about

For more work-related/professional information about me, check out the resume tab. Otherwise, take a look below:

Earlier Years

I was born in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, the first child of my parents. I spent a year in China soon after my birth while my parents finished up their education. My brother was born four years after me, and we spent the rest of our youths growing up in Castaic, a small town with lots of big trucks. To occupy my time outside of school, I practiced Tae Kwon Do, played piano, took art lessons, and served the community.

High School

I went to Valencia High School, a school in a larger town nearby. Our school had over 3000 students, a large step up from my small school environment at Castaic. It was still easy to jump into the school scene, as I started the Mathematics Club, an organization meant for competition but evolved into a service group that tutored disadvantaged and underachieving students in the community. I continued playing the piano, reaching the highest levels in the state and national tests. In Tae Kwon Do, I attained a black belt in the World Tae Kwon Do Federation (WTF). I also competed successfully in the Science Olympiad, helped start the African-American Cultural Club, and worked summer jobs at Six Flags in market research. I also was an intern in research labs at Loma Linda Universty and the California Institute of Technology. I worked on projects involving plant-based vaccines for Type II diabetes, cognitive neuroscience (second author on publication), and the Ras pathway in C.elegans (Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist).

College

I am a senior at Harvard University, concentrating in Neurobiology with a secondary in Health Policy. I have been involved with Advocating Success for Kids (Secretary, Resource Manager, and IT), Harvard College Consulting Group (IT Director), and the Harvard Brain (graphics editor). I work as a user assistant for FAS Information Technology, as well as a self-employed technology consultant. I spend much of my time in research labs. My first project was in the Pierce Lab, investigating mate selection and group dynamics in the Australian lycaenid Jalmenus evagoras. Presently, I am working on my thesis project in the Hensch Lab, developing an experimental method to define the auditory critical period in mice and find real-world applications to youth at the Boston Children's Hospital.

In my free time, I am a competitive cyclist with the Harvard University Cycling Association, as well as a performer with the Asian American Dance Troupe.

Last Updated: October 5, 2008