Tanvina Ria is from Dhaka, Bangladesh and graduated from Purdue University, Indianapolis in 2017 with a B.S. in Biotechnology. As an undergraduate, she participated in research involving the study of opioids at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM). She also peer counseled undergraduate students who were on academic probation by providing guidance and support. Following graduation, Tanvina was involved with research at IUSM studying the genetics of metabolic disease through the manipulation of genetic model systems and the variation in mitochondrial DNA of wild type fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. She gained exposure to genetic counseling through shadowing counselors from different specialties at Indiana University Health. Besides volunteering as a crisis counselor at Crisis Text Line, she has also enjoyed supporting individuals with Down Syndrome at the GiGi’s Playhouse, Indianapolis, mainly as a coordinator of their literacy program. Tanvina loved her time at the Golden State during her summer internship at UC San Diego in 2016 and wanted to return ever since. She is excited to get involved with the UCLA and Los Angeles community and contribute to increasing diversity in the genetic counseling field.
