Science Ambassadors 2024-2025

 

Hannah Oliva
 

Hannah Oliva 

Co-President

4th Year, Biology


Internal Communications Chair for Little EINSTEINs 

Co-instructor of Public Health in Inland Southern California

Undergraduate research - DiPatrizio Lab in UCR SOM

Hobbies: Binge-listening to podcasts 

Sadaf Sadighian
 

Sadaf Sadighian

Co-President

4th Year, Biology


MSP Academic Peer Mentor

UCR School of Medicine Pathway Program SHPEP Ambassador

AAMC Summer Health Professions Education Program Health Scholar 

Riverside Community Hospital Co-Lead

Little Einstein Project Co-President

 CNAS Science Ambassadors Program

 UCR Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Biomedical Sciences Division

Hobbies: Basketball, Yoga, Baking 

 

Samantha Arenas
 

Samantha Arenas

VP of Projects and Events 

3rd Year, Biology 


SMASH Lead

Riverside Recreation Leader

EMT

Hobbies: I like to run, cook, and decorate

 

 

 

Sana Saifullah
 

Sana Saifullah 

VP of Media and Communications

4th Year, Biology


SISTERs Co-lead

Marketing head for College Day 

Undergraduate Research: Dr. Huffman, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 

Hobbies: Acrylic painting, hiking

 

Rebecca Santos
 

Rebecca Santos 

Co-VP of Community and Professional Development 

3rd Year, Biochemistry


Leos Club

Western University Volunteer 

Hobbies: Trying new matcha places and going to the beach!

 

Jorg Galant
 

Evan Kent 

Co-Vp of Community and Professional Development 

3rd Year, Biochemistry 


Delta Chi Fraternity: Philanthropy Chair + Social Chair

UCR Surf Club

Project Sunshine

Enlight Education

Philanthropic Association

Hobbies: I love outdoor activities such as hiking and playing sports, and I am also learning how to surf.

 

 

Rishi Swaran Kongari
 

Rishi Swaran Kongari

Co-VP of Tours 

3rd Year, Biology


Department Coordinator for COPE at Riverside Community Hospital

LEOS Volunteer Coordinator

Mini Medical School 

Medical Scholars Program 

Inland Empire Street Medicine 

Vineyard Free Clinic

Hobbies: I enjoy going to the gym 

 

 

Aaron Mathias
 

Aaron Mathias 

Co-VP of Tours 

3rd Year, Biology 


 

 

Sakshi Nikte
 

Sakshi Nikte 

4th Year, Data science


SISTERS Co-lead

ACM Sponsorship Committee

Women in Computing (WINC)

Hobbies: calligraphy, playing piano, drinking coffee/boba

 

Sarah Midou
 

Sarah Midou

4th Year, Biology


SISTERS co-lead

Students Organize For Syria President 

National Alliance on Mental Illness Vice President

Undergraduate Research: Nair lab 

Hobbies: Going to concerts, baking, making lattes, and enjoying nature

 

Ken Furuichi
 

Ken Furuichi

4th Year, Neuroscience


Highlander EMS

Inland Empire Street Medicine Clinic

Academic Resource Center - Peer Educator

Undergraduate Research: Ethell Lab, 

Hobbies: I like to rebuild vintage bikes, run, and cook!

 

Saba Najafi
 

Saba Najafi

4th Year, Biology


President of PPGA (Planned Parenthood Generation Action)

President of Chemistry club 

Undergraduate Research: Organic Chemistry Laboratory with Dr. Richard Hooley

Hobbies: I play soccer, the piano, and from time to time I like to enjoy a good game of poker with my friends

 

 

Dominique Hemedez
 

Dominique Hemedez

4th Year, Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology


UCR Heath CAP Intern

CNAS Scholars: Co-Lead Peer Mentor

UCR Katipunan Pilipino Student Organization

Hobbies: I love to binge different k-dramas and anime, play instruments, and I love to scuba dive! 

 

 

Luis Martin
 

Luis Martin

4th Year, Physics


BROTHERs Co-lead

Peer Mentor

CNAS Transfer Connections Program | President

Astronomy Club @ UCR

Undergraduate Research: Richardson's Lab

Hobbies: American Football, Cycling, lifting weights, running and stargazing 

 

 

 

Amanda Arrieta
 

Amanda Arrieta 

4th Year,  Biochemistry 


Science Olympiad Coaching Project Lead 

CNAS Transfer Connections Peer Mentor

STEM Connections Club Vice President 

Undergraduate Research: Dr. Huinan Liu’s Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Lab

Hobbies: I love specialty coffee/ coffee chemistry and want to someday open a coffee shop pop up. 

 

 

Russel Arevalo
 

Russel Arevalo

4th Year, Biology


Student Lead of Marketing at The Well's Active Minds

Dynamic Genome Outreach Group board member

Undergraduate Lab Assistant for Dynamic Genome (Biol020) 

Hobbies: I like to hike, watch sci-fi movies, and hang out with my cat. 

 

Lauren Cao
 

Lauren Cao

4th Year, Biology


STEMivate Vice President and Head of Material and Design

EMT certified

Medlife director of membership and chapter sustainability

Cooperation. Act Senior Executive Board Officer

Hobbies: I love playing water sports such as paddle boarding and kayaking

 

Josue Ballesteros
 

Josue Ballesteros

4th Year, Biology


Mini Medical School

Research Officer Inland Empire Street Medicine(IESM) 

CNAS Transfer Connections Peer Mentor

Hobbies: Playing chess, solving any type of puzzle, watching/playing soccer

 

Alden Reategui
 

Alden Reategui

4th Year, Biochemistry


CNAS transfer connections 

Undergraduate Research: Li Fan lab

Hobbies: Hiking, sleeping, sewing/mending, and cooking 

 

Shiraz Mogul
 

Shiraz Mogul

3rd Year, Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology 


Co lead for SISTERs

Marketing and Social Media Director of MedLife

Undergraduate Research: Genomics and Entomology in Atkinson Lab

Hobbies: hanging with friends, coffee shops, blasting music in the car

 

Kytan Guu
 

Kytan Guu

3rd Year, Neuroscience


UCR Orchestra

Little EINSTEINs

CNAS Scholars Peer Mentor

Honors

Undergraduate Research: Hu lab 

Hobbies: I like listening to music, playing Tetris, and tinkering with electronics. 

 

Simriti Mahajan
 

Simriti Mahajan

3rd Year, Biology


Bhagat Puran Singh Health Initiative (BPSHI)

Inland Empire Street Medicine Clinic

Riverside University Heath System Emergency Department Volunteer

Teens Make Health Happen Mentor 

Undergraduate Research: UCR Center for Cannabinoid Research with Dr. DiPatrizio

Hobbies: I’m passionate about hitting the gym, especially deadlifting! I’m also a huge football fan—go 49ers!

 

 

Samantha Thayer-Pham
 

Samantha Thayer-Pham

3rd Year, Biology


Alpha Chi Omega Vice President of Intellectual Development

CNAS Peer Mentor

Undergraduate Research: Reznick lab

Hobbies: I love cooking and trying new recipes. I enjoy making matcha lattes at home and trying different ceremonial grades, and pilates!

 

Kamron Sherafat
 

Kamron Sherafat

3rd Year, Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology


Riverside Free Clinic

Coachella Valley Free Clinic

Medical Scholars Program

Undergraduate Research: Dr. Brandon Browns HIV/Aging Research Lab

Hobbies: Pickleball and basketball (huge Lakers fan!!)

 

 

Brandon Ho
 

 

Brandon Ho

3rd Year, Biochemistry


Mini Medical School Member

Pre-Dental Society Board Member

Dental Assistant

UCR Club Tennis

Undergraduate Research: Uhrich lab

Hobbies: Playing sports, making music, exercising, eating out with friends,

 

 

Sonika Khare
 

 

Sonika Khare

3rd Year, Neuroscience


Early Assist Peer Mentor at the ARC,

Clinic Coordinator for BPSHI

Research Assistant in Saltzman Lab

Volunteer at The Literacy Initiative 

Undergraduate Research: Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab under Wendy Saltzman 

Hobbies: I did competitive swimming growing up. I love going to the gym and trying new food spots. 

 

Andrew Yee
 

Andrew Yee

3rd Year, Biology


COPE Physical Medicine Department Coordinator

Intramural Football and Basketball team Captain

Hobbies: I like to play sports and cook, my favorite teams are the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers, 

 

Samuel Alonzo Jones
 

 

Samuel Alonzo Jones 

3rd Year, Biochemistry


Medical Assistant at FM Clinic

Event Coordinator Chess Club

PVHMC ER Volunteer

SMASH Tutoring

Undergraduate Research: Analytical Chemistry, Quan "Jason" Cheng 

Hobbies: Sleeping, videogames, and listing to music

 

Simon Andal
 

 

Simon Andal

3rd Year, Biochemistry


Supplemental Instruction Leader

UCR Health CAP

Health Coach Program

Undergraduate Research: Chaturvedi Lab with Dr. Sonali Chaturvedi

Hobbies: Basketball, chess, concerts

 

Jennifer Huynh
 

 

Jennifer Huynh

2nd Year, Biology


ADPI Sorority member

ER volunteer

Ortho and internal shadow 

Hobbies: I love to knit, paint, bake ! 

 

 

Adithi Sesani
 

 

Adithi Sesani

2nd Year, Neuroscience


Eagle Glen Hospice Volunteer

Kaiser Permanente Volunteer

Pharmacy Technician CPhT

Research Assistant at Samuk Lab

UCR AMSA

Hobbies: I love learning new recipes, hiking, spending time with friends

 

 

Jordan Wimbley
 

 

Jordan Wimberly 

2nd Year, Neuroscience


MARC Research Trainee

Bio5a ULA

Hobbies: Nail Art, Cooking / Baking, Music

 

 

 

Meghana Marada
 

 

Meghana Marada

2nd Year, Neuroscience


UCR Afsana - Finance Intern 

Undergraduate Research: Garland lab

Hobbies: I love to dance! I also have 3 pet snails I adore. 

 

Sofia Melendrez
 

 

Sofia Melendrez

2nd Year, Neuroscience


Mentorship Director for the Latino Medical Student Association

Orphanage Coordinator for the Flying Samaritans

Secretary for Beyond Medical Barriers

Undergraduate Research: Dr. Dawn Nagel in the Botany and Plant Sciences Department

Hobbies: I love to sing and I am in love with all things Disney. 

 

 

Joseph Nguyen
 

 

Joseph Nguyen

2nd Year, Biology


Dynamic Genome Outreach Group

EMT

Hobbies: Watch anime and read manga, hiking
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