Founders
Dr. Heather L. Tienson
Faculty Advisor
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA and Memphis, TN
Degrees: B.S. UCLA, 2003 (Biochemistry); Ph.D. UCLA, 2009 (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
Postdoctoral Experience (2009-2011): University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with Dr. Ursula Jakob, in Redox biology and Redox homeostasis.
Science-related Interests: I have been fascinated with biochemistry since the first day of Chem 153A. Living organisms are remarkable systems, with complexity beyond our imagination. I loved learning about the way our bodies and particularly our cells work and the latest discoveries that add to our understanding. Now I love guiding students to understanding the foundations of biochemistry so that they may also grasp how awesome biochemistry is!
Extracurricular activities: Animals, I grew up with golden retrievers and have one named Gus. I love to cook, including thanksgiving dinner for my family, from scratch! I am a sports fanatic, particularly college sports. GO Bruins!
Favorite Quote: “Success is the peace of mind which is a direct result of the self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” - John Wooden
Christina Jayson
Hometown: NorCal - Bay Area!
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Spanish
Extracurricular activities: Beckman Fellow Researcher in Dr. Carla Koehler's Laboratory of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department; Collaborative Undergraduate Research Enrichment mentor
Hobbies: Cooking, running, hiking, trying new food, and science
Greatest accomplishment: Identifying my passion in research and not being afraid to completely change paths to pursue it
Career Goals: Obtain my PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences and continue my contribution to the scientific community in an academic or pharmaceutical industry setting (TBD)
Favorite Quote: "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'it might have been'" - John Greenleaf Whittie
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Megan Cory
Hometown: Odessa, TX
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Theater
Extracurricular activities: DiaBeaters Co-Founder; BiochemASE Co-Founder; Undergraduate Researcher at the Larry Hillblom Islet Researcher Center at the David Geffen School of Medicine; Volunteer at the Med-Peds Comprehensive Care Center
Hobbies: Cooking, playing tennis, acting, singing, Zumba, eating (a lot), watching tons of TV and lots of other things!
Greatest Accomplishment: Never failing to wake up every morning thankful for everyone and everything in my life.
Career Goals: I hope to one day be a pediatric endocrinologist.
Favorite Quote: "Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could" - Richard Rogers
Sarah Hadley
Hometown: Pleasanton, CA
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Science Education
Extracurricular Activities: Undergraduate Researcher at the Bowie Lab in the Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA, BiochemASE Co-Chair
Hobbies: Include singing, seeing musicals, binge-watching television, reading, going to the beach, playing laser tag, and going to Disneyland :)
Greatest Accomplishment: Accepting that I don't need to have my whole life planned out at the age of 22.
Career Goals: I don't have a real long-term career goal, I hope to work in a number of fields, unless of course I find something I love, and then I'll stick with it! After I graduate, I plan to pursue a job in bio-tech, and I'll see where I go from there.
Favorite Quote: "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." - Albus Dumbledore
Ani Aharonyan
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Major: Biochemistry
Hobbies: reading, baking, spending time with family, running,… exploring the world!
Greatest Accomplishment: yet to be determined.
Career Goals: My career goal is to be happy doing whatever I end up doing!
Favorite Quote: “God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change; COURAGE to change the things I can; and WISDOM to know the difference.” - Reinhold Niebuhr