Sabrena Tuy
Program year: 2023-present
Lab: Dr. Ruth Carper, Brain Development Imaging Laboratories (BDIL)
Areas of Research: Behavioral and cognitive neuroscience – Autism Spectrum Disorder, neural connectivity
What do you do to take care of yourself in grad school? Often I’ll spend time with my sister by watching a movie or picking up my little hobbies I’ve done for years on and off like crocheting and practicing my violin!
What are your current career goals and plans? After this program, I am hoping to get a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on neuropsychology! I would ideally like to provide clinical services and conduct psychological and neuropsychological assessments/evaluations, while also maintaining research on Autism Spectrum Disorder and possibly the comorbidity of it with epilepsy.
Any pieces of advice for making the most out of your time in the program? Make friendships and connections in your cohort because going through the program is much more rewarding with friends by your side and having those who understand your experience is very helpful! Also, take care of yourself and know when you’re at your max so as to not burn yourself out or put too much stress and pressure on yourself! 🙂
Fun fact: I have broken and sprained my wrists and ankles at least once a year every year from the summer before fourth grade until I graduated high school! (My mom asked my pediatrician if I had a calcium deficiency and he literally said “She just has bad luck!”)
Alicia Assang
Program year: 2022-present
Lab: Dr. Tristen Inagaki’s Lab
Areas of Research: Social and mental health research
What do you do to take care of yourself in grad school? I always make sure to set time aside to hang out with friends and I go to a Pilates class weekly to take my mind off of things! It really helps to have breaks scheduled during the week so I don’t overwhelm myself with a bunch of tasks.
What are your current career goals and plans? My current plan is to pursue a career in psychology research with the goal of eventually obtaining a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology.
Any pieces of advice for making the most out of your time in the program? I would say to really just explore anything that interests you, whether it’s a new topic introduced in class or something that you come across while doing research work in your lab, especially if it’s not something you’ve been exposed to before. I think the program is a great way to really figure out what your specific research interests and goals are, so I would recommend speaking to your mentors and professors to learn more about different topics that you’re intrigued by. The faculty can provide you with so many opportunities and resources that you might not have been aware of.
Fun Fact: I picked up crocheting during quarantine and I run a crochet blog!
Megan Morillas
Program year: 2023-present
Lab: Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Mood Program (ChAAMP) supervised by Dr. Robin Weersing
Areas of Research: The development and implementation of evidence-based interventions for youth internalizing disorders
What do you do to take care of yourself in grad school? Trying new restaurants, yoga, & having movie nights with my roommate!
What are your current career goals and plans? Clinical child psychologist and researcher
Any piece of advice for making the most out of your time in the program? Take every opportunity to spend time with your cohort and explore all the wonderful places in San Diego!
Fun fact: Last summer, I completed a rock climbing challenge where I climbed the same distance as El Capitan Mountain (75 routes) in seven days!
Celeste Estrada
Program year: 2022-present
Lab: Dr. Sarah Mattson-Weller’s Lab
Areas of Research: Neurobehavioral deficits and interventions for those diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
What do you do to take care of yourself in grad school? I love spending my free time with my family, either at home or trying new restaurants. Being with them helps me relax and take my mind off school.
What are your current career goals and plans? I hope to graduate in May 2024 and continue my research in Dr. Mattson’s lab post-graduation. I also plan to apply to Ph.D. programs in the future!
Any pieces of advice for making the most out of your time in the program? Use your resources! Seek guidance from program alumni, second-years, or professors for assistance with projects and future aspirations.
Fun fact: Before the program, I made and sold polymer-clay earrings!
Chih-An Bian
Program year: 2023-present
Lab: Dr. Dustin Thoman, Motivation and Social Identity Lab
Areas of Research: How do environmental cues in a STEM faculty-led lab shape students’ perception of the lab culture, and how does this influence their motivation and interest in STEM?
What do you do to take care of yourself in grad school? I fell in love with yoga during my first semester; I always make time for it at least once a week.
What are your current career goals and plans? My goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in social psychology, but I’m also open to other working opportunities before entering a Ph.D. program.
Any pieces of advice for making the most out of your time in the program? Find a time management system that works for you. I’m still learning, but when I started to actively manage my time, I found myself accomplishing a lot more without burning out. I also found that leaving my house, even just for work, always lightened my mood.
Fun Fact: I once had an experience of being chased by a flock of turkeys.