Outreach & Mentorship
Recruitment at the Autonomous Metropolitan University Iztapalapa Unit (UAMI, Mexico City, August 2024):
Gave a presentation to undergraduate students, PhD students, and postdoctoral fellows regarding research opportunities in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota. Shared my Latina background and journey in chemistry.
Mentor via the WAVE/Amgen Council (2023–2024):
Mentored 11 summer undergraduate students conducting research at Caltech via the WAVE Fellows and Amgen Scholars Programs during the summers of 2023 and 2024. Both programs aim to foster diversity by increasing participation of underrepresented students in science and engineering Ph.D. programs.
Mentor via the Caltech-Cambridge Research Exchange Program (Summer 2024):
Trained a Master's student from the University of Cambridge on a methodology project. Helped student prepare a research proposal, progress reports, and an oral presentation.
Poderistas Power Squad Member (2024–Current):
Helping build a pipeline of Latinas interested in embracing a lifestyle of active civic participation. Strengthening communities where Latinas elevate, amplify, and build power through their own actions and by harnessing the power of the collective.
Lab tour leader for local middle school students in accelerated math program (May 2022 & May 2023):
Provided lab tours to a diverse group of 8th grade students from McKinley Middle School who are part of the Math Academy, a Pasadena Unified School District program aimed at accelerating the learning curve of mathematically gifted students.
Board member for the Alliance for Diversity in Science and Engineering (ADSE, 2022–current):
Member of the national organization board for ADSE, which aims to provide community and professional development opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in STEM at the national level.
Board member for the Diversity in Chemistry Initiative (DICI) at Caltech (2022–2023):
Served as Historian for DICI, which focuses on amplifying the voices of underrepresented minorities (URM) in chemistry at Caltech and beyond through outreach, community-building social events, and URM recruitment efforts.
Board member for the Research Universities Alliance (RUA, 2021–2023):
Part of the Community Engagement Board, which focuses on building community among RUA graduate students, postdocs, and faculty via social media and virtual events.
Teacher’s Assistant for Chem242A: Chemical Synthesis at Caltech (Fall 2022):
Provided students with guidance on coursework for a graduate-level synthesis course and helped facilitate discussions sessions. Served as a guest lecturer for one of the classes during the course.
Mentor for the Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program (Summer 2022):
Trained a Caltech undergraduate during his first time in an organic chemistry research laboratory. Helped student prepare a research proposal, progress reports, and a poster presentation.
Outreach leader for volunteer event at local public high school (May 2022):
Organized science outreach at Marshall Fundamental High School, the local public high school that I previously attended. Graduate student and postdoc volunteers from the Stoltz, Reisman, and Arnold laboratories at Caltech introduced high school students to organic chemistry and synthesized nylon as a class activity.
Cientifico Latino (CL) Board Member (2021–2022):
Helped build community amongst CL board members as the CL Community Engagement Coordinator. Participated as a panelist for a CL workshop focused on battling imposter syndrome in graduate school.
Board member for UCLA’s Organization for Cultural Diversity in Science (2018–2022):
Served as 2020–2021 Co-Civic Engagement Chair. Mentored a summer undergraduate student from Howard University performing summer research with Prof. K. N. Houk.
