Selected to join New Buildings Institute’s Next Gen professional development program, a cohort-model initiative that prepares undergraduates for careers in sustainable building, energy efficiency, and clean energy. Through a partially sponsored award, I participate in advanced learning, mentorship, and career-building activities designed to expand access and representation within the green buildings industry.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborative Cohort Work: Engage in advanced learning and discussion groups with a national peer cohort and subject-matter experts, exploring zero-carbon building practices, high-performance design, and industry standards.

• Industry Mentorship: Work one-on-one with an assigned mentor in the clean energy and buildings sector to clarify career pathways, set professional goals, and gain insight into real-world engineering practice.

• Professional Development: Participate in structured resume-building activities, informational and mock interviews, and other professional readiness workshops that strengthen my materials and confidence for internships and early-career roles.

• Network Development: Build connections with practitioners, sponsors, and NBI’s broader “Influencer Network,” laying the groundwork for future opportunities in the building decarbonization and clean energy space.

• If funding becomes available, my participation may also expand to include sponsored professional certification (such as LEED Green Associate) and travel support to attend the Getting to Zero Forum, the premier conference on building decarbonization.

Core Competencies:

• Sustainable Building & Energy Efficiency · Zero-Carbon Building Practices · Industry Mentorship · Professional Communication · Career Readiness · Peer Cohort Collaboration

Selected as a STEM Pathways Scholar, participating in an academic development program designed to bridge the gap between transfer, academic and career success. As a scholar, I have secured guaranteed paid research experience at San Diego State University, where I will be working directly in faculty labs to apply engineering principles to solve real-world problems. The program facilitates guaranteed admission to SDSU and aligns enrichment activities with my specific focus on engineering and design, encouraging the exploration of technical careers in both academia and industry.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct guaranteed paid research at San Diego State University during the summer term, collaborating directly with faculty mentors on applied engineering and scientific inquiries.

• Complete the "Introduction to Research" curriculum (Biology 161) to master technical methodologies, data analysis, and research ethics prior to entering the field.

• Participate in specialized workshops across STEM disciplines, focusing on industry standards, technical communication, and career development within the engineering sector.

• Engage with a cross-campus community of scholars and mentors to prepare for successful matriculation and integration into the College of Sciences at SDSU.

Core Competencies: Undergraduate Research · Technical Analysis · Engineering Design · Scientific Communication · Industry Preparation · Collaborative Inquiry

Description: SFF Research 

Sustainable Food Futures (SFF) Research Intern & SEEDS Scholar supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Collaborating as part of a three-student research team under PI Dr. Waverly Ray to investigate microbial and chemical water quality throughout Mission Bay, San Diego. The project focuses on understanding how water quality is affected across different sites in the bay and identifying possible environmental connections among sampling locations influenced by storm drains, creeks, and marsh inputs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive field sampling at Rose Creek, Campland Beach, Crown Point storm drain, and the Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserve (UC San Diego).

• Measure environmental variables including temperature, pH, conductivity, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen using YSI ProQuattro water quality meters and Kestrel 3000 weather instruments.

• Collect and process water samples using sterile technique for Enterococcus faecalis analysis with R-CARD® Enterococcus, precision pipettes, and a calibrated incubator (35±0.5°C).

• Record and analyze field data using ArcGIS digital forms to identify spatial trends, contamination gradients, and potential pollution sources.

• Conduct an extensive literature review synthesizing over 20 peer-reviewed and governmental sources on Mission Bay’s environmental history, bacterial contamination, and restoration strategies.

• Contribute to the development of a research presentation and participate in Sustainable Food Futures grant activities and community engagement efforts.

• Follow strict safety, contamination prevention, and Leave No Trace protocols during all sampling activities to protect both data integrity and ecosystem health.

Core Competencies:

Water Quality Monitoring · Environmental Sampling · Microbial Testing · Field and Lab Analysis · ArcGIS Data Entry · Environmental Policy Research · Scientific Writing · Collaboration

Acceptance Letters

Description: Mission 1: Discover

A 5-week, online course.

This orientation to NASA sets a baseline for all students wishing to pursue subsequent NCAS missions. Students will gain a broad knowledge of what NASA has in its current plan and how they can play a role. STEM based activities embedded in the online course include live and recorded subject matter expert lectures, interactive multimedia on NASA content, interactions with fellow aerospace scholars, knowledge assessments including a final project, and guidance and support from trained professional educators.

The NASA (NCAS) program has a competitive acceptance rate, with a net probability of acceptance around 10%.

Acceptance Letter

Description: STEMinars

Selected twice for DoDEA Pacific Far East STEMinars, completed faculty guided seminars, lab tours, project activities and presentations, with a hosted visit to University of Tsukuba research groups.

Robotics '17

Hands-on experience with optical sensor integration and basic algorithm development for autonomous movement using C++.

Applied Math '18

Studied applied math for manhole cover design, attended seminars on Japan’s maglev technology and GMO nutrient research, and explored materials science at Tsukuba and NIMS.