What sparked your interest in science?
During high school, I was a lot more excited about math as a subject compared to biology. Math always seemed so precise, and the cell seemed so messy and disorganized in comparison. But eventually, I got the chance to work in a cryo-EM lab at the University of Michigan in my senior year of high school, and I came to realize that cellular macromolecules are extremely tightly regulated and governed by mathematical laws. This sparked my interest in seriously pursuing biological research as a career.

What attracted you to UC Berkeley?
During my interview, I got the impression that scientists at Berkeley really wanted to push their science as far as possible using the most innovative technologies available. I felt really motivated by this excitement about science. I also felt drawn to the wealth of career and collaboration opportunities in the Bay Area (wide network of academic labs at peer institutions and numerous biotech companies). 

What are you currently working on in the lab?
I'm a 1st year student, which means that I don't have a home lab yet. I'm broadly interested in the areas of high-throughput molecular technology development, protein design, and immunology. I'll be starting my 1st rotation soon!

Describe your ultimate dream/goal for your future.
I would love to have my own lab at an academic institution or work as a lead scientist at a biotech company.

When I'm not in the lab, I can be found...
Listening to podcasts (my favorites are Radiolab, How I built this, the Michelle Obama podcast, crime podcasts, etc), looking for new places to eat and get coffee, looking for new recipes to try.