Meet the 2018-2019 Board!
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Larry Morand, PhD | Faculty Advisor
Lecturer & Academic Coordinator in MCB
Lecturer & Academic Coordinator in MCB
Executive Board
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Joanna Wong | President
4th Year Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Hometown: San Jose, CA Hobbies: Escape rooms, Watching Netflix (The Office and New Girl), Travelling to new places, Eating good food Fun Fact: I graduated in 3 years and a quarter! I am currently working as a Junior Specialist at UC Davis and interviewing at Universities for PhD programs. Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: In high school I had amazing science teachers which got me interested in Biochemistry. The BMB major was also more structured and gave me a well rounded background in science. |
Connect with Joanna!
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Mina Dang | Vice President
2nd Year Majors: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Economics Hometown: San Francisco, CA Hobbies: Singing, swimming, sleeping, making schedules, and shamelessly binging TV shows in my free time (I’m into The Good Wife right now!) Fun Fact: I’ve traveled to more countries around the globe than U.S. states. Because of this, I am beyond immune to jet lag. Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: I loved learning chemistry and biology in high school, so studying biochemistry gives me the chance to get the best of both fields. The specific field that I would like to pursue is monopolies in the healthcare sector, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. |
Connect with Mina!
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Christina Trinh | Communications Director
3rd Year Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Hometown: San Jose, CA Hobbies: Drawing (especially portraits), listening to music & karaoking, Netflix (The Office & Stranger Things!), eating good food with good company Fun Fact: I learned the entire American sign language alphabet in elementary school, so I can spell out any word you want in sign language! Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: Chemistry and biology were my absolute favorite subjects in high school, so I decided to pursue a major that would combine both subjects. I also think it’s fascinating to learn about the molecular and chemical processes that make up life! |
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Kinsey Tarplee | Treasurer
3rd Year Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Minor: Psychology Hometown: Aliso Viejo, CA Hobbies: Climbing, Surfing, and Starcraft Fun Fact: I used to teach sailing and watercraft every summer and was very close to going to Cal Maritime Academy before deciding on a more traditional academic path. Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: I hated chemistry in high school with a passion and while I liked biology, I was more interested in the macroscopic levels of it: evolution, zoology, ecology, etc. After taking some intro level biology and chemistry classes in community college I realized that that table had kind of turned and the smaller stuff, chemical and molecules, were more interesting to me now. I took more and more classes to the point that eventually I decided I should probably major in this since it was where my interests really lie. The microscopic processes that enable life and its propagation will always be a source of endless fascination to me. |
Connect with Kinsey!
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Auxiliary Board
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Raenier Reyes | Public Relations Officer
4th Year Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Minor: Psychology Hometown: San Francisco, CA Hobbies: Drawing and fishing Fun Fact: I am/was musically inclined in 6 musical instruments. Growing up, my parents forced me to learn how to play various instruments and I played in concerts and recitals that I hated but slightly enjoyed. Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: Majoring in Biochemistry wasn’t a decision that I made right away; it was more so a gradual fascination of the field as I progressed through college. I started off college majoring in nursing and I was almost finished with the prerequisites for nursing school but as I started taking chemistry and biology courses, I became interested in wanting to do research. I wanted to learn more about the reasons and mechanisms as to why and how certain biochemical processes occur with emphasis on learning more about cancer. |
Connect with Raenier!
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Roxanna Pignolet | Events Coordinator 1
3rd Year Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Minor: Professional Writing Hometown: Livermore, CA Hobbies: making cookies, reading, practicing choir repertoire, eating food and playing card/board games with friends Fun Fact: My parents started me in choir when I was five and I never stopped. I’m currently in the Chamber Choir on campus. Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: I started as a biology major but after some amazing professors in both organic chemistry and biology I focused in on my fascination of the molecular and chemical mechanisms of life. Biochemistry provides the “how” behind what we observe in nature. |
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Ashley Christensen | Events Coordinator 2
1st Year Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Hometown: Fresno, CA Hobbies: painting, petting my dog (the goodest girl), Mario Kart, playing card games and drinking boba Fun Fact: I once thought that in order to get rid of bangs, you had to cut them off instead of letting them grow out... Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: It’s interesting to me because if you boil it down, biology and chemistry make up the basis of everything. Wondering why a fire burns? Chemistry has the answer. Why do trees have leaves? Biology has the answer. This field gives me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of both of these subjects and that’s just absolutely fascinating to me. |
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Anand Bakshi | Project Manager
3rd Year Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Hometown: New Castle, DE Hobbies: Reading, writing, hiking with my pup, camping, kayaking, swimming, and traveling Fun Fact: I graduated from the first military charter school in the country, Delaware Military Academy. Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: I was an ecology major, but as I continued my studies in biology I became fascinated with biological systems, especially the immune and endocrine systems. And as things went, I found it worth finding out as much as possible about it in the hopes to start a career in research in the field. |
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Aditya Rao | Project Coordinator
2nd Year Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Hometown: Walnut Creek, CA Hobbies: Reading, hiking, camping, backpacking, casual gaming, and just hanging out with friends Fun Fact: I have spent 13 days backpacking in the backcountry of New Mexico. Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: To understand the basic building blocks of life, and because someone said I couldn't, so I had to prove them wrong. |
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Christian Robillo | Historian
4th Year Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Hometown: Fremont, CA Hobbies: Video games, portrait photography, watching TV and YouTube, sleeping Fun Fact: My favorite part-time job was working at an ice cream shop. Why I Decided to Pursue Biochemistry: While science courses were not my strength in high school, I learned to love and appreciate biology and chemistry in college. So then I thought, why not take a chance at the Nobel Prize? |
Connect with Christian!
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