Thesis Thursday

Esteban is a junior at the University of Arizona studying Physiology and Medical Sciences with a minor in Health and Human Values. Esteban is from Rio Rico, Arizona. Outside of his research, you can find Esteban acting as the Director of Finance of Street Medicine Tucson, is one of the founders of the Health and Human Values Club, a volunteer at the ASTEC Lab,  and an intern with Tucson Collaborative Community Care (TC-3). In his free time, he enjoys swimming, spending time with friends, playing chess, and exploring the outdoors.

Geffre, a Tempe native, is a UA junior pursuing a double-major in Biochemistry and Molecular Cellular Biology. As an undergraduate researcher at the Meredith Lab, Parker is a part of the NSF Signals in the Soil project. She currently works on VOC data analysis, novel sensor testing, and various support roles. After joining UBRP in Spring 2020, Parker believes that undertaking research, especially in the unique field of environmental science, has been an invaluable experience. Microbial and soil fingerprinting has been an especially exciting topic for her to jump into. But more importantly, Parker loves how her research has changed her perspective on the role of the world’s smallest life. Currently, she plans on taking her B.S. degree into an adjacent science-policy field – like criminal forensics. Outside of university, she enjoys adventuring, drawing, and studying British history. Parker is a National Hispanic Scholar, a member of WAESO, and is passionate about learning how science impacts our daily lives.

My name is Maile McSwain, I am a junior at the University of Arizona, and I am majoring in Physiology and Medical sciences and minoring in Studio Art and Astrobiology. I am currently apart of EHS-TRUE which is a branch in UBRP and have been working in Dr. Zelieann R. Craig’s lab for two years. The lab focused on female reproductive toxicology. I also have worked at Campus Recreation since I was a freshman. After my undergraduate time here at the University of Arizona I want to attend a MD/PhD program and specialize my PhD in toxicology. At this point I believe I want to continue into medicine focusing on female reproductive health and become an OB/GYN.

William Borkan (he/they) a Master’s student in Soil, Water and Environmental Science and part of the 2020-2021 NSF Indige-FEWSS Traineeship. At the University of Arizona, he works in the contaminant transport lab, studying the transport and fate of uranium in groundwater bodies. This summer they will participate in an internship with the Navajo Nation EPA to assist in site inventories and remedial investigations of abandoned uranium mines.

Florian Hafner is a student in linguistics and speech & hearing, graduating with his Ph.D. in May 2022. While he has done research on “be like,” pronunciation education, and phonological awareness, his main passion is teaching. He’s been a teaching assistant and instructor for a wide variety of linguistic courses as well as statistics for in-person and online (synchronously & asynchronously) and plans to become a future instructor.

My name is Kayla Reddy. I am an undergraduate student in my junior year, and am majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Marine Science. I have been working in Todd Schlenke’s lab researching fruit flies and the parasitoid wasps that target them. Specifically, I have been working on a project studying how the chemical acetic acid affects the relationship between the two. I am aiming for a career in conservation biology and science communication. Outside of the lab I enjoy reading and writing, singing, and practicing martial arts.

I’m currently a graduate student & NSF Indige-FEWSS trainee pursuing my master’s in Agriculture Education at the University of Arizona, located on occupied Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui Lands. My thesis work involves continuing to indigenize & decolonialize farm-to-school curriculum with the Service to All Relations (STAR) School in Leupp, AZ. I am passionate about working in solidarity with communities living in food apartheids created by settler colonialism in the United States. My goal is to promote food justice & food sovereignty movements to increase access to healthy, culturally-appropriate foods.

Hi! My name is Elizabeth Le and I am an undergraduate working in the Doyle lab studying neuroprotectants and the mechanisms of strokes. Currently, there is no medicine clinically used to treat inflammation of the brain weeks post-stroke, so I believe my work is very important! Outside of the lab, I am an honors student studying Physiology and Medical Sciences and I also have finished a Biochemistry and Spanish minor. I hope to attend medical school and gain enough experience and credibility to open and run my own pediatrics clinic. In my free time, I love to cook different types of food from Italian to Indian food and my favorite part is eating it!

My name is Aryatara Shakya. I’m an International student from Nepal currently pursuing my PhD at the University of Arizona. My research involves studying the antioxidant protein NRF2 under the mentorship of Dr. Donna Zhang in the Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Hello! My name is Shelby Herrick. I am a junior at the University of Arizona pursuing a BSHS in Physiology and Medical Sciences with a minor in Biochemistry. With the help of the EHS-TRUE program, I am fortunate to work in Dr. Yin Chen’s lab under the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Our lab focuses on researching environmental toxins that affect the lungs in an effort to identify novel targets that can be used for drug development.

Outside of research, I have leadership roles in two other clubs, Bluechip Leadership and UA Physiology club. Being active in the UA and  Tucson communities is a big passion of mine; Staying active in the community has allowed me to feel connected with my peers and acknowledge the current issues our Tucson community faces. On weekends you can often find me volunteering with hospice patients or holding a philanthropy event! Other passions of mine are travel, botany, and classic cars!