About
Emily is a Southern California native who was born and raised in Burbank, California. She fell in love with science after winning the seventh-grade science fair with a board game about Mendelian genetics. As a first-generation college student, Emily started her journey at Pasadena City College and graduated cum laude from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology in 2025.
During her undergraduate studies, Emily focused on community outreach as she spearheaded the first PCC STEM Gala, served as the chapter projects director for College Leap at PCC, and provided college planning seminars at low-income high schools. Additionally, Emily spent time at Huntington Medical Research Institute. She assisted in teaching biology to high school students and volunteered as a research assistant in the Angiogenesis and Brain Development Laboratory. Her first publication, Selective vulnerability of GABAergic neurons in chronic migraine, appeared in The Journal of Headache and Pain. During her final undergraduate year, Emily worked as a medical assistant at a pain management rehabilitation clinic and interned with the Cedars-Sinai neurogenetics team. As she expanded her understanding of healthcare, Emily blossomed a passion for prioritizing patient autonomy.
After graduation, Emily had the opportunity to work as a GCA across different specialties within the UCLA Clinical Genetics team. She is grateful to her mentors who exposed her to well-rounded patient care and the power of great teamwork as they empowered her on her journey to becoming a genetic counselor.
Coming back as a student at UCLA, Emily is excited to be training in the diverse city she is proud to call home. She looks forward to expanding her skills and joining the 2% of MENA genetic counselors in America. In her free time, Emily enjoys learning new crafts, experimenting with recipes, and relaxing with her loved ones.