goals is to meet Gordan Ramsey. He has been caught saying that no one should believe what he says.

2019 San Francisco State REU student

Vivian Bui

Brains and brawns, she’s got it all. Introducing, the infamous, spectacular, Vivian Bui. Vivian is a graduate student doing her masters on tumorigenesis here at SJSU. In her free time, she goes to body sculpting class. How cool is that?! She shares her time not with dogs or cats, but with her two lovable cockatoos, maybe teaching them human language? We may never know. Vivian also loves parasailing, zip-lining, and take a casual swim with dolphins when she can. She also tutors english and math over the weekends.

Biological Sciences Department Fellowship

Lyzett Lavenant

Originally from San Diego, Lyzett Lavenant, a senior microbiology undergraduate, loves the environment as if it were her child. She aspires to make the change the Earth needs and would take the reins of superwoman of the nature world if she could. On that note, she thoroughly enjoyed watching Marvel's Daredevil despite not being an avid fan of comic book superheroes. She also loves to keep an active lifestyle as her hobbies include cross country running, boxing, and infrequently, power lifting. If you were wondering how to make friends with her, feed her cookies. She. Loves. Chocolate. Cookies. And will die for it. Just maybe.

LSAMP Scholar

Office of the Provost Undergraduate Research Award 2017, 2018

Jobelle Peralta

Jobelle obtained her B.S. in molecular biology and she is now working toward her M.S. in molecular/microbiology. When she is not tirelessly working in lab, you can find her spending time with her beloved dogs, Teeko and Kenny. The quickest way to Jobelle’s heart is to personally deliver her a fresh cup of iced coffee. Her best skill is finding restaurants for our Friday food adventures.

F. Albert & Dorothy Ellis Graduate Fellowship

Madeline Mok

Madeleine graduated from San Jose State in Fall 2016 with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolution. She worked with molecular biology techniques after graduating and this drew her interest in learning more about how tools in biology can help us learn about diseases like cancer. She is excited to learn about the techniques that will help us learn more about cell death and cancer progression. In her free time, she likes watching Korean Drama films and is a foodie. Something that keeps Madeleine going is her sense of humor, and meeting goals and expectations that she sets for herself.

William Samples

Will is an undergraduate student at Humboldt State University, but is from the Monterey area. Will enjoys chasing tornados, deep sea fishing and seeing Miley Cyrus in concert as often as possible. He is considering joining NASA after graduation to determine effects of zero gravity on Drosophila eye development.

RUMBA 2018

Myia Wilkes

Myia Wilkes is an undergraduate senior studying Biology Systems Physiology at SJSU. She was born and raised in Canada and moved to San Jose to earn a degree and play for the school soccer team. Her goal after graduation is to move to Europe and enroll in a master’s program while playing professional soccer. Myia loves travelling and has been to seven different countries but has yet to travel across the Atlantic Ocean. She is mild mannered off the field but is feisty on the field and loves making the other girls eat grass.

Hussein Abed

Hussein, a senior here at SJSU, is a biomedical engineering major. Hussein spent several years in Jordan, where he grew up. When Hussein is not studying, he is often catching up on his sleep or playing computer games. On the weekends, you can find him in the woods going on hiking adventures. Hussein can swim in the depths of the ocean, as he is a certified scuba diver. Hussein is a comedy king and loves movies that make him laugh out loud constantly.

Office of the Provost Undergraduate Research Award 2017

Delena Hoang

Delena, a third-year Biochemistry undergraduate, is a sporty lab mate. In high school, she was in the varsity swim team and not only that, she swam all three strokes! Not content with only swimming, Delena also enjoys hiking, especially up beautiful mountain terrains and trails that lead to a beach (she suggests that everyone hike Pacific Crest Trail). While she is an outdoorsy person, she is also a bookworm. During her spare time, she enjoys reading novels and loves browsing around vintage book stores. She is a Harry Potter fan and maybe she can teach the lab a spell or two. Reducio tumoroso!

Office of the Provost Undergraduate Research Award 2017