Get to know our students better by taking a look at our students’ spotlights
Isabel Leon
Year: 1st
Area of research: Behavioral cognitive neuroscience
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Lab: Thomas Lab with Dr. Jennifer Thomas
Favorite part of your research: Attending and presenting at conferences are my favorite part of research! I really enjoy sharing my work and learning about other findings
Where do you see yourself in 10 years: Although I’m not certain what my future looks like, I know that I aim to incorporate my passion for neuroscience research wherever I go
Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Walk along the beach next to my house! The sunsets are really pretty there
Fun fact: Spanish was my first language
Nicole M. Abaya
Year: 2nd
Area of research: Social neuroscience
Hometown: Manila, Philippines
Lab: SHAN Lab with Dr. Tristen Inagaki
Favorite part of your research: Getting to do the MRI scans! I love seeing how everyone’s brains look a little different from each other.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years: Hopefully in a meaningful career creating applied solutions based on my research, and surrounded by many many pugs
Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Surfing at sunset then grabbing some food along the beach
Fun fact: I used to have a pet owl named Flashlight
Valeria Cordeiro
Year: 1st
Area of research: Developmental and translational neuroscience
Hometown: Bolivia and Brazil
Lab: TEND Lab with Dr. Jillian Wiggins
Favorite part of your research: Although working with children in the MRI center is challenging, it is also the best part of my research. Showing the kids a picture of their brains and seeing their excitement at the end of the scans makes it all worth it.
Where do you see yourself in ten years: In ten years, I see myself having my private practice to treat children and adolescents with mental illness.
Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Favorite thing to do in San Diego is definitely watching the sunset at any of the many amazing spots all around the city. For me, one of the best spots is Windandsea beach.
Fun Fact: I got really into hot yoga recently and my goal for 2023 is to do a proper headstand by the end of the year!
Shea O’Donnell
Year: 1st
Area of research: Physical and/or mental health research
Hometown: North of Seattle, WA
Lab: Culture and Cognition Lab with Dr. Linda Abarbanell, and the Chronic Illness Laboratory with Dr. Vanessa Malcarne
Favorite part of your research: I love getting to spend my time researching something so personal to me, endometriosis, and getting to share my passion with many physicians and collaborators who are excited about my research too! There’s also something very special about getting to present or publish, and share all of your hard work with the world.
Where do you see yourself in ten years: Hopefully I will have my Ph.D., and will still be studying endometriosis. I’d also like to live somewhere with rain and snow (like where I grew up) in a cottage with my partner and more pets!
Favorite thing to do in San Diego: I love going to the South Bay Drive-In and markets with my partner 🙂
Fun Fact!: I have a Russian Blue cat named Moon!
Emma Churchill
Year: 2nd
Area of research: Behavioral and cognitive neuroscience
Hometown: San Diego
Lab: UCSD Huntington’s Disease Research Center under Dr. Jody Corey-Bloom however, my mentor for the graduate program is Dr. Paul Gilbert
Favorite part of your research: Patient Interaction
Where do you see yourself in ten years: In 10 years hopefully I will have my PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology and be working at a research intensive academic facility.
Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Walk my dog Jude around the beach 🙂
Fun Fact: I lived in India for a couple of months!