California Institute of Technology

Research and STEM Activities 
Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science Program at the Metropolitan Community College--confirmed presence of bacteriophage MallowireSE from dirt samples using lab techniques involving isolation, purification, amplification, and microscopy... Extracted genome... Characterized phage LavAbarElk using DNA Master, Phamerator, Starterator, and the Phage Evidence Collection And Annotation Network... Both phages on PhagesDB.org... Presented research poster at the Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair and Science Education Alliance Symposium...    Summer High School Advanced Research Program (SHARP) in Anesthesia Fellowship at UNMC--researched modeling HIV in microglia-containing brain organoids... Cultured human microglia brain organoids, infiltrated HIV into them, analyzed their effects through immunostaining... Presented research poster to other program participants and staff of Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Prior to Caltech
Academic Honors: Honor Roll... National Honor Society... All Academic Program: All Metro Second Team... AP Scholar with Distinction... National Merit Finalist.

Athletic Honors: Metro Champion... State Runner-Up... Class A All-State Girls Tennis First Team... Junior High Performance Player of the Year in Nebraska... Sportsmanship Award... NSAA Currency Believers and Achievers Local Winner... named Top Female Scholar Athlete in Spring Sport Tennis by Greater Omaha Sports Committee... Member of USTA Missouri Valley Junior Advisory Panel. 

Personal
Plays piano and loves baking... Currently learning to Crochet... Chose Caltech because of her interest in STEM and medical research. Also appreciates the supportive community that allows her to share her excitement in niche science topics.