Team:LaVerne-Leos/Team
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Our Team
Mark
A biology undergraduate student, who plans on pursuing a career in the medical field.
I’ll be working on the project over the course of the summer as one of the researchers.
Music plays a tremendous role in my life alongside my academics, I DJ as a hobby. I’m a
sucker for baby cheetahs, THEY’RE TOO CUTE!
Oh, and a fun fact would be that my parents
have chickens for pets.
Noemi
I am currently a Biology student who has the passion to help individuals not only through
the practice of medicine but by using happiness to improve their quality of life. As a researcher of this team, my
goal is to contribute as much science as possible in order for the team to attend the 2015 Giant Jamboree. I also
enjoy mentoring youth individuals who need a role model in their life.
Fun Fact: I enjoy trying a variety of foods
from various cultures, and I love CHOCOLATE!
Laura
I’m a Junior Biology Major, who wants to pursue the medical field as well. No doubt in my mind I have the passion for working with kids, so I hope to be in Pediatrics one day. As one of the Researchers, as well as the Fundraising Lead, my goal is to also contribute as much as I can in order to attend the iGem Giant Jamboree this year.
Estefania Gomez
I am a cellular/molecular biology University of La Verne Alum. I will be the lab support for
this team. My interests include biotechnology and cellular research.
Fun fact: My favorite animals are wolves, pandas
and red pandas.
Jennifer Tsui
I’m an Asst Professor of Biology and one of the Faculty advisor for team. My research interests
are applied biology in society and neuroscience
Fun fact: I like riding bikes!
Yousef
I am an associate professor of mathematics and my primary research interests are in the area of
theoretical and computational mechanics. In specific, I study the control and manipulation along with the physics of fluids
at small scales (microfluidics).
Fun fact: I am an avid arm wrestler!
Jasmine
I am a traditional undergraduate sophomore, pursuing a general biology degree. My role in the team
is to shadow the leading juniors of the iGEM project. I am incredibly interested in the international work of the Peace Corps,
that is my dream job.
My fun fact about myself is that in high school, I sold art professionally and had work placed in art
galleries in my hometown, San Diego.
Alina
I am a sophomore majoring in biology. My goal is to pursue a career in the medical field. My role in
the team is to shadow the juniors researchers of the iGEM project over the summer. My interests are synthetic biology and
organic chemistry.
A fun fact about me is that I moved to the United States at the age of sixteen and I speak three languages.
Andrew
Aloha! My name is Andrew Okimura and I am a sophomore pursuing a degree in Biology. This year my role on
the team is to shadow, assist, and learn about the iGEM process and the laboratory techniques. I am currently on our University’s
Swim and Dive Team and I enjoy playing the ukulele.
A fun fact about me is that I have lived in beautiful Hawaii my whole life.
Natasha
To Be Completed At A Later Time
Alvaro Alvarez
I am an employee of the University of La Verne. I have worked here for 8 years now as the Electronic services tech for the library. During my 8 years I was able to finish my Masters in Business 2 years ago and I have learned a lot about management and technology how it ties to an educational environment. Currently I am helping the team with the website and technology needs for their meetings. This experience has helped me learn more about Biology and some of the things people are working towards and I am really glad to be a part of it.
Alec Lourenço
My name is Alec Lourenço, and I’m a junior at La Canada High School. I got
interested in synthetic biology as a freshman and then participated on the Caltech 2014 team
as a sophomore. Now I’m glad to have the opportunity to work on this fantastic team this year!
Fun Fact: I am an absolute sucker for teas. I’ll Chai any type of tea, just as long as you
don’t steep it Oolong. Oh, and I’m also from Florida
Matthew Yu
My name is Matthew Yu and I’m a junior at La Canada High School. I am highly
interested in synthetic biology/biotechnology and science in general. I have taken various
synthetic biology/biotechnology classes over the past few years and I look forward to having
fun on this amazing iGem team this year! :)
Fun Fact: I love music and I can play 7
different instruments, of which piano is my main. I can speak in 9 different languages,
but most is quite limited. I know how to play 4 different sports and enjoy each one of
them.
Christos Menemenlis
Hi! My name is Christos, a freshmen at La Canada High School. I don't really matter,
I just try to juggle school and everything else at the same time. I am interested in life, learning,
and something that I don’t have. Science is just a really interesting discipline to me, and the more I
study and learn about how it affects our lives, the more interested I get. I guess it’s just natural
curiosity.
Fun Fact: Only 8 people I have ever met have pronounced my last name correctly on the
first try… five of them were my own family.
William Fu
Hi I’m William Fu, and I’m a junior at La Canada High School. I am interested in
math stuff and modeling stuff. I am interested in biotech and mathematics, so I’m here to experience
a less esoteric subject (mostly did cluster computer and math stuff) for modeling and I want to take
my computers out for a spin again. I am glad to have the opportunity to work on this fantastic team
this year! (If needed I can also write iphone/android apps too, same w/ Rudy)
Fun Fact: I drink tea.
Also most people call me wfu (woo-foo). It’s not wufu, that spelling is incorrect.
Rudra(Rudy) Menon
Hi I’m Rudra Menon, I am a junior at La Canada High School. I am very interested in
computers and more specifically, computer programming. I have found myself to be more compatible with
computers than living things. For example, I’ve recently become engaged in coding artificial intelligence
simply because I wanted to play board games with something that doesn’t try to converse with me. I am
beginning to fear my obsession has whittled away at my ability to connect with breathing beings on an
emotional level. I am joining the biotech team in desperate hopes get back in touch with natural life.
This is primarily so I can learn about “real” life on the basic level in order to one day create a master
race of bits and bytes.
Fun Fact: When I’m not playing connect four with myself I enjoy playing ultimate
frisbee. I find the sports scene to be a remarkable opportunity to observe the peculiar behavioral patterns
of animate beings.
Miles Yun
Hello. My name is Miles “Sung-Joon” Yun. I am currently a freshman at LCHS. I enjoy science
and history. I am a great public speaker. I delivered the graduation speech at my middle school graduation
ceremony. I am a five time national winner in a nationwide fine arts competition. I enjoy sports a lot, I run
and swim, I enjoy physically demanding workouts, and I enjoy reading a lot.
Fun Fact: I have traveled to
over two dozen countries. I went on a science expedition to the Galapagos Islands with my dad for a NASA
earthquake project and had to ride a horse for eighteen hours straight in order to visit all the stations
around the volcanoes on the islands.