Venice Maquilan (she/her) is a Biological Sciences major at Mission College and plans to transfer to a 4-year research university to study Neuroscience. She aspires to pursue a career in neuropathology, a goal driven by a an interest in the brain and desire to contribute towards the world of science while helping others. In her downtime, she enjoys using multiple art forms as a creative outlet and spending time with loved ones.
Research Mentor: Muneeb A. Faiq
Lorenzo Channel (he/him) is a 2025 NeURO-CC fellow and a Biological Sciences major at Foothill College with plans to transfer to a four-year university in Fall 2027. His top choices are UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara. He hopes to pursue a career in biomedicine that focuses on cancer treatment. Lorenzo is interested in using scientific research to improve health outcomes of cancer patients, and he would want to interact with them as well. His favorite pastimes include going to the gym, spending time outdoors, and trying new places to eat.
Pablo Fierro (he/him) is a first-generation college student from Colombia studying Mechanical Engineering at Mission College, with plans to transfer to a four-year university in Fall 2026. He enjoys spending time with loved ones, trying new foods, riding his motorcycle, and playing soccer. Pablo is passionate about helping others both inside and outside the classroom. His long-term goal is to build a career in the aerospace engineering industry, where he hopes to collaborate with other engineers in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles, rockets, and military jets.
Alisson (Ali) Navarro (she/her) is a Human Biology student at Mission College with plans to transfer to a four-year university and pursue a career in medicine. She is passionate about neuroscience, healthcare, and supporting children and their families, with the goal of becoming a pediatrician. Her interests are driven by both personal experiences and a desire to make a meaningful impact in her community. Outside of school, Alisson enjoys ice skating, painting, and spending quality time with her loved ones.
Research Mentor: Moss Zhao
Nancy Ly (she/her) is a 2026 NeURO-CC fellow majoring in Biology at Mission College with plans to transfer to a UC in Fall 2026. She has always loved being creative and artistic, and she hopes to combine her creativity with her passion for STEM as she pursues a career in Dermatology. Nancy strives to use scientific research to create a guided journey to clear skin as well as improved patient care/experiences in the office. In her leisure time, she enjoys finding new music (R&B and EDM are her favorites!), spending time with friends, and going on drives.
Elyana Garay (she/her) is a first-generation college student at Foothill College. She is majoring in Radiologic Technology and in the future plans on obtaining a bachelor's degree in Radiation Therapy. Garay's main goal is to help patients and her community feel secure in their health and live a high quality life. Garay is resilient and continues to work through challenges by never giving up on the things she want’s in life. During her leisure time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and painting.
Research Mentor: Merve Kaptan
An Nguyen is a 2026 NeURO-CC fellow majoring in Biomedical Engineering at De Anza College with plans to transfer to a four-year university by Fall 2027. She is passionate about improving patient outcomes by making healthcare accessible and effective using biotechnology in conjunction with researching. Nguyen is particularly interested in researching strokes and its symptoms and effects. Some of her favorite pastimes include binging anime, hiking, drawing, and baking.
Research Mentor: Hillary Vossler
Mikha Pilar (she/her) is a 2026 NeURO-CC fellow and a Biology for Transfer major at De Anza College with plans to transfer to a four-year university in Fall 2027. She was born and raised in the Philippines, and was introduced to research through being a scholar of Philippine Science High School. Despite moving to the U.S., Pilar still pursues her aspiration of becoming a scientist that serves her community. Aside from chemistry and biology, Pilar has a particular interest in food science.
Ozomatli Santana (he/him) is a 2026 NeURO-CC fellow and a Neuroscience major at Mission College with plans to transfer to a four-year university in Fall 2028. He is passionate about supporting neurodivergent individuals navigating the healthcare system and aspires to a career in psychiatry. Ozomatli is particularly interested in the bio-psycho-social model of treatment, emphasizing a holistic understanding of the interconnected factors that influence patient health beyond a strictly medicinal focus.
Denise Balaguera (she/her) is a 2026 NeURO-CC fellow and a Biology major at De Anza College with plans to transfer to a four-year university in Fall 2027. She is especially interested in neurodegenerative diseases and the intersection of neuroscience and mental health. After receiving her bachelor's degree, she plans to pursue graduate school. As a first generation Colombian-American, she hopes to use her background in science to encourage other Latino students to find their place in STEM.