As a first-year Ph.D. student, I am dedicated to studying the dynamics of romantic relationships among ethnic/racial minorities and sexual and gender minorities (SGM). My research expertise lies in relationship initiation, maintenance, and culture, and I am currently exploring how minority identities influence romantic relationships.I earned two highly competitive scholarships during my undergraduate studies and participated in a summer fellowship program. Through these experiences, I developed strong research, collaboration, and communication skills. Now, in my doctoral program at UT, I am engaged in innovative research projects and working to shape my career as a relationship scientist. My goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the contexts in which people choose their relationships and how they navigate the complexities of maintaining those relationships.I aim to apply my background in social science research to pursue a career as a culturally competent and mixed-method researcher, focusing on close romantic relationships, well-being, stress, and identifying protective and supportive factors for minorities in policy and social justice research.