I am a Ph.D. candidate in the in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, under the direction of Dr. Catherine F. Clarke. My research leverages classical molecular biology and biochemical techniques to investigate lipid synthesis and trafficking in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.STEM outreach and inclusion in higher education are passions that I actively support within my field. As a graduate researcher, I have mentored several undergraduate researchers from under-represented minorities, and as a teaching assistant I promote equity by providing the tools and personalized support that each student needs to succeed. Science is for everyone.More about my background-- I earned a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Spanish from Missouri State University (summa cum laude) in 2018. Between my bachelor and graduate studies, I was an associate production scientist in the cGMP Protein Purification department at MilliporeSigma, Saint Louis, MO, where I led and assisted in manufacturing processes related to active and bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing.