ABOUT US
CELL Scholars (Cultivating Early Laboratory Learning) is a UCLA BRI outreach program that aims to provide early exposure to scientific research and to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM. CELL Scholars provides scholarship-sponsored opportunities for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to conduct research in UCLA laboratories during the school year. High school students are paired with a graduate student mentor to hone technical skills at the bench, learn coding skills for computational projects, and gain career and college advice from individuals in the field. Outside of the laboratory, workshops and seminars are held by UCLA graduate students and faculty to help students build critical skills for a career in STEM.
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For more information head to: https://bri.ucla.edu/outreach/cell-scholars/
Current UCLA Mentors
OUR TEAM
We are a dedicated team committed to providing high school students with unique opportunities to engage in hands-on laboratory experiences at UCLA. Our mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of scientists and innovators by bridging the gap between secondary education and advanced research. Through our programs, students gain valuable insights, skills, and mentorship from leading experts in their fields. We believe in the power of education and experiential learning to transform lives and open doors to future possibilities. Thank you for joining us in our effort to cultivate a passion for science and discovery among young minds!
Megan Chappell (she/her)
Founder & President (2021-Current)
Megan Chappell is a Neuroscience PhD Candidate and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Lindsay De Biase, where she investigates how astrocyte-microglia interactions shape early postnatal neurodevelopment. Megan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Virginia, where she investigated how oligodendrocyte progenitor cells contribute to neuroinflammation in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Through her work with CELL Scholars, Megan is dedicated to increasing the accessibility of science and removing barriers to entering STEM fields for individuals of underrepresented backgrounds. In her free time, Megan enjoys kayaking, playing the viola, and arranging music.​
Douglas Vormstein-Schneider (he/him)
VP of Internal Affairs
Douglas is the VP of Internal Affairs. In this role he oversees mentee onboarding, transportation, and budgeting. Douglas graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.S. in Neuroscience in 2017. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Neuroscience in the lab of Peyman Golshani studying adaptive decision-making. Beyond research and community engagement Douglas enjoys exercise and Dungeons & Dragons
Keoinna Newton (she/her)
VP of Outreach
Keionna is a third-year Neuroscience PhD student and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in the De Biase lab at UCLA. Keionna’s research is focused on understanding how microglia, the brain’s immune cells, influence dopamine neuron circuitry function in aging and disease. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington where she used mouse models to study the molecular mechanisms of stress, pain, and addiction in the Chavkin lab. Outside of the lab, Keionna is passionate about STEM outreach and has been involved in several outreach activities through CELL Scholars and other mentorship programs. She also enjoys writing and science communication and is a contributing editor for Knowing Neurons, an award-winning neuroscience education website run entirely by a team of young neuroscientists. When not in the lab and actively participating in outreach activities, Keionna can be found exploring the outdoors on long hikes and backpacking trips, or at home reading books and painting.​​
Mykel Barrett (he/him)
VP of External Affairs
Mykel is a Eugene V. Cota-Robles Doctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Professor Amjad Askary. His Ph.D. studies encompass using scRNA-seq data to engineer synthetic, cell-type specific, cis-regulatory enhancers for use in the retina; as well as optimizing a novel signal transduction-recording technology. As a NIH MARC Fellow and Cosloy Scholar at the City College of New York, he identified key functional modules in the ThrbCRM1, ThrbCRM2, and ThrbICR enhancers of the Thrb gene in retinae; and demonstrated that particular point mutations modify the quantitative and spatial dynamics of their activities. As is evident by his involvements with QBio-EDGE and CELL Scholars, he is passionate about lessening the class disparities that plague STEM. Outside of lab, you might find him socializing with friends, setting personal records in our Kinross Fitness Center, or creating realistic graphite portraits.
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Sara Blagburn Blanco (she/her)
Co-VP of Mentorship & Mentor
Sara is an MSTP student completing her PhD in the DeNardo lab. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Brown University, where she conducted research in Dr. Alexander Jaworski's laboratory. During her time there, Sara studied embryonic motor neuron development and axon guidance in the mouse spinal cord. She joined the DeNardo lab to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing the development of reward circuits in the brain, and how microglia-neuron interactions are affected by adverse early life experiences. When she’s not in a lab, you’ll most likely find her climbing, trail running, or bachata dancing.
Dylan Hughes (he/him)
Co-VP of Mentorship
Dylan Hughes is a 1st year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at UCLA studying under Dr. Katie Karlsgodt. He studies brain development using neuroimaging and genomic techniques and seeks to identify neural pathways that confer risk for psychosis spectrum symptoms. He also conducts research on structural stigma/discrimination and its role in the development of mental health problems in gender-diverse youth. Dylan is dedicated to increasing representation in science through mentorship and outreach and has worked towards this goal with various organizations over the past 5 years. Outside of science, Dylan enjoys rock climbing, jazz, hiking, and playing with his 2 cats.
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Isabelle Lesmana (she/her)
VP of Internal Affairs
Isabelle Lesmana is a first year in the Neuroscience PhD program. Isabelle holds a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience and Music from the University of Virginia, where she studied the effect of respiratory alkalosis on spike-wave discharges in seizure-prone mice. Isabelle currently serves as the VP of Internal Affairs for CELL Scholars. In her free time, Isabelle loves petting her cat, drinking boba, and going to live music concerts.
Aditi Venkatraman (she/her)
Secretary
Aditi Venkatraman is a second-year pre-med student at UCLA studying Physiological Science and Global Health. She is currently part of a research lab specializing in virology in the department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine. Aditi enjoys mentorship and teaching, and joined CELL Scholars to help remove barriers that prevent underserved high school students from getting exposure to research in STEM. She is also passionate about bridging disparities in access to healthcare, and wants to pursue a career in surgery. In her free time, she enjoys watching true-crime, going to movie premieres, listening to music, and crocheting.
Natella Baliaouri (they/them)
Treasurer & Workshop Team
Natella Baliaouri is a Neuroscience PhD Candidate currently on the Broad Stem Cell Research Center training grant in the laboratory of Dr. Bennett Novitch. They are optimizing a 3-dimensional stem cell model of the developing brain for the study of Rett Syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Natella graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor's of Science where they studied ciliary growth and trafficking dynamics in the laboratory of Dr. David Williams. They directly mentor multiple undergraduate students and work with Cell Scholars to provide STEM opportunities for individuals from marginalized backgrounds. In their free time they keep arachnids and insects, crochet, and dive into horror and science fiction media.
Benita Jin (she/her)
Workshop & IA Leader
Benita is a MCIP graduate student in the lab of Dr. Laura DeNardo, where she studies how fear memory and learning changes across postnatal development. She graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in neuroscience and a M.S. in physiological science. In the lab of Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton, she studied the use of epidural stimulation, serotonergic drugs, and physical rehabilitation for forelimb recovery after spinal cord injury. She has a keen interest in education and promoting science awareness in her community. Outside of lab, she enjoys traveling, musicals, and coffee.
Sarah Fatkin (she/her)
Website Team
Sarah Fatkin is a first-year student in the Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology PhD program at UCLA. She is currently completing her rotations and is broadly interested in neurodevelopment. She completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA, where she earned a Bachelor's of Science in Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Arts in European Languages. Her undergraduate research focused on the neurobiology of Drosophila visual flight control and navigation. Through CELL Scholars, Sarah aims to broaden access to science professions by guiding students as they pursue STEM careers.
Sara Hong (she/her)
Mentorship Team Member
Sarah Hong is a first year graduate student in the Neuroscience PhD program interested in neural repair and neurodegenerative diseases. Because she encountered incredible mentors during her time as an undergraduate student at UCLA, she is passionate about mentorship and giving back to the community. Sarah enjoys spending time outdoors, especially running, climbing, and camping.
Emily Sobel (she/her)
Public Relations Chair
Emily Sobel is a second-year undergraduate physiological sciences major at UCLA. She is passionate about science and education and is hoping to either go onto medical school or physical therapy school. Outside of CELL, Emily participates in clinical stroke research at the California Rehabilitation Institute, and is part of other science outreach clubs on campus. In her free time when she is not studying, she loves trying new restaurants in LA, going to the gym, and driving out to the beach on a nice day!
Priyanka Sigar (she/her)
Public Relations Team Member
Priyanka is currently pursuing her PhD in the Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program (NSIDP) at UCLA, where she focuses on investigating the neural mechanisms involved in neurodevelopment and psychiatric disorders. Her research methodology involves a blend of behavioral experiments, neuroimaging, and transcriptomics. Prior to her doctoral studies, Priyanka earned her B.Sc. in Lifesciences and M.Sc. in Neuroscience from the University of Mumbai, India. She also gained experience as a project associate at the National Brain Research Centre in India, where she utilized neuroimaging and graph theory to explore neurodevelopmental disorders. Outside of her academic pursuits, Priyanka enjoys indulging in her hobbies of singing, painting, and spending quality time with friends.
Charlie Schleifer (he/him)
Mentor
Charlie Schleifer is an MD/PhD Candidate in the Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program at UCLA, in the lab of Dr. Carrie Bearden. Charlie's research uses neuroimaging and neurogenetics to study the biology of mental illness. Specifically, he uses Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to investigate altered development of brain structure and function in people with genetic and clinical risk factors for conditions such as schizophrenia. Charlie received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Yale, where he used fMRI to investigate the effects of ketamine on brain network activity. Charlie is passionate about psychiatry and about addressing systemic injustices through increasing access and equity in healthcare. In his free time, Charlie enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with friends, family, and pets.
Cassandra Klune (she/her)
Mentor
Cassandra Klune is a post-doctoral researcher in the lab of Dr. Laura DeNardo at UCLA. She received her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Calgary before pursuing her PhD at UCLA. Her doctoral research with Dr. DeNardo focused on the development of prefrontal neural circuits that control avoidance behaviors. Cassandra is passionate about making science more inclusive and is thrilled to have the opportunity to mentor through Cell Scholars. When not in the lab, Cassandra enjoys running, reading, and trying new restaurants in LA!
Yesica Mercado-Ayon (she/her)
Mentor
Yesica was born in Jalisco, Mexico and moved to California when she was 10. She was a Cell Molecular and Developmental Biology undergraduate at the University of California, Riverside, where she studied the biogenesis of small RNAs in C. elegans. She then joined the NIGMS Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program at UC Davis, to examine retinal ganglion cell differentiation. Now in the Butler lab at UCLA, she is studying axon guidance mechanisms in early circuit formation. She was awarded a Graduate Research Fellowship from the NSF. Outside of lab, Yesica enjoys playing old school video games, watching psychological thrillers and trying new foods.
Paul Vander (he/him)
Mentor
Paul Vander is a PhD candidate in the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology program. Working in the lab of Dr. Stephanie Correa, he studies how estrogen signaling in the brain influences energy balance and metabolism in response to an energy deficit. As a CELL Scholars Mentor, Paul hopes to help mentees develop the intellectual tools of a scientist through hands-on experimentation in the lab. In his free time, Paul enjoys playing basketball, going on hikes and bike rides, and spending time with friends and family.
Rachel Rothschild (she/her)
Workshop Co-Leader on Outreach Team
Rachel is a third-year Human Biology and Society major and Disability Studies minor. She is interested in biological anthropology, maternal health, and how epigenetics influences human development and health outcomes. Rachel is interested in genetics and public health, and plans to become a genetic counselor. In her free time, Rachel enjoys cooking, dancing, and having game nights with friends.
Shaili Singh (she/her)
Recruitment Chair
Shaili is a third-year undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Neuroscience. She is currently taking a gap year, in which she is working part-time as a medical assistant and volunteering as a Research Assistant at Columbia Psychiatry. She joined Cell Scholars as she wanted to help students receive access to science research, which is an extremely interesting area that is often overlooked in the field of science. In Shaili's free time, she loves to go to the beach and watch cheesy rom-coms.
Michael Raad (he/him)
Workshop Co-Leader on Outreach Team
Hello, I am Michael, a fourth-year MCD Biology major. I volunteer in a neuroscience lab and am on the pre-med track. My hobbies include swimming, weightlifting, and hiking.