El Puente Graduate Research Fellows

I was born and raised in the Los Angeles area of Southern California. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley and my Master of Science in Human Skeletal Biology from New York University. While in New York, I taught Forensic Anthropology at NYU as well as Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Science at Brooklyn College, where I discovered a joy in working with and teaching undergraduates. I am a third year PhD student in the Evolutionary Anthropology program at UNM with a focus in forensic anthropology. As a graduate student I am a research assistant on a Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) grant where I aid in the re-investigation of cases from the Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) in Albuquerque, NM have gone cold. Reflecting on my academic journey and achievements to date, I cannot help but credit my parents. Their unconditional support and unwavering encouragement have provided me with the determination to persevere.

Research Statement: My research is rooted in my desire to help the Latin American community. The US faces a migration crisis along its southern border, driven by conflicts abroad and internal migration policies. For years, migrants have risked their lives crossing harsh terrain to enter the US. Recent policy changes have led to increased migration and an unknown number of migrant deaths. In the last year, New Mexico has seen a drastic increase in their migrant caseload. Outside of my involvement with the MUHR grant I also help track these deaths in NM and am working towards improving forensic anthropology methods to aid the identification and return of these individuals to their loved ones.

Areas of Research: Biological anthropology, forensic anthropology, population affinity, identification of migrants along the Mexico-US border, histology.

Mentoring Philosophy: My mentoring philosophy derives from my personal experiences in higher education. As I navigated my undergraduate and graduate career, I often felt out of place in unfamiliar spaces. The isolation stemmed from a tangible distance from my family and community and a lack of understanding of academia's inner workings. With the help of my mentors, I learned how to navigate these feelings and the academic sphere, now feeling more confident in the space I am taking. Through a compassionate approach, my goal is to make my mentees feel supported throughout their time at UNM and beyond, providing them with a toolkit to persevere in the face of adversity. I aim to communicate their sense of belonging in their academic space, giving them the confidence to draw from their lived experiences, which have likely shaped their research interests and academic and personal goals. I strongly believe that mentors can alter the academic and personal trajectories of their mentees, and I hope to serve as a positive role model and resource for mine.

Oscar R. Velasquez Jr. was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, where he began his academic journey at El Paso Community College (EPCC) before transferring to NewMexico State University (NMSU). He earned a B.S. in Biology from NMSU and is currently a second-year Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He began his research journey through the RISE (Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement) NIH-funded program at EPCC, which provided diverse community college students with the opportunity to conduct high-level biomedical research. That experience inspired him to continue his research training at NMSU, then at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington, and ultimately at UNM. Through both research and mentorship, Oscar is passionate about supporting students from diverse backgrounds, helping them develop confidence in science, and creating an inclusive environment where curiosity, perseverance, and collaboration can thrive. Outside the lab, Oscar enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active by playing basketball and soccer, watching sports, and learning about animals and wildlife.

Research Statement: My pervious research experiences include studying tissue regeneration, neuroplasticity, and stem cell biology using weakly electric fish as a model system at NMSU, as well as investigating the role of the gut microbiome in gastrointestinal cancer at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. My current research focuses on understanding how cells respond to and recover from lysosomal damage, a process that has important translational implications. Specifically, I investigate the role of stress granules (temporary, membrane less organelles in the cytoplasm that form when a cell is under stress) in regulating mTORC1signaling during cellular recovery following lysosomal injury. Using molecular biology, cell biology, and immunofluorescent approaches, I study how stress granules influence protein synthesis and cellular homeostasis after stress. By identifying the mechanisms that allow cells to restore normal function following lysosomal damage, my research aims to advance our understanding of fundamental cellular stress responses and identify pathways that may eventually serve as therapeutic targets in diseases associated with lysosomal dysfunction, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and lysosomal storage diseases.

Areas of Research: Cellular biology, molecular biology, cancer biology, biomedical sciences.

Mentoring Philosophy: I believe that effective mentorship begins with creating an environment where students feel welcomed, respected, and supported. As someone who began my academic journey at a community college and was initially uncertain about pursuing a career in biomedical research, I understand how valuable encouragement and accessible mentorship can be. Mybe. My goal is to help students build confidence in their abilities while developing critical thinking, scientific communication, and problem-solving skills. I strive to meet each student where they are, recognizing that everyone brings unique experiences and strengths to research. I view mentorship as a collaborative relationship in which mentors not only teach technical skills but also help students navigate challenges and discover their own potential. Ultimately, I hope to inspire students to pursue opportunities they may not have previously considered and to foster a sense of belonging within the scientific community.

Danika Fletcher is a combined MD-PhD student at the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Medicine pursuing a career as a physician-scientist. She was born and raised in rural New Mexico where she discovered her passion for medicine. She earned her B.S. in Biology (summa cum laude) with a Neuropharmacology thesis and three minors. Danika has completed two years of medical school and is in the second year of her PhD where she studies glioblastoma and tumor-associated epilepsy. Upon completion of her PhD, she will return to medical school where she will pursue Neuro-Oncology. Danika is dedicated to translating laboratory research to the clinic. She has served on the UNM HSC student council, BA/MD research initiative, volunteers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and serves as a mentor to students in her Neurosciences lab. She is excited to mentor future scholars and pay forward the unwavering support given to her by friends, family, mentors. Outside medicine and research, Danika enjoys cooking, baking, tennis, hiking, and spending time with her family and two dogs.

Research Statement: Danika’s research interests have evolved from a desire to improve patient outcomes for those affected by complex, debilitating diseases of the brain and a commitment to provide medical care for underserved communities. She currently works as a research assistant in the UNM Department of Neurosciences where she studies glioblastoma symptomatology, tumor-associated epilepsy, and mechanisms of therapeutic resistance. She has previously worked and published in areas such as neuropharmacology related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, interventricular hemorrhage treatment, and medical aid in dying policy. Her work reflects a commitment to translational research and advancing diagnostics and therapeutics for all patients. 

Areas of Research: Danika is interested in research areas such as epilepsy and the integration of oncology, neurosciences, and immunology to improve brain tumor treatment and diagnostics. She has drawn inspiration from physician scientists whose research questions evolve out of real problems facing patients in the clinic. She hopes her interests will always reflect the needs of patients, allowing her to answer important research questions in the laboratory and translate her findings to the clinic to advance treatment outcomes.

Mentoring Philosophy: Growing up in a rural, underserved area gave Danika first-hand experience entering an unfamiliar area of higher education where she often felt different from her peers. Her mentors and advisors demonstrated the power of believing in students and providing thoughtful, individualized mentorship. Danika endeavors to help undergraduates navigate academic research and medicine while providing individualized support tailored to the needs of each student. She values matching students with personalized research and professional opportunities while encouraging them to drive their own projects and careers. Danika hopes to inspire confidence in students and empower them to engage in important research that prepares them for successful, fulfilling careers in science and medicine.

I am from Costa Rica, in Central America. Since I was eight, I dreamed of becoming a paleontologist and pursuing a career in research. I quickly realized that studying abroad would be essential to achieving this goal, and I was fortunate to have my parents’ unconditional support. Because paleontologists typically train as biologists or geologists, I chose to study geology. Initially fascinated by dinosaurs, I eventually shifted my focus to marine invertebrates, including corals, snails, and oysters. During my senior year of high school, my parents encouraged me to contact a Costa Rican professor working in the United States, who introduced me to the basics of academic networking. As an undergraduate, I continued developing my research interests with my advisor and connected with another Costa Rican professor in the US. An internship at the American Museum of Natural History in New York helped me pursue a Master’s in Paleontology at UNM in 2022, followed by my PhD. I am grateful to my parents and mentors who supported me throughout this journey.

Research Statement: My research is focused on how molluscan communities (sea snails, oysters, clams, squids, ammonites) respond to environmental changes, how their spatial distribution changes, and how they might (or not) survive sudden changes such as mass extinctions. I study mainly the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event (K-Pg, a.k.a. the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs that fell on the Yucatán Peninsula, México), and its effect on molluscan communities. Currently, humanity is driving an unprecedented Earth system crisis so fast compared to previous mass extinctions and other biodiversity crises. By comparison, the K-Pg is the only mass extinction whose timing is comparable to the changes humans have caused since the Industrial Revolution (hundreds of years to a few thousand years). Understanding risk factors in recent molluscan communities, we could better protect them. Related also to my fieldwork is teaching local communities about the geological and paleontological wonders they have, opening opportunities for local museums and recruitment of new geology students.

Areas of Research: Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, Paleobiogeography, Diversity and Extinction, Conservation Biology, Community Outreach, Eco museums.

Mentoring Philosophy: My mentoring philosophy is derived from my experiences in undergrad and grad school. I am always encouraging mentees to find a topic that they feel curious or passionate about. Then, I encourage them to make a plan on how they achieve that goal: taking certain classes, talking with a faculty professor whose research is similar, reading papers about the topic, and so on. I try to ask questions of my mentees about the topic they choose, and if they can explain to me the paper they just read or the methodology behind what they want to do, that means they are becoming experts in that topic. I also encourage mentees to visit some webpages for internships and other opportunities to find more and more. I think as long as you have a lot of curiosity or passion for your research topic, you will enjoy the trip and get the most learning from each conversation/paper/discussion! Participation in professional meetings, seminars, and workshops, either by doing posters or oral presentations, is also something that I encourage my mentees to gain confidence in their knowledge and make connections for further opportunities.