B.S. Cognitive Science: Behavioral & Neuroscience — UC San Diego
Researcher, science communicator, and future physician.
Chronological journey through research, clinical exposure, and leadership — training the mind as rigorously as the heart.
10-week virtual neuroscience research internship under physician and faculty mentorship from Harvard and Stanford. Conducting bibliometric analysis and neuroscience research with R programming, producing a research poster and oral presentation. Building skills in academic research methodology, data analysis, and scientific communication.
Volunteering in Neurology and ER departments — transporting patients, assisting nurses, and providing bedside presence. Also serving as Department Coordinator: auditing volunteer performance, gathering staff feedback, and bridging communication between volunteers and management. 120+ clinical hours.
Shadowed neurologist in private clinics and USC Verdugo Hospital rounds. Observed patient evaluations, diagnostic interviews, EEG examinations, and neurological treatment planning.
Held discussion sections, grading, and office hours for 53 students under Dr. Mary Boyle. Adapted neurophysiological concepts to diverse learning styles through multiple visual approaches.
Founded student organization promoting mindfulness awareness and supporting vulnerable women in Mexican prisons. Spearheaded fundraising campaigns and developed educational curriculum on mindfulness.
Attended 9-day meditation research retreats collecting biological samples (plasma, saliva, cheek scrapes, urine) from participants with cancer, PTSD, ALS, and MS. Gained experience in human subjects research, informed consent, and field adaptability. 320+ hours.
Built wet lab skills in cell culture, Seahorse metabolic assays, ELISA, PCR, and Western blotting under Hemal H. Patel, PhD. Contributed to neuroimaging analysis. Co-author on published paper in Communications Biology (Nature Portfolio). 480+ hours.
Clinical dental assisting experience providing direct patient care support.
Guided second-language learners and elderly students through college applications, FAFSA forms, and academic schedules. Represented ~1,100 students, planning wellness conferences and networking events.
Served food to individuals experiencing homelessness at Hope Hollywood, participated in pediatric charity fundraisers, and attended developmental faculty committees. Learned that volunteer consistency must be paired with operational quality.
Translating complex science into accessible stories — across social media, biotech marketing, and science communication.
Sole manager of Dr. Patel's professional media presence across Instagram and beyond. Built the Instagram account organically from 0 to 12K followers by translating complex neuroscience and mitochondrial research into engaging, accessible content — creating successful viral posts, solidifying collaborations with high-end accounts, and showcasing a world-class scientist.
Created campaigns for introducing new products, built and edited the company website, and conducted A/B analysis to optimize messaging and conversion across consumer and professional audiences.
Created advertisement content and ran ad campaigns on Meta, translating mitochondrial efficiency research into compelling paid media that reached both clinical and wellness audiences.
Shot and created content, developed storytelling narratives around the company's science, managed media presence end-to-end across YouTube, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and TikTok — and provided customer service via DM, handling inquiries directly from patients and practitioners. Produced the weekly Monday Mitos series and blog content translating mitochondrial research for a growing audience.
Personal account management across LinkedIn and Instagram — curating and sharing content from conferences, investor presentations, and business trips to build an executive brand that reflects the company's vision.
Created content for LinkedIn to attract prospective students to the program, drove engagement across Facebook and LinkedIn communities, and coordinated program logistics — matching undergraduates with PhD mentors and running seminar schedules over 20 months.
This study investigated the neural and molecular effects of a 7-day retreat combining meditation, reconceptualization, and open-label placebo healing rituals in 20 healthy participants. Using BOLD fMRI, plasma proteomics (7,596 proteins), metabolomics (640 metabolites), and cellular assays, the researchers found:
Conclusion: An intensive non-pharmacological intervention produced broad neural and peripheral molecular changes suggestive of enhanced neuroplasticity, metabolic reprogramming, and immune/opioid modulation.
One of four student speakers selected for the 2023 conference. Explored how recognizing and redefining ego can shift perspective — bringing neuroscience and self-inquiry to a public audience.
Social media audits and competitive intelligence reports for evidence-based health, wellness, and biohacking creators.