Ricardo F
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Expertise
cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, genetics, cancer
Bio
With over 25 years of academic biomedical research experience (and over 45 research publications), I am ready to provide you with a view into the real-world of academic research. Academic success in science is largely about how you apply your knowledge to a scientific problem. To that end, many of the students I have mentored in the laboratory have gone on to publish their own work, either as co-authors or first authors. My core program mentees have gained admission to highly regarded institutions such as Brown University and UCLA. I am a first-generation college and doctoral graduate. Currently, I am a Visiting Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Pomona College in California. My passion for mentoring comes from a desire to help students across a diverse set of communities gain access to knowledge important for 1) navigating the complexity of college admissions and 2) gaining a deep understanding of concepts central to biomedical science. I obtained my Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology at UCLA. Currently, I am working on elucidating the neural basis of CO2 response in the model organism, C. elegans, an organism that was introduced to the fields of genetics and developmental biology by the Nobel Laureate, Professor Sydney Brenner.Project ideas
Bulk RNA-Sequencing Data Analysis and Manuscript Preparation
This project will help you develop skills in computational biology and bioinformatics. In addition, the results obtained from the analysis may be inlcluded in a peer-reviewed publication. You will also develop skills in preparing a manuscript and going through the process of peer-review. I will provide the biological expertise and you will contribute computational know-how. This is a highly collaborative project. 1. Strong computer skills required (knowledge of Unix is sufficient, but other languages - Python, Pearl, R - will be useful) 2. Strong interest in computational biology 3. Ability to maintain regular communication with progress and troubleshooting. 4. Access to 500GB+ of unused hard drive space highly preferred.
Preparing a Review Article
This project will help you develop skills for preparing an article that reviews the current knowledge and challenges in a specific topic in corneal biology. You will learn the following: 1) how to access and use publication databases, (e.g., Pubmed), 2) create and maintain a bibliography (using Endnote), 3) how to read and interpret research articles. Successful completion of this project may earn you co-authorship on a peer-reviewed review article.