Website: bmed.publichealth.uci.edu
Lab Name: Behavioral Medicine Research Lab
Department: Population Health and Disease Prevention
Research interests: Cancer Survivorship, Health Psychology, Behavioral Medicine, Psychoneuroimmunology
What advice would you give your younger self when you were starting your research journey?
I would tell my younger self to get curious—not just about learning what’s already known, but about creating knowledge. Start early, even before you feel ready. Talk to professors, ask questions, and find graduate students who can take you under their wing. Take advantage of the amazing programs and opportunities that exist at a university (like UROP!)—they’re there for you. And remember, research is for everyone—every background, every story, every perspective adds value to discovery. Most of all, find something that truly excites you or that you care deeply about. For me, the human experience of cancer—and the idea that we can both learn something and improve lives—still gets me up and moving each day.
