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Every project has taught me something new, strengthened a meaningful collaboration, or challenged me to think differently.
Here's a glimpse into the work I'm most proud of.
Research
At the heart of my dissertation was a simple question: how can we better understand ultra-rare disorders when so little information exists? By combining computational phenotyping with clinical and genomic data, I collaborated with researchers, clinicians, advocacy organizations, and families to help characterize rare neurodevelopmental disorders and contribute to future precision medicine efforts. The projects below represent the culmination of my doctoral research.
BSN Neurogenomics Study
When this project began, very little was known about BSN-related neurodevelopmental disorders. Through collaborations with clinicians and researchers across the United States and internationally using GeneMatcher, we assembled one of the largest cohorts of individuals with pathogenic BSN variants. Using computational phenotyping approaches developed in our lab, I integrated genomic, clinical, and electronic health record data through Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) to characterize this ultra-rare disorder and provide an important foundation for future diagnosis and research.
Computational Phenotyping of DLG4
Rare disease research is driven by collaboration. For this project, I partnered closely with the DLG4 advocacy community, working directly with families to expand study enrollment and better understand the lived experience of this condition. By applying Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)-based computational phenotyping to genomic, clinical, and electronic health record data, I helped expand the clinical spectrum of DLG4-related disorders and strengthen our understanding of genotype-phenotype relationships.
Community
Women In Bio North Texas | Communications Team
May 2026 - Present
Joining the Communications Team has allowed me to stay connected to the growing life sciences community in North Texas. I support initiatives that promote networking, professional development, and meaningful connections among scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals while helping strengthen engagement across the region.
Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative (ENGIN) | Consenting Researcher
Sep 2022 - April 2025
Every participant has a story. Through ENGIN, I guided patients and families through informed consent for genomic research, explaining complex genetic concepts in both English and Spanish while collaborating with clinicians, genetic counselors, and advocacy organizations. This experience reinforced my passion for making research more accessible and patient-centered.
SACNAS | Outreach & Events Chair
Sep 2022 - Dec 2023
As Outreach Co-Chair and later Social Events Chair, I organized networking events, outreach programs, and professional development opportunities that fostered community among graduate and undergraduate students in STEM. It was especially meaningful to help create welcoming spaces where students from diverse backgrounds could connect, learn, and support one another.
Entrepreneurship
Ever Mirth Photography
Feb 2025 - Present
I built Ever Mirth to create meaningful, story-driven photography experiences for families. Beyond photography, the business has allowed me to develop skills in branding, marketing, client experience, website design, and entrepreneurship.
Service
Advancing in STEM Scholarship, Founder
2018 - Present
During my undergraduate years, scholarships and mentors opened doors that changed the course of my life. I created the CSUF Advancing in STEM Scholarship to help provide similar opportunities for students pursuing careers in science. It's my way of investing in the next generation of researchers and giving back to the community that helped shape my own journey.
Foundations
Every journey has a beginning. Mine started as an undergraduate researcher at California State University, Fullerton, where I discovered a passion for scientific discovery and collaboration. Through independent research, competitive summer programs at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and opportunities to present and publish my work, I built the foundation that eventually led me to pursue a PhD in neurogenomics.
Undergrad Research
My undergraduate research introduced me to the excitement of asking difficult questions and discovering answers through science. It was where I learned to think critically, embrace challenges, and realize that research was more than a career. It was something I genuinely loved.
Scholar Programs
Being selected for the HHMI EXROP program gave me the opportunity to spend two summers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, working alongside world-class scientists. Those experiences broadened my perspective, strengthened my confidence, and showed me the power of collaborative science.
Awards & Recognition
The awards and scholarships I received were never the goal, but they reminded me that hard work, curiosity, and perseverance can open unexpected doors. Each opportunity encouraged me to continue pursuing meaningful research and to invest in the communities that helped me grow.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, 2025
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, 2018
California State University, Fullerton
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