Class of 2021

Ahoud

Yasir Alaa

Christopher

Ahoud Alghamdi BS CHEM

Thank you to my family, my husband, and my friends. Bear Down CBC!

Alaa Al-Issaei BS CHEM

My years in university have been the toughest yet the happiest times of my life, a big thank you goes to my family for everything they have done for me and to my friends for making this journey an enjoyable one. I plan on working for the company that sponsored my study.

Yasir Alnakhli BS CHEM, BA BIOC It has been a joyful journey, Bear down CBC.

Christopher Apostol PhD CHEM

I would like to thank my friends and colleagues for their encouragement during my time in the PhD program. I want to thank Professor Victor Hruby and Aswini Kumar Giri for their guidance and initially piquing my interest in peptide and small molecule drug discovery during my undergraduate studies. I want to thank my advisor, Professor Robin Polt, for his guidance, mentorship, and for always pushing me to become a better scientist. I also want to thank current and past members of the Polt laboratory for their endless support and friendship both in and outside of the lab. Most importantly, I want to thank my mom, dad, and sister for their endless love and support. I would not be where I am today without them.

Gustavo Araiza BS BIOC

These past four years have certainly been a roller coaster. There were lots of highs and just as many lows. Thankfully, the amazing staff in CBC not only streamlined my college experience but they helped me achieve my fullest potential. With the help of their guidance, mentorship, and resources, I was accepted into a Ph.D. program at Vanderbilt University! I’m excited about what the future holds for both me and the department.”

Krisha Hitesh Avalani BS BIOC

My time here at UofA has been an unforgettable experience! The CBC department has the most supportive faculty and staff. The classes and labs I took gave me a lot of hands-on experience which prepared me for the real-life application of the skills I gained. Hats off to the department for making the transition to online school as smooth as possible. I plan to work in a research lab and apply to grad school after graduation. Hannah Ball, BS Biochemistry, BS Molecular & Cellular Biology I’ll be starting a PhD program at Northwestern in the fall in Biomedical Sciences.

Megan

William

Emily Alexander

Alyssa

Megan Baum BA BIOC

I plan on Pursuing a Master’s in Secondary Education to aid in the future advancement of Women in STEM related fields though spreading love of Science in a High School setting.

Alexander David Blythe BS BIOC, BS MCB

In my time as a biochemistry major, I’ve been able to meet so many interesting and wonderful people from fellow students to professors to the Chemistry and Biochemistry (CBC) Department faculty, all of whom helped me through good times as well as difficult times, especially through a once-in-a-generation pandemic near the end of my undergraduate career. I’ve had the opportunity to make lifelong friendships, explore my interests in human disease, meet amazing professors, learn new and exciting research methods, and develop professional skills that I’ll surely carry for the rest of my life. The CBC Department, particularly the ever-helpful advisors, helped me grow as a student and as a researcher and it has given me invaluable tools to help me in the next stage of my academic career and has provided me with the confidence to overcome any obstacle I face. I will continue to employ my newfound skills and knowledge in chemistry and biochemistry as I complete my work on neurodegenerative disease in the Accelerated Master’s Program at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology here at the University of Arizona. I hope to ultimately become a medical doctor specializing in neuropathology.

William Theodore Brooks BS BIOC

“The day you become old is the day you’re not looking for new experiences anymore” -Billie Joe Armstrong Post grad plans: Uniformed Services University School of Medicine

Alyssa Naomi Brown BS BIOC

I would like to give many thanks to my wonderful friends and family, as well as all my professors and the CBC advisors for being with me through the last four years of tears and cheers! I have learned so many things and made some terrific memories throughout my four years of being a Wildcat. With my time coming to an end I am sad to go, but am thrilled to start the next chapter of my life and cannot wait to see what is next for me! I have accepted a position at a company called TQL as a jr. broker in Tempe.

Emily Crose BS BIOC

Thank you to my friends and family for encouraging me to get here today! I love you!

Kyle Steven Dong BA BIOC

It has been an unforgettable five years at the University of Arizona. The many restless nights studying for exams and staying up to finish my lab reports all adding up to this moment. The CBC department has not only expanded my scientific knowledge, but also taught me life lessons. Like all my lab experiments, life has many unexpected twists, such as Covid-19, and I had to adjust and ask others for help to achieve my goals. I want to thank all my professors, lab TAs, SI leaders, and classmates for their encouragement and support in getting me to this point in my undergraduate career. Additionally, I would

John

Bhargav

Cevaughn Erica

Meghan

like to thank the CBC advisors for being so patient with me and looking out for me. It is because of all your guidance that I was able to stay calm and focused when I was panicking about not being able to graduate in four years. I am grateful to have all of you as my advisors because all of you are caring, organized, and not afraid to be upfront with me when I needed that push. For my post-graduation plans, I will be taking a gap year studying for the PCAT and applying for pharmacy school. I will also be helping my family by being a personal butler to my grandparents when I am not studying. I have learned not everything goes as planned, but I can confidently say that the Biochemistry program has prepared me to adapt and BEAR DOWN!

John Ryan Ely BS BIOC

Science is not about me. Science is much greater than me, yet it is me, and it is all of us. I will strive to achieve a worthwhile contribution. Thank you, Mom & Dad!”

Erica Gorman BA CHEM

My plan after graduation is to start pharmacy school this fall within the Midwest. Nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success. Put God first in everything you do. Everything that I have is by the grace of God. “ Denzel Washington

Bhargav Santosh Gorti BS BIOC

Thank you to my sister, dad, and mom for supporting me on this journey!

Meghan Hamilton PhD CHEM

After completing my PhD in Chemistry under Dennis Lichtenberger this summer, I started working at Raytheon Missiles and Defense here in Tucson as a Senior Chemist. I am so excited to begin this next stage in my career and apply the chemistry knowledge and life lessons that I learned at the University of Arizona.

Cevaughn Donovan Hanley BS BIOC

The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done... you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do. I plan to work to work in some form of a lab, (hopefully in a hospital setting) and build up my resume so i can be competitive for med school.

Luis Helfer BS BIOC

Thank you to my mom, dad, Karl, and Christopher for supporting me throughout my entire journey. As well as Maddie, Zoey, Jenna, Jake, and JP for keeping me sane this whole time. I love you all.

Christina Huynh BA BIOC, BS Nutritional Sciences As a first-generation college student, I am thankful for the peers, professors and experiences that made my time at the UofA memorable. From being a part of Honor Societies to Cultural Centers on campus, I found a sense of community

Christa

Sara

Sadie Natalie

Alejandra

that supported me academically and socially. As a part of the Honors Program, I got a unique academic experience taking specialized chemistry and biochemistry courses that enriched my undergraduate career. After graduation I’m looking forward to gaining clinical experience as I shadow a dietician in a cystic fibrosis clinic and work towards earning my RDN credentials to become a dietician myself.

Christa Imrich BA BIOC, BS MCB My time at UA has been nothing short of transformative. Choosing a major in CBC was one of the best decisions I made for myself over the past few years. There are so many opportunities for research, outreach, and education in CBC. The classes and faculty provided me with the knowledge I needed to get involved in, and succeed in, research. I have been performing independent research for over two years and now hope to pursue a career in research. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in biochemistry this past spring 2021. I will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to earn my PhD in chemistry.

Natalie James BA BIOC

My plans after I graduate are to backpack the world for at least a year (depending on when the rest of the world opens). I want to start in Australia and end in Europe. After that, I plan on applying for medical sales jobs or pharmaceutical representative jobs and start my career!

Sara Lee Jones BS CHEM

My time at the UofA has definitely been a rollercoaster, but I can’t thank the CBC department enough for always being there for me. The CBC department has always been great at fostering a sense of community within the UofA; everything from fun (but challenging) classes, to close-knit clubs and extracurriculars, and of course to the amazing advising team. Truly these aspects of the department have served as a strong foundation for my future endeavors! I’m currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the Colorado School of Mines; but even though I’m a Burro now, I’ll always be a Wildcat at heart.

Alejandra Katz BS CHEM, BA BIOC, BA Creative Writing Thank you to my parents, teachers, and lab cohorts who supported me throughout my undergrad

Sadie Pauline Keesler BS CHEM, BS Neuroscience Thank you to my family for supporting me and helping me reach the next steps in my career

Mohammad Keivannia BS CHEM

I learned a lot about myself and how to grow throughout these 4 years. I’m absolutely thankful for having a family who supported me everyday and my friends who helped me to be successful. My future plans are to work in an organic lab or work for my father who is a pharmacist.

Tobias

Talia Jason

Eric

Tobias Kochenderfer BS CHEM

I am extremely appreciative to everyone who has made my last four years at the University of Arizona so wonderful. Thank you to Dr. Pyun and everyone in the Pyun lab for building my college social life. Thank you to Dr. Curry for being an excellent mentor and an exemplary teacher. Thank you to my friends at the University of Rhode Island, I hope to meet you all in person one day. And finally, thank you to my family and friends, who have stuck by my side.

After graduation, I plan on volunteering for local radio and gaining experience within the Tucson brewing scene. Thanks CBC for a great four years!

Jason Kronenfeld BS CHEM

Thank you to all the friends, family, University of Arizona faculty and staff who have been along my undergraduate pathway and helped push me along towards my goals! I appreciate each and every one of you! After graduation, I will be attending the Stanford University Chemistry PhD program with a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

Talia Lee BS CHEM

I am extremely grateful for my loving and caring support system. I could not have done it without any of them. This has been such a long journey and I am so excited to be finished! BEAR DOWN!

Eric Lu BS BIOC, BS MCB A common thread throughout my college experience has been one of self discovery. I came into my first year convinced that I would pursue history or law, and a series of happy accidents landed me where I am today. As much as I love the humanities, I found that I was in need of something with a little more objectivity in order to be satisfied and started exploring different options. I never really had a penchant for science in grade school, in fact I detested most of my classes and the way they were taught – it gets thrown around a lot, but science education in public schools really is lack-luster. I took another stab at science in an attempt to keep my options open and was pleasantly surprised to find a place for myself in the CBC and MCB departments, where I was challenged with new ways of thinking that satisfied my desire for something a little more concrete.

Around this time, I discovered a twin passion for medicine and research. Many of my peers were interested in going to medical school, and I decided to follow suit. As I began fulfilling the requisite service hours, I found a way to fulfill the hole left when I decided to move away from the humanities, which has taken the form of my various service pursuits. I stumbled into my research in a similar manner – I somehow lucked my way into meeting Dr. Andrew Capaldi several months before making the transition into the College of Science and once I had made the switch, I decided to give research a go. I dug out his card, shot him an email, and several weeks later, I was working in his lab.

Kenneth

Kimberly Paige

Sometimes, I think that this was the single best decision I’ve made in the last four years. Immediately, I was plunged into a new world, surrounded by a positive environment that challenged me and fostered my growth. I learned how to ask questions, critically reason, and solve problems with the arsenal of tools that research provided to me. My determination and resilience were constantly put to the test in the face of my many frustrating failed experiments, and I was rewarded by the satisfaction of overcoming each hurdle. What I had once viewed as a highly abstract and unapproachable practice morphed into a solid, empowering endeavor that I now happily pursue.

Together, my pursuits in science and medicine prompted me to attempt to combine the two, and were integral to my decision to pursue a career as a physician-scientist. I accepted a position in the MSTP program at Washington University in St Louis and will be leaving for Missouri in June to begin my MD/PhD. I’d like to take the time to give thanks to the wonderful staff in both the CBC and MCB departments for their tireless efforts. I’d also like to thank Dr. Andrew Capaldi, for his fantastic mentorship and for the willingness to take a chance on me, as well as everybody in the lab, for their kindness, patience, and troubleshooting support. I’d like to thank my friends for sharing this journey and the many late nights hunched over our books and computer screens. And lastly, I’d like to thank my parents for their endless love and support.

Kenneth Ly BS BIOC, BS MCB, BS Physiology & Medical Sciences, BA East Asian Studies I would like to thank my parents for supporting me and sacrificing so much to provide me with a valuable opportunity for higher education. I also want to thank my professors and mentors for acting as lamp posts and guiding me through my journey. After graduation, I will be doing the Accelerated Master’s Program in Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona.

Paige Martin BS BIOC, BS Physiology Studying Biochemistry at the University of Arizona has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done thus far. It has opened up my mind to approaching problems in ways that I never knew were possible and has taught me that working hard can be fun (late nights in the library became a favorite pastime of mine). The entire CBC department is so supportive and welcoming to every student. I couldn’t have done it without the professors, T.A.s, or advisors. Thank you CBC department and University of Arizona! Bear Down!

Kimberly Miller BS CHEM

Thank you to my family for supporting me throughout college and to the friends I made here for making the University of Arizona feel like home. Thank you to Olivia and Christine you both have always been very informative and helpful and I couldn’t have done it without you.

Madison Mollico BS BIOC

Akshay

graduate years, she has worked in research in the Baltrus lab and participated in the Undergraduate Biological Research Program (UBRP). Madison also volunteers at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and at a local veterinary clinic. This fall, she will begin the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Washington State University. Madison hopes to become a laboratory animal veterinarian, working to ensure ethical treatment of research animals and proper study design at a public research institution.

Akshay Nathan BS BIOC

Akshay Nathan graduated as magna cum laude from the Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry. Akshay was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, by immigrant parents from India, who aspired to help their children achieve the American dream. Akshay hopes to rise to their parent’s hopes and desires.

Akshay has been a member of the Mobile Medicats since their freshman year of college. They later became the director of volunteering, vice president, and as president of the club during their senior year. They oversee community and statewide efforts to alleviate the struggles experienced by individuals experiencing homelessness. Additionally, Akshay volunteers at Z-Mansion, providing medical care and support to medically underserved populations. They currently serve as a certified community health specialist, providing additional scope to treat and perform risk assessments for diverse health conditions.

Akshay has been a research and education intern with the UA Debate Series since the program’s inception their freshman year. They helped facilitate internal and external debate events, elevating the University’s status as a hub for free discourse. They have also participated in the inaugural Regents Cup, earning a scholarship.

Akshay currently conducted public health research under Dr. Purnima Madhivanan at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. They are interested in health disparities concerning underserved populations living in the slums of India. They have also spent a summer studying bacteria metabolism under Dr. Sujata Chaudhari at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Akshay has been nominated and selected for several awards while at the University of Arizona, including being nominated for the Chemistry and Biochemistry Outstanding Senior Award and receiving the Wildcat Excellence Award, an International Baccalaureate scholarship, and a National Scholar Award which is awarded in partnership with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Akshay is planning on pursuing a Master of Public Health at Boston University, with certificates in human rights and social justice as well as sex, sexuality and gender. They then plan to attend medical school and eventually pursue psychiatry as a career path.

Easter

Klariza

Natan Nkengafac

Daniela

Anjali

Easter Niyongabo BA BIOC

My time at the UofA has been an unforgettable experience. With college being a new thing for me, I was grateful to have found a family that I can relate to. Those include the CBC department, ASEMS and the transfer center. Being able to get help from these three families really made my journey easier. My next road leads to pharmacy school and it is still with here, at the UofA. Looking forward to it. Thank you so much to CBC for taking care of me.

Nkengafac Njungeh BA BIOC, BS MCB, BA East Asian Studies My name is Nkengafac Njungeh, graduating senior of Biochemistry. I’m so excited to be graduating, but also feel some nostalgia from my years here at the U of A. I will definitely miss campus and miss being able to pop into the CBC advising office when I have questions or just to chat and hang out. However, I’m also looking forward to travelling after I graduate and can’t wait to see different parts of the world!

Klariza Ochoa BS CHEM

My time as an undergrad at CBC has been an exceptional experience! I have been lucky enough to have met so many new friends and peers that have helped me both in and outside of the classroom over the years. Not only was I able to experience CBC as a chemistry student but also as support staff for the advising team! Through this experience, I was able to attend events, meet others in my field and be a part of a great community. Working alongside Olivia, Christine, and Debra has been nothing short of amazing. I am proud and thankful to have been part of one of the best colleges at UArizona!

Daniela Renee Ortiz BA BIOC, BS MCB

After graduation I will complete the virtual Stanford Summer Research Program, and in the fall I will start my PhD in Cancer Biology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center.

Natan Parra BS BIOC

Graduating from the University of Arizona was quite an experience. After graduation I’m going to take a year off from school and focus on getting a job in a plant biotech company. Afterwards I am going to come back to school to pursue a PhD in Plant Science or Pathology.

Anjali Patel BS BIOC

Sometimes I’ll start a sentence and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way.” - Michael Scott Next year, I will be applying to medical schools and working as a medical scribe.

Alyssa Peterson BA BIOC, BS MCB, BA Religious Studies Alyssa Jean Peterson will be graduating magna cum laude with a triple major with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and Religious Studies. Alyssa is from Safford, Arizona. She has two wonderful parents, Michael and Caryn Peterson, and four younger sisters, Charlotte, Ella, Madison, and Rachel. In 2016, Alyssa had the opportunity to serve the community of Rusinga,

Emma

Nicole

Kenya for a few months, and this experience piqued her interest in mosquito vectored disease research.

Her interest in mosquito-vectored diseases is what inspired her to apply to Dr. Roger Meisfeld’s lab, where Dr. Jun Isoe mentored, taught, and supported her love for science and interest in mosquito research. In April 2020, their paper “Characterization of Essential Eggshell Proteins from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes” was published by BioRxiv.

Alyssa has a love of people and culture and decided to add a major in Religious Studies in March of 2020. Her goal is to help people live healthier lives by combining cultural understanding with ground-breaking scientific discoveries to be the best public health professional possible.

She is currently very involved on campus as the President of the Molecular and Cellular Biology Club, Vice President of Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS), College of Science Health Ambassador, Chemistry and Biochemistry Ambassador, Peer Mentor, and a team member at the CAT hotline for assistance in community COVID-19 response. She was awarded the Microscopy Society of America Undergraduate Research Scholarship in 2020, the American Chemical Society GrantHach scholarship, recognized as Biochemistry Student of the Month in September 2019 and August 2020, and was the recipient of the Fred and Barbara Borga Religious Studies Award.

After graduation, she plans on taking a gap year to work and save for graduate school. She is planning on eventually pursuing a Ph.D. in Infectious Disease Research and work on bringing vaccines, interventions, and health education to communities in need all around the world.

Emma Potter BS CHEM, BS Veterinary Science Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. -Marie Curie

Nicole Raygoza BS CHEM

After graduation I plan to start working in the industry. My plan is to find a job in a laboratory that will give me the experience and teach me well needed skills in order to pursue my dream job in forensic science. In the future I may attend graduate school once I figure out exactly what sector of chemistry I want to focus on. Being a UA/CBC student gave me the knowledge and motivation to push myself to always work for what I want. Being a woman in STEM is not easy, but it sure was worth it!

Sydney Ellen Schwartz BS BIOC

I am currently contracted to work at Roche Tissue Diagnostic in the Cytology department. As a research associate I will be helping with their ovarian cancer diagnostic studies. My experience at the UA was exciting and busy. I participated in Alpha Epsilon Phi, Order of Omega, and CBC Mentors and Ambassadors. While on campus I had the amazing opportunity to work in the Hruby lab as an undergraduate research associate where I helped study peptide hormones and melanocortin

Joseph

Jessica Madison

receptors to further neuroprotection drug discovery research. Bear Down!

Joseph Thonhoff BS BIOC

At the beginning of my freshman year, I set out to gain that “college experience” everyone talks about, and thanks to the university and the CBC department, I was able to get just that! From sleepless nights to campus events, my four years at the university were very vibrant. Most importantly, the friends I made along the way due to housing arrangements and course group work will stick with me physically, if not in memory, for the rest of my life. I hope to work in biotech and support the future of science with all I’ve learned over the past few years!

Madison Uli BS BIOC

This fall I will be attending the Midwestern Arizona College of Medicine with hopes of pursuing my childhood goal of being a pediatrician! I am incredibly thankful for the support of my parents, faculty, and families I have interacted with that encourage me to continue working with our community’s children. One of my favorite quotes is, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” - Sir Isaac Newton. I hope I can serve as the shoulder for future children as many have done for me!

Jessica Vickery BS BIOC, BS MCB

Being a part of Pyun Group for the past two years and working on chemical syntheses has been a fulfilling experience. I would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Pyun for his mentorship, as well as, Lindsey Holmen for helping me with my thesis project. During this thesis project, I have learned so much and am grateful to be able to have this knowledge for the future. Ethan Weiss, BS Biochemistry, BS Molecular & Cellular Biology I would like to thank my parents, brothers, and family for their unconditional support throughout college. Also, I’d like to thank my friends for all of the good times and memories during these past four years. After graduation, I will be working as a research associate at Cellstate Biosciences!

Daniel Robert Wieland BS BIOC

Daniel Robert Wieland graduated summa cum laude from the Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Math. Born and raised in Tucson, Daniel always had his eyes set on medicine and research from an early age after witnessing the debilitating effects of disease on friends and family. Committed to healthcare and community betterment, he has applied himself extensively in his education, research, and service.

As a freshman, he joined Dr. Jacob Schwartz’s lab, researching proteins responsible for diseases such as ALS and Ewing Sarcoma (a pediatric bone cancer) over all four years with one publication and another in progress. For his work, he received many awards such as the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, Excellence in Biological Sciences, and Galileo Circle Scholarship. Additionally, he conducted epidemiological research with Dr. Chien-Hsiang Weng at Brown University, with whom Daniel has two co-first author publications and is currently writing another.

Under Dr. Dennis Discher, he conducted virtual bioinformatics cancer research at the University of Pennsylvania.

Daniel served as president of UArizona HOSA and as an officer of the Arizona Global Health Project, where they set up biannual temporary free clinics in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico to aid the underserved community. In Tucson, he volunteered in the ER at Banner, recruiting patients to clinical trials and designed a way to visualize sequencing data to diagnose secondary infections in intubated COVID patients for his senior design project. As a Chemistry and Biochemistry ambassador and mentee, he helped freshmen students transition into the college and assisted the department in its events, and as an Undergraduate Biology Research ambassador, he assisted others in applying to research opportunities on campus. For his accomplishments, he was awarded the Biochemistry Outstanding Student Award for his respective class each year.

After graduation, Daniel plans to pursue an MD-PhD program where he aspires to treat patients at both the bedside and through the lab.