Santa Clara University

SCU Stories - Math and Sciences Profiles

SCU Stories

Math and Sciences Profiles

Matray

Alleviating hay fever

Tracy Matray '91, Ph.D Colorado State University
Associate Director of Chemistry, Dynavax Technologies Corp.
Santa Clara's personal approach to education helped guide Tracy Matray toward his Ph.D. Read the full profile »
Heidi von der Mehden

Blending chemistry and wine

Heidi von der Mehden '97
Associate winemaker, Arrowood Winery
Heidi von der Mehden might have an unusual job, but the skills she learned at Santa Clara still apply. Read the full profile »
Gabe Ozorowski

Analyzing proteins with x-rays

Gabe Ozorowski '06
Ph.D. student at UC Irvine
Conducting research at Santa Clara University led Ph.D. candidate Gabe Ozorowski in an unexpected career direction. Read the full profile »
Professor Angel Islas

Identifying the causes of cancer

Associate Professor Ángel Islas
Department of Biology, Director of Biotechnology Program
Professor Ángel Islas, director of SCU's biotechnology program, is working to identify why some cells stay healthy and others don't. Read the full profile »
Viloria

Steps to knowledge lead to medical school

Joyce Viloria '03
Graduate student at UCSF School of Medicine
Medical student Joyce Viloria plans to help under-served populations as a doctor. Read the full profile »
Kirstin Nose

Finding solutions in the lab

Kirstin Nosé ’06
SCU Research Associate
Kirstin Nosé works in Professor Ángel Islas' lab, examining DNA damage in cells. Read the full profile »
Michelle Pesce

Benefits of location

Michelle Pesce '09
Biology major

Michelle Pesce '09 was initially attracted to Santa Clara University because of the location. She found sunshine, and a whole lot more.

Read the full profile »
SLURP

Putting principles into practice

Liza Dadiomov, Molly McIlhenny, Corinne Kirmil (all '10)
The SLURP Project
Liza Dadiomov, Molly McIlhenny, and Corinne Kirmil live on the seventh floor of Swig Hall—a place otherwise known as Slurp, the Sustainable Living Undergraduate Research Project. Read the full profile »
Teixeira

Embracing community

Elico Teixeira '08
B.S. engineering physics  Currently studying management science and engineering at Stanford University
Elico Teixeira '08 chose Santa Clara for its small classes and attentive professors. Read the full profile »
David Doroquez '99

Lab research A to Z

David Doroquez '99, Ph.D. '07 MIT
Postdoctoral fellow at Brandeis University
At Santa Clara University, David Doroquez ’99 got “an A-to-Z experience for how active lab research is performed.” Read the full profile »
Thurtle

Gaining confidence in the lab

Deborah Thurtle '08
Doctoral student in molecular cell biology at UC Berkeley
Deborah Thurtle '08 took skills fostered at Santa Clara to her Ph.D program at UC Berkeley. Read the full profile »
Hailey Trefethen

Conducting research in a Costa Rican rainforest

Hailey Trefethen '08
B.A. anthropology
Hailey Trefethen ’08 wouldn't have guessed that her anthropology major would lead to a research stint in Costa Rica. Read the full profile »
sleep lab

From sleep lab to SRI

Megan Thompson '07
Neuropsychology research analyst
Megan Thompson worked as a researcher at Santa Clara's sleep lab when she was an undergraduate; today, she's a neuropsychology research analyst at SRI. Read the full profile »
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Making work relevant through field research

Shannon Gleeson '02
Assistant professor of Latin American and Latino Studies at UC Santa Cruz
Hands-on research in sociology led Shannon Gleeson ’02 to an academic career. Read the full profile »
Flint

Monkeys, philosophy, and art

Kellie Flint '08
B.A. philosophy and studio art
Kellie Flint ’08, a double major in philosophy and studio art, didn’t expect to also gain field research experience during her undergraduate education. Read the full profile »
Matt Williams

Science of sleep

Matt Williams '09
Psychobiology major
Matt Williams studies sleep at Santa Clara's sleep lab. Read the full profile »
Vu

Honing problem-solving skills in the lab

Andrew Vu '09
Chemistry major
Knowing how to generate solutions will serve chemistry major Andrew Vu well. Read the full profile »
Environmental Studies

Pursuing meaningful work in environmental science

Chris Yuan-Farrell '03
Graduate student at Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
Chris Yuan-Farrell's environmental research at Santa Clara helped prepare him for what he would face in graduate school. Read the full profile »
Kahan

Studying the sleeping mind

Associate Professor Tracey Kahan
Director of the Santa Clara Sleep Lab, Psychology Department
Tracey Kahan directs a sleep lab to study the sleeping mind. Read the full profile »
Steven Suljak

Learning skills for fighting disease

Assistant Professor Steven Suljak
Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Students working in the lab of Assistant Chemistry Professor Steven Suljak learn essential research techniques. And they have a weekly costume day. Read the full profile »
Scott Hickey '09

Identifying a career path

Scott Hickey '09
Biochemistry major
Scott Hickey has learned a lot from his lab experience—both about research practices, and about himself. Read the full profile »
Mary Lucas '09

Gaining an edge in the lab

Mary Lucas '09
Biochemistry major
Medical school-bound Mary Lucas knows her lab experience will help with her future plans. Read the full profile »
Michael Hayes '10

Window into the research world

Michael Hayes '10
Biochemistry major
Michael Hayes has gotten to work closely with many members of the chemistry and biochemistry department at SCU. Read the full profile »
Cary Yang

Next-generation efforts on tiny technology

Professor Cary Yang
Director, Center for Nanostructures
Professor Cary Yang works with an interdisciplinary group of faculty and students to develop the next generation of chip technology. Read the full profile »
Amelia Fuller

The shape of health

Assistant Professor Amelia Fuller
Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Amelia Fuller studies how proteins form their specific shapes. Read the full profile »
Patti Simone

Appreciating the aging mind

Patricia Simone
Associate Professor, Psychology Department; Director, Gerontology Program
Patricia Simone is interested in how the brain stays nimble as we age. Her specialty in the psychology department is cognitive aging. Read the full profile »
Richard Scott

Watching students get it

Associate Professor Richard Scott '88
Mathematics and Computer Science Department
Mathematics professor Rick Scott helps students understand abstract concepts. Read the full profile »
Ed Schaefer

Math in the developing world

Professor Ed Schaefer
Mathematics and Computer Science Department
Ed Schaefer specializes in cryptography and teaches over the summer in Africa. Read the full profile »
Russel Skowronek

Uncovering Mission history

Associate Professor Russell Skowronek
Campus Archaeologist
Pottery from California’s past told Russell Skowronek about the state’s history. Read the full profile »
 

SCU Stories

Vu
Andrew Vu

Honing problem-solving skills in the lab

Knowing how to generate solutions will serve chemistry major Andrew Vu well.

Read the full profile »