I am currently a graduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles working towards my PhD in Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology, but my academic journey began at California State University, Northridge where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Along with my B.S., I earned my minor in Psychology. My experiences at CSUN taught me many useful skills in the field of scientific research that I was able to bring to my position at the Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. As a Staff Research Associate, I assisted in the study of the physiology of vertebrate photoreceptor cells. My primary project involved utilizing ex vivo electoretinograms and single cell suction recordings as well as microspectrophotometry to examine different mutations in mouse retina and their effect on the phototransduction cascade with a focus on the mutations’ impact on rod function. I also mentored other members of the lab in addition to conducting my experiments before continuing my education at UCLA in the PhD program.