I love going on adventures and making memories with the people around me. Whether it’s planning trips with my high school friends, exploring new restaurants, or discovering new surf spots, being around good people recharges me and keeps life exciting.

I don’t shy away from high pressure situations, which is something I got more comfortable with over time. I love pushing myself, whether it’s baking an epic triple layer cake for a friend’s birthday, surfing along a new coastline, or taking on an ambitious research project. There’s something about being in unknown territory that excites me, even if it is a little stressful!

I didn’t have the easiest start in life, and that experience drives me to help others find their own path. One of my favorite ways to do that is through summer student programs, where I get to mentor and support individuals from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students grow, gain confidence, and discover opportunities they may not have thought were possible.

My family has several people impacted by Parkinson’s disease, which is a brain disease. My dad also went through a serious health crisis that affected his brain. My neurosurgery research mentor is his neurosurgeon who follows up on his brain. Knowing how these diseases can impact people keeps me motivated and committed to helping us find better treatments.

I learned resourcefulness from my mom, who always found a way to make things work, even when times were tough. That’s a skill I carry with me—whether it’s figuring out how to secure funding for my lab or cold-calling people to create new opportunities. When you don’t have everything handed to you, you learn how to get creative and make things happen.

I’m definitely a goofy person at heart. When I’m comfortable around someone, I let loose—doing funny impressions or just collapsing into laughter with my sister and friends. It’s all about not taking myself too seriously and having a great time, even if we’re just hanging out at home.

Whether I’m in the lab or out exploring the world, I love stepping into the unknown and saying 'yes' to experiences that take me somewhere unexpected. I seek adventure in every part of my life.

The people who know me well would say I have a clear sense of how I like things to be done. In the lab, that means paying attention to every detail to make sure our work is precise. At home, it’s things like making papaya boats just right—it’s the little things that matter to me.

I didn’t want to have to change who I am to become a scientist—and you don’t have to. Staying true to yourself really matters.