Sean Cabanlit, 2014 Pedrozzi Scholar and March 2018 UC Riverside graduate, discusses his college experiences:
As a student and Undergraduate Researcher at the University of California, Riverside, I was in UCR’s College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, majoring in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology and following the pre-med path. I also took part of the university’s Dynamic Genome Outreach Group, an organization that teaches students from different schools on what procedures we do in the lab. We taught students how to use microscopes and extract strawberry DNA, how to interpret data, and how to use the scientific method to conduct experiments. I loved working in the lab and teaching and tutoring students. One summer, I performed research for the USDA HSI Summer Scholars Program, studying the genome of citrus to focus on issues in food and resource sustainability. Following graduation, for a short period, I will continue research work under Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres.
I am really fortunate to have a strong background in science and to have the opportunity to work in a hospital setting before entering college. I want to thank the Pedrozzi Scholarship Foundation, the Granada High School Science Department, and Tri-Valley ROP for Medical Occupations for encouraging me to do well in college and to get involve in research.
I also want to thank the Foundation for making my four years at UC Riverside easy to manage and for aiding other students that also want to find their path to success.
