Honors and Awards
Husky 100 Award Recipient
Awarded in 2017
Each year, the Husky 100 Award at the University of Washington selects 100 of the 57,000 undergraduate and graduate students from the Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses who are making the most of their time at the UW.
I received the award in my junior year as an undergraduate, and among the students selected, there were scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, athletes, volunteers, and social advocates. I realized that each recipient had original interests and stories, but while we explored different paths, we were brought together because we all took advantage of what UW had to offer.
Since receiving the award I've networked with peers in different disciplines and I have become an advocate for what UW represents. I'm honored to be included in such a motivated and interesting group of people.
Annual UW Dean’s List High Scholarship Award
2014-2018
At UW, in order to be included on the Annual Dean's List, undergraduates must attend three quarters of the academic year, and they must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher in at least 12 graded credits in each of the three quarters. From freshman through senior year, I was included on the Annual Dean's List.
Oral Presentation Speaker
Undergraduate Research Symposium
May 2017
The University of Washington Undergraduate Research Symposium is an event where students can present their research projects to their peers, families, colleagues, and professors. After submissions of abstracts, student applicants are selected for either a poster presentation or a an oral presentation.
I had been working with Dr. Laura den Hartigh on a project about diabetes, conjugated linoleic acid, and Rosiglitazone (described in the top right section of this webpage), and I decided to apply to present my research. I was selected to give an oral presentation.
Throughout the preparation of my presentation, I learned that simplicity and clarity are essential when giving complicated academic talks. Knowing my audience consisted of people from a variety of academic backgrounds, I stayed away from jargon, and created a presentation that was comprehensive but that could be understood by many people.
Making a niche topic within biochemistry understandable for the general population was definitely difficult, but it taught me about science and communication. In all, I absolutely enjoyed the process.
Co-Author of a published, peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Endocrinology
September 2017
After joining Dr. Laura den Hartigh's lab, I started working on a study about a trans-fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and a common diabetes drug called Rosiglitazone.
During the study, I processed hundreds of mouse tissues to synthesize RNA and cDNA, and quantified gene expression using qPCR. I also utilized statistical modeling to analyze results.
In the study, we used diabetic, obese mice, and observed weight loss over time when CLA was used as a weight-loss supplement. We found that even after weight loss, the mice did not exhibit improved glucose metabolism or insulin sensitivity. In some of the treatment groups, however, the mice were also given Rosiglitazone. We found that when weight loss mediated by CLA was combined with Rosiglitazone, the mice lost weight and improved their glucose metabolism.
This study concluded that a combination treatment strategy of CLA with Rosiglitazone could have therapeutic potential for obesity treatment.
The article was published in the September 2017 issue of the Journal of Endocrinology, which can be found here. I worked diligently on my part of the project, and feel fortunate to have gained such important research skills under Dr. den Hartigh's mentorship.
University of Washington Honors Program
Undergraduate Scholar Award
Awarded in 2014
As a freshman applying to the UW Honors Program, I received a scholarship called "The Undergraduate Scholar Award".
Each year, as the Honors program reviews the applications for incoming freshman, it selects a group of students to receive this award. The award consists of a merit-based scholarship that waives one year of undergraduate tuition.
Needless to say, when I told my parents we'd be saving over $10,000, my dad said, "this must be what it feels like to win the lottery."
Member of Phi Beta Kappa Society
2017 - present
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an honor society that celebrates the liberal arts and sciences in the United States. The society inducts the top 10% of arts and science undergraduates from 268 american colleges in order to honor academic success and breadth of study.
In my junior year, I was selected to join Phi Beta Kappa. I look forward to connecting to other members who are active in science and health care, business and technology, the arts and humanities, and law and philanthropy.