Meet the Team

In college, I said I would never work in a lab, and that I hated microscopes. Look at me now!

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All I know is: it’s fun to get to know people, learning is a forever process, and it’s never too late to surprise yourself. I am excited to continue all of that here at CU.

I am a first-generation nerd with a passion for unraveling cancer’s complexity. My interest in studying cancer sprouted from personal experience in caring for my close relatives afflicted with cancer and transformed into a passion to expand our knowledge of devastating diseases.

Proud Chicana 

Growing up, I was always asking “why?” and “how?”. As an adult, I guess that’s one thing that I never grew out of. This trait sparked my passion for science, particularly biology, at a very young age. I am thrilled to get to learn and grow (and annoy my colleagues with my never-ending questions) every day at work. California transplant, living in Colorado with my fiancé and our cat, Princess Leia.

​I’ve always been curious about the things around me. It wasn’t until I realized my grandmother was struggling with Parkinson’s disease that I focused that curiosity on science, wanting to understand what was wrong with her. That motivation brought me to this point. I will be analyzing cutting-edge experiments in this lab using computational approaches. I am thrilled to be involved in this work and to learn from all the members. I am passionate about Transcriptomics and the Philosophy of Biology. One of my dogs is called Chinicuil (agave worm), which is very Mexican like myself.

Originally from a small town in Texas, I attended Colorado State University where my curiosities towards topics such as microbiology, animal science, and pathogenesis flourished. Currently, a dedicated researcher for topics related to cancer biology, and constantly striving to advance my technical and personal skillsets in and out of the lab. My time outside of the lab is spent with friends, family, animals, and countless hours in the beautiful backcountry of the Colorado Rockies.

My interests have ranged from scientist, perfumer, engineer, but one thing remains common, I've always had a passion for discovering new things and understanding the way things work. Now, those interests are focused on understanding how cancer evades the immune system, and strategies we can use to overcome that. Outside of my scientific curiosities, you can find me hanging with friends, trying new foods, or hiding from my roommate's cat, Herbert.

I’m a proud Chicano scientist, born and raised in Denver, Colorado. I attended MSU Denver, where I fell in love with science. My passion for learning led me to explore the immune system–cancer interface, and I’ve been hooked ever since!