Serena is a rising senior majoring in pharmaceutical sciences, driven by her keen interest in supplements and drugs. She is an Undergraduate Researcher at the Jafari Lab, studying the effects of botanical extracts and drugs on fruit flies’ healthspan and lifespan, aiming to prepare for pre-clinical trials and benefit human health. Serena’s dedication to research was ignited during her work at a pharmacy, where she found a profound interest in research and development, leading her to cutting-edge research as a Research Assistant Intern at a biotech start-up specializing in aerosolization technology for delivering antibiotics to combat multidrug resistance. Additionally, Serena’s role as a Clinical Trial Student Assistant in the UCI Office of Research has enriched her research skills and provided valuable insights into research administration. She also engages with Peers Under Pharm Sci (PUPS), coordinating club events to involve students in the UCI community. While helping peers and new students to join anih research lab and gain relevant work experience, Serena hopes to continue her research in the UCI community to achieve her career goal of working in the industry for drug development.
Scholarship: NIH Fellowship