Episode 22 Serena Tamura (ASIJ 2008) Scientist  

Serena explains to Nick how the COVID QPCR tests operate, and what her role entails in regards to the PCR testing in California as a volunteer scientist.  Serena explains to Nick how many of the graduate students received an email in the spring asking volunteers to analyze the samples of COVID tests, and many have come through and are currently volunteering to help with the process of COVID-19 detection.   The two discuss the frustrations of seeing people in the United States who do not wear masks, and yes. "WEAR MASKS PEOPLE!".  Serena explains to Nick the topic of her doctoral research where she is developing genetic therapy for autism, and how she uses a tool called CRISPR, which allows scientists to look at genes, and research their mutation.  The two discuss how Serena began to develop a true interest in biology in University, and how the study of psychiatric disorders and learning how to analyze the biology itself of those diseases gave her passion to seek treatment for what could be perceived often as "untreatable diseases"  *the audio for this episode lags at times.  

Serena Tamura (ASIJ 2008) 

Serena Tamura graduated from ASIJ in 2008, after which she attended Stanford University where she majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior.  She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California San Francisco in the Dept. of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and is developing CRISPR based gene therapies for rare genetic disorders.  She lives in San Francisco with her husband Andrew and two dogs.  Timestamps 0:05 Introduction